Swiftly, his fingers moved over the controls and pressed a button on the side of the box. After a few seconds he heard the extremely weak sound of the dragonfly. He saw it as it approached and slowed softly in mid-air and slid down towards the box. When it had entered the box, the hatch slid back again. He glanced up. A pair of swallows approached him a meter above the reeds, turned to the east when they discovered him and disappeared. He studied them for a few seconds and then returned to pack the rest of his gear and left the screaming and the uproar behind him.
*
Tabula Rasa, Madagascar.
2048-12-28
It is the early bird that catches the worm. They had slept well and both were filled with energy. Malin and Denver together entered the beautiful elevator were Derek Lamm, dressed in a suit that looked like it was two sizes too small, waited. The elevator doors closed softly behind them and unnoticeable they started their ascent.
Faint, instrumental music streamed from hidden speakers. Malin looked over to one of the elevator wall that was covered with floor-to-ceiling mirrors. On opposing side, three artwork hung that slowly changed shape. It did not look like any elevator Malin ever been into. She stared, fascinated, while the three abstract artworks slowly changed appearance into something more modernistic in pace with the rhythm of the music.
Malin was dressed in a dark pantsuit. Her long hair was tied back and her nails were perfect with sharp French manicure. Denver had a dark blue suit with a blood red tie. The shoes were polished and his hair combed back. They were the quintessential picture of effectiveness. This was their specialty, a super-professional appearance that demanded respect and some fear. They had perfected this routine in the last year and functioned almost like a single person. One ended what the other started. They stood together in the elevator on their way up to their first meeting with Vendrick.
They had been promised two interviews during their time they would spend at Tabula Rasa and they would use the opportunity to the fullest. The set-up for the first interview was to get to know him and ask questions from a pre-approved list of questions that the press officers at Tabula Rasa had gone through with them.
If the first interview went well and they passed through the needle's eye, they would be allowed to carry out a second, more informal interview with Vendrick. Malin's pulse increased slightly. She did not know where the longing for fame came from and it was also irrelevant, she had it and she would act to satisfy it.
She glanced over at Denver and saw that he was equally fascinated by the beautiful, almost lifelike works of art.
“They are beautiful, aren’t they?” Lamm saw their obvious fascination with the three paintings.
Malin nodded.
“Yes, they are absolutely amazing. I've never seen anything like it. It looks like they're alive.”
Lamm laughed.
“Yes, they are quite fascinating. They are created by an artist named Leila Oman who lives here in Tabula Rasa. We were lucky who managed to get her here, it was actually quite dramatic.”
Denver turned his eyes away from the paintings.
“What happened?”
Lamm corrected the already perfect tie and told the story of how Leila had come to an application center and after dramatic events, came to Tabula Rasa. Denver sounded doubtful.
“So she stepped straight into an application center, and just like that she came here?”
Lamm's eyes blazed and Malin seemed to see something furious in them.
“No, nothing like that. We have a rigorous process for investigating and interviewing all the candidates applying to Tabula Rasa. There is a whole combination of tests, interviews and applications a person have to go through before he or she is formally allowed to apply for a place here.”
Malin looked furtively over at Denver with a meaningful look. Denver apologized.
“I did not mean to offend anyone. I was not aware that you had such an extensive process for selecting candidates for Tabula Rasa.”
Lamm allowed himself to be appeased.
“Yes, we have. Actually one of the toughest and most demanding selection processes among all the mega complexes. We in Tabula only want the best. The competition for coming here is tough so we can luckily allow ourselves to be a bit picky”, he laughed and his eyes were fixed on Malin. Lamm smiled widen just as the elevator stopped and the elevator doors quietly slid open. He gestured to Malin and Denver to step out. Malin returned the smile and they walked out of the elevator.
“It's impressive. I have of course heard rumors like everyone else about Tabula Rasa, but once you see it, it’s undoubtedly admirable.”
Lamm smiled if possible even wider so you almost saw all his shiny bright white teeth.
“Thank you, thank you, it’s very kind of you. We ourselves believe that we succeeded quite well here but it is always nice to hear it from someone from the outside.”
“From the outside? Do you think of all the other people of the world who do not live here like those from the outside?”
Malin frowned, kind of jokingly.
“Well, that's not what I meant,” laughed Lamm, “it was more a reflection of what you said. But, of course, I have understood that some who live here have acclimatized themselves very quickly and I have actually heard some talk about those from the outside when they talk to each other. I guess it is in some people's nature to divide the world into compartments.”
Malin smiled and turned away and walked the narrow corridor to the vaulted exit. She knew that Derek was studying her. She had an instinctive feeling that something was wrong with him. Formally, Lamm had been very helpful. He had picked them up from their luxury suite where they had been accommodated and given them a spectacular sightseeing within the complex.
