The 13th Enumeration

by William Struse

  Chapter 23

  Phoenix, Arizona

  Sam opened the e-mail from David. In an attachment was a file which he scanned with his own custom spyware/virus software. On a separate computer which was not connected to his network, he opened the file and installed the program. Anaj. Why did that name look familiar to him? Some part of his consciousness was tickled, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. It would come to him, he knew—he just had to let his mind bring it up while he worked on something else.

  When he had finished installing the program, a little peacock icon appeared on his desktop. That was it. The peacock. The image triggered that little piece of memory, and he knew why “Anaj” looked so familiar. Anaj was Jana spelled backwards. Jana was the Roman moon goddess of secrets or hidden things and was sometimes represented by a peacock. Many years ago, he had done extensive research on the influence of Greek and Roman mythology on early Christian thought and traditions. Jana was one of the pantheon of Roman and Greek gods he had read about.

  When he double-clicked the peacock icon, a window appeared. Opening a document on his desktop, he copied several paragraphs to his clipboard and pasted it into the open window.

  “Let’s see what you got,” he said aloud. A new window appeared, asking for his encryption code. He entered a ten-digit string of numerals. The text started to disintegrate, and a new message window appeared which read: “Please stand by. Anaj is encrypting your text.”

  After thirty seconds, a new window appeared. “Please select your destination folder.” Sam selected the removable flash device in drive F and pressed enter. The program continued to work and then shut itself down, only leaving the peacock icon on his desktop. Taking the flash drive, Sam moved over to yet another computer where he could scan the encrypted file. The encryption was pretty heavy-duty—he could see that already. It was not something his own code-breaking software could crack, so it was unlikely anyone else could either—unless NSA was eventually able to.

  Switching back to the computer with the encryption program on it, he opened some of the program files. He smiled. Some of the file names were familiar. Someone was using a custom version of his software.

  Typing in a few commands, he tried to enter his administrative password to access the core encryption code files. It didn’t work. Someone as good as he was had modified his program. But how had they figured out his password? Had they gotten lucky? Or had they found a work around? He doubted it, but how else could they have accessed the core code files? He frowned. This was not good. It wouldn’t jeopardize the security of his customers unless whoever had done this could also guess the encryption keys of his customers, but he would have to go to each of them and change his administrative passwords on the program. If this got out, it could potentially cause come credibility issues for his business.

  Whoever had done this was smart—smart and lucky. But were they thorough? When he wrote his encryption software, he had included a few innocuous lines of code that would leave a marker, acting as a tag which his special search bot could find. If anyone used his encryption coding on a file that was publicly accessible on the Internet, he would be able to find it. Granted, he could not read the encrypted files, but he could find out where they were in the world. With enough time, such files would leave a trail. A trail which, with patience, would lead back to the thief who had stolen his software.

  Chapter 24

  Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  Darius felt exhilarated—exhilarated and in control. So far the plan had proceeded flawlessly. It had only been a week since the museum dedication. The stock price of AQES.BB was now holding in the forty-to-fifty cent range. It had spiked as high as seventy-five cents a share on Friday, and Dylan had sold the first billion of Darius’s shares into that spike. That additional liquidity had brought the price back down to where it now traded.

  But that was just the beginning. Darius would take the stage in thirty minutes to welcome the growing crowd of reporters, scientists, and government officials. It was a few minutes before three p.m. Dubai time, and the New York stock exchanges would be opening in two-and-a-half hours. Scattered throughout the crowd were a large number of hedge fund and Wall Street people. Skeptical voices kept up a subdued hum as the crowd waited for Darius to speak. Every seat was filled, and people were standing in every available space on both sides of the seating area as well as in the back.

  One portion of the warehouse had been set up with several hundred chairs which faced a stage and podium. Behind the stage was a large curtain concealing the glass wall which separated that part of the warehouse from the original prototype AES-1000 elemental separator. Darius waited behind the curtain with Alexandra Riley.

  At the appointed time, they parted a section of the curtain and climbed several stairs to the stage. Alexandra took a seat in one of the two chairs as Darius approached the podium. He stood looking out over the crowd for several seconds. It became so quiet he could hear the soft hum of the fluorescent lighting in the ceiling. He controlled his excitement, and with a mask of cool control, began to speak in a soft but commanding voice.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Age of Aquarius.” He let that hang in the air for a few moments, then continued as he looked at the audience. “Today, I have the privilege of formally announcing to the world a revolutionary new technology. Aquarius Elemental Solutions, over the last several years, has developed and tested a means of economically separating several elements from seawater.”

  He pushed a button on the podium, and the black curtain began to separate behind him. The curtain was emblazoned with a drop of water, its triangular tip separated like an unfinished pyramid. A beam of energy pierced the drop at its triangular-tipped prism, the drop of water below exploding in a flash of energy and color. Turning, he pointed at the impressive amalgamation of tanks, piping, and wiring behind the glass dividing wall.

