Contest (The Stork Tower Book 6)

by Tony Corden

  Leah smiled and said, “It’s not quite that bad, Em. It does hurt. Alright, it actually hurts quite a bit. Honestly though, flinching just makes it hurt more. I’ve been practising my breathing exercises and trying to hold the pain at arm’s length. I feel it, but I’m not going to let it control me. Having said that, I’m not averse to taking the odd chemical or herbal aid to lessen the pain.”

  Leah’s break was soon up, and both Mia and Emily helped Leah back to the shower. This time Mia let Emily do most of the work while she observed. Once Leah was done, they helped her back into the Pod. As the cover closed, Leah could hear Mia setting Emily some reading to do.

  STORK TOWER

  Once Leah was back in the Tower, she made her way to the large bedroom Gèng had constructed and lay down for two and a half hours of NREM3 sleep. She would have preferred to have the full three hours, but she had a meeting at three, and it was already almost twenty minutes after midnight. As her head hit the pillow, Gèng brought her to deep sleep.

  At two fifty in the morning, Leah opened her eyes and lay still for a moment until she was aware of where she was. As she sat up, she was a little surprised at how little her shoulder hurt. When she’d gone to bed, she’d expected to wake with the pain as the full fifty per cent of muscle stimulation was applied. She checked with Gèng who said, “I’m building the stimulation up slowly. You don’t technically need to have it while in your own space, only when you’re visiting other worlds.”

  Leah stretched as she got out of bed, and although she could feel the pain, it was manageable. Gèng continued, “Leah, as we discussed before there are certain drugs that can be taken to help relieve the pain, but they require a prescription. You and Dr Roberts decided against getting one because your injury would then be a matter of record. John was worried about you and discussed the issue with me. I believe from a cryptic comment he made half-an-hour ago that he and Jimmy had a talk about the situation and Jimmy has managed to find an unofficial supply of the medication. If I administer it via the Pod, there will be a permanent record. If it is administered while you are outside the Pod, there will not be an electronic record, although an analysis of your biochemistry will point to its use. Some record will also be found in your hair and your nails. What do you want me to do?”

  Leah was still for some time as she thought through the different issues. Finally, she said, “I’m having a break after I discuss renting the Power Station. If the drug is here by then, then I’ll ask Mia or Kevin to administer it. I want to get to Mum as soon as I can, and I doubt I’ll survive long in Survival with the pain slowing me down. Is the meeting at the Virtual Site?”

  “Yes. Leon is already there. He put the meeting back twenty minutes to give you time for a walk through.”

  WALK THROUGH WORLD OF POWER STATION

  Leah decided on light blue denim jeans and a tan button shirt with tan coloured work boots. Leon was waiting as Gèng transferred Leah to the virtual walkthrough. He said, “Hi Leah, this is up to date. The council had the virtual model updated specifically for today. They really want to rent the property as it’s a constant drain on their finances. The whole of the Swanbank area is littered with empty warehouses, storage facilities and vacant industrial sites. The council bought the entire suburb when the power plant was decommissioned. They hoped to build a housing development but with everyone now living in Pods, the resistance from the environmental lobby, and the proximity to a large number of negative taxation housing the whole concept was shelved in 2050. They are hoping that if this deal goes through, then some of the other properties might potentially be developed.”

  Leah and Leon walked over the whole site looking in all the buildings and reviewing the notes Leon had made about the demands from the two lobby groups and the various other groups interested in doing research. The Historical Society wanted the council to maintain the buildings as they had been when the station had been fully operational so that future generations could get a sense of the past and understand the issues that had built Queensland into the vibrant modern state that it was. Leon had discovered that their main concern was the preservation of the railway line and the maintenance of the old steam train that had been in use until the rise of the virtual multiverse.

  The Australian Warriors for the Environment, on the other hand, were concerned about the residual waste that hadn’t been cleared from the soil and water table. They also wanted the local indigenous flora to be encouraged around the Swanbank Cooling Water Dam. Several plant and bird species had made the dam home since the power station had been decommissioned and they wanted a dam management plan which protected those species and their habitat, as artificial as it was when it had first been built.

  Leah and Leon had been communicating on the issue for several days, and they hoped their plans would satisfy both parties. Leon had approached the council with their ideas which had been given tentative approval. One of the local councillors was going to sit in on the meeting.

  Leon and Leah arrived at the main administrative offices of the power plant as the rest arrived. The President and Secretary of the local Historical Society were there to represent the Society’s views. The Australian Warriors for the Environment sent three of their members to the meeting, the President of the local chapter, one of their figurehead celebrity activists and an environmental scientist who was on their oversight board. The local councillor responsible for land management and development was also there.

  Before they had even finished introducing everyone, the activist was complaining to Leon about the ‘deplorable’ track record of big business and the President of the Historical Society was attacking the councillor about the degradation of the railway line during his term of office. Leah waited patiently for several minutes, but Leon still hadn’t been able to get a word in, and the councillor was still trying to defend a policy that had been in place for a quarter of a century. Finally, in a voice loud enough to drown out the three people trying to speak, Leah said, “Will you people please shut up and sit down!”

