There was silence for a moment, before the Dutch representative spoke up. 'How long have we got?'
'Before the collapse comes? It is hard to say. Certainly several decades, possibly a few centuries, but the conclusion will be inevitable long before then. Once started, this is not a process which can be quickly reversed. Individual symptoms of the problems began to appear decades ago and others are accumulating. When enough of them become critical the tipping point will be reached and collapse will follow. In order to avoid this, it is important to begin making changes now.'
Next came an American. 'Doesn't research indicate that the Earth's warming and cooling cycles are naturally caused by variations in the Sun's level of activity, as shown by sunspots? Aren't we heading into a quieter cycle when we can expect the planet to cool down naturally?'
'That is true to some extent and may buy you a little more time, but the effects of human action have already become far more influential than this. So if you do not act now, the consequences will be that much more severe when the Sun becomes more active again.'
'Why can't we just adapt to the changing climate and sea levels and retain our civilisation?' A Chinese delegate.
'That has been attempted by all previous human civilisations and it can defer the worst effects for a while. In fact, you will need to adopt such measures to some degree because of the changes already taking place. But from observations of previous human worlds, such attempts fail when the global economic system falls apart under the pressure of cumulative disasters and loss of confidence. That brings most international trade to an end and, with it, the structure of global civilisation; just think about how much your advanced societies depend on imports and exports. We believe that humanity probably doesn't die out, but reverts to a simple agrarian lifestyle in those areas far from major population concentrations. We have calculated that in those circumstances between ninety and ninety-five percent of humanity would perish, mostly through starvation but also through disease and in fighting for the resources which remain.'
'Have any civilisations which collapsed a long time ago managed to rebuild themselves?' From Russia.
'No – at least, not in so far as resuming radio broadcasts which we can home in on is concerned. It would be difficult for them since, after they had used up the corroding remnants of the old technology, it would be much harder to start again from scratch. All of the easily accessible minerals and fuels would have been mined out – they would need a high level of technology to extract what remains, but that of course they do not have. We believe that they would be permanently trapped at a low level of technology.'
The representative from the USA spoke again. 'How soon can you provide us with the specifications for fusion power?'
'Immediately. We can download them into any computer connected to a wireless network. Just specify which and we will begin.'
The representative from one of the East African countries was next. 'Of what use will fusion power be to us? We will never have the resources to build such things. But our people are starving now! What can you do to help us?'
'We cannot supply anything to you except information and advice. As Cade can witness, our one attempt to make physical contact ended in disaster. The useful information we have is basically very technical so can only be utilised by your most technologically advanced countries. What you need to do, collectively, is find a way to spread the benefits of that to all countries via aid programmes. That is your problem – specifically, the United Nations'.'
'So you give to those who already have everything, and we just have to hope that some crumbs fall from their table?'
Primo said nothing. I could feel his dismay at the trend of the discussion.
Another African representative, from one of the less sane governments, spoke next. 'All you seem to have to offer us is a way of preventing our people from having children! You are trying to wipe us out! To make us extinct!'
There was a mutter around the room. I read the mood and relayed it to Primo. 'They are torn in different directions. The reaction of many of the poorer countries is as you have heard. Some of the richer ones are very interested in the advanced technology you are offering, but don't want to commit themselves until they are sure you are genuine. We won't get any more out of this.' I suggested some concluding words to Primo, who duly ended his appearance by asking all countries who wished to benefit from his offer to advise me of the computer systems they wanted the data downloaded to. The Assembly was buzzing with conversation as I left.
I waited around the UN for a while but nobody seemed to want to talk to me so I took a car to the jetty at the east end of 23rd Street where Matt was waiting with the boat. Freya arrived shortly afterwards.
'Some of the delegates spoke to me afterwards – I don't think they wanted to be seen speaking to you,' she said. 'They'll be sending me details of their computers for downloading.'
'Good, we've made some progress then.'
She looked grim. 'It's going to be hard work; there's a lot of opposition out there.' She sat in the open cockpit at the back of the boat, thoughtfully tapping her teeth with her thumb, then came to a decision. 'I've seen the recordings of your early press conferences. You handled them very well. If you don't mind, I think we should have another. We need all the help we can get.'
'OK, set it up. I don't see how it can do any harm.' That proved to be the most inaccurate judgment I had made for a long time.
