THE PEACE KEEPERS

by Tom Tryst

  “Yes,” Daniel agrees. “But there is another issue. As the Director of the new team, they want me to be in absolute control of the entire facility. We will be coordinating agents in the field doing the actual investigations, resolving problems we discover. They don’t want to have to deal with a city government and the complications it might involve.”

  “So they want to put me and my people out of a job,” she states angrily. “Might I remind you that Lackland Army Air Corps Base is inside the city limits of San Antonio - and they didn’t shut down the city. But they want to shut down us!”

  “Not necessarily so,” Daniel quickly tries to reassure her. “But the way I see it, you will definitely will have to be part of the team. You could have a title such as . . . say, ‘Environmental Support,’ or such. We could limit the lease to all but the village center - those buildings where the government work is actually being conducted. And include security as part of the lease. Government facilities often have private security. That would be Victor’s job. Doubling as head of security and Chief of Police. You would double as . . . whatever your title would be . . . and as Mayor.”

  “Could work,” Charles advises, trying to stay out of a family battle.

  “With more men, I could provide whatever level of security they want,” Victor advises.

  “The fact that you ran the show before should have some influence. What do you say, gang? Do you think we can work something out to save the village?”

  Both the men nod, but not Sherry.

  “You would have an important position on the team as well as be mayor,” Daniel encourages her. “And we would preserve the village.”

  “Well, it’s not that I have all that much to do as mayor,” she finally replies.

  “Your duties with the team could be as light as need be.”

  Sherry concedes, “Whatever you think is best.”

  “Good!” Daniel declares, relieved that he might avoid conflict with his wife. “Let’s get to work on the option.”

  By the end of the day, they have a written proposal to offer Washington.

  Winter is approaching. For the citizens of Glen Haven, Texas, it is more like an extension of autumn, with continued cool nights and almost balmy days. The weather forecasters predict it would be a milder than normal winter, with more rain than average. It probably won’t snow; if it does, it won’t stay around long.

  While the atmosphere is free of most of the ‘hot house’ gases that had caused global warming, it might take years for worldwide temperatures to return to normal. This could be further slowed by the activities of mankind remaining pretty much the same, but with only about half the previous population. The plus is that the citizens of the world are very conscious of what resulted from previous polluting habits; they are readily adapting to the new environmental standards. While the energy needs of individual residences can be met with the alien technology, full implementation of the new science will take generations. In the mean time, industrial demands still require the oil and coal burning power plants. It is estimated that the current activities of mankind will produce only 25% to 30% of the polluting gases as before; it is hoped that the atmosphere can handle that lowered volume, cleansing itself.

  The phase ‘global warming’ is misleading. A better general description of what was happening would be ‘climate change,’ for while the mean temperature of Earth had risen by almost five degrees, making summer seasons warmer than normal, it can also made winter seasons colder on some parts of the globe. Warmer ocean waters created more intense storms. With the atmosphere almost pristine, though again becoming mildly polluted where populations remain grouped into cities, it was hoped that weather extremes would modify. At worse, many people would have to migrate to find the type of weather to which they had become accustomed. Much of agriculture would either shift to find suitable soil and growing conditions, or change the type of produce and stock they are raising. As all land now belongs to all people, this would be done by government assignments.

  The Universal Council noticeably avoids any conversation regarding their air-cleansing process. It can only be assumed that whatever they were doing has stopped. The question remains: was it enough? The new numbers of Peace Keepers are programed for one purpose: to reinstate the communal distribution program to the point where Earthlings can take over its management.

  For the past three months, the Medina Lake Research Center had been coordinating the activity of mankind within the alien system, assuring that the farmers, ranchers, healthcare providers, trucking centers and distribution centers had the required manpower and were cooperating. Daniel Davies’ people accomplished this entirely by computer, with both Peace Keepers and human inspectors reporting problems through the closed, dedicated communication system. In the other parts of the world, similar groups were doing the same. Local governments were responsible for assuring compliance.

  Washington was there to provide help, but their involvement usually created more problems than it solved. Once having the authority, Daniel’s team quickly learned to work on their own. Most minor problems were resolved by the investigator, or investigators, assigned to that area, backed by local law enforcement. If necessary, The Pentagon would send in the necessary military force required to enforce compliance; that action was required less often.

  A secondary assignment to the group involved their talent at hacking, for many countries were maintaining computer networks independent of The Processor. Now simply monitoring the worldwide network of Processors, assuring that they were complying with the trade agreements, was not enough. It soon became apparent that some governments were still attempting to return to capitalism, introducing a medium of trade - money. Greed and the resulting corruption might begin to rear its ugly head, interfering with equitable distribution of vital foods and resources. Those few smaller countries who opted out of the alien program, going on their own way, were causing problems for their neighbors. From the Research Group’s monitoring, they didn’t seem to be doing well.

  The United States was increasingly limiting trade to only North American countries, which would be reasonable procedure in attempting to reduce the distance goods would have to be delivered. This was usually contrary to the advice of their assigned Peace Keepers, but the aliens did not enforce compliance. Their programed efforts were to assure that all humans received a fair share of all resources.

