Growth (GAIA Trilogy Book 2)

by Morton Chalfy

  Chapter 23

  Before retiring Harrison called Helene who had just risen from sleep and reported on what he had seen so far. He told her about Mme. Albana's request for an outpost of Gaia to be established and his desire to do so.

  "Is that Sylvie Albana? I know her." Helene paused, trying to remember. "Oh yes, she was a delegate to the Conference on the Oceans, let's see, twenty years ago. My goodness but time is inexorable."

  "Did you interact with her?" asked Harrison.

  Helene paused again, "I did indeed. Of course neither of us was married at the time and the Conference turned into one big party and Sylvie...mmm. Anyway, I liked her and the presentation she made was impressive. Well researched and quite effective as I recall."

  In the morning Harrison was surprised to find the message wall outside his rooms directing him to the Captain's private dining room where Mme. Albana was waiting. They were seated by a viewing window that took up nearly the entire wall of the room. Filtered sunlight lit the scene, though dimly, so the swarms of fish swam by in semi-obscurity and the occasional large predator appeared suddenly out of the haze.

  Harrison had a lot of questions for his host but thought it would be better if her needs and questions were answered first. "Tell me how we can best help you," he asked her when they were seated and served.

  "Do you know how we're organized here in the City?" she asked in return.

  "Not in detail, no. I'm presuming that the Captain runs the ship, so to speak, when the ship is a floating city, and the Mayor runs the City, but I don't really know."

  "You're right about the Captain but the Mayor is a largely ceremonial post. The City was built by a corporation and is still owned by it. In practice, since we're so small, there is very little turnover in the distribution of power. Almost all the inhabitants either work for the Corporation or, like the retirees, rent space from it."

  Harrison nodded and thought, "Company town."

  "We at the top of the heap," she continued, "have an easy life. We have servants, luxurious quarters, large bank accounts and relative job security. The sailors who run the ship, the people who do the work, the ones who care for the tourist ships and the tourists, are not so lucky. They get room, board and a salary but have no security. In consequence we have a very stratified society."

  Harrison nodded again to encourage her to continue.

  "But this is a small space. We all live together and we all live by the same rules. What we don't ever get a chance to do is socialize across the lines." She sat back and paused to sip her coffee.

  "Interesting and quite classic," said Harrison.

  "Yes, quite classic. Even the established religions hold separate services," she said sardonically.

  Harrison gave a smile which conveyed agreement and waited for her point.

  "So I want to establish a Gaian Meeting group. It will be open to all, have single meetings and I hope, provide a place to mix the populations."

  Harrison grimaced.

  "Don't you like the idea?" asked Mme. Albana.

  "Well," he paused to gather his thoughts, "using Gaia as a form of social engineering is an idea I'm not used to."

  "But all the Gaian movement is a form of social engineering," she shot back.

  "You're right," he said trying to mollify her. "I just need to adjust my perspective. Do you have much support?"

  "Yes, I think there's quite a lot. Look," she said pointing to the window and the sea life pulsing beyond it. "One cannot look at this scene day after day and not conclude that all life on Earth is related."

  Harrison smiled, "But the fish are so different from us."

  She smiled back at him in acknowledgment of the reason for the statement and said, "They do look different, live differently, live in water where we cannot, all of that. But as one sits and watches one can easily imagine the emotions they display. We share fear, hunger, desire and excitement across all species barriers. We are at the ends of different branches but we can trace it all back to the same root."

  They discussed the mechanics of setting up a Gaia Meeting and of supplying the City with educational materials. "I'll call Helene later," he said, "and get the balls rolling. I'm sure you'll be set up before I leave."

  "Helene?" she asked.

  "My wife. She's the CEO of Gaia Global."

  "She wouldn't be the same Helene who was a delegate to the Conference on the Oceans, would she?"

  "In fact she is and apparently has fond memories of meeting you there. How did you know?"

  "I researched you and Gaia and she of course popped up and one look made me pretty sure it was her."

  She shook her head and grinned, "We had a good time together at that Conference. I'll be happy to re-connect with her.

  "And she with you, I'm sure."

  His report to Helene that night included what he thought they would need to make Gaia work best for Ocean City One and concluded by saying, "Someday you'll have to tell me about the good time you and Mme. Albana had at the Conference."

  "No I won't," said Helene laughing.

  Chapter 24

  Sam called the Sheriff to collect the three prisoners along with the evidence; the note, the weapon, recordings of the interrogations and affidavits from the Security personnel. When they were safely in custody Sam convened the Security Executive - himself, Lucas, Cindy and Maeve - for an in-depth discussion of what had happened.

  "We have to improve the screening process," he said.

  "And our physical defenses," said Cindy.

  They set up a video link with Helene and quickly decided on several enhancements. The Screening team was reconstituted to add brain power, the guards under Cindy's command were effectively doubled, the screening process was lengthened to allow for deeper digging and additional security personnel were sprinkled throughout the complex in civilian dress to strengthen the overall effort.

