by David Harp
Chapter 53
Brian and Katie
Drs. Warren and Marglova were eating breakfast in a popular Monterey, California restaurant six months after the Sierra Club visited the Institute. Dr. Warren fidgeted as he spoke.
“Katie, I consider you one of our most dedicated environmentalists, but you’ve been distracted the last few months,” he said with an air of concern. “Are you starting to question what we’re doing here?”
“No!” she answered, but then added, “I don’t know.”
“It was the visit to the ORION Institute wasn’t it?” he asked.
“It all seemed so simple before. Don’t mess with Mother Nature. Now I can’t help but wonder if humans not only have the right, but the duty to manipulate the environment.”
“You’ve changed,” Dr. Warren said. “The woman I’ve known for ten years would never question herself. I’m not saying it’s bad to have doubts, but you need to figure out what you believe. I’ve recommended you for a new job. It’s not with the Sierra Club, but I think it will help you get back on track.”
Katie was stunned. Was her friend and mentor trying to get rid of her after all the years of hard work and dedication?
“I’ll admit I’m going through some internal conflict, but my commitment to the Sierra Club hasn’t wavered,” she said.
“I’m not questioning your loyalty Katie, and we’re not dumping you. Whether or not you pursue the job is your choice, but I don’t think the Sierra Club has the answers you need.”
Dr. Warren took a deep breath as if to brace himself for her response. “That’s why I’ve submitted your name to Claude Gautier to head up the ORION Institute’s newly created Marine Science Division.”
Katie’s mind was overwhelmed with conflicting thoughts. She was excited to have an opportunity to work with Brian and prove she could be trusted, but she wondered about Dr. Warren’s motives.
Was he concerned for her welfare or was he asking her to be a spy? Katie realized no matter what the responses were to those questions, the best place to find answers was at the Institute.
She decided to follow up on the job recommendation and was chosen over three dozen applicants. Claude and J. Alfred considered it a coup to secure the services of a Marine Biologist with the superb credentials and connections of Dr. Marglova, but Brian thought it was a mistake.
“She’s a spy,” he told Claude. “You’re taking an enormous risk bringing her here. She’s been brainwashed to believe any attempts to control the environment are evil. Her idea of a perfect world is people living like animals. We can’t trust her to keep an open mind.”
“I disagree,” Claude replied. “We’ve interviewed her numerous times and conducted an exhaustive background investigation. She admits to her concerns regarding genetic modifications. In fact she’s proud of it.” Claude paused to make sure he had Brian’s attention.
“This institution has grown complacent. We need leaders who will challenge the findings and recommendations of our scientists. We need people like Dr. Marglova.”
Brian reluctantly accepted Claude’s arguments and wasn’t surprised when Katie was assigned to the office across the hall.
Claude probably wants me to keep an eye on her, he thought. Then a somewhat disturbing possibility crossed his mind. Maybe Claude put her there to keep an eye on me.
Katie worked hard to regain Brian’s trust by publishing articles in scientific journals which argued for the judicious use of genetic modifications in plants and animals. At conferences, seminars and conventions, she defended a proactive approach to environmental management. Her subordinates in the Marine Division appreciated her tough questions. They said it made them more vigilant in their work, mostly because they respected Dr. Marglova and didn’t want to disappoint her.
Brian and Katie eventually became close friends and allies, often traveling together and fighting for the same causes.
By the year 2024, an alarming number of people were being diagnosed with endocrine system problems traced to fish contaminated by the Pacific Ocean trash vortex. It wasn’t unexpected to find Dr. Marglova presenting a proposal to address the problem at the annual Marine Biologist Convention in Monterey, California. She was considered by many to be the preeminent Marine Biologist in the country.
But it was a shock to the Sierra Club’s Dr. Warren when his former protégé suggested the ORION Institute use the quantum computer to genetically engineer a microbe to consume pelagic plastics and chemical sludge without harming the environment in other ways.
The Sierra Club was still opposed to the use of genetically modified organisms due to unpredictable consequences. Despite Sierra Club demands for her to back off, Katie continued to promote the plan.
She and Brian began working with Anastasius and produced a viable organism within a year. The plan had widespread but guarded support. Leading scientists from around the world were impressed by the capabilities of the Institute’s quantum computer, but they also understood the potential for devastating environmental damage if anything went wrong.
As thousands of people became infected and over one hundred died from contaminated fish, support of the plan continued to grow. The Institute created a one-acre saltwater pond with marine life, and tainted it with the same pollutants found in the Pacific trash vortex.