  The new Congress struggled to keep astride the current conditions rather than become retroactive. This was primarily due to the relative inexperience of the elected representatives and senators. Bills were being introduced with a common theme: Wean themselves of the aliens as quickly as possible. Strength was growing to again close their borders, either as the North America group or as an individual nation.

  The Federal government, and to a lesser extent the state governments, were functioning only because the various departments and agencies were being run by career government employees - people who had for years been running their operations despite occasional interference by government bureaucracy. In the past, the only way to function was by cooperation with the alien enforcers. Now it was by working in harmony with the distribution program. But when it came to other government functions, those elected to Congress were beginning to ignore some of the advice of their appointed department heads, beginning to think they had a better picture of the situation.

  There was a growing demand for ‘isolationism,’ the closing of the borders. Most felt that the United States had the resources to survive, even prosper, on its own. With their involvement of the communal trade system, work in trade for life’s necessities, Daniel’s team were convinced that America could survive on their own. After all, for centuries they had done just that. They could internally provide for most of their needs and wants.

  Those warning against such thinking pointed out that a successfully independent United States would only invite invasion by desperate people of nations that are struggling for survival. Those attempts could be
by mass, illegal migration, or worse, by organized invasion - war. The United States would have to defend itself in either case.

  The Pentagon continued its efforts of arming the armed forces with heavier weaponry.

  It seemed to the people of Glen Haven that autumn had just turned into spring. Most didn’t miss winter weather. For Sherry Davies, her favorite weather is those times when she can sit on her balcony at day’s end, and relax watching the peaceful waters of her beloved lake. The lake has been opened to the outside public as a part of an attempt to have the surrounding population to begin looking at Glen Haven as a part of the community. Few are accepting the invitation.

  The gate closing off the lake from the Compound is now able to be unlocked by a citizen, making it available at any time for swimming and fishing. Soon, the lake waters will be warm enough for swimming, although she has never more than wadded up to her knees. While she loves the lake, she always fears that the slightly murky waters might have critters that could do her harm. She knows her fears are irrational, but she still cannot gather the nerve to plunge in - not even at Daniel’s urging.

  She sometimes sees small boats on the water, but seldom does any of them dare to come even close to the section of shoreline protected by the formidable security fence or the floating barrier creating a small harbor. The fence still bears the warning of electrocution, but the power has long since been disconnected. Touch the fence today and you will soon be confronted by an armed security officer, a member of the Glen Haven Police Department.

  This evening, Sherry is in a strange mood. ‘Perhaps’, she thinks to herself, ‘it’s spring fever.’ Whatever, she is content to sit there, relaxed in her chaise lounge, sipping a cooler, until it is dark and cooling off. Only then will Daniel be able to urge her inside.

  Daniel should be joining her soon. They had an early diner, before the dining hall became crowded, then he was off to a video conference meeting back at the Center. She would normally have also attended, but tonight she begged off. She is content to enjoy the peace and tranquility of her view, the row of mighty oaks, the lake, and the rolling country side beyond. Even when alone on her balcony, she never doses off, for her mind is always busy; gradually she can put the demands of her position aside and start dwelling on the future, a future where the world is back to normal. She rejects the universal feeling that the earth will never be the same. In her future, she and Daniel will be a family; a boy for him, a girl for her. She knows that it will have to happen soon, for she is already beyond normal child bearing age.

  Both have declined to consider having children until their future is assured. Neither want to bring a child into a world of turmoil and uncertainty, possibly a world of constant want and suffering. An additional incentive for him is her fantastic beauty. For him, he would dread to see the changes in her voluptuously trim body caused by pregnancy: breasts becoming overly full and sagging; a flat, firm belly becoming grossly huge, possibly leaving stretch marks after delivery. He would be content to adopt, but would never let her know how he felt. Perhaps when the time came, he could convince her of the risks of a late pregnancy, opting to adopt a child from an orphanage. Or she would convince him to become a father.

  It is dusk when Daniel gets home. He calls out to her, letting her know he’s back, but heads for the bedroom; he wants to get into comfortable clothes - and get a drink - before joining her.

  Without a word, he settles in his own lounge beside her, placing his drink on the low table beside him.

  “How’d it go?” she asks, looking over at him and reaching out to take his hand.

  “Same old, same old,” he replies, a response she has heard more times than she can count.

  “Anything I should know?” she asks, then adds, “As mayor.”

  “The Department of Agriculture is frustrated by the demands of Washington,” he answers after taking a sip of his drink. “Can’t say I blame them. Baker and his people should know by now that they don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground. They should tell them what needs to be done and let the people do their job. Those on the ground know what’s going on, what needs to be done, and how to do it. All the brass in Washington knows what to do is interfering.”

  She’s been through this before. “So, I take it they denied another one of your suggestions.”

