Growth (GAIA Trilogy Book 2)

by Morton Chalfy

  "Positive but possibly transitory," she replied. "We need another couple of generations of Gaia kids before we can relax."

  Harrison nodded and bit his tongue. Helene, who had the responsibility, wisely did not want to celebrate before the gains were secured. She did realize the value of celebrating the gains made so far and encouraged it for the Gathering but couldn't participate herself. She knew how much work there was yet to do.

  Harrison, who also realized how much of the journey lay before them, went back to study the details of the successes. "The narrative needs to be changed," he thought. "We live by stories and the story of Gaia needs more traction if it's to bend the arc away from greed and power toward community and respect." While he was studying the numbers a message arrived from Lucas whose face showed up on his screen.

  "Gramps, could you go and check on Fran? I've been trying to tell her we captured Team Six thanks to her great work but I can't get through. She doesn't answer any communications and it has me worried. She's always there."

  "Certainly. I'll go right now and I'll let you know as soon as I find anything out."

  He stepped into Helene's office looking for Mishi and told Helene what he was doing. Mishi was on her feet looking to Helene for permission, "Go, go. And if she needs help, whatever it is, call me and we'll make it happen."

  They rode the elevators in silence, a worried look on Mishi's face, and she raced down the stairs ahead of Harrison. They hurried through the byways to Fran's lair and found her surrounded by several of Granny's helpers.

  "She's passed out," said one. "We can't bring her to."

  Fran was bathed in sweat and breathing shallowly but was unresponsive. Harrison was calling Helene as Mishi tried to wipe Fran's face.

  "We need a doctor immediately," said Harrison. "Looks like a diabetic coma but I'm not sure. She needs medical help right away."

  Helene said, "got it. I'll send Lowell with the doctor. Ten minutes, no more."

  The group stood helplessly around the large woman in the rolling chair until they heard footsteps running outside. Lowell opened the door and ushered the doctor in. The physician was a small woman of indeterminate ethnicity with lively, intelligent eyes and a competent manner. In just two minutes she checked Fran out and started an IV in her arm. Two minutes after that Fran began to come to life and very quickly seemed back to herself.

  "What's going on?" she asked belligerently.

  Mishi took her hand, "You were passed out. The doc here probably saved your life. That's what's going on."

  Fran looked at the petite woman and said, "Thanks."

  "Not much thanks to me. Thank your friends for worrying about you and checking on you and sending for help."

  Fran looked at Harrison and Mishi and said, "Thanks."

  "You'll have to thank Lucas when you talk to him. He's the one who got worried when he couldn't reach you."

  You know we can cure diabetes," said the doctor. "It's a simple operation. I can arrange it for you now."

  Fran looked away, "I can't go to a hospital. I can't go anywhere."

  For the first time Harrison heard anger and depression in Fran's voice. He was ready to bring Helene into the conversation when the doctor said, "I can do it right here. I can bring my team and the equipment we need and we'd be done in an hour."

  Harrison could see the automatic "No" forming on Fran's lips and Mishi, who saw it as well, stepped in. "She'll do it," she said to the physician and "You'll do it." to Fran. "We're not losing you to stubbornness. Set it up doc, we'll be here to help."

  "I'll be back in half an hour if the young man will help me."

  "Great," said Mishi. "Lowell will be glad to help and I'll be here waiting."

  As they turned to leave Harrison said to Fran, "Call Lucas," and hurried after the doctor.

  "One more thing, doctor," he said.

  "Yes?"

  "Please keep this level secret."

  He received a look that said, "Are you mad?" very clearly and spent the elevator ride explaining Down Below.

  "Sure," said the doctor. "Anything to bring some drama into life."

  "And you can fix her?"

  "Good as new. Promise."

  Chapter 62

  It was time to leave for the Gathering. Maeve was ready, the luggage was stowed in the robo-copter and their tutor was helping Cindy usher the children to the loading area. Sam and Lucas and much of the security force had already left to make sure the landing site was secure. They were finally about to board when Miriam cried out, "Humphrey, I forgot Humphrey," and raced back inside.

  "Humphrey?" asked an aide.

  "Her toy elephant," explained the tutor. "Never goes anywhere without it."

  The look on the aide's face seemed to imply that a nine year old might be a little past stuffed toys and Maeve answered the unspoken remark with, "There's no rush to grow up. Her toy, her emotions."

  Miriam quickly came running back with the elephant in her arms and a big, relieved grin on her face. "Okay, we're ready," she said, snuggling the toy.

  They flew directly to Las Vegas and landed on the roof of the cube that housed the venue. It was one of the highest points in the city and afforded a view of the glittering downtown and the suburbs spread out on the desert. Not far off a version of the Greenery building looked like a huge hill draped all over in foliage. The edifice had been designed to incorporate a living cover of plants in a system that used treated and sterilized human waste as fertilizer, provided some fruits and vegetables and lowered the interior temperature of the building so much that air conditioning use was cut by eighty per cent.

  "That's really lovely," said Maeve when she heard it explained. "We need to know more about that."

