April 8: It's Always Something

by Mackey Chandler

  April just nodded. She had no desire to try to weasel more out of Adzusa on that topic. If she succeeded it would just upset her and worry her later. "Still, even if it's not the story you came to cover, you have the video and the story of the duel. Do we have to worry about the North Americans having a fit when they see it?"

  "I don't think so," Adzusa said. "My mentor, Genji Akira, hasn't been automatically issuing his stories in both Japanese and English as was his custom for some time. That may cost him some readership in other areas, like Europe, but he has never wanted to be known as a provocateur. He also is being...careful. There are strong opinions he may wish to express soon, and saying the wrong things now could weaken his ability to steer the debate later. I agree, and continue to bow to his expertise. I'd never insist on something going out differently under my name unless I strongly disagreed on principle, and was ready to abandon his sponsorship."

  April disliked all the weasel wording. It had very low information content. What big issue did Genji expect to surface on which he wanted room to maneuver? Adzusa hadn't quite promised the video wouldn't be distributed to the North Americans. Like anything loose on the web a few people will have the ability to find it and translate it, but if it wasn't published as public content by a big service it would never be a social force. That would have to be sufficient.

  April steered the conversation to her Hawaiian house, people she knew, and general gossip about Hawaii. Even that produced caution in Adzusa's replies. It really must be unstable if she was so worried. When Muños headed out the door with the fellow he'd brought along Adzusa begged off, saying she had to intercept them in the corridor and try to get an interview. April was glad to give that her blessing. She'd sucked everything out of Adzusa she was going to get.

  Everybody else left fairly quickly, and April was alone with Jeff, who was still on his phone, deep in an earnest conversation with someone. He had to be exhausted after the duel and playing host to the mob after, but she wasn't his mother. She had plenty to keep her busy until he was free.

  * * *

  "I was worried Adzusa would post a big story about the duel and get the North Americans all upset again..." Jeff said when finally free. He was looking at his pad perplexed. Everybody else was long gone from April's place, and it was afternoon, but they were far too stuffed from an extravagant breakfast to have even thought about lunch.

  "I had similar thoughts, and discussed it with Adzusa. My take is the video would be hugely embarrassing to the North Americans, not you," April insisted. "I wouldn't worry about Adzusa releasing it. She indicated her service, well at least her boss, Genji, isn't keen on posting sensitive materials to the English language market. For reasons she wouldn't make entirely clear. But even if some of it leaks out, Patrick was a cheater and a foul poisoner, and he still managed to murder an innocent bystander besides losing spectacularly. That aside, I'm hearing a huge but...in your statement," April guessed.

  "Yes, a couple buts. Maybe related." Then he appeared to change his mind. "Or maybe not..."

  "Well, just tell me what happened without all the anguish and analysis," April insisted.

  "First of all, the Isle of Hawaiki had a submarine lurking nearby when my man, Bill Avis, was doing the testing of our defense submersibles."

  "That's not good," April stated the obvious.

  "Well no. But it responded rather erratically to his testing and maneuvers," Jeff said. "They acted like they were going to withdraw, and then turned around and came back. Then they started pinging the Isle every couple of minutes so she would know exactly where they were. Billy assures me that isn't anything any sane submariner would do."

  "They had no choice. They were ordered to turn back," April deduced immediately.

  "You're right," Jeff agreed, surprised again at April's perceptiveness, "but they didn't know it at the time. Billy started pinging them back, echoing their signal, in effect saying, "We hear you," until they got pretty close to the submersible drone in front of them."

  "That must have been nerve racking. This drone, did it work pretty well when they were testing it? Would the sub have been concerned about it?" April asked.

  "Yeah it was able to get up to almost a hundred eighty knots. Faster than any big ship. It might be faster even but Billy saw some problems at that speed and doesn't want to push it any faster right now. The other one though, the original one that is built like a tube seems a bust. It couldn't break through sixty knots even pushed much harder than the other one. I think we'll just retire it and bust it up.

  "I don't think in knots," April admitted. "What is 180 knots in kilometers per hour?"

  Jeff had to check his pad, or at least needed to if he wanted to be exact. "330kph."

  "That sounds pretty fast for under water. That's as fast as most aircars can go," April remembered. "No wonder they didn't want to try to get past it."

  "When they got in closer Billy used the targeting sonar on the spike of the submersible and started sending them Morse code."

  "I forget about that stuff. I probably wouldn't have thought to do that," April admitted.

  "To leave out a lot of pointless detail, they wanted to surrender," Jeff said.

  "Just like the Chinese ship that came in here and wanted to surrender."

  "Yes, and just as chancy. Who knew if they really wanted to surrender, or just get close enough they could launch a missile from so close in they couldn't miss, and we wouldn't have time to intercept?"

  "I take it that's been established?" April asked.

  "The sub is tethered on a boom they fabricated pretty quickly and are trailing off their stern. They are cutting a lot of high end equipment out of her. Some of it is interesting enough that it will be coming back up on the Chariot," Jeff said.

  "And when it's stripped?" April asked.

