by Tom Tryst
There was no receptionist behind the desk when she came in, but as the wall clock shows just minutes before the hour, a young woman enters from the main hallway and moves behind the desk, placing her shoulder bag in a drawer. She is not the same woman who received her yesterday.
“You must be Tabitha Sullivan,” she greets with a warm smile as she sits down.
Tabitha nods and stands.
“Please. Sit,” the receptionist urges. “I’ll let them know you’re here. They’ll call for you shortly.” Only a moment passes when she asks, “So, are you settled in?”
“Yes. It’s the easiest move I ever made,” Tabitha replies. “Looks like I didn’t even need to bring clothing.”
The secretary is dressed in similar khakis, with ‘Susan’ emblazoned. “Having a uniform is OK. You never have to struggle in the morning with what to wear. The seven you have for the week is just half your issue, one for each day. The laundry has an identical seven with your name when you turn in the worn sets. Washed, slightly starched and pressed.”
“I’m surprised at how comfortable they are. But are they mandatory? I mean, do we have to wear them all the time?”
“Oh, no! Just when officially on duty. Wear whatever you like on your own time,” the girl advised. “I suggest you alternate shoes each day, get them broke in. We got them the size you gave us; if they aren’t comfortable, the Exchange will get you ones that fit.”
“They’re fine. Just a little stiff.”
“Just remember that anything personal you may need can be found at the Commissary - no charge. Toiletries. Cosmetics. You name it.”
“Nice perk.”
“Yeah,” the girl grins. “You don’t have to spend a penny here. You can save your entire paycheck - or have an occasional splurge in town.”
“It’s almost like being in the Army.”
“Except there is no rank. No saluting. No inspections. No KP,” she remarks, then adds with a slight frown, “And no friggin’ sergeants.”
“Sounds like you served.”
She nods and the frown disappears. “Drafted. Two years. They were training me as a weather observer. That’s when I heard about this outfit. Joined up as soon as my tour was over.”
The intercom buzzed. “They’re ready for you,” Susan announces as she gets up and goes to an inner door, opening it for her. “Good luck.”
Tabitha only has a second to think what she meant by that, for she is met by Daniel Davies as soon as she enters a long, wide, brightly lit hallway.
“Hey, Tabitha,” he greets her in Texas style. They shake hands. “This way,” he says as he leads off. Halfway down the hall he opens a door for her. Inside a large room is the single piece of furniture, a long conference table encircled by twelve swivel chairs. Only three are occupied. All were wearing the same khakis as she.
Before showing her to a seat, he introduces the three seated. “You’ve met my wife, Sherry. She is an integral part of my staff - technically, a board member. We are a nonprofit corporation, with all funding coming from the government.”
Sherry smiles and nods.
“Across from her is my second in command, Charles Durwood, also a board member.”
The man simply nods and leans back in his chair. She can’t tell how tall he is, but he appears to be of average size, if not a little stocky. He looks to be about the same age as Daniel, with close-cropped reddish hair and brown eyes. His slightly dark skin and features suggest Hispanic heritage.
Daniel continues. “Next to him is his wife, Carol Durwood. Also a board member.”
“Welcome, Dear,” she smiles with a little wave. The first Tabitha notices about her is her plumpness and very large, full breasts pulled somewhat flat by the khaki shirt, making it look a bit ill fitting. The second is her pleasant face, a friendly face even when not smiling. Her dark brown hair is short and curly, eyes a dark brown. Like her husband, she looks Hispanic, but there is no accent in her voice. “I hope you’re comfortable in your new lodging.”
“Very, thank you.”
Tabitha thought Daniel would be sitting at the head seat at the end of the table, but he directs her to sit there instead, while he takes a seat next to his wife. He waits until she is settled in, then begins in a casual tone, “First of all, I want you to relax. This is an informal briefing. You already have the job, if you want it. Now we can tell you in more detail what your duties will entail. Each of the four of us will brief you on the different aspects of the operation and your roll within it. I’ll start with explaining just how we were formed and for what purpose. “ When her sees her take out a steno pad and pen, he adds, “There’s no need to take notes. Everything we’re telling you - with a few exceptions that we’ll explain - is in print for you to study. That thick three-ring notebook on your desk at your apartment.”
After a short pause, as she puts the notebook back into her shoulder bag, he begins, “This is not a government agency - at least not in the strict sense of that definition. We are a nonprofit agency - who just happens to get 100% of its funding from the Federal Government. While we are independent of Congress - they have no say so in our functioning - we do get input from several agencies. We do the best to please them while still doing the job for which we were organized: to try to coordinate world governments and large corporations in taking steps to reduce carbon emissions. Formally, we are “The Global Warming Advisory Group. Or GWAP. We don’t use the initials, as when spoken as a word, it sounds too much like a lisping man saying ‘crap.”
Tabitha tries to suppress a grin.