  Lucas was waiting at the edge of the heli-pad and the children ran to him shouting. The party took the elevator to Gaia's private floor. There was still a week to go before the opening of the Gathering but a lot of preparation remained. Access to the venue was already under tight restriction.

  Leah and her crew were at work installing the numerous hologram projectors throughout the hall and the audio-visual people were setting up the Reception Room for Maeve. They were not surprised to learn that thousands of Gaians were already in town with more arriving on every flight. The Gatherings had become major events for many, places where acquaintances could turn into friends and friendships renewed.

  Every evening saw groups of Gaians in the restaurants throughout the city basically having a good time with each other before the business of the Gathering began. Maeve, enjoying the experience vicariously, messaged Helene. "When do you arrive? This is Gaia City right now. You'll love it."

  "Two more days," she replied. "Enjoy yourself."

  Sam's crew spent every day patrolling the area, checking and re-checking everything that might pose a danger, and assuring that the preparations went on in a secure atmosphere. A lot of the checking was of the trucks bringing gear to be set up in the Hall. Shipment origins had to be vetted and then the trucks and their contents searched and electronically sniffed. This was done at a station set up at the farthest point from the venue so that anything dangerous was too far away to do harm.

  The work was tedious and sometimes boring and Sam could often be seen and heard reminding his people that "boredom leading to lax attention can lead to explosively unhappy events."

  Alertness always increased when his imposing figure approached. It was clear that Sam's people valued his good opinion above all else and a nod and a "good job" from him brought smiles to their faces. A frown was enough to set them re-doing their tasks and repairing errors.

  Sam was acutely aware of this effect on his crew, having been taught about it by Moms when his main job was keeping her safe. She had noted how his imposing figure and expressive face produced outsized reactions in those he led, and made him aware of it by continually pointing it out. Nowadays he used it almost unconsciously, principally by keeping his face still except when a message had to be sent. He would patrol
his units, read them expertly at a glance, smile or frown as necessary and move on. Lucas, who often accompanied him, never failed to be impressed.

  "These guys would follow you to the Gates of Hell," he once remarked.

  "But then I'd be marching into the maw," he answered. "There'd better be a really good reason."

  Lucas had laughed, "You'd be doing it for Moms," he said.

  Sam, who missed Moms more than most looked sad and wistful. "Yes, I would and if it would bring her back I'd do it now."

  Chapter 63

  When Harrison and Helene arrived she went directly to the office set up for her and took direct command of operations. Harrison settled their luggage in the suite and went in search of Sam and Lucas whom he found in the security command center. After greeting one another Harrison asked, "Has the Director arrived? I received a message from him asking to meet before the Gathering officially opens."

  Sam scrolled through a list of attendees and said, "Yes, he got here yesterday with the contingent from Ocean City One."

  Harrison tried to keep his voice steady when he asked "Who came with him?" and tried to hide the flush on his cheeks when Mme. Albana's name was read among the others. He resolved to avoid her if at all possible as he felt very protective of Gaia's reputation. He messaged the Director and at his invitation joined him at the bar and restaurant on the top floor of the cube.

  As always, the Director was nattily turned out in a white suit and silk cravat, polished shoes and glittering jewelry. He was seated at a table next to the glass wall overlooking the city with the desert beyond. "Professor," he said extending his hand and smiling the smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, "How good of you to join me."

  "Not at all."

  The Director waved a robo-waiter over and after they had ordered drinks and snacks he leaned back and began, "I wanted to take this moment to catch up with you as I'm leaving tonight."

  "Before the Gathering?"

  "Yes. We are opening a second surgical unit and organ storage facility in two days and I have to be there for it."

  "A second facility," said Harrison with just enough interest, he hoped, to keep the Director talking. "Demand must be high."

  "We can't keep up," replied the Director with a hint of smugness in his voice. "We've already broken ground for a third and we've outfitted another ship. Demand is through the roof."

  The robot arrived with the drinks and food and Harrison used the moment to think about the growth of Rejuvenao. "It's surprising, a little, that there are so many people who can afford the service that a thousand beds are not enough."

  The Director grinned hugely. "Simple arithmetic. Of the ten billion people on Earth one per cent have nearly half the money. That's ten million people in families that can afford it. At least a million of those people will go through the process. Ten thousand beds won't be enough."

  Harrison shook his head. "Incredible."

  "Yes," the Director agreed, "and extremely lucrative. Extremely."

  "It would have to be to fund space travel."

  The Director grinned more broadly, "Indeed."

  "But aren't you worried you're creating a class of people totally divorced from the life of the average human? The common man?"

  The Director's look in response gave Harrison the first glimpse into the man's soul, he thought. The look was one of utter contempt and this was an expression that did involve his eyes.

  "The common man is nothing," he said. "He is a pawn in someone else's game and as such is of little or no value."

  Harrison was flabbergasted and it showed on his face to the point where the Director laughed. "I see you are distressed by my attitude, but why should you be? The majority of people follow orders. Whose? The people who can come to Rejuvenao. They are no better than slaves, and if two thirds of the common people were to suddenly die the rest of us would be better off. Don't you agree?"

