by E. L. Morrow
The exterior appearance is of an older three-story rowhouse, built of brick but painted a light gray some years back. The front entrance has four stone steps with a landing at the top. All the white stone steps show worn down and smoothed out places from decades of use. Like all the other homes on the street, a fence with a gate runs across the entrance. A small speaker box is mounted on the eight-foot wrought iron structure to the right of the gate.
Danzella presses the button. In a few seconds, a male voice answers, “This is Norman, how may I help you?”
“We are expected.”
“I’ll be right out.”
Once he determines these are the people to be expected, Norman opens the gate and takes Marie’s luggage. He says, “Robots are not allowed inside. It’s a security issue.”
Harry stays with the remaining luggage while Marie and her security chief climb the steps and enter. Once satisfied with their charge’s safety, the security agents move down the street to the bed-and-breakfast about a block away.
“Your host is away but will return in about an hour. A security beam will detect anyone entering this hallway. Those are Dr. T’s rooms. The guest room, kitchen and sitting room are at your disposal.”
Her hostess returns about 5:00. Marie later journals about her experience.
Journal Section: Daily Reflections
Date: Thursday, September 16 – late evening
Dr. Kim von Throne is a gracious host. I did not realize until arriving how intimidated I felt about spending so much time with her. In previous contacts, she’s seemed all business. I think I feared being a disappointment to her. She is the one who pulled me out of my TA year and transferred me to Wichita. Of course, I had the option of saying no. But we are taught to welcome any opportunity to serve.
Certainly not all business now, she is welcoming, calm and funny. Her office, like all Doorkeepers, is in her home. Dr. Throne tracks all the changes for Keepers in the US and Canada. She also coordinates with DK Placement officers all over the world. The goal is the best match each time. After seeing her process, I am in awe of her brilliance.
We talked about the office building I have become responsible for, and she helped me start the transfer of the deed to my name. After this trip, I will need to be able to come up here using my own identity–not as CF.
I also learned how she and Allison met. They were both students and met at a Peace Rally. Mother already had her medical degree; she came prepared for the tear gas. They became friends—spending the night in jail together.
Tomorrow I go to the office building to find out what’s there. Another day of new things awaits me.
Seven
A Few Days at the Office
Toronto
2094-09-17, Friday, 5:01 am EDT
Reynolds arrives at Dr. Throne’s and is admitted. Marie is ready with a work-pad in her hands. Danzella reports, “As per your request, I’ve surveyed the route to the WEEL Center on foot. The area is secure. There will be eyes on you at all times, though I doubt you will see us. Are you ready to leave for the day?”
“Yes. Let me say goodbye to my hostess. Dr. Throne, I’m leaving. See you this evening.”
From another room comes a response, “Call me if you need anything.”
Reynolds is gradually coming out from under the shadow of Rudy, who recommended her for the job. She’s cautious, and I can’t blame her. She understands how long I’ve had to build trust in Rudy. Relatively new at Not a Dozen Security; well qualified, smart, observant, a bit standoffish, and a little overconfident. She’s anxious to show me how skilled she is. Her energies say I can trust her. She’s not yet ready to trust me.
The nine-block walk is uneventful. Marie saw her security point person three times, and one additional operative. It will not be mentioned unless the agent brings it up.
At the front door, Marie enters the code from her communicator. Lobby lights come on, and the door slides open.
The room is 28 feet wide and 18 feet deep, devoid of furniture, carpet or artwork. Marie realizes the decor uses the Doorkeeper Sector colors including those for Supervisors and Instructors. The floor is a deep red stone; the back wall is colored dark blue; side walls are pewter gray, with a quarter-circular white staircase leading to the mezzanine level. The steps are made of a forest green stone with the same color on the mezzanine level wall. In front of the blue wall is a reception/information counter sufficient for three workstations. The countertop, edge trim, stair, and banister handrails are made of ebony wood. The counter’s front panel has streams of all colors starting at the edges and swirling together in the center. There is a door to the left of the counter, two elevators on the right, and black letters W-E-E-L above the information desk.
The upper level shows three offices plus an elevator door. The central office is glass fronted. All three have gold colored doorframes and hardware.
Marie steps inside, followed four seconds later by Reynolds with sensors in hand. The doors close behind them.
A familiar voice says, “Good morning, Marie. The building is secure.”
“Friend?”
“Who else?”
“How did you know I was here?”
“Internal circuits connect me with this facility and each of the factories. Once you activated the entry, I was connected. In your absence, I monitor all facilities and will report when a problem is detected. Your Personal Communication Device also provides me with tracking.
“Marie, your office is on the mezzanine level in the center. D. Reynolds, your security office is to the left of the Information Counter. Basement area, first floor, mezzanine, second and third floors are reserved for WEEL. The fourth and fifth floors are leased to the Locations Services with Planning and Emergency Preparation on the top floor. To the north of this lobby is an entrance with elevator and stairs leading to the upper three stories.
