The Great Empire--Bilingual Edition

by Joaquim Augusto Ferreira Barbosa De Melo

  - Mr. President, I have the hospital director on the line.

  - Put him through, please!

  - Good morning, Mr. President, what can I do for you?

  - My assistant was admitted yesterday as an emergency. I’d like to know how her condition is developing.

  - I’ll analyze the situation and we’ll be in touch shortly.

  - Until later then!

  Shortly after, the President’s Secretary was on the phone again - it was the Director giving information about Snu.

  - Mr. President, your assistant is currently in a stable clinical condition. We are conducting additional screening tests. By the end of the morning I hope to have more news.

  - Thank you very much!

  The call had barely ended and another one was already coming through.

  - Mr. President, your mother is on the line.

  - Put her through! – Hello? Yes, what’s the matter!

  - Can I have you for lunch today?

  -It’s not very opportune, but I’ll see what I can do! As soon as I can, I’ll confirm.

  On the other side of the line the President’s mother was worried about the tone of her son’s voice (not normal, so she decided to find out more). So, towards the end of the morning and to everyone’s surprise, the President’s mother presented herself at the Palace. From the Gatehouse to the Secretary, passing by the President himself, that visit was a surprise. When her arrival was announced, even the President expressed admiration.

  - What are you doing here?! You wanted to make sure I didn’t miss your lunch!

  - Not really, I was worried about you!

  - What do you mean?!

  - If I know you well, there is something that worries you and from what I can tell, the matter is serious!

  The President and his mother exchanged inquisitive glances, trying to find on each other’s faces the answers that their own words distorted. For the President, his mother’s perplexity could only have come from the fact that it was the weekend and she had raised doubts about her invitation to lunch. So he decided to accompany her out of the palace early.

  On the way home, the President received a phone call - it was the Secretary passing him another contact from the Hospital Director.

  - Hello?

  - Mr. President, please excuse me, but I could only now call and give you more news about your assistant. Fortunately, our worst fears are allayed. We think she may be discharged early next week. If there’s anything else I can do to help, please!

  - Thank you very much for your attention!

  After receiving the news, and showing the relief he felt when he heard that Snu was well, the President’s voice changed to a state that his mother considered to be his normal. For the second time that day, she felt that her son had shown a strong emotion (a very infrequent situation in him), so now she was assailed by several thoughts: “what are these feelings that disturb him so much? What is happening?” She was determined to find answers, but without meddling directly in the matter. However, the biggest surprises were reserved for lunch. She realized that her son, after the phone call, turned out to be less tense, more cheerful and relaxed. Even in conversations he began to value the pleasant side of life. As the main topic for lunch, he brought up subjects about the new city, and with the detailed description, he aroused the curiosity of his mother who, despite being a well-traveled person, was very surprised by some of the innovations. Although all that information was very interesting, she had not yet given up knowing a little more about the origin of that change of mood.

  - The country has a lot of news ahead of it, it is unquestionable, but if I am not mistaken, this is not the only reason for your concerns.

  - What do you mean, Mom?!

  - I know you well enough to read what your eyes say!

  - When you start with your riddles, it’s serious! Tell me, what are you worried about?

  - There is a whirlwind of emotion inside of you and all because you refuse to listen to what your heart says.

  The president ran his hands over his face as a sign of embarrassment. This time, however, he resisted his natural tendency to get around it with an immediate inflection in conversation.

  - You’re persistent! When you want something, you don’t let go until you get it! Whoa!

  - You’ve never heard of “who takes after his...”

  - It’s not what you’re thinking! I was apprehensive about my assistant’s condition, that’s all!

  -Hum! What doesn’t convince me is your “that’s all”! Anyway, the day will come when you’ll see that I’m right!

  Those words of his mother reminded him of a previous conversation he had about financial investments in “public debt” of indebted countries. He did not want to have to acknowledge that she is “almost always” ahead of her time. The use of her old strategy had once again to be applied.

