The Wallis Jones Series Box Set - Volume Two: Books Four thru Six

by Martha Carr

  “You’d have to ask Harriet but I don’t see her picking a cold clime if she had a choice and somehow Harriet always makes sure she gets a choice. I’m hoping that determination is in my DNA.”

  “You’re still alive after how many attempts? I think that question has been answered,” said Janine. “Perhaps I will go someplace new. Ah well, I suppose the grass is always greener somewhere else applies to me as well.”

  “The grass is greener where you water it,” said Wallis. “I learned that after years of being a family court attorney and watching hundreds of people divorce someone they pledged their love and devotion to before trying to destroy them a few years later. You cultivate where you are or it all becomes a pile of weeds.”

  Wallis pulled the cotton blanket that was covering her legs higher, folding over the top. “Everyone keeps telling me if you want to survive the cold, it’s all about the layers.”

  “So true. The cold keeps out the hordes. The cold and the taxes, I suppose. But, you can’t beat the nature of the people here.”

  “Even if George Clemente was spawned somewhere around here as well?” asked Wallis.

  “There’s always an aberration in the system, dear.”

  “I never got used to thinking of you as Mother Elizabeth. Too many years telling fortunes next door to me as Madame Bella. Seemed to really suit you.”

  Janine let out a loud ‘ha’ and clapped her hand over her mouth, revealing the two partially missing fingers.

  “When do they send you out again?” asked Wallis, hoping for a longer visit. “Every time they do, it’s like you disappear right before my eyes into a new name, a new role.”

  “It’s necessary for me to change my identity, dear. Too much baggage in the past. But, we’re not here to discuss me, this time. Here, I have something for you,” said Janine, pulling out a box with the familiar apple on it. “Come get it. I’m still a dangerous old woman but I don’t move as well as I used to,” she said, grinning, as she held out the box to Wallis.

  “It’s like I’m being knighted,” said Wallis as she reached for the box and opened it up to reveal a new iPhone.

  “It’s already been programmed for you and they’ve trained you how to use it, right?” asked Janine.

  “Yes, and the alarms are preset on the phone so I remember to look down and see what part of the Constitution is coming through. I’ve even gotten my first OTP and listened to the random radio broadcasts.”

  “It gets to be second nature after enough time goes by. Have they told you what they want you and Norman to do next?”

  “Stay close for now. The world is about to blow apart whether it’s from Ned’s plan with the Butterfly Project or it’s from Clemente’s plan to leave the world a thirsty place. Hard to make any long-range plans that go further out than a week,” said Wallis.

  “Yes,” said Janine, “and plans have a way of changing quickly around here, anyway. You know, when we started the Butterfly Project, this is not at all how I envisioned it coming to fruition. That they would end up holding the solution right in front of us that could save the planet from one lunatic.”

  Wallis stared at the fire for a moment.

  “We should get going to the meeting,” she said, peeling back the blanket. The cold air rushed in around her ankles.

  “Let go of that man’s death,” said Janine. “It was either him or you, and I approve of your choice. It wasn’t something you sought out.”

  “I took it for granted that I’d get through this life without causing that much harm.”

  “That grief you carry, for Maureen Bowers or your friend, Yvette Campbell who was poisoned, or even the people you had to leave behind.”

  “It’s a long list,” said Wallis.

  “None of that grief belongs to you. Not like you carry it. What’s coming, it’s going to take every one of us to make our way through it. If you insist on absorbing each blow as some personal mark against yourself, you’re going to get in everyone’s way. Grow up,” said Janine, taking a stern tone. “We don’t have time for righteous indignation right now.”

  “Sounds kind of selfish, less valiant, when you put it like that,” said Wallis, trying to smile. “Here, let me help you up,” she said, putting out her hand. “The forces have probably gathered by now. Everyone is here. I saw Esther and Tom with their heads together arguing about something and all of Ned’s friends are going over strategy with him.”

  “Even the lovely Juliette.”

  “He has good taste in young women. She thinks for herself,” said Wallis. “Come on, I’ll walk in with you,” she said, holding Janine’s hand. “I think my son’s in charge of saving the world.”

  “Said just like someone’s mother,” said Janine. “Not an overstatement at all.”

  They went to the large dining hall that could seat five hundred people comfortably and found two seats near the front being saved by Norman. The room was filled to capacity and the sounds from everyone talking at once made it hard to hear what Norman was trying to tell her.

  “What?” asked Wallis, leaning in closer. Norman didn’t try to say it again and instead, kissed her on the cheek and took her hand, holding on as he smiled at her. She lifted their hands up and kissed the back of his hand. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t say anything else that he had a chance of hearing. There was too much to tell him to make it matter and he already knew, anyway. That’s the best part, she thought.

  She looked up and saw Ned and other members of the Butterfly Project typing on different computer screens set up on long folding tables, and stopping to consult with each other. Once or twice Ned paused to push a long lock of hair out of his eyes. Wallis noticed how Juliette watched her son.

  Juliette was standing next to Ned, pointing to something on a screen as her bracelet made of engraved beads dangled back and forth. Ned listened and nodded and then tried typing something else. Near the doors at the front of the room a knot of people suddenly broke apart, making way for someone who was barreling forward, pushing people aside if they didn’t move fast enough.