A lunch worthy of a king had been laid out and Malin wondered why they received such opulent treatment. Admittedly both she and Denver worked for an international magazine, but she still thought it seemed excessive that they would be treated like superstars. She had come to Tabula Rasa to make an honest report about how one of the most powerful men in the world had built up a vision like this. They had still not met Vendrick and an uneasy feeling of anxiety had begun to get a hold of her. She turned towards Lamm.
“I believe we had an appointment with John Vendrick. When can we meet him?”
Lamm seemed surprised by the question but quickly found his feet.
“He is a very busy man. When he gets an opening in his schedule, I'm sure you are at the top of the list.” He beamed.
Malin looked at him with hard eyes.
“Yes, I really hope so. I don’t want to have travelled all the way here to then being cheated of the main course.”
Lamm stiffened, his eyes flashed.
“No. As I said, I'm sure you're on top of the list when he gets the time.”
Lamm gestured with his arm that she should continue out through the archway. She turned around and stepped out. She gasped.
In front of her, the most beautiful scene she had ever seen presented itself. They were more than two hundred meters up and the long balcony they were on, closely weaved itself against the wall in an undulating shape. She glanced down and saw a huge park spread out below them.
Fountains in the park below looked like small wells and the major roads that crossed it in regular patterns resembled narrow paths. One side of the park was covered with large trees and resembled a forest area. The other had several large hills crossed by a waterfall. It was so high to the ceiling where they were that birds flew freely inside, and Malin stood speechlessly for several seconds staring at the picture in front of her.
Usually, the complexes had a certain crowded claustrophobic feeling over them. Sure, there used to be open spaces where people could relax, but not in this way. Lamm saw that she was impressed.
“This is the largest of our parks. The Genesis Park. It serves as a natural meeting place and is open to everyone, day and night.” He smiled.
Denver pointed down to
a lake where a number of small boats slowly slid forward.
“I see you have rowing boats you can rent too?”
Lamm snickered.
“Both yes and no. We have a variety of transports here at Tabula. Some more romantic than others. But they cost almost nothing, they are basically free.”
Denver and Malin watched with fascination the magnificent view when an open carriage quietly glided up next to them and she saw that it was a similar carriage that the dozens of others she saw sliding around beneath her. The little carriages followed what appeared to be invisible rails around the park and different trails branched out like nerve pathways in an organism. The carriages hovered a few centimeters above the ground and were completely silent. In the larger carriages there was space for more than ten people, in the smaller maybe two. Malin looked amazed at the little carriages slowly moving around, in what looked like a choreographed pattern. In the park she could count eleven carriages that were more or less filled with people and slid from one destination to the other. Lamm led the way and they sat down in the carriage which glided down towards the park.
“How do they work, the carriages?”
“It's an invention that we developed further.” Derek said proudly. “Each apartment has at least one carriage belonging to it and can be freely disposed of by the apartment owners. When not in use, it is available to transport around other people when needed. We have a sophisticated system that balances supply with demand.”
“Are they powered by electricity?”
“Of course. Tabula Rasa is energy positive in the sense that we produce more energy than we spend. The surplus is sold to the continental African power grid.”
“What kind of production do you have here? I know some that you have research and development but in what areas?” Denver looked out over the area.
Lamm turned to him.
“We are the world leaders in many areas, but especially in robotics and genetics we belong to the absolute top players. Tabula Rasa has built on what generations of prominent scientists have created and we have taken it to a new level, "he paused effectively." You can almost say that it is here that the next chapter of human history will be written.”
He blinked and smiled a dazzling smile.
*
Tabula Rasa, Madagascar.
2048-12-28
He tried to convince himself that he was the all-seeing eye that saw everything that was going on, nothing would go undetected. John Vendrick III gazed at one of four, beveled screens in front of him while he rolled a thick gold coin between his fingers. His thoughts was interrupted when the holophone chirped.
The call was unexpected and not welcomed. He leaned forward in his chair and pushed a button. Arik Zimki`s glimmering face slowly faded in on the holoscreen in front of him.
“John.”
John swallowed hard and nodded.
“Arik.”
Arik Zimki was of one the top leader of another mega complex, Helder Ster, just outside of Johannesburg. A number of different leaders of a selected group of mega complexes around the world had secretly joined forces to expand their cooperation without the United Nations prying eyes, and Arik was one of the more prominent voices within the group.
“I have discussed with the group regarding the past weeks turn of events with the United Nations increased interest in Tabula Rasa’s cloning program” he looked straight at John, “And to speak clearly we are worried. According to our sources of information that we have is that the United Nations is preparing to press charges against you and will force you to hand over the responsible for the banned cloning programs.”
John was speechless with surprise and drummed nervously with his fingers on the table and damned himself the same second when he caught himself doing it. He clenched his fist and put it in his lap, out of sight for Arik. He was just about to answer when Arik continued.
“And we all agree that this brings too much attention to you and indirectly to us.” Arik's stone-colored gray eyes stared straight at John. John twisted.