“Canada still has property tax on commercial properties. The income from one floor covers the annual tax; rent from the other two cover salaries of the remaining employees, as well as, a set-aside for maintenance and future renovation.”
“Friend, what does W-E-E-L stand for?”
“Walton Enhancement Enterprises Limited. The floors, walls, ceiling and glass front are Liquid Lava, the same as your home/office in Wichita.”
Friend is the name Marie gave the Automated Personal Assistant, greatly enhanced by her predecessor, located in an electronics cabinet in her Wichita apartment.
In the Security Office, Reynolds finds a full array of monitors, sensors and communication channels. There are also dossiers on every employee, as well as those who utilize the upper levels.
In the CEO’s office, Marie learns of two employees who report directly to her. Max Mechanic (who goes by MM) is Chief Operations Manager over the three operating factories. Judith Barns is the Administrative Assistant/Office Manager. She will confer with both later today.
Following the evening meal, back at Dr. Throne’s Marie reflects in her journal.
Journal Section: Events
Date: 9-17-94 late evening.
Again, I must be grateful to Phillip. He vetted and hired both MM and J. Barns. I could not ask for more competent co-workers.
MM was appropriately skeptical about me. I like him – he is careful and smart. He showed me a message sent by Phillip 8-12 at 10:20 pm. It said, “Continue present productions. Put development on hold, except construction of facility four. My successor will likely be a young woman. You should hear from her by October 15. Activate plan B after three months.”
I asked about plan B. Phillip gave him codes to use with the PA—still known as Babe. “She” would’ve told him what to do based on what had happened in the larger world.
We talked about the safety of the formula and process for making Liquid Lava sheets. No one including MM can access the details needed to make this material. Five robots work on each batch of sheets—each has only the data for its task
, and they rotate among the 31 separate functions; so even if someone captured the information stored in all the robots, they would obtain only a fraction of what is needed. The robots check with each other 20 times per second to ensure no tampering or interception occurs.
The process blows my mind. Phillip was an electronics genius.
Tomorrow I will visit each plant. MM will introduce me as an inspector sent by Doorkeeper’s Guidance Committee—and yes, I am young but an electronics whiz-kid. They will not ask my name, but if they do I’m April.
We have a contract with 17 Central Services Center to equip all their medium-sized restaurants with Compact Kitchens. More than 650 installations—each custom designed, based on space and appliances.
Two problems.
1. Production facilities are operating at 15% capacity or less. They are waiting on the robots that will be built by the fourth factory—it’s six weeks away from production.
2. There are no technicians who can measure and design the installation, let alone install it correctly. We estimate a need for 75 techs by the first of the year. First, we need a faculty of five who can teach them. So, I will spend much of next week screening, vetting and hiring people.
How did I get into this? I never hired anyone in my life. All I’m trained for is opening doors. Well, I do possess talents unknown to most others. I used them today as a crutch. I need an extra edge when dealing with such brilliant people. Plus, they all knew Phillip and what he wanted to happen here.
I mentioned my misgivings about being an employer to Dr. von Throne, and she made me aware of a website about personnel management. It’s actually a crash course on the subject.
J. Barns is going to help keep me sane. She’s more organized (obsessed?) than I am. I didn’t think it possible. She’s my Executive Assistant when I’m here. Other times she runs the building: keeps the tenants happy, sees that everything functions as it should, and in her spare time plans for the future use of the building.
We spent two hours going over her thoughts about lobby furniture, equipment for the exercise room, and allocation of space for food and staff-only places. I felt like I’m sitting at the feet of the master. I needed to make just a few suggestions for changes. She’s already thought of everything including securing our power source and back-ups.
Saturday 9-18
Toured the factories today. Each site requires six employees, two for each eight-hour shift; they rotate on weekends. Robots do the work. People observe and provide quality assurance. They sit at large consoles similar to a DK’s. The robots talk to the console as well as each other.
All the staff members are excellent. They are all cross-trained—some so they can fill in at other facilities. Eventually, all staff will be able to do every job.
Finished my study of Personnel Management. Still much to learn but I feel ready for Monday’s task.
Talked with Mother. All good. Several hopeful threads uncovered from the data on resistance. Reynolds converses with Rudy several times a day. In turn, Rudy gives Mother daily updates on my activity.
Tomorrow is a catch-my-breath day. Worship in the morning. I will go to Dr. Throne’s regular congregation. She warned me that no one there knows her real job. So, I have a cover story. I’m exploring the possibility of becoming a student intern. Trained in electronics, but looking for something different, maybe Doorkeeper? The role seems a lot easier than what I’ve been doing.
Friday 9-24
What a week. Relocation Services provided a list of eight top educators ready for new challenges. All possess the skills we seek. It will be a challenge to develop a new curriculum for something never taught before. Plus, we are still figuring out how to do the work.
