The Carbon Cross (The Carbon Series Book 2)

by Randy Dutton

  “Do you want me to turn off—”

  “No, let it run.... I can’t live in isolation.”

  He wrapped his strong arms around her.

  The news continued. “In carbon news, oil prices remained flat at $254 per barrel, as inventories of carbon-based fuels drop, while supplies are still trickling in from various sources. In positive news, the UN Department of Sustainable Energy reports that most villages across the globe have set up their own bioreactors using the Snath microbes to create gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, and are starting to meet local demand. Chinese companies are shipping new components that allow faster implementation than anticipated.

  “The collection of biomass for fuel now has become a routine process for most of the world’s rural communities. Reports of villages fighting over areas of brush that each wants for reactor feedstock has forced the UN to send arbitration teams to determine biomass ownership. Elsewhere, experts in the fuels industries decry a lack of consistent quality with the biofuel flowing into the system. One official cited reports of significant contamination, microbial growth within the fuels, poor consistency, and varying vapor and burn temperatures. He claimed this is what happens when the UN deconstructs the global fuel supply.”

  Pete spoke up. “Reminds me of China right after it went communist.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Everyone making their own fuel?”

  “Right. Mao told his people to produce as much iron as possible. Every village smelted its own iron, which included melting down their pots and pans, farm equipment, and anything they could find. The result was a vast quantity of poor quality, brittle iron that quickly rusted. Famine ensued, and tens of millions starved to death because they lost some of the means of food production.”

  “Pretty fair analogy.” Anna gave a weak thumbs up. “The fuel microbes were mostly Sven’s group, but I hired him, so I’m responsible. We never discussed these possible consequences, though.”

  “I’ll bet Swanson’s irate about Snath equipment being copied in China and small shops around the globe,” Pete added.

  “He’ll lose a fortune because he reinvested so much of his income in expanding manufacturing.”

  “Only to be undermined by the entrepreneurship of the backyard mechanic,” Pete quipped.

  She shrugged as the news report continued. “The UN Department of Atmosphere today said that small particles of Fuzz, the Snath Genetics carbon-trapping, genetically modified moss, now are found across 98% of the globe. Air currents are carrying light Fuzz particles even to remote monitoring stations in Antarctica. Aircraft engine manufacturers are researching the effects of Fuzz particles on jet engines. Approximately 14 air crashes this month are being attributed to Fuzz-impaired engines or reduced visibility. The review is expected to be released next month....”

  Her lips tightly pressed together and her eyes dampened. Anna’s thumb rose.

  Pete wrapped her hand in his and kissed it. “Forget the signal, Babe. It was a bad idea. I’m sorry.”

  She leaned over to him, cupped his face with her hands, and gave him a soft kiss. “It was a good idea, Honey. You’re just not ready for the effect opening so many boxes at once has on me.” Her attention turned back to the TV.

  The news continued. “Reports of Fuzz collecting on tree branches are coming in from around the world. Biologists have analyzed its structure, revealing a branching that allows the particles to interlock, forming long chains and mats. They claim Fuzz helps prevent soil erosion, because it has been proven to create layers of vast dimensions. Climatologists report the Fuzz seems to be neutral in solar radiation absorption and thus will neither increase nor decrease global warming. A UN DoA spokesperson said that agency will continue to monitor its growing global concentrations.

  “Also in the past month, marine biologists claim to have found Fuzz mats in the doldrums, areas of the oceans where calm and light winds allow accumulation of flotsam. These mats are supporting sea turtles, which climb aboard. Birds, too, are finding these islands to be excellent resting points. Oceanographers exploring the deep ocean, report suspended Fuzz particles have increased turbidity. They also have found some sunken Fuzz mats on the ocean floor. Genetic analysis shows life-prolonging characteristics designed into it also inhibit its consumption by marine life.

  “In related news, the carbon-trapping bacterium has been found in airborne samples taken in Antarctica and at the North Pole. Released by Snath Genetics under a UN-funded contract last month, it was thought at the time to limit itself to only high-concentration CO2 plumes emitted by volcanoes. The UN Secretary General, when asked about the proliferation of genetically modified technology authorized and funded by the UN, said, ‘We’ll do whatever it takes to lower CO2, the biggest threat humanity has ever known.’”

  “Finis Justificat Media,” Anna said under her breath and slowly shook her head. “Now even the UN’s repeating it.”

  “Who came up with that?” Pete’s brow flashed.

  “Don’t look at me,” she chided him. “Blame Swanson. That was his idea...I thought it was too arrogant...and too revealing...even if it was accurate.”

  “...In a show of support for Snath’s carbon trapping technologies, environmentalists have hailed the report as proof that bioengineered products can reduce atmospheric carbon and the threat of global warming.

  “And, in a surprising move, it has been leaked that the Nobel Committee is considering Mr. Alexis Swanson for the Nobel Peace Prize, for his work on saving the planet. This comes on the heels of environmental movie producer and director, Robert Spenser, announcing the upcoming May premier of his new movie, ‘Swanson – Savior of Earth’ at the Cannes Film Festival...”