He just smiles at her, as if to say ’see?’ then continues. “Basically, our job is to gather scientifically verified information relating to the pollution of the atmosphere, the oceans and the land that are creating this ‘hot house effect’ - that in turn is warming both the atmosphere and the oceans. We also challenge the vast amount of misinformation being published by the various special interest groups, showing then to be deceptive or out-and-out lies. These are mainly the large world corporations who do not want to spend the money necessary to reduce carbon emissions, corporations who, through campaign contributions and money under the table, bribe members of Congress NOT to take the action we need to take if we are to save the planet.”
He pauses here, looking at Tabitha. “Sounds a little melodramatic, doesn’t it? But if life is to continue on Earth, we have to stop polluting our environment. So far, the governments of the world are only making promises and taking little or no action - including our own government. Congress will not, or cannot, pass the laws necessary to reduce pollution and deforestation. The situation is the same with most of the world governments. So first of all, we have to eliminate any and all doubt about global warming. We have to expose the nay sayers for the liars - and sometimes crooks - they are. Then we have to come up with a workable program that will involve all the world governments, so that each one knows the others are doing their share in reducing emission air, water and ground pollution, as well as deforestation.
“Let me assure you of two things: first, global warming is real; second, if not substantially reversed, mankind of on the verge of making the world uninhabitable. And that, according to the scientific community, could be in 50 to 100 years. You’ll see from the various reports in your folder, that 100% of every scientific organization and group agree with that forecast. It is only about half of the world governments that don’t agree. Mind you, they are no longer denying global warming; they are now saying they have to have more information regarding the problem; they’re stalling, reluctant to spend the money necessary to resolve the problem, still wishing to please their wealthy benefactors to keep the money flowing into their pockets. It’s sad to say, but most in Congress are nothing more than greedy crooks taking bribes instead of doing what they were elected to do.”
He rises and moves to the inside wall opposite the windows, and pulls down a roll-up world map. Each country of the world is a different color. In the center of each country is a
large white number. He points to each, reading the number. “These numbers represent the percentage amount of pollution each country is producing. China, 19%. India 12%. Japan, 10%. Pakistan, 8%. The United States . . . “ He taps the map. “41%, the largest polluter of all - and the only nation failing to make a pledge to reduce pollution. So you see the problem we have.”
He returns to his seat, compelling her to respond somehow. “But hasn’t the U.S. formed this agency?”
He nods. “But not through Congress. Most of them don’t know we even exist, much less what we are trying to do. It is the people who actually conduct the everyday activities of running the government who are funding us . . . out of their own budgets. Their contributions are clandestine. The reports we release will be made public through the agency, or agencies, most concerned with each facet of the problem, not just to our politicians. And also to the United Nations and every world government. We hope to embarrass Congress into taking action . . . hopefully before they discover our operation and shut us down.” He continues for another twenty minutes, concentrating on the emissions of gases through the burning of fossil fuel, electrical generation plants, habitat heating and cooling, industry and motor vehicles - all increasing as the world’s population soars.
Charles takes over, a degreed climatologist. His subject is the world oceans and the effect pollution of the atmosphere is having on every ocean sea and large body of water of the world. “First of all, you have to understand the role oceans have on human life. Half of all oxygen comes from the ocean; most of the remaining half comes from trees - but my wife will cover that area. Now as to the oceans, it is not only the water itself that generates the oxygen we deplete by human activity, but the life it supports.” He went on to explain precisely the process involved.
“But when polluted rivers run into the ocean, that kills much of the necessary organisms it comes in contact with. Further, warmer atmosphere means warmer sea water, additionally killing oxygen producers, species that are temperature sensitive. But there is another unwanted result of warmer seas: the ocean is the basic producer of weather patterns, the movement of ocean currents and the movement of upper air. Severe storms need warm water to generate. The warmer the water, the more severe the storms. Resulting hurricanes, cyclones and tornadoes wreck havoc. Huge storm surges cause more destruction than the wind and rain. And the surges rolling back out to sea carry more pollution into the ocean.
“It’s a vicious cycle, the more pollution, the more heat that is trapped in the atmosphere. The warmer the oceans, the more severe the storms, creating more pollution. If the present trend continues, almost entirely due to the dramatically increasing world population, the rather delicate chemical balance of the atmosphere will be completely upset. While it has never happened before, basic science tells us that at some point, there will be nothing mankind can do to reverse it. The planet will simply not support human life. Ironically, over a period of time without humans and other oxygen breathing life, the atmosphere will once again become pristine - as will the seas. Long too late for extinct mankind. We’re already feeling the impact on human life. The first report of deaths from pollution were by the World Health Organization in 2014. That year, 3.3 million people died from air pollution. Last year their closest estimate was some 200 million. And this year it will be more as the world’s population continues to increase exponentially. It is now estimated to be 10 billion! Most of the dead are the elderly, children and those with respiratory diseases. Perhaps the government looks at this as a means of population control, getting rid of the least wanted. They seem to be only concerned about people who work and vote.”
He continues, citing a number of specific occurrences, watching Tabitha for her reaction. Much of this has not divulged to the general population. She tries to conceal her emotions as she begins to realize how serious global warming has become.
