by Phil Walker
“Now it is my distinct honor to present to you, our beloved Queen Victoria. She has already seen what you are about to see, and has something she wants to say about it.”
The Queen walked out on the stage and all stood and bowed in respect. Victoria took the microphone from Gladstone and said, “Please be seated.”
“My fellow countrymen, in England in the past 20 years we have seen great changes and the introduction of modern equipment in our Age of Industry. We can be proud of what we have accomplished. We can also appreciate improvements in technology when we see it. Tonight, you are going to see what the United States has been up to the last 100 years. I believe after you see it, you will begin to understand the significant changes in store for us. With this technology will come a new political age for Europe and the world. I’m sure you are going to enjoy this, and am honored to be the first to share it. Thank you, enjoy the show.”
The lights went down and the curtain parted. On the stage was a huge silver frame. Music began to play. It was rich and triumphant music. Suddenly the screen lit up and the picture of a great mountain range with snow-topped peaks came into view as the music rose to a crescendo. Every person in the room jumped when the music started, and then grabbed their seat arms when the picture came on.
For the next two hours, Londoners were spellbound by the scenes they saw, the incredibly sophisticated technology displayed, from the huge streams of molten steel pouring from huge cauldrons, to trucks and trains running across the wide plains of the mid-west with thousands of miles of lush crops, with huge machinery harvesting it.
When the show was over, there was no applause, just the soft sound of humbled feet as they exited the theater.
Even the newspapers the next morning were somewhat subdued. The show at Prince Albert Hall was the greatest thing anyone had ever seen, all right, but the British ego was severely damaged. To have been bested in such a spectacular way, brought grudging admiration for the Americans and a deep hunger for the United States to keep its word and start bringing this world to the English countryside. Only the members of Parliament truly understood the price this glittering world would cost. On the surface, the United Nations looked like a concept that would work, as long as America let it work.
The reaction in the other capitals of Europe was much the same. Otto von Bismarck was dumbfounded that his Kaiser knew his plans in detail and even more perplexed when the Kaiser produced a completed agreement between France and Germany. “No sense in wasting lives, when a little diplomacy works as well,” said the Kaiser, and laughed when Bismarck left the room.
As it turned out, Queen Victoria’s visit to America was more than just a great thrill and wonder for her. President Gallagher had the foresight to bring along a couple of doctors, nurses and a lot of medical equipment.
After they were in the air, Gallagher mentioned as gently as he could that it was important the Monarch of the greatest empire on earth be kept in perfect medical condition and got her approval for a fairly extensive examination. A doctor gave her a shot with a mild sedative and the Queen slipped off to sleep. The doctors went to work.
An hour before they landed she was awakened. She smiled and said, “I have not felt so good in 30 years.” She enjoyed a delicious and healthy breakfast. She watched with beguilement as the plane skirted down the east coast, to see New York and the other cities from the air was a thrilling experience. President Gallagher kept up a running commentary as they flew closer to Washington.
The plane made two low level passes over the city to give Victoria a complete view, and then landed at the airport. During the visit by the European leaders, Gallagher realized he needed some kind of official car to haul dignitaries. He consulted with Arcadia and she described the general outline of a limousine. The vehicle in shiny black was waiting on the tarmac, along with two young women and a driver. Gallagher opened the door and the 51-year old Queen stepped easily into the car. “I have no idea what your doctors did on the voyage here,” said Victoria, “but I feel wonderful, like a school girl again.”
Gallagher did not miss the opportunity, “Imagine that all of the people in England can have the same feelings?”
“That would be quite a gift,” agreed Victoria.
“You have also been vaccinated against, measles, mumps, influenza, yellow fever, whooping cough, and tuberculosis.”
“Really,” said the Queen, “You have cures for all these diseases?”
“And many more,” said Gallagher. “You have arthritis and gout, a form of arthritis that affects the joints. Your freedom of movement is largely from the treatment we administered for that.”
“This vehicle…I saw vehicles like it in the video, what is the source of power for it?”
“It’s called the internal combustion engine, and it runs on refined petroleum. Victoria now turned her attention to the two women who had gotten in the limousine with them. “I would like to introduce you to the two young ladies who will be caring for your needs while you are with us,” said Gallagher. “This is Dolly and Shannon.”
“I am pleased to meet you both,” said Victoria.
“It is our honor,” said Shannon.
“Where are we headed first,” asked Victoria?
“To your quarters where you will stay while you are with us,” said Gallagher, “The sudden change in time zones from Europe to Washington creates something called ‘jet lag’. This is a temporary thing proper rest will cure while your body resets it’s biological clock.”
“William told me something about his quarters. He said they were quite remarkable.”
“You are about to find out for yourself. Your guides will stay with you and help explain everything.”
They were pulling into the curved driveway of the Resort at that moment, and people came running out to handle the luggage.