  “He actually did it!” Her eyes lit up, putting two thumbs up.

  “Who did what?” Pete asked, her excitement taking him by surprise.

  “Spenser. He made the movie I suggested.”

  “You know Spenser?” he cocked his head, their eyes meeting. “Isn’t he the director who made the eco-flop, The Last Polar Bear?”

  “Yeah,” she bit her lower lip and smiled, “We attended social events on the Riviera together.” She pouted. “You didn’t like Pedro the polar bear?”

  “Just socially?” he pressed. “Is he the guy—”

  “Don’t press it. Please?” She shook her head. “I had a life before you, Darling. It was frivolous, exciting, and exquisite”—she looked him in the eyes, her love and appreciation evident—“and empty. It was devoid of a long-term future.”

  “Sorry, what’s done is done. Doesn’t mean I can’t get a little jealous of your past...friends.” Pete grimaced and pulled her tight. “But seriously? A polar bear searching for his drowned mate?”

  She put her head against his shoulder. “Just remember, Dear,” she said slowly, “when the dance was over, I came home with you.” She paused, then looked up at him and playfully added, “I thought Pedro was cute.”

  The news report continued, “...the UN reported the declining carbon credit purchases are causing a financial crisis and may force a reduction in carbon sequestration project financing. A UN Carbon Commission official said that without more money, they may not be able to meet the CO2 sequestration goals. The Commission said its regional revenue tax collection service has not received the initial revenue from household carbon emissions as predicted.”

  “Ouch! That’s really going to hurt the Agenda 21 group,” Anna chuckled.

  “Good. Serves them right!”

  “...In climate news, for the month of September the global weather service reports a levelized global CO2 average of 406.9 ppm. The UN Carbon Commissioner said as the world shifts to biobased fuel, the carbon that is locked up in biomass and converted to fuel, then burned, will continue to emit more CO2 into the air. However, a point will soon come, he stated, when more CO2 is being pulled out than put in...”

  “Pete, do you really think the three plagues will matter?” Anna asked.

  “If the ocean blooms are as signific
ant as I hear”—his head was bobbing—“yes I do. Typically, phytoplankton blooms only happen in mineral-rich waters. With the bacteria and Fuzz feeding the plankton, these blooms are larger and more global. They soak up a lot of dissolved CO2. We’ll know much more in a few months. What’s most important is the recycle rate.”

  “How much carbon usually gets recycled?”

  “Typically 99% of the ocean carbon is recycled by feeding more life. But from what I know of Dr. Johansson, I’ll wager the rate’s much lower.”

  The news continued to its final segment after a short break from its sponsors. “Today’s interview is with George Mansfield, constitutional scholar. Welcome Professor Mansfield. Does the Constitution still matter?”

  “Thank you, Jill. To answer your question, absolutely. The Constitution is the basis of our laws. It’s designed to limit the power of government and to protect American freedoms.”

  “For our readers who may not be familiar with it, tell me, what does the Constitution authorize and mandate?”

  “First, that all political arguments should be prefaced by the discussion of essential liberty and the rule of law.”

  “And what is essential liberty?”

  “Essential liberty, Jill, is the freedoms that everyone is entitled to such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

  “How does the government guarantee these freedoms?”

  “By not making any laws that impose upon them,” Professor Mansfield declared.

  “Doesn’t government grant freedom?”

  “No! Natural law – essential liberty – comes from God, not government, and everyone is born with the right to those freedoms. That is, no government has the legitimate authority to take the freedoms away.”

  “The current government says it has the right to reduce the liberties of Americans to increase their security. Your thoughts?”

  “The government is violating the Constitutional limits of power in doing that. Government is created by man, and should derive its power from the consent of the governed. Therefore, when government becomes destructive, the governed – the citizens – have the right to change or abolish that government and form a new government that better meets their goals.”

  “Can you give some examples of government being destructive?”

  “Sure. Years ago the Department of Homeland Security listed activities people engage in to be more self-sufficient, such as home gardening, as indicators of possible right-wing terrorist sympathies. That’s when they implemented stringent gun control and started seizing weapons. More recently, our government sacrificed the private property rights of Alaskans by selling the state to the Russians, and then the US government called up the Ready Reserve Force to quell peaceful public resistance to government action. The government outlawed certain speech it considered treasonous even though it was the speakers’ personal opinions. The government continues to decry any discussion of government limitations.”

  “What about government action on CO2? How does that affect essential freedom?”

  “CO2 is a natural gas, essential to life on Earth. Government officials know CO2 levels are extremely low in geological comparison, but the effort to control global warming is being used as a mechanism to seize other rights from citizens.”

  “Like what?”

  “They’re taxing people for emitting CO2, or for operations that emit CO2. Yet they mostly ignore real pollution such as sulfates, ozone, and carbon soot.”

  “Isn’t CO2 worse than the others?”

  “Of course not! New studies show CFCs – chloroflurocarbons – are some of the real culprits behind global warming. Sulfates create acid rain and damage plants and watersheds. Ozone is very corrosive and causes respiratory illness and death. Carbon soot harms lungs and changes the albedo of snow.”