  “What you see here, ladies and gentlemen, will change our future. For the past two years this machine has been separating sodium from seawater drawn from the Persian Gulf. This machine, the AES-1000 as we call it, has been producing one million gallons per hour of ninety-nine-percent sodium-free water for the past two years. Best of all, our technology produces this water at ninety-five-percent efficiency. In other words, we produce one million gallons of drinkable water every hour using about the same amount of energy as is consumed in that same hour by an average car traveling at fifty kilometers per hour.”

  He could see the looks of stunned disbelief on many of their faces. He continued, “In addition to sodium, our team has also been able to remove ninety percent plus of the magnesium, bromine, copper, silver, silicon, and gold from seawater. We have been adding one element to this impressive list about every sixty days. The era of ecologically disastrous mining is behind us, ladies and gentlemen.”

  He paused once more to let that sink in, inwardly gloating. “I realize the incredible nature of these claims, and I welcome your skepticism. After I am done speaking, there will be guided tours by our staff. I am sure you all saw the empty concrete reservoir on the right side of the road as you drove up. This empty reservoir holds five million gallons of water. Mark your time, ladies and gentlemen: it is now five minutes after three o’clock.”

  Darius pushed a button on his podium, and the pumps and machinery began to turn. A faint purple glow started to emanate from a window at the center of the AES-1000 control module. The sound gradually increased, but the glass partition shielded most of it from the audience.

  Darius could see members of the press, their thumbs furiously typing into their Blackberrys and iPhones, each trying to be the first to get the story to their editors. He continued.

  “The reservoir you saw is marked in one-million-gallon increments. On your way out later today, I encourage each of you to stop and taste the water you will find filling it. Five hours from now, it will be filled with drinking water made from the sea.

  “Tomorrow, I will be seeking permission from the Dubai
Water Authority to connect this machine to the city’s main water supply. If approval is granted, I will donate this machine to Dubai, and they will hold the distinction of being the world’s first city to drink water produced by an environmentally and economically friendly method from the sea.” He paused, again letting the weight of his words have their full effect.

  “I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that this technology is legitimate. Once you have satisfied yourselves that it is all I have claimed, we will be taking your orders for our machines. We have two models available. The AES-100 produces one-hundred-thousand gallons an hour, and the AES-1000 produces one million gallons an hour. We currently have one thousand AES-100 models available and fifty AES-1000s. Due to limited availability at this time, no one customer may purchase more than one machine until our new factory comes online. Those who wish to purchase more than one machine will be placed on our waiting list. When machines become available, you will be contacted. We have set up a website where you can purchase our machines, as well as get on our waiting list—www.aquariuselementalsolutions.com will have all the details related to our technology and its use.”

  Darius had their full attention now. “Please be warned, we take the proprietary nature of our machines very seriously. We have had this technology perfected in its current state for several years. It has taken our team the last two years to perfect a means of securing our technology from piracy. Any attempt to tamper, modify, or change our machines will cause them to shut down and self-destruct. Anyone within thirty feet will be severely injured or possibly killed. The owners of any machine that self-destructs will be charged a substantially higher fee for their next machine or banned from purchasing machines altogether. This will be at our discretion.

  “Now to pricing. All North American, Asian, and European customers will be charged ten million dollars each for the AES-100s and one-hundred-million dollars for the AES-1000s. All Middle Eastern and other third-world nations will be charged one million and ten million dollars respectively. It is time the wealthy nations of the world paid their fair share. Ninety percent of all gross sales of these machines will go to a special fund we have named the Aquarius Fund.” Darius was pleased with the stunned looks of surprise from his audience. He continued, “This fund will be directed by Alexandra Riley, a well-known environmental and social activist.”

  He indicated Alexandra sitting in the chair beside the podium. “At her sole direction, the Aquarius Fund will provide our machines and the infrastructure necessary to support them, free of charge, to the poorest peoples of the world. Ladies and gentlemen, it is our goal in the next two years to provide fresh drinking water to every person who wants it within one hundred miles of any coastline. I realize this may be an overly ambitious goal, but all of us at AES believe it is possible. We will use every means at our disposal to accomplish it. Within the next six months, we plan to roll out an industrial model of the AES line of elemental separators. Our goal is to provide a machine that produces one million gallons of pure water per minute. These machines will revolutionize agriculture in our world. They will allow once-barren deserts to be cultivated for the production of food. Nations which were once at a disadvantage geographically will now be able to economically produce their own food. Now no longer dependent on others for their survival.” Stunned looks filled the faces of the audience. Their reaction was exactly as Darius had always imagined it.

  “Most of you do not yet know me, but let me tell you, I am committed to helping the people of the world reach their fullest potential. Too long this world has been ruled by the rich at the expense of the poor. Today I propose a change to the old world order. To the peoples of the world, I ask you to join me, and let’s make this planet a better place together. In keeping with this vision, we have come up with a means for all mankind to better themselves with profits from our technology.

