Mark was beating his fists against the window of the train as he shouted. Zachri cut him off.
“You can only observe here—this is not your future. Now, steel yourself for a visit to some of the world’s most affluent people; the ones who live in the buildings which tower over the scene you just inspected. Again, you will not be taking part. Believe me, there is no way you can interact with these people and if you think you have something to teach, ask yourself why they have learned so little about human rights from the past twenty centuries.”
Mark shut up and held on as they ascended the 3,615 feet to the 217th floor, the control room with the appearance of a cone-shaped space ship docked atop the building. When the equipment was not busy taking readings on the nearby regions of the Earth’s solar system, it was documenting the activities of subjects in nearby camps.
All the camps were run by one of the associations connected to the new leaders, the closest one being Machiavellian Advanced Futures (MAF). Mark was keen to hear what these leaders talked about behind closed doors.
***
“Ralf, what has your bio-security team found out about the susceptibility of our subjects to the vaccine?”
“Cicely, the team leader, reported that her group is extremely pleased with the results. Testing has returned positive outcomes at all levels of vaccination. We now can control all strains of the influenza virus.”
“Good work! Has our vaccine been updated since discovery of the antigenetic shift that allowed us to produce this virus subtype?”
Mark recognized that this question related to influenza epidemics started deliberately in laboratories. He was aghast. Zachri raised a finger to his lips to prevent an outburst which might cause Mark to miss what came next.
Ralf was responding enthusiastically to the inquiry.
“We have positive results on that, too, Geoffrey. In the unlikely event that one of our colleagues contracted the virus, we could quickly eradicate it. We also don’t want too many of our subjects getting sick at the same time. That would play havoc on our productivity! “
“And, of course, we want to protect the camp residents who are compliant. We must be able to control who is in good health and who isn’t, and those who become ill must be certain they made the choice.”
Just then, Juliana stepped off the space elevator, having just returned from the food storage facility in its orbit near Mars. This was her first trip up and it was easy to see that she was bursting with news and thrilled by the success of her mission.
Her two-week space trip had been made possible by the enormous receipts of MAF money that had allowed the community to purchase one of only a half dozen cables attached to the surface of the Earth. Their cable was capable of reaching 62,000 miles straight up to a space station, escaping from the gravitational pull of the Earth as it climbed carrying loads of up to twenty tons.
During the past six months, the elevators had all been working exceptionally well, thanks to the perfection of carbon-nanotube composite ribbon.
Juliana’s first words came out about ten decibels above normal.
“What a spot to store literally tons of our homegrown—or should I say aeroponic and hydroponic grown food! With this new resource, we can grow twice as much and, with these outer space greenhouse-warehouses, we’ll be able to keep it in an environment that assures freshness, longevity and protection from infestation. We can also be the warehouse for food grown by our competitors.
“By this time next year, our storehouses could contain five percent of the world’s staple crops and grains, especially wheat, rice and corn, and it will only take about two weeks to move large quantities of inventory back to Earth.”
Geoffrey took over from Juliana’s discourse.
“Our story will almost parallel that of the Biblical tale of Joseph, who was made overseer in Egypt by Pharaoh. He devised a plan to store up all the excess grain during the years of abundance so the people would not starve during the years of famine. In the lean years, Joseph opened the storehouses and let people come from everywhere to buy grain.
“We, too, will produce and purchase surpluses, bring them to our warehouse in space, and wait. When people in our region of the world become desperate for food, we will deliver and not at exorbitant prices. All those who pledge their allegiance to MAF will be fed.”
Geoffrey sounded like he was making this speech to the UN as he continued.
“We can follow through on our part of the bargain to alleviate hunger because we have what has been missing: supplies, storage and a system for distributing food through remote or treacherous terrain, even during conflicts.
“Our four-legged, animal-like robots can go where two or four-wheeled vehicles would be useless.”
Ralf, always the pragmatic one, wanted answers on the plans for the financing of food distribution to beneficiaries who were unable to cover the costs.
“I know we made billions of dollars during the global depression of the early 21st century but the strategy you propose does not seem cost-effective. Are you planning to start a non-profit arm of the company?”
Ralf’s tone projected undisguised disdain but Geoffrey was unruffled.
“Having control over that much food can mean power beyond even our wildest dreams, old boy! We’re no longer a corporation; we are becoming a nation, one with a servile electorate. What would be the benefit to us if our subjects were too weak to produce?
“Knowing clearly where their food and salaries come from and what is required to keep them coming, I’m betting they’ll choose service for the sake of their families’ survival.
“Haven’t you read about the domination of the masses in the former Soviet Union? With our technology, we’re much more effectual planners than Soviet leaders ever were! And don’t forget: MAF is not alone in this.”
Geoffrey concluded the meeting by giving orders to broadcast their latest success.