It is Sherry Davies’ turn. With a degree in sociology and a crash course in meteorology, she begins by citing how changing weather patterns are disrupting the world food supply. Once fertile farm lands are being destroyed by consistent drought, while other areas are receiving too much rain, flooding crops before they can be harvested. Agribusiness, the corporate farmers, are trying to follow the weather changes with mixed results. Further, the drastic reductions in mountain snow packs were drying up rivers in the summer, rivers that depended on snow melt. Without water in many areas, whole populations are forced to relocate. Water is becoming a very precious and expensive commodity in many parts of the world.
Tabitha recalls their nearby lake, the fabulous view she is falling in love with. Is it in danger of drying up with the climate change and global warning? She is beginning to feel very vulnerable. A glance at the wall clock shows an hour and a half has passed; it didn’t seem that long to her. When Sherry finishes her presentation, Tabitha expected Carol to be next. Instead, Daniel takes over.
“So now we get down to what your assignment will be with The Group. I know you expected this to be a federal government job with retirement benefits and lots of perks. Sorry. If you don’t change your mind and accept the position - which you can do with six months severance pay - you’ll be a civilian employee of a nonprofit, private corporation. Your yearly salary will be twice that we advertised. And you will have a guaranteed retirement after you’re with us six months, regardless of how much longer your employment. We can’t guarantee job security. But even if the government does manage to shut us down, the benefits - retirement and health care - are set up as pre-funded and independent of the government. They will continue. We don’t know how long we’ll be in operation - or how much longer the world has. There’s a good chance that our time left on earth will be short. And the end probably won’t be pretty.”
He pauses, looking at her for some reaction, but sees none. He continues. “You see we very much want you on board. Your past demonstrates your computer skills have given you a unique ability to gather information others don’t want you to see. Cyber attacks are justified: in fact, they are a major source of information others don’t want us to have. And that’s what you will be doing for a start. We need to know who is blowing smoke up the world’s ass regarding climate change. We want to expose them - individuals, organizations or governments - and show they are preaching lies, hiding the truth. Every day that passes may be the point of no return for our atmosphere.
“And we want to know who our friends might be, those we can work with in the second stage. And that is developing a program that all world governments can adopt to try to drastically reduce the various forms of pollution. That’s going to be the toughest nut to crack - with our own government probably being the hardest. As they are the only government in the world still refusing to pledge any degree of pollution reduction, they may never change their stubborn support of the commercial world - the ones making them millionaires.”
He looks around at the other three. “Anything you all want to add?” he asks them. All shake their heads. He turns his attention once again to Tabitha. “So I guess that’s pretty much the picture. We can’t even be sure that what we are attempting to do will make any difference for the survival of the world, but we have to be optimistic. In light of the true purpose of The Group, we don’t expect you to give us an answer now. Study the material we gave you; it goes into greater detail. Take as much time as you need.”
Tabitha takes an audible deep breath and slowly lets it out before answering, one hand resting on the orientation folder. “I don’t need time. I’m on board.”
“Great!” Daniel exclaims, compulsively clapping. The others join in the spontaneous applause. “Welcome, Tabitha. Welcome! From your rapt attention and response, I was pretty sure you would be”
Sherry rises and moves to Tabitha, shaking her hand first, then giving her a hug. “I know I speak for us all. We are so glad your joining us. For as long as you want, I’ll work with you in getting the research program to its second stage.”
The others move to her end
of the table. Now standing, she shakes the hands of the others.
Daniel is the first to get back to the business at hand. All return to their seats while he further instructs her. “We have a state of the art computer center. The best and most powerful available. We have a hand-picked group of programmers establishing a worldwide network - pretty much a clandestine one. And some pretty good hackers. We can breach systems and gather data without leaving a trail back to us. In most cases, they may not even know they were hacked. You’re considered one of the best. I suspect you will have some tricks of your own that you might share with us. What we need to know is who are our friends and who are our foes.
“At the same time, our team of earth scientists will gather data from the world over, then put together the most accurate prediction regarding the threat of global warming - one no one will be able to disclaim. Hopefully, the world will join in trying to reverse the threat.” He slides his chair back and stands. “I guess that’s it for now. Sherry, would you take Tabitha on a tour of the computer center?” It is more an order than a request. “Introduce her around, then let’s all meet at the dining hall . . . “ he looks at his watch “. . . say at 1730 hours.”
To Tabitha, he adds, “If you think of anything else we could add to make the center more efficient, let me know. Our budget is substantial.”
As she and Sherry leave the building, heading for an adjacent, single-story, windowless structure, she is only half listening to the older woman’s casual chatter. The seriousness of the dire condition of the world is just starting to sink in.
Chapter Three
At 1000 hours Greenwich time, every audio and visual communication device in the world is commandeered with a single voice message in the language of each country where it is heard. “We are the Peace Keepers. We come in peace. In one hour, we will explain who we are, where we come from and our purpose. Gather all adults to hear this message.” Then, just as abruptly, all systems returns to normal. It is repeated every ten minutes.