  Helene said, "Lucas, you and Sam need to closely oversee the arrangements for the Gathering. The much higher volume of people will just increase the danger. I want all applications to attend the Conference to be in hand at least sixty days before the event."

  "Will you send out that message?" asked Sam.

  "I will," she said. "Today."

  "There will have to be exceptions," said Lucas.

  "Exceptions will have to be passed by one of us."

  Maeve spoke up, "The kids need to be included," there were nods and murmurs of assent, "and we can't feel like a fortress."

  A moment of silence greeted that remark. "I know it seems easiest to just wall us in to keep danger away but that can't be who we are. People, the majority, come here out of love. We want to love them back. We certainly don't want to act suspicious of everyone."

  Sam and Lucas were shifting uncomfortably in their chairs but Helene said, "I quite agree. You'll just have to work a lot more intelligently and mostly out of sight. We may be beset by foes but Gaia is still Love and we want to continue to express that."

  Cindy volunteered, "I'll put more of my guards in mufti and let them mingle more. They'll see things as part of the crowd that might be missed by the other watchers."

  They spent an hour discussing security strategies until Maeve said, "Time for me to start meeting and greeting," which ended the discussion and sent Cindy hurrying to check the Reception Room. With the death plot excitement abated Maeve resumed her relaxed style with the visitors and Cindy heightened her unobtrusive control of the crowds.

  The main activity at the ranch had become the care and feeding of visitors and tourists. Lucas' minions tending to the global communications network operated underground and the administrative functions were housed in another building. The tourists and visitors saw the growing hotel complex, the main ranch house, the gift shops and restaurants and the wide open spaces.

  The volunteers who came for training were housed in a separate dormitory that included classrooms before they were fed into service. Normalcy gradually returned to the outside appearance of things b
ut the heightening effect events had on Security continued, just more hidden from sight.

  A new wrinkle came with the popularity of Robbie's "What Is Gaia?" production among school age children. The piece had been copied thousands of times and pieces of children's artwork illustrating the message arrived daily. After discussing it with the children they all agreed to take part in the meet and greets whenever it was warranted, especially when the visitors were young themselves,

  "You sure you won't mind?" Maeve asked.

  `"No, Mama. We want to help," they said.

  And so, what Cindy referred to as the Gaian Children's Hour was instituted and the kids made regular appearances in the Reception Room. Maeve worried about it but was resigned to accepting that her children loved her and wanted to be a part of what she did.

  Miriam asked her, "Mama, can I wear a gown like yours sometime?" and opened a floodgate of fears for Maeve who could only say, "Of course dear. Sometime." She shuddered to herself thinking "What have I done to my children?"

  Chapter 25

  The Director's presentation was held in the meeting hall of the City with images shown on a full wall screen. He began by referring briefly to the work being done on rejuvenation and other gene therapies and then began showing pictures of the proposed addition to Ocean City One.

  Harrison noted wryly that no mention had been made of space travel or mermen or anything that might be controversial. "The Director knows how far over the line he's going," thought Harrison. "He's not mega-maniacal enough to lose touch with reality."

  Ocean City One had been constructed of modules which could be built on shore and towed to the City where they were attached to at least two other modules. Most were hexagonal and from above the city resembled a soccer ball laid out flat. The modular construction allowed for flexibility in response to water movement.

  The Director showed an addition consisting of three modules, one contained laboratories, one was devoted to housing and the third to a medical complex. "This medical facility will add a world class level of health care to the city. Seriously ill people will now be able to stay at home for the best care. And the hospital will be a profit center for the city as well, as we will offer some rejuvenation therapies and many plastic surgery options. We anticipate that many of the cruise ships that visit the city will bear large numbers of clients. We ourselves will be offering Youthenizing Cruises from around the globe to this destination."

  He showed a series of images - artist's renderings of the architecture and the below-water-line systems that would provide power, potable water and waste recycling.

  "This project will be fully funded by us," he said, "and we expect to complete it within a year's time. Construction is already underway."

  Mme. Albana, seated next to Harrison, leaned over and whispered, "What do you think of the Director and his plans?"

  Harrison reacted politically by being noncommittal and said, "Which ones?"

  Mme. Albana chortled quietly. "Didn't you go through Rejuvenao?" she asked. "And Helene?"

  "Yes, we did."

  "So?"

  "So let's wait until he's done and we can speak freely," said Harrison.

  Mme. Albana nodded.

  The Director ended his talk and began fielding questions from the floor, the first one being "When can residents of the city sign up for therapy and will we get a discount?" and continued in that vein. The promise of a world class medical facility and the availability of rejuvenation therapy was the exciting and novel idea that came out of the presentation.

  Seated with Mme. Albana over coffee afterward Harrison asked, "So what do you want to know?"

  Madame said, "First, how much did Rejuvenao cost, and second, do you really think he's mad?"

  Harrison laughed, "First, way too damn much but probably not as much as it's worth. Second, and not for publication, yes."

  Mme. Albana smiled broadly. "Do you think it's wise to allow him to become part of the city? A big part?"