“Is it always so hot here?” asked Victoria fanning her face with a handkerchief.
“It’s summer,” said Gallagher, “the clothing you’re wearing is making it much worse. We have better clothing for you in your rooms.”
Victoria had the same reaction to the interior of the resort as the others. She greatly admired it for a moment.
“This is where I leave you for a while,” said Gallagher, “I hope you will accept my invitation to dine with us tonight at the White House, our Executive Mansion?”
“It will be my pleasure,” said Victoria.
After Gallagher left, Dolly and Shannon escorted the Queen to the elevators, which she thought were just ingenious. They went to the corner suite, and went inside. For the next hour, the guides explained all the appliances of the big suite. They gave Victoria her badge to wear around her neck and explained all it did. The Queen had to marvel at the sheer opulence of the rooms and the lovely balcony that wrapped around the corner of the building, giving a truly spectacular view of Washington.
The guides opened the closets and brought out truly elegant clothing. The garments had the advantage of being light to wear and were far more comfortable than the mostly wool clothing worn by Victoria.
“You must feel very soiled and uncomfortable from your long trip,” said Shannon. “Let me introduce you to the one thing you are going to enjoy the most about your rooms.” They led her into the bathroom and demonstrated how the shower worked. Victoria giggled at how ingenious it was.
“Why don’t you give it a try, suggested Dolly?
They helped Victoria undress and covered her with a huge soft towel. She learned about the soap, shampoo, and conditioner dispensers. “Step right in and enjoy washing yourself from top to bottom, “ said Shannon. “Wash your hair, and use the conditioner. It’s very healthy for you, and we can fix your hair beautifully when you are finished.”
It didn’t take Victoria long to see what a relaxing convenience the shower was. She lingered at it. When she came out, the girls wrapped her in a soft towel.
“I can see where one would want to do that often.”
“As a matter of fact,
ma’am, almost everyone in America takes a shower every day. It cleans the skin, opens your pores, and promotes better health.”
With that, the women started to take Victoria’s now very soft hair and arrange it beautifully for dinner. She chose an elegant gown and some very ornate jewelry from the closet and makeup table. The girls had discreetly disposed of all her stinking garments she’d brought from England. .
Gallagher left the resort and went straight to Arcadia’s Georgetown home. “Well, she’s in the resort and safe. Our docs fixed her up pretty good on the flight. It probably added 20 years to her life. Now, the question is, how do we make the most of the opportunity?”
“She’s an invaluable asset, of course,” said Arcadia. “The opening session of the United Nations is in less than a month, I would like her to be here for that. It could have a pacifying effect on our number one troublemaker, Otto von Bismarck. Kaiser Wilhelm promises he will be on the plane of leaders who come here”
Arcadia sat and thought for several moments. Then she said, “Chuck, the seeds of the modern world with all its problems come out of the next 30 years in world history. The first problem is the intricate, complex, and continuously changing diplomacy of Bismarck. We have to use the United Nations to neutralize him and nudge the principal powers of Europe into peaceful coexistence. I believe they will be unwilling to give up the many improvements we will make to their countries. The trouble with that is it’s not going to happen overnight. It takes time to build railroads, highways, and power plants to create an electrical grid,”
“The reason why there is all this turbulence in Europe is because the Ottoman Empire, which has existed for over 600 years, is on the ropes. From the 12th to the 17th centuries, it was a formidable nation. It conquered and ruled half of Eastern Europe, almost all the Middle East, and North Africa, including Egypt. However, today, the Empire is much weaker, and all of Europe is nibbling away at the Ottoman presence in the Balkans. This is where the flash point for World War I, will occur. As you know, we’ve been dealing with the Ottomans separately and caused them to rethink their position. We’ll have to be very careful of our neutrality here. We can’t afford to directly confront a Muslim country and produce the kind of animosity the results in our catastrophe in 2025. We need to establish an excellent relationship with the country that will emerge from the Ottoman Empire. We have had our best people working on this for years. It has been your successors pre-occupation for a decade.”
“Poor Tony,” said Gallagher, “you’ve worked him a lot harder than you worked me before I took over.”
“We had the luxury of time in those days,” said Arcadia. “Now events will start coming at us fast and furious. We would not be where we are today without your own hard work and inspired leadership, Chuck.”
“Thanks for that” said Gallagher. “Arcadia, you might be immortal, but I am not. I have served this country for 30 years. If you want to know the truth, I’m ready to retire.”
“I know, Chuck, and I love you dearly. You have been the greatest and brought us a long way, but I know burn out when I see it. You’ve got Tony Carter warming up. Do you think he’s ready? He’s 30 years younger than you are.”
“More than ready,” said Gallagher, he’s already running more of the country than I was when I took over.”