The next day I was back in the UN building, this time in a large room packed with journalists. Freya was in her element, organising and controlling the meeting. We both stood at a large lectern fringed with assorted microphones. The television lights shone brightly in our eyes, but the room was sufficiently well-lit to be able to see everyone. I had felt that an introductory speech would be superfluous, so we went straight into questions. The first question, from a BBC correspondent, set the tone:
'Cade, putting aside for the moment the controversy about whether the kangasaurs are genuine or a computer-generated fantasy, how do you know that their intentions are honourable? Why should they help us?'
'I think that the obvious answer to that also addresses the fantasy claim: I know that information about fusion power and other advanced technology has already been downloaded to many nations' computer systems, worldwide, and is being examined by the top scientists in those fields. If it doesn't check out, no doubt someone will say so, very soon. On a personal level, if you could experience the closeness of the mental link that I have with them, you could have no doubt as to their sincerity. Hard though it may be for a journalist to understand,' I grinned to take the sting out of it, 'their motives are altruistic – they have all that they need from life and are at peace with themselves and their environment. They are appalled by the mess we have got ourselves into, and want to stop our civilisation from disappearing like the other human societies they found. To be honest, I think that they find life a little dull, and we're the most exciting thing that's happened to them in millennia, so they are making a special project out of helping us.'
'How do you respond to the argument that the technological information provided by the saurians will only benefit the richest and most advanced countries?' This from a Swiss representative.
'That's true, and it will be up to international agreements to ensure that the benefits are disseminated. Clearly that will not happen quickly as it will take some time for the advanced countries to construct enough fusion power stations to meet their own needs. However, in compensation there will be some early benefit for the environment in that it is the richest countries which produce most pollution per head, so a reduction in their use of fossil fuels will have a major impact.'
'But what can poorer countries do for themselves?' A South American correspondent.
'I hope that the message brought by the saurians will alter attitudes and make changes easier. There is much that can be done now; to insulate property so it requires less heating and cooling, to use low-energy electric
al equipment, to adjust tax regimes to favour less polluting road vehicles, and indeed less polluting modes of transport in general. None of this is new – many countries have been implementing such measures for a long time. If everyone did their best to follow suit it would make a huge difference.'
'What about the impact on petroleum businesses?' Identifiably from the southern USA.
'I would advise them to develop medium-term plans to switch from fuel production to plastics manufacture. But even that is unlikely to be sustainable in the long term. We need to make more use of less polluting materials.'
'What have you to say to those people in Africa and elsewhere demonstrating against the proposals to restrict their fertility?' An African journalist.
'Population growth is the biggest problem of all in the long term. If everyone were to use resources at the same rate as people in the wealthiest countries, we would need several planets like Earth to provide for them all. The economic development of poorer countries is only making matters worse; as their standard of living rises, they produce and consume more of everything, including energy.'
'Are you saying that the poor countries must stay poor?'
'No: I'm saying that the current world population must be reduced significantly, especially in those continents unable to provide for their own needs; only then can everyone enjoy a decent life into the foreseeable future.'
'Won't a sudden drop in childbirth in some areas cause all sorts of problems with demographic imbalances?'
'Probably. But that has to be accepted as a lesser problem than what we are doing to the environment now.'
'How will you make sure that the medicines you provide to restart fertility will always be available to those who need them? If civilisation does come to an end, won't humanity just die out?'
'We've given some thought to that and the saurians have brought their genetic skills to bear on the problem. They have determined that they can do this without any complex medicines being needed; instead, all people will have to do to restore their fertility is to eat lots of some widely-available substance – perhaps grass. They think that they can design this so that fertility is only restored for a few hours.'
'Grass?'
'Yes. Some species or other of grass is readily available almost anywhere, but it isn't the kind of thing that anyone would eat by accident.'
The questions and responses went on in like vein for some time, and seemed to be winding up when another American reporter, who had so far sat silently, put up his hand.
'All right, last questioner,' said Freya.
'Cade, is it true that you worked for the British security services?'
Probably a revival of the Tower Bridge incident, I thought. 'Yes, I provided some assistance in countering terrorism.'
'Is it true that you can kill people by using your mind alone?'
Where on Earth had that come from? I paused, shocked by the question. I felt Freya's emotional response, and knew that she had told no-one of the first conversation we had had on the verandah.