“Juliana, please submit a detailed report of your elevator trip to all the executives of MAF. After we document their reactions, we will notify the leadership of the other eleven corporate nation-states that this phase is complete.”
30
TALES OF GREED AND COURAGE
Mark was livid.
“You mean this same group, or groups, who would control people with vaccines that inject viruses will control a sizable portion of the world’s staple foods? Am I right in thinking the ‘antigenetic shift’ under discussion has something to do with deliberately causing epidemics of influenza, Zachri?”
“It results from the recombination of the genomes of two viral strains. For example, if a pig was infected with a human influenza virus and an avian influenza virus at the same time, an antigenic shift could occur, producing a new virus that had most of the genes from the human virus and a substance or enzyme from the avian virus.
“The resulting new virus would likely be able to infect humans and spread from person to person. Since it has surface proteins not previously seen in influenza viruses that infect humans, most people would have no immune protection. That’s how an influenza pandemic can occur.
“The people you just saw used this knowledge to create inoculants.”
“Oh my God have mercy on the people subject to them!”
Suddenly a cloud passed over Mark’s face and a look of sheer terror replaced the anger.
“Zachri, are you suggesting that we—Janine and Martin and I— will be in the masses on the subject side?”
“I’m not trying to be evasive but I think the best answer to your question is a question. After what you’ve seen and learned about yourself through our journeys, and after how you’ve struggled to come to terms with the man you were, do you think you could be the kind of person that would be accepted into MAF?”
“I couldn’t live with myself and, if I should waver, Janine wouldn’t live with me. But surely there is a third option between the all-powerful and the completely powerless? I don’t mind being one of the middle class. I was before
.”
“Mark, by 2025 there will be no middle class. Surely, you can believe that when the signs have been apparent for at least the past two decades? You may have been immune right up to the present but that won’t ensure you escape from what’s coming. Many of your colleagues, some with much greater net worth than yours, will shortly be reduced to near poverty.
“Let me give you an example of the impact of one person’s greed. This is the true story of a man who will become one of the most hated men in the financial world.
“This person, using a Ponzi scheme, will dupe 4,800 of the privately super-rich, plus pension funds and charitable foundations, out of nearly fifty billion dollars.”
Zachri noted the look of incredulity on Mark’s face and continued.
“You’re thinking this can’t happen, but I assure you it will. People will lose their life savings and their retirement funding; foundations will lose the ability to fund projects for hospitals, colleges and charities; the nation will lose its innocence over the purpose of investing in Wall Street.”
Mark’s expression turned to one of exasperation.
“Now you’ve gone too far with your tales, Zachri. This must be a parable. I understand that many have been used to explain what human intelligence can’t easily grasp. Things like creating the world in seven days without explaining God’s concept of a day. Is your story a parable, Zachri?”
“No, Mark. This scheme really took place but over several years, not seven days.”
Even as he smiled at Zachri’s inclusion of his example, Mark was still stupefied by the story.
“How could so many reasonably intelligent people and organizations that should do their research have been cheated out of so much?”
“I offer four reasons consistent with what I argued earlier about the future of America:
“Reason number one: People wanted to believe in the advantage of a fund which I will call Madowb (short for Made off With Billions) because it consistently posted slightly larger profits than almost any other investment.
“You know, from your own experience with the stock market, that there is no such thing as consistency over long periods. Yet, this aberration was hardly questioned because the apparent profit strength called out to the greed in investors.
“Reason number two: Madowb initially did some things that were highly successful and gave him good press. People were in awe of his financial genius and feared retribution if they spoke out against this powerful man.
“Reason number three: The man threw enough money and names around to make some very powerful friends, including many in Washington D.C. Not surprisingly, regulatory changes during the two decades he was involved in illegal activities primarily aided his deceptive practices. Even though his companies were investigated during these years, the investigations never dug deep enough to uncover his Ponzi scheme.
“Reason Number Four: Madowb, a Rotarian, primarily betrayed others in Rotary International. This was extraordinarily malevolent behavior, even for a criminal mind. People trusted him because he was one of them, because he served on nonprofit boards and donated money to charities, although not without accumulating eight hundred and twenty-three million dollars in personal assets.
“What the news media wouldn’t tell the public was that the Madowb scheme had crumbled because the man behind it held back a portion of the profits promised to his benefactors.
“Do you remember the Biblical story of Ananias and Sapphira? Well, Madowb didn’t die as soon as his lie had been exposed but he did get a hundred and fifty years in prison and did become an abomination to his family, so much so that one of his sons committed suicide.
“The Madowb Fund’s impact on the economy of 2025 is difficult to measure, although the reasons he got away with it represent the dynamics responsible for what you’ve just witnessed.”
“I won’t know how to live in such a world! How can I be a good husband in those conditions? Zachri, tell me what to do to protect the people I love from such madness.”