Within two months of introducing the genetically engineered organism, ninety-eight percent of the pollution was gone with no apparent harmful side effects to fish or plant life.
Katie gained approval from the EPA and Pacific Rim nations to begin testing in the Pacific. As a result, the Sierra Club cut all ties with her for what they considered a betrayal.
The organism functioned even better than predicted and the pollution level in the vortex was cut in half within two years. Dr. Katerina Marglova was awarded a Nobel Prize and the world began to accept the positive potential of genetically modified organisms.
When the undeniable success of the project became apparent a few years later, the Sierra Club reached out to Katie and asked her to establish a Sierra Club office at the Institute. She accepted.
Claude was pleased with Katie’s work and happy for the personal recognition she was receiving, but he still wanted to keep a low profile at the Institute. Katie was attracting attention like a rock star, so Claude called her into his office to offer an assignment away from the Institute.
As they sat at his desk, he began to lay out plans for a speaking tour around the Pacific. The trip would be scheduled and funded as part of Dr. Marglova’s official duties.
“It will be like a victory tour,” he said. “You deserve it and don’t take this as a complaint, but we could do with a few less reporters around here. The trip will be good for public relations and hopefully the throngs of journalists will follow you or go somewhere else.”
Katie paused to think, then replied. “I’ll do it on one condition. It has to be a joint tour with Dr. Adams. No matter how many times I’ve tried to give him credit, the news broadcasters ignore me. Ever since the original article was released about a rogue scientist breaking ranks with the Sierra Club, broadcasters have paid more attention to the color of my eyes than the real story. It doesn’t help when Brian disappears every time reporters show up. It’s like he’s got a built-in anti-reporter radar.”
Claude smiled and laughed. “It is true he hates reporters, but he insists the whole project was your idea. He and Anastasius merely helped with the grunt work.”
“You do realize there wouldn’t be a project without the microorganism they created?” she asked rhetorically. “I had the idea, but they did the hard part.”
Claude shook his head in disagreement. “The idea is always the first and most essential part of any plan, and what you did by standing up to your colleagues at the Sierra Club was courageous.”
Claude paused to consider whether or not an earlier conversation with Brian was in confidence. It took place before Katie was hired. He decided to continue.
“Brian
said the two of you had a brief relationship. To be honest, he didn’t think you could be trusted. I understand why you kept your online identity secret, but it was a hard thing for him to get past.”
“Did he get past it?” she asked.
“Yes,” Claude replied. “He told me you’ve become a trusted friend, but I think there’s more.”
“What do you mean?” Katie asked.
“I think you know,” Claude answered. “I may be out of line here, but I believe Brian still has feelings for you, and not just as a friend.” Claude stood and walked around the desk as Katie stood.
“I’ll let Brian know what the Institute expects of him on this assignment. I hope you’ll let him know what you expect.”
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Brian accompanied Katie to San Diego where they were the honored guests/speakers on a two-week eco-cruise to the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, and Seattle, Washington. The ship kept them on a busy schedule, but they managed to find a quiet place on deck each night to view the stars and share their thoughts.
They woke up before dawn on the day of the ship’s arrival in Maui. A fragrance of flowers filled the air and sunrise illuminated the brilliant blue ocean. The captain anchored the ship near the small village of Lahaina. After days without seeing land, the view was breathtaking. It appeared as if God had plucked the most fertile green fields from Earth and plastered them on a giant canvas across the sky.
Brian turned to Katie and kissed her for the first time. Katie passionately responded. They embraced like two people starving for love, both wondering why they waited so long.
The next two days were the most amazing either of them could remember. It wasn’t just the morning sunrise above the clouds on Mt. Haleakala, shell hunting on the beach or the magnificent scenery along the road to Hana. It was having someone to share the experience, someone who understood and appreciated the intricate beauty of nature. It was having someone look into your soul and see their reflection.
Katie and Brian left the ship in Seattle when their portion of the cruise was finished. They made several official stops before their return flight from San Francisco, but not before an unofficial trip to Sequoia National Park.
It was there, on the Crescent Meadow Trail that Katie said yes to Brian’s proposal of marriage. Their relationship had transformed from an awkward, scientific collaboration in a little over one week, but they had secretly been in love for years.
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After returning to the Institute, they worked tirelessly to gain a world-wide consensus for environmental cooperation. With the help of Katie’s celebrity status and the reputation of the Sierra Club, Brian’s proposed Code of Internationally Accepted Standards for Environmental Conservation (CIASEC) was agreed upon in 2030.