  It was Harriet Jones, using her cane to nudge anyone foolish enough not to pay attention. Wallis smiled and tapped Norman, pointing in the direction of her mother. Harriet was dressed in her favorite pale pink suit, her pearls firmly around her neck and a leather purse swinging from her wrist. Wallis tried to gauge by the way the purse swung if there could be a gun inside of it.

  Ned turned to see his grandmother just as she was about to head for the front row and he went over to take her gently by the arm, escorting her to a seat next to him behind the table. Norman looked at Wallis with a confused glance but she shrugged and shook her head.

  Harriet looked thrilled to be at the center of things and waved at Wallis. She’s got her throne at last, thought Wallis, waving back.

  Ned waved to the crowd, trying to quiet everyone down but it had only a minimal effect. Most people were still busy chatting until Jake Whiting stood up and blew a sharp whistle with his fingers, startling everyone into an almost perfect silence.

  “Thank you,” said Ned, who was holding a mic. “Can everyone hear me? Okay, let’s get started. Hopefully, everyone here has already gotten the basics of what we’re doing. Our observations of key words on the internet tells us the virus appears to still be undetected. By now, if it’s working the same as all of our test runs, it’s getting one system to share the virus with another and it’s spreading on its own now.”

  “How does it work?” asked someone in the back of the room.

  The crowd standing around Ned all smiled and one of them grabbed a mic to say, “You may be sorry you asked,” as the room let out a collective laugh. It was a welcome moment amidst all of the strain. Everyone knew what was at risk.

  “No, no,” said Ned, not smiling at all, “it’s a really good question and it’s important that you do understand. I know you’ve all been briefed before but it’s complicated and we can repeat it again, if necessary. We are doing something that will
have so many unforeseen consequences. We can run algorithms on potential outcomes but humans are involved so it’s all just theory about something that will affect every living thing on this planet. But, we aren’t sure how or even how much of it will be welcomed and how much, well, won’t,” he said, talking with his hands, getting excited.

  “So, all we can do is prepare ourselves with as much information as possible and believe that no matter what does happen, there are enough of us, who will be spread out over the entire globe that we can help other people understand and not be afraid. We can bring our own principles of transparency to the world and keep trying till it takes root,” he said, his voice rising to a shout.

  “To make it short and simple, firewalls are a piece of software that has the capability to determine the types of communications into and out of a computer,” he said, gesturing with his free hand.

  “Computers communicate on networks using different types of protocols and ports. Think of these as a type of message and a specific pipe through which a message is transferred. Many messages can be sent over many pipes between many computers. The firewall’s job is to look at the allowable types of messages along with the correct pipes to ensure that these messages are passed along efficiently, while non-allowable types are stopped from entering, or leaving. Some systems are set up with protocol to automatically block messages from certain countries or companies.”

  “You’ve overcome all that?” shouted someone from the far side of the room. Wallis leaned around the people next to her, trying to get a look but she couldn’t see who it was. She caught a glimpse of Charlie Foyle standing against the wall next to Fred Bowers and Helmut Khroll. Everyone was gathered together for this meeting, thought Wallis. We’ve reached some critical point.

  “Thousands of us, working together have overcome that,” said Ned. “Or at least we hope so.”

  A low murmur of voices started up, building as Ned tried to talk over them.

  “I know you want reassurances that this will definitely work, but we can’t give you that.”

  “Isn’t it true that wiping out all of the world’s debt could lead to catastrophic consequences?” asked someone a few rows back.

  “Anything is possible,” said Ned, “but I can tell you why we did this, knowing the possibilities we were able to work out. If George Clemente succeeds, we are guaranteed of a dark future that will be difficult to reverse and catastrophic for millions of people. Guaranteed.”

  Jake stood up and Ned glanced at him, handing over the mic.

  “My name is Jake Whiting. You might know my dad, Mark Whiting,” he said, pointing to someone in the front row. Wallis leaned forward and saw Mark sitting on the end next to Norman’s brother, Tom, and Esther Ackerman.

  “Think about all of the choices you made just today without even thinking about them. Do I want to put cream in my coffee? Do I want to wear the green sweater or the blue one? Do I want to attend this long meeting or not?” Only a few people laughed as Jake grimaced. “You get it, don’t you? The right to make choices for yourself, good or bad will disappear. Might as well tell you that not everything will go well. George Clemente doesn’t operate alone and there are a lot of people who want to see him succeed. Some of them are powerful. A lot of them are Watchers that aren’t with Management anymore. All of them will do what they can to stop us.”

  Jake stopped and let the mic fall by his side, as he looked toward his father and gave a weary smile for such a young man. “But even if it’s the last right thing we get to do, we all will go out there and try because enough of us will be here to pick up the pieces once Clemente is stopped.”

  He handed the mic back to Ned and sat down, a determined look on his face. Norman leaned in and whispered, “Our replacements are here and they’re a lot better than us.”

  “Gives me hope,” she whispered.

  “No one person in this room is the solution,” said Ned, walking around to the front of the table. “There are thousands of us, all connected and listening right now,” he said, looking back toward the long row of computers.