“I know that this was not the most advantageous process, but I have put plans into action that will neutralize the threat” John smiled stiffly, “It will actually be resolved quite soon.”
Arik`s face glittered when the signal for the hologram experienced interference.
“You better. We can’t afford any mistakes. The group is nervous that this attention can ruin our ongoing plans.”
John nodded stiffly but inside he was raging. Arik had discussed with the group without him. It was highly irregular. When the group met, all nine members should be included, all, without exception.
Arik`s mouth pressed into a thin line.
“One more thing.”
John blinked when Arik leaned forward.
“That lawyer that we have kept our eyes on. He seems to have extensive plans regarding your eventual indictment.”
John felt like he was standing in front a teacher that were lecturing him.
“Yes, I'm aware of the problem and also for that problem I'm working on a solution.”
Arik glared at John.
“Just make sure your back is free. We cannot afford mistakes.”
Before John could answer Arik hung up. John remained seated, speechless, before he closed his eyes and grabbed the gold coin.
* * *
John felt the hard edges of the coin and enjoyed the relief it brought him. The coin, an older American twenty-dollar coin from 1907, was worth over a million dollars and he let his finger slide over it. It was something magic with gold coins and he smiled when he thought about the older, now deceased, former owner had to die so that John could hold it in his hand. Normally, a coin collector would not touch the coins with his bare hands; all contact would be done gently with gloved hands but John did not care about that. When he felt a valuable, unique coin between his fingers and let his fingertips explore every edge on the coins he used to shiver with pleasure.
He put the coin down into its holder, leaned forward and studied the screen. It showed the two journalists walking along the aisle down to one of the research labs.
John was in his office and sat down in his handmade wooden chair and sipped a freshly brewed cup of coffee while enjoying the smell that surrounded him. It was not just any coffee. He only drank the best. This was the coffee from the famous Hacienda La Esmeralda. The world's finest coffee. The coffee beans were grown only in one place throughout the world, on the famous Mount Baru in Panama.
Many coffee connoisseurs around the world could only dream of drinking a cup of coffee made from beans from Mount Baru. For John Vendrick III it was normal. A smile spread across his lips. He was born to superiority and it was his right to enjoy life and what it had to offer him. John enjoyed the warmth from the coffee and the divine flavor. Jackie came walking up to him and he signaled to the dog to jump up in his lap.
On the screen, the two journalists stood together and talked to Lamm. John had worked intensively with Lamm in the last few days and prepared for their visit. This was the first time some independent journalists from outside had gained access to Tabula Rasa. It was exciting, he had always been in need of control, and that need had meant that the whole process that had created Tabula Rasa had in principle been done without the prying eyes of the world press.
The increase in the last years of terrorist attacks on a global level, and accelerating environmental degradation had made the constant stream of requests to the mega complexes admittedly had risen steadily but Tabula Rasa application rates were still at a level far above the others. The perception of Tabula Rasa was that it was safe and secure as the others but also something more. Something more undefinable. A perception that life in Tabula Rasa was a part of humanity's next step. That if a person got in there you lived happily ever after. Tabula Rasa lived well on its legendary reputation as the elite of the mega complexes that now grew up around the world. It was here that the next generation of humanity would arise, like an empty canvas that w
as filled by the creator's genius. This was his Tabula Rasa.
His eyes drifted over to another computer screen, and for the hundredth time saw the grainy film how the sphere in orbit responded to their communications. The camera angle was not the best, the film came from a camera that was on the automatic relay station that was used to communicate between Tabula Rasa’s space station and the ground. The space station caught sight of the sphere when it had risen from the lunar surface and placed itself in orbit around the moon.
They had already had a good idea of how it behaved. They had managed to establish contact with it by chance. One of the technicians at the space station were to set up the transmitter that use laser light to communicate but had mistakenly entered the coordinates of the sphere.
The technician had quickly realized his mistake and were just about to reprogram the transmitter when the amazing happened. The sphere had responded. The film showed how the sphere had answered the communication with its own communication. John fascinatedly stared at the data stream that the sphere sent and the relay station forwarded. The sphere had responded with a similar laser pulse that they had sent and for John it had decided the question of whether the sphere was intelligent or not. But exactly what the sphere sent was not as clear. His best scientists had made progress in interpreting the information, but the code was far from broken. They needed a key in the communication with the sphere and they were getting close to understand what the key for large parts were made of but it was not all information. But it was just a matter of time. Maybe the space station in orbit around the moon would help to solve the problem.
Dr Zoltan worked up at the space station and monitored the sphere and John had the biggest confidence in him. As John, Dr Zoltan was a believer. He believed wholeheartedly in Tabula Rasa and would do everything to manage to uncover the secrets of the sphere.
His eyes glided over to another screen that showed the price trend of all listed mega complexes. He nodded contently when he saw that the price for a Tabula Rasa share continued to skyrocket. The other mega complexes were not nearly as profitable as Tabula Rasa.
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