  - Mom, these were very nice moments, but I have to go! I still have long hours of work to do before the end of the day.

  Two years later...

  The President now remembered the lunch he had at his mother’s house. The city had become a reality. Many of the works were at an advanced stage of completion and others were taking place at a crazy pace. During all that time a lot had evolved in the country and in the international commercial relationship. The country was now one of the largest consumers of raw materials and an outstanding strategic partner worldwide. The President, that afternoon, had scheduled a visit to the city at an advanced stage of completion of public infrastructure. Through the housing, commercial and services areas, the work was also boiling up, pointing towards its conclusion. Thus began to form one of the most imposing projects of the President and his Administration. The city now appeared on the big stage - even at a distance, it was stunning! For those who had participated in its construction, they felt great satisfaction and pride. Nothing like this was known in the country and outside it. That city would go down in the annals of history and among the world’s major metropolises, where every inhabitant will feel privileged to live in such a pleasant, efficient and safe place!

  After the visit to the site, the President met with the Prime Minister to settle decisions on the next steps, against the background of the promotion of that great public work. For both, important decisions were required: from the need to adapt to legislation, given the new concept of property; the creation of computer interfaces that would respond to the new demands of communication between citizens, companies and ministries; the creation of legislative adaptations at various levels. Otherwise, the city would appear as a foreign body within the national fabric itself. But, if the changes in the public machine represented an important demand, the project’s mode of commercial promotion was no less of a challenge. Among the various possible options, it was decided to open a public contest for the execution of a promotional video that would portray the various aspects of life in the future city. This video, to be produced, should not exceed eighty minutes and a summary should be done on it, never exceeding ninety seconds, so that it could be used on specific information channels, particularly on television stations throughout the civilized world. In the end, the Prime Minister committed himself to schedule these actions, as well as to issue summary documents, indicating the execution deadlines and associated costs.

  A few days later...

  A further progress report had arrived at the President’s office. It confirmed what the President had seen during the visit - a great quality in the execution of the project. Until that moment and a few weeks before its completion, the city represented a historic milestone, not only because of the innovations, but above all, because of the great correspondence between the planned and accomplished values, mainly in terms of costs and deadlines. Those data were worthy of registration and merit, so the President decided to meet with his Staff to thank them, personally, for all the commitment and dedication that allowed, to those who participated in that great work, the results now achieved. Snu, at lunch, did not fail to c
omment with her friend on some of his words and conclusions.

  - Today we had a president at his best! Efficient, but also recognized for his work.

  -It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you in such a good mood! - Said the President’s Secretary.

  - Of course, after the climb he forced on us!

  - Let me tell you this - I’ve noticed the insistent way he looks at you and if you ask me, it’s not the first time!

  - Do you really think I never noticed?!

  - Just between us - you’re in the President’s sights!

  A loud laugh from Snu made itself heard at the nearest tables.

  - Well, we better change the conversation. You’re embarrassing me! - Snu said, with a slight smile, now traversed by a strange sensation, as she became aware that she had become the center of the President’s attention.

  The friend looked at Snu with a little bit of envy and a certain admiration “after all, who among “single women” wouldn’t like to be in that situation?” she thought.

  In the afternoon, the President decided to confirm some of the conclusions mentioned in the report, so he had to make an additional trip the following day to find out about them all. His satisfaction was visible, not only to those closest to him, as this was the first major national work that had not been skirted (as the conclusions of the analysis of the main indicators showed), but also he had never gone so far in the rigor and minimization of waste. This added conviction to one of his favorite phrases: “you can always go further and better when you really want to”.