  He stares at her for a moment, a slight frown wrinkling his forehead. She just stares back, eyebrows raised. Then he slowly smiles. “You know me pretty good, don’t you, Babe.”

  “You want to talk about it?” she says softly.

  He doesn’t answer for a while, then shakes his head. “Nah, it’s not important. I’ll brief the crew in the morning. Why don’t you sit in, representing the Village?”

  “I’ll do that,” she promises, “but now, put it all away. Just relax. Old Lady Medina Lake will soothe your soul.” As soon as she mentions ‘relax,’ she knows what will be on his mind, and quickly adds, “Not that kind of relax.”

  He just smiles. “Can I make a reservation?”

  “If I manage to have a vacancy.”

  “I love filling your vacancies,” he says with a leer.

  “Knock it off, Casanova. We’re out here to wind down. So, unwind.” She is still holding his hand, and squeezes it gently.

  They sit in silence as it grows dark. Only two park lamps at lakeside illuminate their part of the shoreline, reflecting faintly off the lower boughs of the scattered oaks. The lake waters are already black. He gets up once to refill his glass, then returns.

  Almost talking to herself, her voice soft, she reflects, “Sometimes I can’t help wondering what the aliens did with all those people.”

  He knew she was speaking of the some five billion people who were no longer on earth.

  “Do you think they are still alive?” she asked, already knowing his answer, for they had discussed their fate so many times before.

  “Some of them,” he responds. “Maybe a lot of them. The old Peace Keepers, the ones ‘transporting’ them, always claimed they could not kill a human.”

  “I like to think,” she is again almost talking to herself, “that they have been beamed to other worlds. Those with physical ailments - cured. Those with criminal tendencies - rehabilitated. The aged made young - or at least comfortable. The young growing up on some beautiful alien world.”

  When he doesn’t respond, she squeezes his hand, hard, and asks, “Do you think . . . I mean, if we asked . . . they would transport people to some other world, to live in the peace they claim?”

  “Are you serious?” he demands, releasing her hand and sitting upright.

  “Just wondering.”

  “For one thing,” he continues, sliding his feet to the ground to sit facing her, “even if we asked and they agreed, how do you know you wouldn’t just end up as a slave - or even worse, as food. Would you trust them, with what we’ve seen?”

  “I know. I’m being silly. But I can’t help feeling that earth will never come close to being any kind of paradise. It’s just going to get worse all over again. Wouldn’t it be great to live on a peaceful world?”

  Daniel is immediately concerned. He takes both her hands in his, looking her straight in her eyes. “Do you really feel things will get worse?”

  Annoyed, she abruptly pulls loose. “So what are you, the eternal optimist? You see how bad things are. The aliens saved the world without asking for anything in return. In thanks, we attacked them. Their compassion demanded that they try again, and we’re rejecting them again. If they leave again, we’ll just go back to our old uncivilized ways. We’ll just again overpopulate the world, again begin destroying the environment and the earth’s ability to support life. There’s no hope for mankind.”

  “But we have to have hope!” Daniel insists. “Otherwise, why go on?”

  She takes several deep breaths, then turns her gaze back to the growing darkness, now speckled with pin points of sparsely scattered house lights in the hills beyond the lake. There seem to be mor
e such lights than before. Without looking at him she continues in a softer tone. “Has anybody even asked if humans could voluntarily immigrate to one of their worlds?”

  He shrugs. “Not that I know.”

  Unfazed, she continues, “They said they have worlds that need inhabitants, that our people were sent to such worlds.”

  “Some,” he corrects. “They said some were transported to other worlds. And I don’t remember ever hearing them say that they live happily ever after.”

  “But if we ask!” she cries in frustration. “Ask them what kind of world it would be and what our lives would be like!”

  “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask - as long as we had the choice of going, or not. But who would we ask?”

  “Your Peace Keeper, of course!” she quickly responds, “Ask 37 if we can place a request with the Universal Council!”

  “It might not even respond. Or simply tell us it’s not possible.”

  “Do it!” she cries, her mood abruptly changed. “If the answer is no - well, then that’s that.”

  “And if it is possible? What then?”

  She shrugs. “Then we try to find out as much as we can of the conditions and then make a decision.”

  “And end up being a slave?”

  She stares intently into his eyes, “Being a slave on an alien world may not be as bad as what the future holds for us here on earth.” Then she brightens, “Maybe the whole team . . . no, the whole village could migrate! David, Sarah and the kids. Tabitha and Victor. Everybody!”

  “Well, I know I won’t get any rest until I ask.”

  Come morning, they will both confront 37, who now stays in the Computer Center around the clock, standing, unmoving, until called upon. Presumably, it is in constant communication with other ‘droids around the world, as well as the Universal Council.

  Both Daniel and Sherry have an early breakfast and are at the office an hour before any others of the team. Their alien advisor is standing at the back wall, next to the glassed in office area, its usual position until called upon. It gives no indication that it is aware of the couple’s arrival, but both know it is fully aware, both seeing them and sensing them by its power to read thoughts and emotions.