  In the silence that followed her statement, she continued in a quieter voice, “That’s much better. I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to listen to you rehash the same old arguments over and over.”

  The activist, a young woman in her thirties, started to speak, but Leah cut in and said, “It’s Brittany, isn’t it?”

  When the woman nodded, Leah said, “Well Brittany, why don’t you sit down for a moment and listen to what we are offering before you say it isn’t good enough? I’m not interested in how people have treated you in the past, only with how I treat you. If you want to be angry at what others have done, then you go talk to them but stop wasting my time.”

  Brittany opened her mouth to respond, but Leah spoke before she could say anything. “Seriously, if you aren’t interested in listening to our offer then log out. If you want to see change happen on this property, then be respectful.”

  Not waiting for a reply, Leah turned to the President of the local chapter of the Australian Warriors for the Environment. She said, “Mr Thompson, if we are granted the lease of the Swanbank Power Station Property we are asking for it to be rezoned for educational research and we will be establishing a research facility on the site. If we can have your approval, then we will …”

  Brittany interrupted, “There is no way we’ll agree to the continuing destruction of the natural environment. You’re only interested in raping the land to get rich instead of …”

  Leah never heard what Brittany thought because Leon interrupted and talked over her, he said, “Mr Thompson, we understood you came in good faith to hear our proposal. As you requested, I agreed to record this session to ensure you had a real opportunity to air your concerns. That same record will show the complete disinterest you have in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement if you keep interrupting.”

  When Leon had finished speaking, Brittany was opening her mouth to continue, but Mr Thompson said, “Brittany, please let Ms Carroll finish.”

>   In the silence, Leah said, “We intend to establish a research facility on the site. If we have your approval to advance our plans, then we will do three things. We will work with you to implement the management plan we’ve drawn up, ensuring that the soil around this facility is clear of toxic waste and that remedial work begins to help the water table recover. We have set aside ten million VCr to start the work, and we will open a new division in our organisation tasked with the practical side of waste management, including waste recovery, recycling, and storage.

  “Next, when Mr Scorsese sought advice in drawing up the management plan he discovered that the biggest problem all previous projects faced was how to deal with both the runoff and leaching from the old landfill slash recycling plant which was located on the adjacent property. The council has provisionally agreed to sell that property to us, and we will agree to work with you to pursue a cost-effective solution that is both environmentally sound and allows the land to be rezoned either as a green zone or for safe, low impact housing or industry.

  “Finally, we will set aside laboratory space in our facility for an environmental science unit and fund a research project looking into local environmental issues with an emphasis on practical ways to use this area for the good of the local people and for the good of the environment. In return, we ask that you support our application knowing it will include the refurbishment of buildings, increased noise, and an increase in both foot and vehicle traffic in and out of the power station facility. We will need to resurface the road and ensure we have sufficient access to both water and power. Eventually, we will look to develop the reclaimed land where the landfill currently stands. We will work with you to minimise the impact of these changes as outlined in the document my PAI has just forwarded to you.”

  Not waiting for an answer, Leah turned to the President of the Historical Society and said, “Mrs Freudigmann, we looked closely at the power station buildings. While we could maintain the outer shell of most buildings, almost all of them will need to be modified for both safety and environmental reasons. The suggestions we have to achieve this need to be approved by the council. They explained that your vocal opposition and legal injunctions initiated by your society have often been a sticking point for people wanting to lease the buildings.”

  Mrs Freudigmann opened her mouth to respond, but Leah held up her hand and continued, “In return for your approval, we also have three offers. First, the council has also agreed to lease the land on which the old Swanbank Train Station is on. We will restore both the building and the rail spur, and we will provide funding for you to turn it into a museum and to maintain your one working steam engine. Next, we will extend the rail spur to the building which held the turbines in the Swanbank E development. We would work with you to develop this either as a second stage of the museum or as an educational experience for those who are interested in the history and science of power generation in the area. Finally, we would work with you to fund the creation of a virtual world to showcase the local area and will include in it a working re-creation of the steam railway.”

  Mrs Freudigmann considered Leah’s words in silence. Mr Thompson was still reading the proposal, but he looked up when he noticed no one talking. He said, “So far this meets every condition we’ve ever asked for and several we haven’t. Why would you agree when others haven’t? What am I missing?”

  “I suspect the differences all boil down to need, opportunity and timing. Unpacking that will take too long, so let me just share one thing. Waste recycling and reclamation technology has matured in the last five years to the stage where purchasing the necessary equipment and skills is almost cost neutral. With the council agreeing to sell us the landfill site, we will be well set not only to recoup the costs but to make a handy profit. On the other hand, if we only cleaned up this site, then the cost would be prohibitive even with the current technology.”

  Mrs Freudigmann said, “And what am I missing?”