  “Albedo?”

  “The reflectivity, Jill. Carbon soot, which is black and absorbs much more light than snow, is perhaps the most significant contributor to the melting of glaciers and ice fields.”

  “What else?”

  “Under the guise of trying to reduce CO2, the US has acceded to the UN the authority to limit the use of personal property. Understand that Progressives don’t really believe in private property rights. They see the accumulation of wealth as taking resources away from someone rather than adding to the one earning it. To them, if someone has something, he must have stolen it. Progressives restrict how land can be used by eliminating efficient means of production with fertilizer, pesticide, and herbicides. They insist organic is the way to go, not by choice, but by fiat. Meanwhile, farmers will tell you that organic farming is very labor intensive and not nearly as efficient.”

  “That’s rather harsh, Professor.”

  “Jill, here’s just one example: to reduce CO2, Progressives are dictating food choices by eliminating meat production, particularly ruminants such as cows, because of the methane they release, which eventually converts to CO2. But they neglect to mention the vegetation the cows otherwise would eat also releases methane.”

  “What about private land ownership?”

  “They see it and owning private vehicles as bad. That’s why they promote mass transit at any cost. And to make transit more effective, they’ll force people to live in concentrated urban centers and in multi-family buildings, whether or not it meets their personal desires.”

  “To what end?”

  “To end single-family homes, because they’re seen as too resource wasteful. That’s part of their rural depopulation plan. We’ve already seen them block resource development. But the most insidious plan is to reduce human population through draconian methods.”

  “Back to land ownership, how do they get control?”

  “They decide who can own and access the land, and who must give or sell land to the government. They’re using condemnation rules to force the selling of land, and often claim the sellers were willing.”

  “But if they are willing sellers, aren’t both benefiting?”

  “They’re not as willing as you would think. Many have no choice but to sell. Government has gone out of its way to lower the value of their land by eliminating demand.”

  “How would they do that?”

  “By restricting access to their land, by making it difficult or impossible for landowners to build roads, improve their property, repair damage, or sell to others. They’ve forced industries like logging and paper mills that bought the resources the land produced to close and have claimed it’s for the greater good. Sometimes they’ll find a limited species and then declare the entire habitat must become human-free.”

  “But the local communities agree.”

  “Not as much as it seems. Often the decisions are made by local boards and commission that are staffed and funded by Foundation members with a vested interest to make the rulings. For example, the ICLEI, now called Local Governments for Sustainability, is a UN-sponsored international association of local governments and national and regional local government organizations that made a commitment to sustainable development.”

  “Is that part of Agenda 21?”

  “Yes, whether Progressives call it comprehensive planning, growth management, or smart growth, it’s an integral part of Agenda 21.”

  “Thank you, Professor Mansfield. That’s all the time we have. Thank you for tuning in. This is Jill Brent, On The Beat”

  Pete turned off the radio. The room was quiet. “Anna, hear that?”

  “Hear what?” Her jaw was set as she turned to him.

  “Exactly. The rain has stopped and the wind’s died down. Still want to check out properties?”

  “I want to get out of this hotel room and away from the news. So, yes. Let’s go for a drive. But I think we need to look farther away from the ocean. I prefer calmer weather.”

  “We’ll drive inland a little. Somewhere a bit sheltered by the hills.”

  Map in hand, they traced many of the back roads and byways. Their goals of isolation and relatively easy
access to a town were difficult, but not impossible, to find.

  Early that evening they stepped through the double front door of a large craftsman-style house. Anna’s eyes lit with excitement. “This is it, Honey! I like this place.”

  He looked back at the realtor listing. “Looks like we’re about 45 klicks from the ocean and bordered on two sides by hundreds of thousands of acres of commercial timberland.”

  “It’s got a wonderful river valley view.”

  He looked up at the large residence. “This place doesn’t blend in with the other houses in the area...and it’s a bit bigger than most.”

  “Who cares! It looks great! It’s got a huge basement for my dojo.”

  “And a children’s playroom,” he added with a glint in his eye.

  “With the kilometer long driveway and over a hundred timbered acres, it meets my security plans.”

  “One of your must-haves.” He chuckled.

  “Absolutely. This is not a property people accidentally stumble into. One has to make an effort to get here.” She smiled mischievously. “And with some security upgrades”—she formed a makeshift rifle scope with her hand and sighted it down the driveway—“it’ll give me a greater sense of control over what I fear will come.”

  Chapter 68

  October 31, 1400

  White House Conference Room

  A commercial airliner lay smoldering in a Kansas field. Its scarred wings already were collecting drifting strands of moss blown from neighboring cornstalks by the violent crash. The plane’s image was frozen on the White House Conference Room’s monitor as the last cabinet official closed the door behind him.

  “It’s an opportunity, Sir,” Dowell said optimistically.

  “Leave it to you to find a silver lining in a dark Fuzz cloud,” President Fernandez grumbled. “People died on that plane!”