  “As many of you are aware, Aquarius Elemental Solutions is a publicly traded company. We would like to offer each person on this planet an opportunity to own a piece of AES by means of a private placement in our company. For those of you watching through the Internet or TV who do not understand what this means, let me explain. When a public company wishes to raise money, one of the ways it can do so is by issuing shares of its company for private investors to buy. Normally these investors are rich people with inside information, who can buy a stock at a price which is generally lower than the public can purchase the same shares. After a certain period of time, they can sell their shares at the then-current price, often at a great profit.

  “Well, we at AES are offering each living person on this planet an option to buy ten shares of AQES at ten dollars a share. No matter what our stock share price reaches in the next twelve months, you will be able to purchase your own shares at ten dollars each. We have a list of accredited brokers on our website through whom you can purchase our shares in all countries which have publicly traded exchanges. Shares can be purchased in the name of your children, but proof of identity must be provided. Terms of the private placement require that you hold your shares for eighteen months from the date of purchase. After that time, you may sell them at your discretion. We offer you, the little people of the world, the same opportunity once reserved only for the rich.”

  He drew himself up straighter. “There is more. As a Persian by birth and in solidarity with my countrymen, I give each and every man, woman, and child of Persia one hundred shares of AQES stock. I realize you, my fellow countrymen, may not be able to avail yourselves of this opportunity at this time, but I will reserve your shares until such a time as you are once again a free and democratic nation. Once you have secured your freedom, each of you will be wealthy in your own right. The time for nations to be ruled by brutality and fear is over. I say it is time for we the people of the world to make this planet a better place together. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.”

  For a full minute, not a word was spoken. Most were just overwhelmed, trying to process the implications of Darius’s words. They wanted to believe—how dearly they wanted to believe—but the world being what it was, most were naturally skeptical. Someone coughed nervously, and as if waiting for that signal, everyone started talking at once.

  Two hours later in Dubai, Dylan Gallos watched as the market opened in New York. Theoretically, he’d known it was possible—but still, incredulously, he stared at his computer screen as AQES began trading. It gapped up and started trading at nineteen dollars a share. He typed in another order to sell one billion shares. There were buy orders on his screen for one million, ten million, and fifty million share lots. This time, the billion shares hardly affected the price at all. By the time he finished selling them, the stock was trading at twenty-five dollars. He sent a quick text message to Darius and the rest of the team telling them that if they wanted to sell some of their personal shares, there was plenty of liquidity to handle it right now.

  Each responded to the good news, but only Ralph, Gavin, and Dylan himself decided to sell anything. Ralph sold ten million, Gavin two million, and Dylan fifty million shares. Placing these additional orders, he watched as they were quickly absorbed. He shook his head, half in delight, half in shock. Aquarius Elemental Solutions was now the world’s first trillion-dollar corporation. Each of them were billionaires, at least on paper. And Darius Zarindast was on the fast track to becoming the first human being whose net worth totaled over one trillion dollars.

  Chapter 25

  Phoenix, Arizona

  The whole event was broadcast live on the Internet, and Sam sat watching it in disbelief. Was this guy for real? Assuming the technology was legitimate, mankind had truly entered a new age.

  Sam looked at his clock on the wall. It was seven-thirty a.m. Eastern time, and the markets would be opening in two hours. How would they react? Separating elements from seawater had always been the ultimate prize in mining. If it was now a cost-effective possibility, surely commodities and mining companies would take a big hit.

  He pulled up the liv
e commodities’ prices on a web page. Sure enough gold, silver, and copper were all down over ten percent. Someone was taking Darius’s claims seriously. And if they were true, ten percent was just the beginning.

  Switching to a page that showed trading in Europe, he saw many of their major mining companies down twenty percent. Especially hard hit were the gold and silver miners. He was sure the world’s financial eyes were watching for New York to open and the price AQES.BB would begin trading at. Sam noticed the dollar was also taking a big hit in international trading. Would this technology weaken the value of the dollar as people questioned the financial and technological dominance of the Western world? And Darius’s offer to the Persian people, that was a masterstroke of genius. The pressure this would put on the fanatic Muslim leaders would be incredible. Almost like a multibillion-dollar bounty on the current leadership.

  Sitting back, Sam thought about his one-hundred-thousand shares of AQES.BB and what he should do with them. By any reasonable estimation he was now a wealthy man on paper. AQES.BB would likely open at well north of ten dollars. If this technology turned out to be a fraud, he would end up with nothing. On the other hand, if it turned out to be for real, then the stock price could go to a hundred, maybe even a thousand dollars a share. He thought about it and decided greed was something he should guard against here—but how best to go about it?

  For starters, he would sell ten thousand shares at whatever the price the stock opened at and another ten thousand with every twenty-dollar increase in price thereafter.

  Sam placed his orders and logged out of his trading account. This new fortune was going to add to his already comfortable income. How was he going to keep the wealth from controlling his life? Bowing his head, he said a silent prayer asking for wisdom for the days ahead. Events were moving almost too fast to comprehend, and he didn’t want to lose sight of what was truly important.