I hired Jayson Lim and Astoria Clive to complete the coursework and employ the remaining instructors. Both women are here and will relocate closer to WEEL as soon as their housing is ready. Judith found housing and Central Services promises the units will be available in eight days. They know who I am, and some of the circumstances surrounding my being in this position but are sworn to secrecy until a public announcement is made. Both are in their late 20’s and unmated. Energy trails say they are trustworthy and excited to be on the cutting edge.
Judy is a gift. She is beginning to staff the building—additional information clerks, security, on-call maintenance and the like. Of course, all these people have been vetted by Danzella, and our local security firm: The Queen’s Armor. Not-A-Dozen has worked with them several times and found them conscientious. Naturally, Rudy is never far out of the picture. He hasn’t spent 20 years guarding me to let someone miss a clue and get me killed.
I also discovered an apartment for my use—accessible through a rotating bookcase in my office—very haunted house like. It will be furnished by the time I return, whenever that is. A private elevator takes me to any place in the building, including the leased floors.
I’ve been reading energy trails extensively to confirm my choices. No concerns anywhere. My code of ethics prohibits me from reading emotions of my superiors. I have observed the rule with Dr. Kim von Throne for the whole stay until today. She leaves this evening for an emergency meeting—she told me that part. But I noted confused emotion: concern that the meeting may not go well, and what I can only describe as euphoria. The latter has something to do with me. Not sure what.
I’ll fly back to Wichita tonight.
Eight
The Raven’s Nest
Near Vancouver, B.C.
2094-09-25, Saturday, 6:01 am PDT
Preparation is important. When preparing for an emergency meeting of a secret society, security is essential. When the decisions to be made during the gathering will impact millions of lives, clarity of thought and soundness of judgment are paramount. Nothing can be left to chance. There is only one opportunity to get it right and so many ways it could go wrong.
Like many other economic Sectors, Door Services has a secret society (called the Raven Society) composed of the most capable and committed. The 120 members include Doorkeepers, Door Facilitation Faculty, and Supervisors.
From the larger group, 12 individuals are selected to serve as an executive committee known as The Raven’s Nest. The Guidance Team is made up of a dozen clients plus the entire Raven’s Nest.
The Moderator arrives at the designated meeting space first. A security guard waits at the entrance expecting the password. Once spoken the guard confirms the password is accurate. Without a verbal response by anyone, the guard points to the scanning booth designed to check for electronic devices or ID strips. No move is made toward the booth. The guard hands over an ID pouch. The Moderator scrutinizes the details: name of the contracted Security firm, the guard’s physical description, and picture, plus an Authentication Seal that changes colors when exposed to light. Satisfied his ID is legitimate, she hands it back and steps into the scanner booth.
The scanning booth door closes behind the occupant. The scan takes forty seconds. The results are clean. A door opens in front of the occupant allowing access to the room. This ritual will be repeated with the remaining nine members attending today’s session. Each will arrive at an assigned time, give or take a few minutes.
Once in the room, the Moderator notices three of the security team with hand-held instruments. They are completing the final sweeps of the room. She remains silent as the workers identify themselves with their security phrases. The first speaks, “Good Morning Moderator, pieces of eights and nines.” The second, “Welcome esteemed leader, daffodil armadillos.” The third one lifts a hand saying, “Peter Piper picked a peck of partridge poop.” The phrases and actions match those she expected.
The team leader steps forward, “My report. All the usual precautions are in place. We checked the tables, chairs, water glasses, water pitchers, notepads, pens, projector, and Auto-Secretary unit. Our checking includes electronic, infrared and for denser objects x-ray. Everything is clean.
“In addition, a comm
unication blocking energy field is around the entire room: floor, ceiling, and all walls. It’s impossible to get a communication signal in or out of this space—we tested. The only entrance is through the booth….” They discuss details about various emergencies including the signal systems.
Team leader continues, “Since this is the first time you have replaced your SOGs with non-traditional garments, you can assure your colleagues their sleeping rooms are under constant video surveillance. We have extra patrols in the halls as well. Communication-dampening fields are in place around those rooms. Smart Outer Garments, communicators, computers, and other electronic devices are all safe from intrusion.”
They talk about procedures if the team needs to enter the room, or if anyone needs to leave. They also confirm arrangements for lunch and supper. Finally, “Any questions?”
“What prevents someone from replacing your man at the door?”
“He is under constant surveillance by our senior staff in another city. He dares not pick his nose or scratch his butt, or it will be shown at the next staff meeting.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought of everything, even how to embarrass your co-workers.”
The security team departs. The first members of the Executive Committee also called the Raven’s Nest, begin arriving. By design, the most recent inductee arrives first so they may greet all the longer-term members as they enter. Moderator welcomes each one as they gather. These people know each other, including complete names; however, public names are never used at the Raven’s Nest. Their Nest name consists of a title, often Doctor followed by the name of a city. The city may be where they lived when inducted into the Raven Society. Since location names are never reused for different individuals, all previous identifiers are unavailable.