  “Your current agreement with the council gives you access to the state’s rail network as far as the Bundamba Station and into Central Ipswich. Even though you have not been able to make use of the line for the last twenty years, that agreement is still notionally in operation. Our proposal sets out a daily timetable which will bring workers from some of the negative tax areas to work here at the educational facility or to work on the reclamation operation next door. Eventually, we hope to get approval to build some sustainable housing on the reclaimed land for workers who can transfer out of negative-tax housing.”

  Mrs Freudigmann asked, “I will need to take this to our members and discuss the opportunity. I need to make certain the historical value of the Power Station is not being overlooked?”

  Leah nodded and said, “I understand, but you should know I’m not used to dithering. This offer is only available for the next twenty-four hours, and then it will be withdrawn. You have until this time tomorrow to negotiate changes with Mr Scorsese, but I’ve already communicated that the changes must be mutually beneficial to both parties and not one-sided. We have tried to meet your objectives, albeit in ways that also help us. We think we have succeeded.”

  Turning to Mr Thompson, Leah said, “The same conditions are involved with our offer to you. We have also met each of your environmental conditions at or above the standards you put forward. Please discuss any changes with Mr Scorsese. We require approval from both groups to proceed. Should one of you not agree, then both offers will be withdrawn. I want to thank both groups and the council for meeting with us today. Finally, Mr Thompson, next time we meet, please don’t bring Brittany.”

  With that, Leah turned to Leon and said, “Mr Scorsese, I’ll leave the rest of the meeting to you.”

  Then she had Gèng transfer her back to the Tower before she logged out of the Pod.

  62

  Chapter 62

  December 18, 2073 - Early Morning - Part 2

  HOME - REAL WORLD

  Emily was resting in the room when the Pod opened. After a hurried ‘hello’ to Leah, she used the communicator to call Mia who bustled in a minute later. After helping Leah shower and put on a robe, Mia said, “John wants to talk to you if that’s OK?”

  Leah nodded, and Emily left to tell John that Leah was free. When John entered the room, Leah noticed he wore a set of armour similar to what she’d been wearing when they rescued her mum. She raised her eyebrows, he said, “While she’s here, Aker is helping to teach one of the Switch women how to make the armour. She says she won’t go home until she’s been able to discuss things with you. Mine is the first of several suits being made. I want the security here to have the best protection we can give them.”

  Leah nodded and said, “Fair enough. Why did you need to see me? Did the drugs arrive?”

  “I see Gèng’s been telling tales. Yes, it arrived. Did she explain you can have it here or in the Pod?”

  “Yes, I’ll have it while I’m out of the Pod. Emily can give it to me.”

  Emily looked horrified, but John simply nodded and said, “I’ll go get it.”

  As he left the room, Emily said, “Leah, it’s my first day. I don’t know how to give an injection.”

  Leah smirked and said, “It’s not hard. I gave my first injection when I was eight. I had to sneak up on a guard and put him to sleep. Jimmy let me practice on a number of his boys beforehand. If I remember rightly, I gave John a needle that time. I must have done something wrong somewhere because the guard almost screamed before he went limp, I was lucky no one heard him. I’m sure Mia will teach you a better way than Johan taught me. All he said was, ‘stick it in and give it a good push’.”

  Mia nodded and began explaining to Emily some of the ways to minimise the pain. When John came back with the vial, he smirked when Mia started describing how to draw up the liquid. He said, “Can I stay and watch? I’m looking forward to Leah having a rookie give her a needle. She gave me a huge bruise the first time she gave me an injection.”

  Mia said, “It’s u
p to Em and Leah, Em is the one who knows if you’ll be a distraction. Her first priority is Leah, so if Leah doesn’t want you, or if you’ll distract Em from doing a good job, then you will have to go.”

  John realised Mia was using his question as a teaching opportunity and asked seriously, “Em, do you mind if I stay?”

  Emily also realised this was a part of the training and asked, “Leah, do you mind if John stays while you have the injection?”

  “It depends. If it’s in the arm then, no, if it’s in the butt, then yes.”

  Mia indicated that it was in the arm, and Emily said, “You can stay John, but please stand back so as not to distract me.”

  Emily did as Mia instructed and although it hurt more than normal, Leah didn’t wince and said, “Thanks Em. John, now you can leave. I need to get back in the Pod.”

  Em and Mia helped her to the bathroom and then into the Pod.

  STORK TOWER

  When Leah arrived back in the Tower, she said, “Gèng, did Leon leave a message?”

  “Not yet, his PAI says he is still in the meeting.”

  “Any other messages I should know about before I spend a couple of hours in Dunyanin?”

  “Major White sent a message. Linc Gerard has agreed to a meeting in Ascendent at eight am, Australian Eastern Standard Time. Major White has booked an alcove at the Caffè Gambrinus. It is another one of Ascendent’s visitor-friendly locations. He suggested you become a member before then.”

  “What do I need to do to be a member?”

  “You need to be nominated by three current members and invited personally by another. Apparently, nominations are done in secrecy when people think someone would be a suitable member. If someone asks if they can invite another person, they are only given permission if three or more others have already nominated that person. Usually, an interview is then arranged with a member of their Board. Major White assures me that as a founding member, his invitation is sufficient.”