  "Not for me to say. Wisdom in this case requires an ability to foresee the future - an ability I don't possess."

  The Director made his way through the thinning crowd to their table.

  "So, Professor, what did you think?"

  "Very well presented," said Harrison amiably, "and very well received."

  The Director smiled at him. "I didn't leave out anything important, did I?" he asked meaningfully.

  "Not that I could see," answered Harrison, just as meaningfully.

  The Director nodded, smiled and moved away.

  "What was that about?" asked Mme. Albana.

  "He was gauging my discretion."

  She looked at him archly and for the first time Harrison felt a sexual tug and intimation.

  "You are discreet," she said.

  Harrison blushed slightly, "I hope so."

  "Discreet enough for a liaison?" she asked directly.

  Harrison's blush deepened and he stammered, "I don't really know," he said. "My body is responsive but my mind is hyper-wary. Not a good combination for love in the afternoon."

  Madame smiled and looked puckish, "Perhaps another time, then?" she asked.

  "Perhaps," he temporized.

  Chapter 26

  "Helene's Harridans," that's what they called them years ago," Helene was telling Lucas. They were essentially my spies on the ground and damn effective they were too."

  Lucas was listening attentively as Helene continued, "The secret is they have to appear harmless and unimportant. Part of the background. Dowdy, middle-aged women are perfect for that role."

  "Isn't that classic gender bias?" he asked her reasonably.

  "Exactly," Helene responded. "Classic and still extant. Mom or Grandma is not a threat, not even on most people's radars."

  "So you propose we put together a group like that?"

  "I've already begun. I have the names of six women I trust who've said they'll be happy to do it. I think we need a minimum of two dozen to cover that venue so you'll have to go to work as well."

  "And what do I tell them we want them to do?" he asked.

  "Be unobtrusive, mingle, observe and whenever necessary, report."

  Lucas was thoughtful. "Okay," he said, "I can think of several off hand here at the ranch, but I think you'll have to do more recruiting. You've got a bigger pool to choose from."

  "I will. And when the team is chosen I'll give an orientation to them on what to do and how to do it. You'll have to orient them on the physical layout and communications protocol.

  "I can do that," said Lucas. "The layout configuration is what I'm working on."

  "Good. The Harridans will just be another layer of protection. An early warning system."

  After Helene broke the connection Lucas brought the schematics of the hall where the Gathering was to be held up on his screen. He and an assistant resumed their methodical virtual walk through its corridors, discussing every point of entry and how to best secure it.

  Face recognition cameras would be positioned at every doorway and throughout the Hall, especially where crowds could be expected to congregate. Every face would be compared to the files of legitimate attendees and any face not recognized would be barred from entry. With a hundred thousand Gaians expected to participate Lucas planned on using several hundred security people as doorkeepers. These guards would be stationed around every doorway and would receive alerts from the face recognition software. A chime would sound and a face would appear on their screens captioned "Unrecognized - Detain."

  These preparations were all under the category covering entry to the Hall and its interior security. Outside security was another category entirely covering the physical control of the approaches to the Hall and the identification process beforehand of all prospective attendees and participants.

  Lucas felt somewhat constrained in the screening of the delegates by Maeve's admonition to "Keep the security in the background. We don't want to frighten people or make them feel like they're entering a prison."
Toward that end the vetting process was conducted with maximum care not to disturb anyone. Overwhelmingly people could be okayed through their history trail, mostly conducted on the net with only occasional visits in person to check out locations.

  Lucas was relying on Helene's Harridans and the face recognition software to monitor the interior - along with Cindy's squad and Sam's contingent. Outside security was to be accomplished with judicious placement of barriers. People would be required to walk the last quarter mile to the Hall, with shuttles provided for those who needed them. He and Sam reasoned that so long a walk would allow for better observation and would mostly do away with opportunities for mayhem.

  A hundred yards from the Hall itself everyone would have to pass through a portal which sniffed electronically for explosive residues. A plan for General Security was produced and distributed to the Executive and all the heads of department with the note from Lucas, "Not perfect and not complete. Suggestions requested."

  With the General Plan in hand recruitment and assignment began in earnest and the screening of prospective attendees intensified. At dinner Maeve asked, "How are the preparations going?"

  Lucas grimaced, "Pretty well. We'll be as unobtrusive as possible but I'm taking no chances with your safety, or that of the kids."

  "No chances is impossible," said Maeve. "I have to mingle to some extent."

  Lucas' lips tightened, "Only under tightly controlled circumstances. We'll have a version of the Reception Room set up where we can control entry. You'll be able to mingle freely there."

  "That's okay. People need the personal touch, I can't be walled off from everyone."

  "You won't be, just from anyone wanting to do you harm."

  "That's good."

  Maeve looked at Lucas whose lips were still tight and whose brow was furrowed and felt a surge of love and appreciation for the man charged with keeping her safe.

  "I know it's hard, love," she said, "and I know that the need to mingle makes it harder but it's so very important."