  "Australia has been kind of lukewarm about allying with us. Even allowing us landing rights. I'm going to call that reporter I talked to, Brett Holland, and ask his opinion on who in their government would care about getting the kind of tech this hull will have, and try to use it as a bargaining chip to get landing rights. I know we have the Isle of Hawaiki now, but landing on a runway is cheaper and the more choices we have the better for us. For everybody," Jeff decided.

  "The crew are going to be more of a problem," Jeff admitted. "Billy had already explained we are so packed with immigrants that people are renting out sleeping space on their floors before they ever called me. So they were not surprised I had no way to start bringing then up immediately. They're going to have to take our word that we will work a deal with the Australians if we can. If not we'll pay them on our own for the sub. I'd rather partner to share the cost if we can.

  "I gave Billy authority to negotiate for me, in their hearing. He already has two of them agreeing to stay on the Isle of Hawaiki as temporary crew. Three of them will go to Australia even if the sub doesn't. The main thing is they can tell we intend to treat them well one way or another. They are all welcome to come to Home when there is housing. I will lift them even if I have to put temporary seats in and lift them with the Dionysus' Chariot. I told Billy to promise that. It would take two lifts too...expensive."

  "I thought Billy was Dave's employee, just there to test your submersibles?" April said. "But you're saying 'my man' now. Was he an agent and you never mentioned it?"

  "Well he is, and was, Dave's man, but he'd already started talking to them. He'd established a rapport with them, partly because he wasn't my rep. They trusted he didn't have an agenda. By that time they were dead close to each other and talking on a jury rigged hydrophone.

  "They heard me ask him to deal with them as a second job, so everybody understood where they were in relation to everybody else as far as obligations, with no secrets, no hidden agendas to worry about. It was a three way conversation by then, though they've never had to deal with the speed of light lag. They thought I was over thinking everything and indecisive until Billy explained why I hesitated so long at everyt
hing they said.

  "I pretty much had to hire him on the spot and promise to pay him for doing the second job. Li wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole and Captain Havilland said driving one boat is as much as he needs on his plate, and I don't know or trust any of the new crew there. Who was I going to send down and how would I get them there?"

  "The North Americans may decide to destroy it rather than let you see its secrets," April warned. "That's what you did," she reminded him.

  "Ah, well yeah, except they seem to be very busy with something else," Jeff said.

  April just looked a question at him.

  "That's the other big thing. It appears Hawaii has declared its independence once again."

  "Ah, finally the other shoe drops...that doesn't surprise me at all. It's probably what Adzusa was being so coy about. I knew my house boy was conspiring to bring that about years ago. And my neighbor, Diana, recently gave me enough hints that things were about to come to a head, she just wasn't free to say anything on com. It's been an on and off, hot and cold issue for a long time," April said.

  "Your house boy? Did you have anything to do with this?" Jeff asked suspiciously.

  April started to object, and then remembered how her good friend Jelly had said, "Indeed, by the most amazing coincidence, there does seem to be a history of expensive damage, death and destruction, strewn closely behind when you get rolling." The trouble was she couldn't argue it wasn't factually true. It just wasn't what she intended. Her friend Jelly, indeed most of her friends, were willing to concede that. She really didn't want to be at odds with Jeff. What he thought about her was important, very important. She'd been worried she might drift apart from him or Heather with them apart and so busy with different things. So she answered very carefully.

  "Not directly. I did not fund him, or encourage him, other than give him a job. It was just at normal wages too, not a ploy to channel him funds. I didn't encourage him, but I didn't turn him in, why should I? He just wanted what we did. I find that a pretty good reason. I knew of a smuggler and an unlicensed jitney and other activities in Hawaii, but never thought to make any of it my concern. I broke the law in Hawaii, but it's North America. You can break the law three times before lunch, having breakfast in and staying home all morning!"

  Jeff looked to be examining her words carefully. Deciding if anything was disingenuous. Then he surprised her by simply asking, "Do you think they will succeed?"

  "It depends on how they treat the haoles. There aren't enough pure blooded natives left to win a revolution. If they try to exclude fourth and fifth generation residents who have never known anywhere else just because of where their great-grandfather was from...no, that's not gonna work. Do they think they are going to depopulate the islands? The islands depopulated themselves about as far is it's going to go voluntarily when the economy went in the crapper after the flu. I have no idea what their goals are. They may even seize my house as an evil absent landowner. But I'm actually surprised the North Americans haven't stolen it already. If it's gone it's gone," April decided. "It's not worth inciting a war over a house. They..." April stopped and looked surprised.

  "They who?" Jeff asked, a little irritated.

  "Answering your question opened up a whole new set of ideas," April admitted. "Hawaii has a big population of North Americans. They are a factor. But they also have a significant population of people of Japanese descent."

  "Are they a factor too?" Jeff asked.

  "They might be, if Japan decides to recognize the new government. I'd bet that will depend on how they intend to treat their minorities, including those Japanese," April guessed.

  "You really think they'd have the guts to make such a clean break with their former ally?"

  "Possibly," April allowed. "Nothing lasts forever, and their long time friend appears to have gone schizophrenic on them. From what Adzusa said, they don't have much confidence in them being rational and dependable allies anymore."