  “All of them know the truth about how the old system worked and what’s happened and they all had a hand in getting us this far. But, if we’re going to get the rest of the way, it will take every generation, every member of the Circle, of the Order, of the Butterfly Project to stop being a member of those very groups and instead, become willing to see themselves as part of humanity on a global scale. This will be even harder than trying to infect a million computers in every language. We will be asking our neighbors or strangers to trust us and join together at a moment when it looks like all of the infrastructure is breaking down. Listen to me, if enough of us keep showing them it can be done, we have a chance. Right now, it’s our only chance.”

  Wallis watched her son and felt the separation open up between them. A space where he was still her son but he had his own life, apart from anything to do with her. She knew, it was time for her to let him go and continue on without him.

  She squeezed Norman’s hand.

  “Now, I’m going to need you to trust me even a little further, and you’ll have to make the choice to do that right away, without having time to think about it. As you hear your name called,” said Ned, “go to the front where you’ll receive first, a vaccination.” The room grew noisy again as Jake let out a long, loud whistle till everyone quieted back down.

  “It’s a necessary precaution against a danger George Clemente possesses and this solution will protect you if he chooses to use it. It’s all spelled out in the envelope you’re getting. We are determined not to hide anything from any of you, so you get to make choices based on the truth. What’s inside the envelope will also tell you everything you need to know about your destination in the world. You’re the new ambassadors. We cannot fail at what we are about to do.”

  Wallis heard her name and went up with Norman to get the large, brown envelope from Leonard Kipling. Stamped on the front was an outline of a swallowtail butterfly and the words, Apollo Network.

  A nurse gave them each a small plastic cup with a clear liquid to drink that tasted like strawberries.

  Norman looked at Wallis and gave her a wink as he drank it down. Wallis did the same and handed over the empty cup. Others were reluctantly following them up to the different stations and taking a cup. She carried the envelope back to her seat and looked up at Harriet, who smiled at her daughter.

  “Shall we open it?” asked Norman.

  Wallis opened the envelope and pulled out the pile of airplane tickets, visas, and background material, letting it fall into her lap.

  “I think we now know how Ned spent a billion dollars,” said Norman.

  “Vaccines and travel arrangements,” said Wallis.

  On top of all the documents was a note in Ned’s handwriting.

  ‘I need to know you’re as safe as I can make happen,’ it read. ‘And, I need to know you’re out there somewhere helping all of us make this thing work. You and Dad are headed to County Galway, at least at first. Then, on to Lisdoonvarna to meet up with a Butterfly member who will help you organize the Republic of Ireland. Small but key area. I’ll take good care of Grandma till you get back, and I know you’ll be back. Thank you for believing in me enough for you to go.’

  Wallis had a hard time reading the last word, ‘Love, Ned’ through the tears in her eyes.

  “Ireland, huh,” said Norman, reaching for the material in her lap. “We leave in a couple of days,” said Norman, reading the tickets. “Makes sense. We have to be in place before the world comes apart. We’ll have to ask Alan if he can keep Joe for a while longer.”

  Wallis got up and went to her son and pulled him into a tight embrace. He was taller than she was and could easily fit his arms around her. “You’ve become a leader and a man of peace at a lot younger age than most. Remember this always,” she said, as she held on to him, her fingers gripping his back. “I believe in you, no matter whether we’re together or apart, and I know
you can do this. I’m letting you go with my blessing. Go save the entire world, Ned.”

  He pulled back from Wallis and brushed his hand down her arm. “Got you last, Mom,” he said, trying to smile. He brushed a tear off his cheek and stood up straighter. Juliette came and stood just behind him, waiting.

  Wallis didn’t try to get him back. “I’ll come back when this is over and win this round,” she said, smiling. “I promise you, as your mother, we will meet again,” she said, softly. “This is not the end. Just a new beginning.”

  The Butterfly Effect

  Book Six

  Chapter 1

  Wallis Jones was waiting for everyone to calm down. The small storefront in the seaside town of Clifden, Ireland was packed with people. Every folding chair was taken and people were lined against the walls, leaning around the person in front of them to get a glimpse of her. The local gossip was running high about the American and her husband, Norman Weiskopf.

  Without her heels that was harder to do and for the people sitting in the back she was a bobbing head of thick, auburn hair and the occasional wave of a hand above the crowd.

  She was still a beautiful woman, striking in her early forties, even without the usual power suits she was used to wearing as a lawyer in family court back in what was her hometown of Richmond, Virginia. The suits had stayed home.

  A suit of any kind would have looked out of place in the village and it was more important to get people to trust her than it was to make a statement. Today it was jeans and a pale blue sweater and sneakers, making her small stature stand out.

  She made up for it by appearing calm and keeping her real feelings to herself. Stay focused on the solution, she thought.

  So far, though, she wasn’t sure she was accomplishing much of anything.

  She let out a sigh and made her mind think of something else.

  “Don’t dwell on that,” she mumbled to herself.

  They wanted answers. There was no point in trying to shout over everyone. She had learned a lot over the past months about these small town meetings and patience was always necessary.