Zachri inclined his head toward an area Mark hadn’t noticed before.
“There is one more group, a very tiny segment of the population, who are meeting in secret and trying to regain some of their rights. Observe them, Mark.”
Mark observed a room that looked almost like the attic in the pictures of Anne Frank’s hiding place, even with a bookcase that might have been their entryway. He and Zachri tuned in, just in time to hear a woman who seemed to be their leader ask:
“How can we follow in the footsteps of people who, in America’s early history, used courage and passion as a substitute for money and position?”
She started to read from a paper she had pulled from a folder. Every one of the eight people squeezed around the folding table had a similar folder in front of them. Mark gave Zachri a quizzical look.
“Why are they still using hard copy? Haven’t computers replaced paper and books by then?”
“You are observant, Mark and, yes, technology has replaced almost everything that was printed earlier in the century but privacy with computers is also a thing of the past. If this group and the few others in their network were to be found out, they’d be among the victims of a vaccine.”
Mark could make out what she was reading:
‘When these common people, from black children who couldn’t use the swings in public parks to mothers deprived of their children in futile wars, could no longer endure the injustices ignored, or perpetrated, by their country’s leaders, they stepped out. Violence was not their way to fight back. They joined together in unions and went on strikes; they boycotted businesses; they stood or marched en masse and their feet on the pavement drummed a new beat: ‘Stop this! We are no different than you. We deserve to live as humans, to be treated humanely, to be respected. ‘
The reader then reminded her group that when enough of these citizens would no longer be victimized, they won new rights.”
Mark was surprised by what happened when she paused.
With no noticeable sign, the group began to chant lines from Ecclesiastes:
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work… though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.”
The chant produced a hypnotic effect on Mark. His mind returned to the question he’d recently asked: ‘How do I protect the people I love?’
And added a new one: ‘Have I lived my life in vain?
‘Maybe this world I’ve just seen is merely a very bad dream. But then it could be my awakening. Emily Dickenson wrote that even if we help one robin to its nest, we have not lived in vain. Strangely, I remember a childhood dream of hitting a bird with a slingshot, but it was my imaginary friend, not me, who saved it.
‘How do I know if the good I’ve done surpasses the harm? I admit to being guilty of bad decisions and selfish behaviors. What do I do about this? If I’m given another chance, I pledge to be mindful of how my actions, or inaction, affect the people around me. I will sacrifice all that I have if that’s what it takes to make my life worthy of redemption—for me and for those I love but please, let me live!’
MARK DECIDES
31
BREACHING THE BEYOND
In his narrow hospital bed, Mark still lay suspended between life and death.
Zachri awakened him from his reverie with a gentle tug on his shoulder and Mark instantly recognized the meaning of what he could see.
His son and daughter-in-law stood near his bed but today they were not alone, there were two other people present. The unknown woman was wearing the collar of a cleric and a man beside her was holding out a small vial. The woman took some oil from the vial and making the sign of the cross on Mark’s forehead, said a prayer. Mark could feel the pressure of her hands but could not make out her words. Was she giving him last rites or was it the sacrament of healing?
Immediately, he felt a deluge of waterless tears drenching his heart, reaching the core of his spirit. It felt to Mark like he had b
een conquered by an inexpressible force, one it seemed, without pity.
“Am I dead?”
Zachri explained carefully.
“You haven’t chosen yet. You have both pleaded to live and declared that you’d be willing to sacrifice all you have. It is your choice whether to live or to cross this day into eternity.”
“I don’t think there’s any need to debate those choices but, just for the record, where would I spend eternity? I always believed in a heaven and a hell. Isn’t it written somewhere that we must face judgment before the pearly gates are unlocked? So why are you saying I may choose?”
“Do you remember being the defendant in an Administrative Hearing during the time the pirates held your son and your company’s tanker?”
“I do remember! So that wasn’t just a dream but I was never informed of the Judge’s decision, even though you said it would be irrevocable. I assumed the verdict must have been favorable since my son and the rest of the crew were returned safely. Is there more?”
“Yes, the decision was affirmative and irrevocable, not because of your actions but because of what your defense revealed about your altered nature.”
“I’m truly grateful. It gives me something to look forward to. But I prefer to put off dying. Anyway, I think I can make Janie happier by being around as more than just a memory.”
“You’re suggesting you have the power to give her a good life? Certainly, you can give her moments of pleasure. What if I guaranteed that a quick look into the Beyond would address some of the holes in your argument?”
“Is it heaven you’re alluding to? From the little I’ve found on the subject, it’s a perfect retirement home, maybe too perfect. Doesn’t it get rather boring after a few hundred years?”
Zachri’s expression made his answer irrelevant. His response was to shake his head slowly in the common gesture for no.
Pieces of You Page 18