  "Then we'll have to see if they grant non-natives property rights and a franchise. If they want my support I'd have to ask them up front what they intend to do. I'd want some assurances they aren't going to try some revolutionary excesses like others have, and seize property and kick people out."

  "Realistically, I don't think I have enough influence to do much about it," April said

  "You could just kind of accidentally lose a rod down the chimney," Jeff said, with a dropping gesture. "Just to deny them the pleasure of stealing it."

  "I'd be scared of hurting Diana's place next door," April said. Then had a different thought. "Unless they take her property too. Then I might not worry about damage. They'd still get the land."

  "Anyway, are you suddenly opposed to revolution?" April teased him. "Are you the man now?"

  "No, no...it's just, it gets complicated if you start dabbling in other people's revolutions. I wouldn't endanger what we have trying to export revolution. It always seems to go badly and get corrupted. If they want to revolt let them do it themselves, and at most recognize them after," he counseled.

  April nodded at the sensibleness of it. "Heather has kept Central out of the chaos at Armstrong," she said with obvious approval.

  Jeff also just nodded his agreement that such a course had been wisdom. "I am the man at Camelot," Jeff admitted. "If anybody else wants the job I'll sell the whole thing off cheap," he vowed. "May I remind you we're both peers of the Sovereign of Central? I've just been too...busy to oppress the peasants properly."

  "I know. And I've been thinking we need to spend more time at Central, and with Heather," not equating the two of them. "You scared me badly this morning," April finally said. It might seem a non sequitur, but Jeff had been waiting for her to say it all day. It made perfect sense if you knew the unspoken statement was, "Get yourself killed and you won't be spending any time with us..."

  "What else could I do?" Jeff asked. "I'd have destroyed my reputation to do anything else."

  "It was a thinly veiled attempt at assassination. I should have burned him down where he stood," April said. "The duel is supposed to be for matters the law doesn't address, or matters of heart and honor, not filthy politics."

  "Maybe his politics were that important to him," Jeff said with a shrug. "He did die for it. Home is certainly that important to me. I'd like to think our politics aren't filthy. Is that possible? The thing is, I can't see living in a world run by God's Warriors. It would be a horrible narrow life. I have to wonder if he could really envision what it would be like?"

  "You are making me think too much. And I don't like some of the things I'm thinking," April said.

  "Out with it," Jeff said, prodding her with a finger.

  "OK, how about this?...You reject the world Patrick wanted. But, could all the people on Earth live like we are? If you forced them to, would they be happy with it?"

  "Not a chance," Jeff agreed without hesitation.

  They sat and said nothing for awhile.

  "But a lot of them can't seem to find any way to live that pleases them," he complained.

  "Yeah. That's kind of sad. But what I'm saying is...it's not our problem."

  "That's exactly what I was saying about exporting revolution," Jeff said. "It doesn't work."

  "Then we're in agreement. We just got there from different ends," April said, making her forefingers touch from each side.

  "Good. I like us like that," Jeff said, and pulled her closer.

  * * *

  "These people aren't part of our western civilization," Garry Morgan objected. "They are of deplorable moral character and not worthy of any recognition, much less an exchange of favors with our great nation of Australia." The faces around him were hard and impatient. Their minds were made up and he was just an irritant, wasting their time.

  "Did you not see the video? They still duel! The Prosperity Party objects strenuously to any accord with them." He ran out of time and sat down, thoroughly put out at the larger parties. He wasn't even privy to the committee
that discussed the details of the secret deal they were getting to recognize Home and grant them landing rights. Even the military was firmly in the camp to approve it. Why? What possible interest could they have in a bunch of radicals and weirdos out beyond the moon? Finally he got up and walked out, rather than watch the final vote to align with these savages.

  * * *

  In Japan, the vote in the Diet was much quicker than Australia, with no debate.

  "As our interests are increasingly intertwined with Home, there is no advantage to receiving Home goods through third parties, such as Australia and Tonga, at higher cost. To offset such needless waste, we see no barrier to receiving vessels from Home directly, with certain controls and limits. The legal ownership of the habitat has recently returned to full Japanese control, under Mitsubishi corporation. Also, we have a history of good cooperation with the present political governance. Therefore, please see that we are attaching a rider to the commerce bill which describes the spaceports authorized for such entry of Home celestial vessels to Japan. Our procedures for Japanese exclusive control of their admission to our airspace, the short term limited admittance of crew in lay-over, and customs classifications for the entry of such goods is spelled out in the rider."

  * * *

  "Mon Dieu! I don't approve of the legal aspects of returning to the duel," the Prime Minister of France said, in reaction to the leaked video, "but the Homies do have some style."

  Msr. Broutin smiled. The PM knew he favored Home. He made a point of razzing Broutin about it. The previous PM had been much more the romantic and inclined to favor Home too, but their attempt to get Home recognized by the whole European Union had been badly received and never implemented. Joel had been President of France then, not Prime Minister, back when that had been attempted. They weren't fast friends quite yet, but they had a better relationship now than before.

  "You realize the lovely young woman in the gown and jewels is the same one I showed you a few years ago in a sinister black outfit like a commando, festooned with weapons?" Broutin asked.