“I agree,” said Arcadia, “he and I have spent a great deal of time together, especially on the Ottoman problem. The plan is coming together. However, for the moment, you are the face of America to the Europeans, and when they get here, I want you to get some of the credit for the coup we have on the front burner. You have to stay long enough to get through the next few sessions of a much different United Nations. When Tony puts the finishing touches on the grand plan, the Europeans are going to need a lot of handholding. After that, Tony Carter will be the fair-haired boy and you can retire.
“Are we still proceeding as you have told me?” asked Gallagher. This plan has been underway for two years.
“We are working out the final kinks in the endgame with the Jews. We need to establish a Jewish state now, not 70 years from now after 6 million of them die in the holocaust. The Ottoman Empire currently controls all that land down there, including Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. We think money will be the key to that problem.”
“What are you going to do,” asked Gallagher? “I thought you had all this figured out in 2025?”
“Wrong!” said Arcadia. “God just told me the solution to our catastrophe in 2025 was begun in 1770. He never told me how to work it all out. I pray all the time and seek his guidance. So far we’ve been able to get an advanced society that dominates the world and a reputation for being a neutral, problem-solving country whose intentions are only for peace and prosperity.”
“Will membership in the United Nations, for the Ottoman’s get you closer to solving the future problem?” asked Gallagher.
“It will if the plan works. However, there is the little problem of Sharia law, that’s law based on Muslim religion. The Ottomans are about to toss it out in favor of secular law, but I seriously doubt they are going to give the franchise to women, unless they have to. The trick is to make it seem like their idea.”
“How do you intend to get them to do that?
“A dose of reality, I think,” said Arcadia
50
Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Vice-President Tony Carter hung up the phone. He and the Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire were making final preparations for “Operation Turkey” which had been in motion for years.
When Arcadia had first come to Carter with the scheme, he was very doubtful of being able to do it. It did not have the luxury of being able to deal with a relatively civilized society, such as was present in Europe. He was dealing with a Muslim country corrupt as they came, and one that had a built in animosity against Christians and Jews. The law of the land was Sharia law, based on religious principles.
The ruler of the Ottoman Empire was Abdul Hamid I, who was extremely pious and devoted to Islam. Surrounding him was a court of viziers who often exercised independent authority in matters of state.
Into this cauldron of chaos, marched the United States.
The first thing Carter had to accomplish was to establish diplomatic relations. Even this was difficult. America was a long way from Constantinople and the Ottoman Empire had done things in their part of the world pretty much as they pleased for 600 years. If you were to ask most people in the capital, they would tell you the Ottoman Empire was as powerful as ever. This Carter knew not to be the truth. The Ottoman Empire had been in serious decline for the past 50 years, and their influence in Europe was under assault by Russia, Austria-Hungary, and the Germans. The Ottoman Empire had not kept up with modernizing their army, and was suffering defeats regularly.
Carter was not about to arm the Ottomans with new weapons. That would have been a violation of everything the United States stood for. Instead, in a bold and super-secret action with a team of Rangers, Carter captured the Ottoman Empires’ public enemy number 1. He was a notorious brigand and pirate who had raided Ottoman commerce for years.
With a couple of Rangers to protect him and handle the brigand, the American Ambassador padlocked the crook to the gates of Topkapi Palace, left an American flag attached to the pirate and casually walked away.
That did the trick. Two days later Carter was invited to the palace to be thanked for his service, by Abdul Hamid I. He surprised the Sultan by responding in fluent Turkish and asked permission to show the Sultan a video, in Turkish, of the United States. This marvelous piece of technology was so impressive to Hamid, he began to be interested in everything American. Carter complied and over a period of several months, he was able to provide the Sultan with the wonders of American technology.
The Sultan was dumbfounded to learn that the United States was the biggest country in the world. He was further surprised to learn America was the greatest trading nation on earth. He began to suspect the Europe
ans were causing his Empire so much trouble because of the advanced technology they were receiving, even though Carter stressed very often America was a neutral country and never took sides in disputes, and absolutely, never supplied weapons to anyone. Carter began to plant the seeds of a deeply held Religious ethic in the United States. Even though, America was Christian, it humbly followed the will of Allah in all things and practiced peaceful relations with each other and with other countries. In the end, the Sultan and Carter became close friends.
A stream of luxury goods and practical tools began to flow into the Capital, from very modern steel ships that caused a sensation whenever they appeared. Carter would only say these were normal samples provided to all countries when beginning a trade relationship. In return, America was accepting pistachio nuts and several tons of raw opium, which became high quality morphine for American medicine.
A year went by. In 1870, a letter was received by the Sultan from President Gallagher. It was an invitation for the Sultan to actually, visit the United States. The Sultan had learned through the year America never invited anyone to visit the super-secret United States. He had corresponded with other leaders and found out that such an invitation was unprecedented. The Sultan was to come alone, his safety was guaranteed, and he would receive a million dollars in gold from the United States. Not only that, but the United States would provide transportation, that was unique.