'Cade, yes or no?' The reporter was firm, the others looking on in astonishment.
'Yes, that's possible,' I answered flatly.
'And is it true that, while working for the British security services, you used your alien mind power to kill several men?'
The shockwave swept round the room. I felt blocked in, knew he must have obtained intelligence information from Britain; to try to deny it could only result in my being shown up as a liar.
'Yes,' I said grimly, 'in self defence.'
'No more questions,' he said smoothly, and it was all over.
The news media were full of this revelation over the next few hours. Those who were sceptical about the saurians or opposed to their message leapt on the story: "Cade the Killer", said one headline. "Cade Kills using Lethal Alien Mind Power" went another. "Cade to be Charged with Multiple Murder?" speculated a third.
'What do you expect?' Freya said glumly, as we sat in the Long Island house reviewing the news. 'You're the "front man" for the saurians. If the business and political interests opposed to the environmental agenda can discredit you, then they've won a major battle. And too many powerful people don't want to lose their power and wealth, and are afraid that the saurian message will damage public confidence in business and harm the economy.' She sighed heavily. 'We'd better get a counter-message out quickly. I suggest that we prepare a press statement explaining the circumstances of those deaths, as you have just explained them to me.'
The next day the press statement was duly issued, and it had some effect; a series of quick opinion polls revealed that my popularity had been restored to around 25%, nearly double that of the previous day. But it had exceeded 75% before the saurian episode had begun.
'What's worse,' said Freya grimly, 'is that the ones who still believe in you are the young and idealistic, who by definition have no power. You are facing a powerful coalition of disparate interests; big business, the governments of many wealthy countries who see painful political choices, poor countries who see no benefits but only more restrictions on their ability to develop, religious groups opposed to your message about restricting childbirth – or just opposed anyway because there is no room for God either in your philosophy or the saurians'. And most people are terrified of your "lethal mind power". I'm sorry Cade, but it's looking grim. I'm not sure where we can go from here.'
Feeling depressed, I linked with Primo and explained the situation from my perspective. He was sympathetic but was unable to suggest anything more which might sway public opinion.
'Do you have this ability to kill with the mind?' I asked.
He considered that for a moment, then said, 'no, we don't. That may be partly because all saurians have similar mental powers, so any such attack would instantly be detected and countered.'
'What if several of you ganged up on one person?'
'I don't know. But in order for us to do that, we would have to be mind-linked to the victim. And to be linked to someone we were killing would be so horrible that it would probably drive us insane. In fact, we'd have to be insane to contemplate it. Fortunately, we are able to detect incipient insanity at an early stage and treat it.'
The next afternoon brought an unexpected visitor: Luke. After the usual civilities we settled down in the shade of the verandah to enjoy the view over the Sound; he with a coffee, me with a new variety of mineral water Freya had found for me to sample. It was a fine afternoon, the sun warming our faces and the blue sky dotted with a flock of cumulus clouds drifting slowly together, as if they were stationary while the world rolled beneath them.
'I thought you were still buried in Africa.'
'I was, but after your first speech at the UN, my charity agreed with the UN Secretariat that I should visit you as a matter of urgency.'
'Why?'
'I suppose because I'm the closest person to you, Matt – somebody who might understand you and who you might listen to you.' He smiled. 'I gathered that they tried several of your ex-girlfriends but they weren't able to help.'
I snorted. 'No surprise there. They never did understand me, which is why they are ex's.'
'Ah, the permanent complaint of the misunderstood male!'
'Anyway, what I am supposed to be listening to?'
He paused before answering, fiddling with his glasses in a way I remembered when he had something he'd rather not say. I couldn't help noticing that the wavy brown hair was greying at the temples, and his face was lined with care as well as by the African sun. 'The word is that the technical information the kangasaurs provided checks out so far. They are inclined to believe you. But there are many concerns about the implications of it all – where are they leading us? What will happen to humanity?'
'If we follow their advice, we might just be saved.'
He grimaced. 'Salvation comes from within through God's grace, it can't be offered on a plate by a bunch of scaly kangaroos.'
'Aha, now we're getting to the point – your
human-centred religion.'
He turned to face me, visibly angry. 'Your so-called kangasaurs are proposing to play God with the most precious gift of all – our ability to create life!'
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