  When the President returned to the palace, late in the day, most of the staff had already left, but for him the day was far from over. Several dispatches and reports were waiting for him. By the time he gathered to his quarters, it was well past midnight. A few hours later, outside the palace, one could watch the day lightening and the change of guards. The lighting of the adjoining streets gradually began to go out, while some of the windows of the building opened, showing the awakening of its interior. The President had been up for some time. This was day-to-day life, when the administrative services opened to the public, the President already counted several hours of work in his office. The security guards had already got used to this regular practice - it was his favorite period of work, so he could dispatch the files more successively, away from the constant interruptions caused by meetings, telephones and others. The Secretary herself gradually arrived earlier, thus providing better working conditions for the President, not without an added and permanent concern, as the latest events with his Assistant recommended caution in the excesses. In his memory he still had in mind the latest events that occurred with Snu, resulting from a new hospitalization in the emergency room of the Hospital, this time, resulting from a heart attack (it was the second that occurred in just over eight months). The medical team had recommended Snu absolute rest for a few days. On his return, days later, the President had instructed the Secretary to tell Snu to go to his office as soon as she arrived.

  - I have Dr Snu with me, Mr. President!

  - Ask her to come in.

  - Good morning, Mr. President! - Said Snu, with a smile on her lips.

  - How are you feeling?! - Asked the President, returning the smile with an expressive and tender look.

  - Ready to continue the work, Mr. President!

  A new interference from the Secretary interrupted the dialogue.

  - I have the Prime Minister on the line.

  - Put him through! - And turning to Snu, he said – We’ll finish this conversation later, see you soon!

  The President said goodbye with a new smile loaded with tenderness. That attitude had awakened in Snu memories of other moments and various occurrences. The President’s kind and sympathetic look had made her feel more human and womanly. Back in her office, Snu relived several moments of happiness felt, in particular those of the Congress, when she was congratulated by all, after the President had taken the initiative to applaud her at the end of her presentation. She also remembered many others, where the President had expressed sympathy and special concern for her. On several occasions, he was the only one who reminded her that she should have periodic check-ups. Upon arriving in the office and looking at the volume of work she had on the table, she set aside those thoughts to devote herself once again to daily concerns.

  Weeks later...

  In the shipyards of the new city and after completion of the civil parts, now followed the applications of various urban equipment, administrative, hospital and many others. At the same time, it was reported in the press that competitions for admission and staff training were open at various levels. The promotional video to be shown on television was practically finished. Important human and financial resources had been invested in its production. The company to which the film was awarded had mobilized over twenty-five thousand extras. The film, executed with great quality, portrayed scenes of what would be the presumed real life in the future city. Its screening took place in the presidential palace in a special meeting of the Council of Ministers, which was attended by the President. In that meeting several decree-laws were approved that ensured the transition from national legislation to the new urban reality. Among the legislative changes of adaptation was included the new framework of property law, which now instituted a variant in the possession of an asset, that is, the concept of property with a time limit. The seventy-nine thousand apartments, of varied typology (T0 to T6), put up for sale at a lower cost than the real estate market equivalents, conferred a property right limited to one hundred years (the acquirer thus would own the property under the same legal conditions, but limited to that period of time). After that time limit, the property would belong to the State (delivered vacant), which would proceed with a new construction and sale for the same period. With this legislative alteration, the State would hold, in the future cities, renewals of possession every hundred years. In the new law, the other conditions of ownership are maintained, namely, those due by sale, exchange or succession. In the same Council of Ministers, new property rules were also defined for commercial and industrial establishments built and to be built in those cities.