  Harrison shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "No, I don't agree. Those lives are worth living too."

  The Director's face answered that with a look that clearly said, "No, they're not."

  "We who make the decisions that shape the world have value, the pawns may have meaning to themselves but not to the larger scheme."

  Harrison sipped his drink and hoped his distaste was not too evident.

  "I know that Gaia cares for all beings," said the Director, "and so my views are distressful. All the more for being so patently true, but you must see that human life has always been thus - the rulers rule and the people obey. Many toil so some can live in freedom and splendor. Quite natural for our species."

  Harrison breathed deeply and sought to change the subject, "How are your plans for the space voyage going?"

  "Very well. We have the underground facility that is a replica of what we'll build on the asteroid and when it's done our group of spacefarers will take up residence. We expect at least two generations will live there before we set out to capture the asteroid so by the time they're ready for the voyage life in those circumstances will be all they know."

  Harrison thought of the diminutive women he had glimpsed and what constraints and ignorance they lived with, and suppressed a shudder.

  "Interesting," he said non-committally.

  "Quite. And they will have a person living in suspended animation to keep alive and well so when I take that place they will be fully trained."

  Harrison decided that the Director was mad with a kind of egomania that devalued all other life and found that deciding that somehow relaxed him. A mad man could be dealt with but not reasoned with so he could let his reactions go and just relate in a mannerly manner.

  "You lead an interesting life," he said.

  "And one of the most important on the planet," said the Director matter-of-factly.

  Chapter 64

  On the official opening day of the Gathering Maeve's holographic image appeared throughout the venue welcoming the Gaians. Her welcome was a prayer of sorts and when she closed with "Love Gaia" a loud murmuring of "Love Gaia" flowed from the crowd.

  The songs up for recognition played on a long loop as background music as tens of thousands of people filtered into the halls. The line to meet Mother Maeve, as she was increasingly being referred to, was long from the first minute and because of the great demand the audiences were extremely short. Cindy's girls spent most of their time ushering reluctant visitors out after the greeting and a word or two.

  Those who had real business to discuss with Maeve were scheduled for times she was not holding court in the Reception Room. Her days were long and full of interaction. She did insist on taking a half hour for lunch with the children and again for dinner with them. Her evening meetings would extend far past their bedtimes and she felt, quite rightly, that they all benefited from the time with each other.

  For the children the meal times were reassurances that their mother was still their mother and only symbolically everyone else's. For Maeve the time was thoroughly re-energizing and sent her back to her post feeling renewed and firmly based.

  Lucas spent his time in the security control room scanning the screens on the lookout for trouble while Sam and two of his deputies patrolled inside and out making sure his guards were alert and prepared. Inside the venue the presentation rooms were full and the aisles were crowded. Many of the attendees had come with specific purposes in mind, learning skills, sharing information, making contacts or a combination of all three. The four great holographic globes showing the state of the Earth, the Water, the Air and the People were always surrounded by interested crowds.

  Throughout the venue there were scattered small areas filled with easy chairs that groups of people would commandeer for a time to talk, to plan or just to rest. The Gaian Grads were attentive to these small groups, offering refreshments, information and chit chat if desired. When they heard of a problem, however minor, they passed it to Helene's office where solutions could always be found.

  Harrison sat in a glass fronted room overlooking th
e show floor and watched the patterns of movement. Several people wore colorful costumes or hats and stood out from the multitude and as he watched he followed the eddies of people by noting where the "big red hat" or "all in white" people moved.

  He also noted the schedules of the talks on living on the sea to learn where Mme. Albana was likely to be. Her name brought a tremor of delight to his body which he allowed himself to enjoy before sternly willing his attention elsewhere. When Helene messaged him to see if he wanted to lunch with her he quickly assented knowing how little time they would have together until the Gathering was over.

  He walked the long corridor to her office and was surprised and thoroughly non-plussed to find Mme. Albana seated with Helene. She was dressed in her business attire, her hair pulled back in a bun and a serious expression on her face. The outfit was almost the same one she had worn to their tryst and Harrison felt ensnared by the emotions that racked him. "She's wearing that on purpose," he thought, and hoped his face would not redden.

  "You remember Mme. Albana, don't you dear?" asked Helene wickedly.

  Harrison looked from one woman to another gauging their attitudes and did redden when they both exploded in laughter. Helene jumped up to stop him from leaving and said, holding his arm, "It's all right, sweetie. Really it is. You needn't feel embarrassed. We don't and you shouldn't. You just are fortunate to have two women who love you and aren't jealous."

  Harrison still felt uncomfortable in the extreme and Mme. Albana said, "I should leave. This wasn't as good an idea as I thought."

  "No, no Sylvie," Helene protested. "Give him a minute, he'll be fine."

  "We thought you'd be pleased," said Mme. Albana.

  "Maybe later," muttered Harrison.

  But he did settle his emotions eventually and sat with them through the meal, trying to get used to the fact that Helene didn't mind and that to Sylvie he was a very useful friend. Useful in a purely sexual manner.