GAIA

by Morton Chalfy

  Helene smiled at him coquettishly and beckoned him to bed. "I guess we'll have to work on those commandments, won't we?" she said. "Care for some creative-thinking producing exercise?"

  She didn't have to ask a second time.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Sam was waiting for Harrison and Helene when they deplaned and drove them around to the freight office where he collected a medium sized box.

  "What's that?" asked Harrison.

  "I'm not sure."

  Sam's rumbled reply seemed straightforward enough but Harrison had learned how devious and close-mouthed the big man could be and shot him a look of pure disbelief. Sam answered with a grin.

  The ride to the ranch was made in relative silence. Helene gazed out of the window in a haze of delight at the play of light and shadow on the mountains. As they passed through a particularly narrow gorge with Sam's eyes fixed on the fallen rocks that littered the rude roadway Harrison asked, "How's Lucas doing? Will we be able to see him?"

  Sam grunted which Harrison took to mean "Wait until I have us past this bit," and continued to focus on the road. When they had, at last, emerged from the defile onto a slightly easier surface he said, "He's okay. Hell, his girlfriend is always running up there with goodies for him and then spends the night."

  "His girlfriend?" asked Helene.

  "Yeah. Maeve. Moms' granddaughter."

  "Your niece?" she asked Harrison.

  "Yes. But no blood involvement."

  "Oh, well I'll be glad to meet her."

  They pulled up to the ranch house to find Moms waiting at the door. She greeted Harrison with an embrace and then transferred it to Helene who looked as though she was embracing the Pope.

  "So good to meet you, my dear. Harrison has spoken so highly of you I had to see for myself. Welcome to my house."

  Moms turned to Sam "Did it arrive?"

  For answer he pulled the box out of the vehicle. "Where would you like it?"

  "My office I think." Turning to Harrison and Helene she said, "I hope you're hungry. Dinner in fifteen minutes. Harrison, I've put you two in your old room if that's all right."

  "Perfect, thanks."

  "Okay. See you at dinner. We'll eat in my rooms."

  They dropped their bags on the bed and Helene immediately began to freshen her appearance and then changed her top.

  "Why are you changing clothes?"

  "Don't be silly. It's bad enough she saw me in such disarray. I'm not eating with her looking like a mess."

  Harrison knew enough to keep his mouth shut except to say when she was ready, "You look lovely."

  In Moms' rooms a dinner had been put out buffet style and Sam and Mai Ling were helping themselves. Harrison and Helene filled their plates and found seats. Just when they sat down an interior door opened and Maeve and Lucas came in.

  "My goodness you look different," said Harrison. "I almost didn't recognize you."

  "Because of the beard?" asked Lucas, fingering the growth on his face.

  "That and because you've lost weight and, I don't know, muscled up?"

  They embraced and Harrison introduced Helene to him and Maeve. Moms came in and the group settled down to dine. When they were finished eating and the dishes disposed of Moms signaled to Sam to bring out the box and open it. When he pulled out a dongle and handed it to Lucas he did so with an expectant look on his face.

  Lucas, surprised, took the gizmo and turned it over and over in his hands. Looks right, does it work right?"

  "Testing says it's a perfect copy. Renders you invisible to the readers."

  Lucas rose and peered in the box. "There must be hundreds in there."

  "Six gross."

  "Wow."

  "Tip of the iceberg."

  Moms cleared her throat. "Distribution has begun in several urban areas."

  "Wow. Already?" asked Lucas.

  "Yes, but not connected to Gaia in any way."

  "That's smart," said Harrison.

  "Excuse me," said Mai Ling in her soft voice. "Should she be here?" she asked, indicating Helene.

  `Moms waved it away. "She's one of us," she said.

  Helene blushed and Mai Ling subsided but her face closed.

  "Lucas?" asked Moms seeking his input.

  "She's clean," he responded and Helene blushed more deeply.

  Moms grinned at her. "I'm sorry to dragoon you into our group so unceremoniously," she said, "but it's the cost of a close association with Harrison."

  "I'm honored," said Helene. "And you can trust me, at least to keep my mouth shut."

  Moms looked around the group. "Before we discuss what comes next, does anyone have anything they want to bring up?"

  Lucas shifted in his seat. "I do, why am I still being paid by the government?"

  Moms hesitated for a moment and then said, "You are?"

  Lucas felt the disingenuous answer like a slap in the face. Her tone indicated that Moms knew all about it and was in on keeping it secret from him. He looked hard at Harrison and was relieved to see a look of incomprehension on his face. At last he spoke through clenched teeth, "Yes I am, and before I do one more thing I need a satisfactory explanation."

  `The room grew quiet and most eyes were fixed on Moms. Maeve's were focused on Lucas. Moms cleared her throat. "I hoped to avoid this for a while longer," she said, "but it's halfway out so it might as well make its appearance." She looked around the room.

  "Lucas has suspected for a while that we, the Gaia movement, have a highly placed friend in the government, highly placed enough to be able to influence many events."

  Lucas' face was still grim and Harrison's still suspicious.

  "Who is it?" demanded Lucas.

  "I can't say," said Moms uncomfortably. "Too much depends on the identity being kept secret. I can say this, though, it's through the clandestine help we've received that this ranch is secure and very much off the radar of the government."

  She looked around and settled on Lucas. "And as for you, no one counted on you. No one could imagine that you would uncover as much as you did, especially about the existence of the dongle."

  Lucas' face tightened even more. In his experience buttering up came before a shafting and he was preparing to fend it off.

  "When you discovered it and bolted you almost derailed the government's plan to distribute them secretly itself."

  A murmur ran around the room. Harrison looked more suspicious. Sam looked relieved. Lucas unconvinced and Maeve still focused on Lucas. Helene and Mai Ling looked noncommittal, Helene out of ignorance and May Ling out of knowledge.

  "Why?" came from several mouths at once.

  "Because a large segment of the government fears the long term effects of the chip. The dongle is a way of leveling the playing field."

  "So why ignore me?" asked Lucas.

  "For plausible deniability. If they can blame it on you they can keep hidden."

  "All the more reason they should have cut me off."

  Moms reddened a bit. "I'm afraid that was my fault. It seemed fitting to me that they should continue to support your efforts in the field and our friend agreed. He fixed it so that you can be said to be working sort of undercover. And no one was supposed to be able to find the information."

  "I found it."

  "Yes, you did, Lucas. That's part of what they didn't expect. No one figured you'd be as good as you are at your job."

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  An awkward silence fell as everyone looked expectantly at Lucas. He, in turn, looked at Maeve.

  "You knew about this, didn't you?"

  She nodded immediately and silently pleaded for understanding.

  "So, if I'd been dumber and hadn't uncovered this, what would you be having me do, no doubt at the request of our masters."

  "Not our masters by any means," said Moms, "our servants whether they know it or not. And I'd be asking the same thing I'm going to ask, albeit without the explanation I'm going to have to give."

 
; "And what's that?" asked Lucas, unmollified.

  "I still want you and Maeve to visit the wildlands settlements and connect them to the Gaia network."

  Lucas' face was as still as it could be. Harrison, knowing the signs, interjected, "Now don't go off on her. Let's get the full story before you convict Moms of treason and Maeve of perfidy."

  Lucas looked at his grandfather in acknowledgment of his accuracy and then at Moms and finally at Maeve.

  "I would never betray you or put you in the way of harm," she said looking him deep in the eye.

  His face softening he said, "Okay. Make a believer out of me."

  Moms had come to know her grand-nephew and started from the beginning with her first clandestine meeting with her mole.

  "How well do you know him? Or her?" asked Harrison.

  Moms blushed. "Very well, I'm afraid. Which is why I know I can trust him. Or her."

  She led them through the tenuous strands that eventually were woven into their efforts.

  "There is a well founded fear in high places that as our civilization grows more homogenous, more of it done by robots and computers, we are in grave danger of losing diversity in the gene pool and the culture pool. Modern society can't function without deepening levels of organization and the more that happens the more control will be required, hence the movement to universal chip implantation. That's good and bad. Immunities to many diseases, both physical and psychological, will be eroded. Extremists will rise and try to tear down the social structure."

  "Always have, always will," rumbled Sam.

  "But humanity needs diversity for its survival. It needs conflict and competition."

  "There's plenty of that," said Harrison.

  "Yes, and we expect more. But all of us need the environment to support life and turning Gaia into a religion is the best solution we've found."

  "But why me?" asked Lucas.

  "Because you're the best person for the job. You have the technical skills, as you've so clearly demonstrated. You're young and strong and devoted to Maeve."

  "What's that got to do with it?"

  "She's an important part of the task. While you're setting up communications, and handing out dongles, she'll do the heavy lifting of proselytizing."

  "I have to think this through," said Lucas, "and talk to Maeve."

  "Certainly," said Moms. "But do it tonight, will you? If you agree tomorrow will be prep day and then you'll take off the day after."

  "So soon?"

  "Time is short."

  Lucas felt sure he was being played and ambivalent about whether he liked it or not. On the whole, since Maeve was so deeply involved, he knew he would go along with the program. They walked to his quarters in silence and halfway there Maeve took his hand. When he felt her cool fingers in his he knew that whatever she asked of him she would get.

  "No backbone," whispered his inner devil.

  "Lucky stiff, " said his inner angel.

  Inside his rooms he said, "Gaia is not a religion," in falsetto imitation of Maeve's earlier announcement.

  "Well, now it's our business to make it one," she answered without a trace of embarrassment.

  "Just saying," he said.

  "I know. It's just that I was brought up with a distaste for the religions around us. They're almost all cruel and intolerant and warlike. Gaia is none of those things."

  "Quite right, but they're also the social glue that holds many people together and the wisest ones all teach that love is the answer to all questions."

  "So you're willing to go along with me?"

  "To the ends of the Earth."

  "In that case love will be the answer to all your questions."

  Lucas, grinning widely, quickly joined her on his bed.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Sam checked the time and said, "Nearly time for the weekly talk."

  Moms looked as though she'd forgotten.

  "Oh, goodness. Okay, let's go in and do it."

  They followed her to the dining room where most of the staff had already gathered and Moms took her place at the podium. She ordinarily used these talks as a bonding tool, keeping the staff as much in the loop as possible and fostering as much family atmosphere as she could.

  This time, as she looked out over the mostly young and eager faces, she decided to go all out so that those who might leave would do so and those who stayed would be the truest of believers.

  "We have reached the decision to give Gaia all the trappings of a religion in an attempt to create an organization that will far outlast our lives."

  To her surprise the response was a sea of broadly smiling faces.

  "Oh, good," came a voice from the rear of the room. "We have an official High Priestess."

  Moms smiled and went on, "Yes, I'm going to gradually assume that title as well as continue in that role. And in the next few weeks we'll be working on what that structure will require and I'll want as much input as I can get."

  She put an image up on the wall behind her and read the points she had listed.

  "Number one, we need the Gaian Commandments. I'll take all the suggestions you have. Number two, The Book of Gaia. Mai Ling is in charge of compiling this and needs at least two research and writing volunteers. See her after we're through. Number three, communications. We want to spread the word as much and as far as possible. I definitely need suggestions for that."

  Helene's hand had shot up and Moms recognized her.

  "I think we should broadcast your weekly talks and encourage gatherings to hear them and discuss their content, an analog of church services."

  "Can you work on that?" Moms asked her.

  "I can certainly advise on the technical aspects and participate in discussions. If you like I can give you a paper detailing what sort of set-up would work."

  "Please do."

  Moms looked over the room of eager faces and felt good about having cast the die.

  "Think over what I've said. Tomorrow, just after breakfast, we'll hold a round table discussion so bring your best ideas. Remember, every detail might be important so be ready to speak up."

  As she left the podium a swelling of applause rose in the room and the staff rose to their feet.

  "Hail the High Priestess," called a voice and the cry rang through the room, "Hail the High Priestess."

  Moms beckoned to Helene and Harrison to follow her to her rooms and when there she said, "That went well, I think. Helene, tell me your idea in detail, won't you?"

  While Harrison listened, bemused, Helene listed the technical apparatus that would be needed.

  "This is simple stuff," she said. "I'll write it all down and your techies can easily set it up. What's important, I think, is to pick a time of the week that people will come together. Saturday mornings might work."

  "And you'll need trappings," said Harrison. "The Globe of Gaia as a backdrop, more vestments for the High Priestess, that sort of thing."

  They spent the next several hours in strategizing until Sam came in. "Lucas is ready to go, Moms."

  "Oh good. We can meet with the two of them right after lunch. Will you get their transportation and supplies seen to?"

  "Where will they go first?" asked Harrison.

  "We have requests from the Buffalo Hunters and the Vegans. Probably the Vegans first."

  Okay," rumbled Sam. "I'll get the tour bus ready."

  "Would you ask Lucas and Maeve to come back here as well?"

  "Sure."

  When the two young people returned to Moms' rooms they were full of smiles.

  "You look happy," said Moms. "Eager to go?"

  The blushes that rose in their young faces were mute testimony to what they were eager for but they just nodded. Moms waved them to a seat, "Let's talk about the Vegans."

  For the next half hour she went over the "Don'ts" to be kept in mind when meeting with them. "Don't wear leather, don't eat meat, and don't ask about protein deficiency. Don't act as if they're mildly crazy and don't let yo
ur face show what you're thinking if it's negative. Don't question the intellectual bases of their beliefs, which in any case are scientifically grounded. Any questions?"

  "Yes. Where do they live?"

  Moms brought a map of the western United States up on the wall and zoomed to an arid cliff top along the coast. "This is their main settlement. Sam will program a route for you and it will take you through at least two checkpoints but you have prior clearance and I'll give you a letter to their president."

  "Who comes after the Vegans?" asked Maeve.

  "The Buffalo Hunters."

  "And where will we find them?"

  "You'll have to call in. They're nomadic, of course. When you call we'll be able to locate them and send you their coordinates."

  Lucas and Maeve were very much like two kids about to be let loose in Playland - eager, serious and very excited. Lucas decided that between being left on the payroll and going out into the wildlands he would be safe from government pursuit. He also liked the idea of having Maeve to himself for the duration of the trip.

  Maeve was filled with an avid desire to carry the Gaian message to the hinterlands and be actively engaged in the work for which she felt she'd been born. She also was looking forward to nights on the tour bus, alone with Lucas and able to express her joy in being in love with him and with her mission.

  "You'll only have tomorrow to prepare. The bus will be fully stocked but you'll have to pack clothing and personal possessions. I think you should start off early in the morning. The schedule is loose but with some constraints. If you leave early enough you can reach the Vegans in about a day. Leaving our valley takes the most time but climbing to their settlement will take a lot of time as well. The route you'll follow stays off any major roadways so it elongates the travel time."

  Maeve and Lucas were holding hands listening to Moms. She smiled at them benignly, "Okay, go get ready."

  They went.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Helene was focused on her screen, listing the items that would be necessary to render Moms' sermons into broadcast theater. She was trying to imagine every issue that might arise and to prepare for it beforehand. In the end she knew she would have to be present for its testing so that she could tweak the settings and fill any gaps that appeared. Across the room Moms, Harrison and Mai Ling were deep into a discussion of the details of the sermons, their setting, the decor and trappings of the office of the High Priestess and the tone of the sermons themselves. Moms made the point over and over again that every effort would have to be made to forestall a backlash from the leaders of other religions. "We need to make the point that God, their God, is the Father and that Gaia is the Mother of us all. We want to be compatible with every faith."