  The radio and television news opened at the end of the day with information on the recent legislative changes, also showing the promotional film and some citizens’ opinions collected in the streets. The following day, the written press everywhere reflected the profound urban and legislative changes approved, as well as the interest in the film. Those news aroused a wave of enthusiasm beyond the best government expectations. A few weeks later, the number of pre-registrations for the purchase of apartments available in the new city far exceeded the offer. It would be necessary to proceed with the selection criteria foreseen in the regulations of the Ministry responsible for the sale. All this was not unrelated to the national spoken and written press, which gave wide coverage to the subject. For those watching the television debates with economic, sociological and political analyses about the future cities, it was clear that the country was facing a turning point in the way of treating and making civilization. The foreign press was also beginning to open up to the curiosity of the subject, reporting in prominent news - the megalomaniac investment. It recognized important differentiating aspects, among them, the fact that it was the first covered city with total and clean energetic autonomy, where efficiency management was taken to its maximum exponent, privileging the minimization of waste, along with a great quality of life for its inhabitants - surrounded by all safety and beauty. The curiosity of the foreign press was not limited to the general aspects mentioned above, it went far beyond them, since in academic circles the subject was now studied in various aspects, from the architecture of the city, through the materials used, to the innovation of urban solutions. Among all these, the one that most aroused the curiosity of the academic circles was the gigantic transparent acrylic cover, calculated to resist the efforts of cyclonic winds. Also the anti-seismic plates, on which the whole city was based, aroused great interes
t and curiosity in academic circles and beyond. However, the critical voices to the project were significant, particularly those due to the loss of cultural and urban continuity between generations. When the first phase of pre-registration closed, the number of applications far exceeded the equivalent of nine cities. Faced with such surprising success, the government decided to proceed with the construction of seven more twin cities, in strategic locations, previously determined.

  As an immediate effect of this wave of enthusiasm, a particular increase in gross domestic product was felt, as a result of the investments made, but not only because of this. Tourism was one of the biggest leaps forward, not only because of the news circulating abroad about the new cities, but also because of the awakening of curiosity to know the culture of the people of the country. The new city was now a reason for growing satisfaction, both for its inhabitants - the object of the most varied reports and socio-economical analysis by the national and foreign press, as well as for the whole country. Years later, with the completion of two more of the seven cities awarded, there was a new increase in news and a new boost in tourism and investment. The press now highlighted the differentiating aspects of quality, with particular emphasis on the numerous innovations introduced, thus further fuelling the desire for “a place in the sun”. With the news, statistics were published that compared the quality of life of the new cities with more than fifty other renowned and known cities in the world, placing them among the top places, with particular emphasis on the most sensitive aspects: safety, health, climatic comfort, green areas, urban mobility, commercial and cultural centrality and many others. Among the aspects analyzed, one deserved particular interest in the international press - the sense of security and peace felt by the inhabitants. In the records of the new cities, the levels of aggression were almost zero. For some specialists, this new situation was due to very particular factors, such as the cities inhabitants being high income earners, the cities possessing great urban beauty, the perceived level of collective happiness was high, there was great efficiency in controls and surveillance throughout the city (especially at entrances that functioned as a buffer to violence), and as an additional cause, the filtering by the media of all scenes of aggressiveness (the news, transmitted by television and press channels, were clean of all social and human toxicity). As a curiosity, these analysts also mentioned that any citizen who wanted to access films and/or violent information could only do so through the so-called “red channels” (their users were now under police surveillance).For these analysts, those rules represented an intolerable and serious restriction of individual freedoms to which others were opposed, saying that free will and the promotion of gratuitous violence were intolerable. In the opinion of most citizens of these cities and most of the national and foreign press, those places represented centers of unparalleled opportunity and intellectual development and well-being, which provided meetings and interaction of individuals and cultures, in an environment of strong creativity and innovation - unique places in the world where it was possible to enjoy shared happiness with magnificence of living. In the cities that were completed, they saw the same path as the first one, that is, with demand far exceeding supply. This confirmed the great desire for ownership, both by individuals and companies, and now by many foreigners to express their interest from the pre-registration stage. The new cities had thus become “case studies” in many Academic Centers and, as a result, street interviews were made, where the press sought to gauge the degree of satisfaction of residents. As time went by, at each step it was confirmed as an unquestionable truth that “reality had overcome fiction itself”, adding more and more value to the promotion of the new cities. For the President himself, the dynamics of the cities had exceeded his best expectations and now had surprising outlines. In one of the lunches he had with his mother, which were increasingly rare, due to unavailability of an agenda, he expressed his opinion: