Earth Keepers

by Jorge Alejandro Lavera

  The woman in the white coat kept watching her screen, and nodded towards the panel with every question answered.

  “And what do you think of euthanasia?” asked the third man, the last examiner on the right.

  “Definitely in favor. If a person is suffering from an irreversible illness, it seems to me a horrible torture to make them keep living when they don’t want to do it. The same if the brain is damaged beyond any possibility of repair, what is the point of keeping it alive? I think is everyone else who wants to cling to the one who is dying, and don’t really care about whether they’re suffering or not, because of their selfishness.”

  “What do you think of vegans?” asked the man in the middle.

  “Vegans? Well...I know a few. Most are good people, but like in every group, there are extremists. I believe that philosophy and diet are personal matters, until it is proven that there’s a specific damage. And some vegans lie a lot. They say that humans aren’t omnivores and should eat only vegetables because that’s the way our digestive system is, which is a lie. Others exaggerate and generalize—if there’s a bullfighter who mistreats cows, then they must all do it. Other even prohibit eating honey from bees, because they say it hurts the bees, which has been demonstrated to not be true. They also say their diet is healthy, but if it were, they wouldn’t need to take supplements like vitamin B12 that are only in significant quantities in foods of animal origin.”

  “So you think it’s okay to exploit and eat animals?” interrupted the man, frowning.

  “I think it’s necessary, which doesn’t mean mistreating them. They can be raised in a non-invasive way, for example, cows in pastures, chickens in pens, not cages. I don’t agree with making animals suffer, and much less killing them or torturing them for fun. That disgusts me. But that has nothing to do with needing to eat them, we cannot deny our biology. Also, I don’t claim to be a carnivore. With a little meat every so often, it meets and exceeds what we need in our diet, if we consume other animal by-products, like eggs or milk.”

  The first woman asked, “What do you think about the care of the environment?”

  “That they’re not remotely doing even the minimum necessary.”

  “And what would that be for you?”

  “Well, there are so many things to do. Ecological preserves, serious punishments for businesses that poison or destroy the environment, laws that must be obeyed. But the biggest environmental problem is overpopulation. As long as human beings keep reproducing exponentially, the only possible result is hecatomb, especially due to the lack of understanding regarding resources consumed or the pollution that is generated. Of course, all those who are aware of this want it to be the others who stop reproducing.”

  The woman who asked him and the others looked at each other for a moment. The man in the center leaned an arm on the desk, while he stroked his beard and looked at him thoughtfully.

  “Just a couple more questions, Mr. Navarro. Do you believe in God?”

  Juan Carlos frowned. Hadn’t they already asked him that?

  “No.”

  “Can you elaborate? Why not?”

  “First, I’d have to ask to which of the thousands of gods mentioned by humans you’re referring. At any rate, I don’t believe in anything that goes against the laws of nature. As for God, many define it as an eternal being outside of space and time, who can voluntarily interact with us. All powerful, omnipresent, omniscient. I can’t tell you how absurd I think that concept is. I could spend hours talking about this. But we can say I don’t believe in anything supernatural.”

  “It isn’t important, at least not now. Someday, we’ll have an interesting talk about that. And I suppose you don’t believe in extraterrestrials, either?”

  “Certainly, it isn’t the same thing, but in that case I reserve my opinion on whether I ‘believe’ or ‘don’t believe.’ If we’re talking about gods, none has ever been seen, but extraterrestrials...there would be life in other worlds and we have as reference that life exists here. So unless we’re just an improbable accident, it would be possible that there’s life in other worlds, too. Maybe life manages to evolve into developing a civilization, and that civilization is technological, and that they survive themselves over time—that goes into another category. But that they’ve come to Earth in the past, helping us construct pyramids, or have intervened in human development, I think is nonsense with no foundation.”

  The man in the middle clearly revealed a half smile. He stood up, went over to the doctor at the computer screen, exchanged some words with her in a low voice, and then turned around and came over. Juan Carlos had to look up and couldn’t help but swallow. The man was very tall and huge. And imposing.

  “Welcome to Rho City, Juan Carlos. My name is Tzedek.”

  VACCINATIONS

  Buenos Aires, November 8, 2027. 4:30 p.m.

  “Please, come with me for a last chore and let’s have lunch. You must be starving,” said Tzedek, leaving the room and indicating for him to follow.

  “Actually, I’d like to contact my daughter, she hasn’t eaten either and I’d like to see her.”

  “No problem. In fact, she got here a few hours ago and while she was waiting, we took the liberty of giving her some tests, like the first ones you took. Of course with her permission. Had you arranged to go eat? We could all eat together if you don’t mind.”

  Juan Carlos stopped in his tracks, and then walked on.

  “No, no problem.”

  Tzedek pushed a button on his phone, listened for a second and then ordered:

  “Bring Sofía Navarro to Section V110 and tell her that her father is here. Yes. We’re waiting for her.” He hung up.

  They headed towards the part that looked like a hospital, but this time it was a closed room. The door had several biometric access controls and a sign that said “V110.” Tzedek took off his glove, put his hand on the panel, the door opened, and he put his glove back on. Juan Carlos noted with shock that the hand had six fingers, but politely didn’t say anything. Tzedek also looked surprised for a second. He frowned, looking at it strangely, but quickly regained his composure.

  Inside the room, which looked like a medical dispensary, was a man who looked like a secretary or something, and a woman in a white coat, tall, brunette, and beautiful.

  “Please sign here, and here,” the man said. While he signed, the woman told him:

  “We were looking at your vaccine record and you don’t have the last flu shot. It’s important to have it as soon as possible, and your daughter, too. It’s free. Do you want yours now? I have it right here.”

  “Um, okay, thank you, doctor. Does it have a lot of side effects? I have a lot of work at the moment, you know, and I can’t afford to stay in bed...”

  “Don’t worry, just a little mucus. Nothing like the flu that the vaccine prevents. Besides, it’s a single dose, you won’t need a booster or have to get another one.”

  “Go ahead, then,” Juan Carlos gave in, rolling up his sleeve. The doctor got a syringe ready with a small blister pack that she extracted form a small Styrofoam package that she took out of a clinic refrigerator, disinfected his arm, and applied the vaccine right then.

  “All done,” said the doctor, while she applied pressure to the injection site with a cotton ball. “When is your daughter coming?”

  “She should be here any minute,” Tzedek intervened. “They’re bringing her here.”

  Just then, they heard some knocks at the door. Tzedek opened with a panel like the one on the outside.

  “Sofía!” exclaimed Juan Carlos happily.

  “Dad! What’s going on?”

  The man who looked like a secretary raised his eyebrows and said:

  “Good afternoon, your name? May I see your documents?”

  Sofía opened her bag, and gave him the paperwork.

  The man took them, looked through a list he had, and said to the doctor:

  “She’s the right person, go ahead...”

&n
bsp; “Hey, Dad, what is this? You know I don’t like injections...”

  “It’s just a flu shot, and the doctor is excellent, don’t worry.”

  The doctor said hello to Sofía, had her sit down and raise her sleeve, got the vaccine ready like she had done before and immediately vaccinated her.

  “It didn’t even hurt,” Sofía said, with a smile from ear to ear.

  “Look, it’s more the fear of pain that you imagine than what actually happens in reality,” Juan Carlos explained to her.

  “It’s true,” Sofía conceded, looking at the tape that held the gauze that the doctor had placed. The woman smiled at her and winked. Sofía stood frozen for a moment, looking at her.

  “Go with Tzedek. We’re done here,” said the doctor, and gave Sofía a kiss on the cheek, which made her blush and she felt like the woman had seen to the bottom of her mind. Juan Carlos said good-bye as well, breaking the spell. Tzedek told them:

  “Now we can go eat and talk awhile. I have things to tell you. Come, this way.” He took them to another floor and led them down a wide hallway, where some employees were eating and others were having coffee, to a small glassed- in office in a corner. It was pretty noisy, but as soon as they went inside and closed the door, there was absolute silence.

  “Please sit down,” he invited them. The table had six places. Tzedek sat at the head, Juan Carlos sat on one side, and Sofía on the other.

  “Come in,” Tzedek gestured to a waiter who had stopped at the door.

  “Good afternoon, gentlemen, miss,” the server greeted them. “Would you like a full meal or a snack? Today the menu is meat with mashed potatoes, drink is whatever you like.”

  “I’m hungry, so if no one minds, I’d like a meal,” said Juan Carlos.

  “Me, too,” said Sofía. “Do you have orange juice?”

  “Yes, we do,” said the server.

  “For me, too,” Juan Carlos requested.

  “Bring a pitcher, and three menus,” Tzedek ordered.

  When the server left, Tzedek directed himself to them.

  “I’m very happy to have found you. I hope I don’t scare you now, but for the new city that we’re populating we have some very strict criteria. It was a surprise to see the results of your test, Juan Carlos. And Sofía’s were no less brilliant,” he said, winking. “Our specialists thought you were cheating somehow, which is why we had the last interview. I apologize if we were a little aggressive. We’re certainly more than convinced now of your sincerity and ability.”

  Juan Carlos and Sofía looked at each other, not knowing what to think.

  “What was there that surprised you? I know Sofía is intelligent, but I don’t think either of us is an Einstein.”

  “You have no idea, Juan Carlos. Besides great general intelligence, you have a very uncommon ability, finding the source of a problem. Your capacity in that area is off the chart. And it’s just one of your abilities that we’ll need for the body of counselors that we need for the city. And that doesn’t even cover Sofía, her tests...you can’t imagine how happy we are to have found you. We’re very close to ending registration for the city, and we were worried that we hadn’t found anyone like you until now.”

  Sofía had a grin from ear to ear, but Juan Carlos’ pulse went through the roof.

  “Advisors? Like a political position? You must be joking. I’m much better with machines, not with people.”

  “You have experience with politics.”

  Juan Carlos wondered how he knew that.

  “If you know that, you know it was a bad experience.”

  “The fact is that you did get involved and came out unscathed, that’s what interests me. Let’s talk about it and you’ll have all the time you want to think about it.

  “In Rho, you’ll have a house, a large plot of land, selected neighbors, zero crime, special education tailored for Sofía, food and credit to buy anything that’s produced in the city. If you’re afraid to leave what you have here, we can sign a contract for fifty years rescindable by you whenever you want and without penalty. Come and get to know the site. You won’t regret it.”

  Just then, the server returned with a cart full of things, opened the door, served them food and drink, and left silently.

  “I have work and clients I can’t leave just like that, Mr. Tzedek.”

  Tzedek looked at Sofía the whole time as if he were trying to remember something. She didn’t notice, but Juan Carlos was getting uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and Tzedek looked at him suddenly. For an instant, Juan Carlos could have sworn he saw a glow in his eyes, but when he looked again, it was his usual yellowish green eyes, which reminded him of Sofía’s. It gave him goosebumps.

  “There’s Internet in the city and access to all kinds of communication, better in fact than what you pay for at your house now, Juan Carlos. If you don’t say anything to your clients, they won’t even know you’ve moved,” Tzedek commented as if nothing unusual had happened.

  “I won’t have to go back to school?” asked Sofía, incredulous.

  “No, Sofía. We have a special agreement with the national government of Argentina. It’s almost like we were another country and Rho City has its own laws that allows us to assign you a private professor who will guide you in your studies from your house or wherever you prefer to do them, whether at the city’s central library, or in shared study halls if you want meet other kids, in the comfort of your room or wherever you want, as long as you study and keep progressing.”

  “Well, count me in,” said Sofía, with a sincere smile.

  “I don’t know. We have a lot of debts, and moves are problematic.” Juan Carlos was suspicious.

  “Juan Carlos,” Tzedek said, looking at his device. “You have about ten thousand dollars of debt on cards, another three or four thousand pending for rent, and others to be cancelled. I’m going to settle every last penny of those debts, and in addition, all your moving expenses will be paid. You’ll have all new clothing, of course. Not only will you not have to pay anything but you’ll be able to get out from under your debt and start from zero.”

  Juan Carlos looked at Sofía, and then looked around him.

  “Is this a hidden camera thing? You know what they say: ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is...’”

  “They also say, ‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth...’”

  “Are you an eccentric millionaire?” Sofía interjected.

  Tzedek smiled.

  “I understand your skepticism, and you needn’t worry. Think about all you want. The quota closes in about fifteen days, but I’ll put a company car at your disposition, with maps of the route and directions to get to the city, which is near the Black River Valley. Beautiful weather and beautiful area. Oh, and yes, I’m more than a millionaire. And maybe somewhat eccentric.”

  “Oh, no, thank you, I can’t accept. If we decide, we’ll go on our own...”

  “Don’t even think about it. I insist. I feel bad enough that I’m not assigning you a driver. The vehicle is the right one for the trip, and you will be as safe as if you were going with me. Which may not mean anything to you, but believe me, that’s very safe. Hahaha,” Tzedek laughed. He offered his hand to Juan Carlos. “The papers will be in the glovebox, if you need them. And even if you don’t want to come with us, consider it a gift for all the Inconvenience these past few days.”

  “I...no pressure, huh? We’ll think about it, okay? If we do it, we can’t just go and leave everything, we’d have to get a lot of things ready. How about we talk again in a few days?”

  “One moment...what about Marisol?” asked Sofía.

  They both looked at her.

  “Marisol is my...friend. I don’t want to stop seeing her. Can’t she go to the city, too? Her mother is a good nurse.”

  “Friend? You’re certainly going to meet new friends right away in Rho,” said Tzedek reflectively.

  “I don’t want to stop seeing Marisol,” she insisted, frowning, w
ith her lips pursed.

  “I can’t promise it, but I’ll see what I can do. Now I must go, we always have urgent matters to deal with. Please, have dessert,” he said as he stood up and shook each of their hands. He left when the server came back to offer them dessert.

  “What do you think of all this?” Juan Carlos asked Sofía.

  “I’d go right now, Dad, but I don’t want to leave Marisol.”

  “So fast? I’d like to, but we have to go over a lot of things first. Besides, you know what I think of Marisol. On the other hand, before we go, we have to put our accounts in order, review the rental and university contracts, health services, and a lot of other things that must be done in person. I don’t want them to come looking for me in a decade with a judgment because I owe ten years’ worth of bills for whatever.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Besides, we have to see what we’d take with us. From what they said, they’ve got everything there, but until we’re actually there we won’t know. Classes finish the first of December, we can go then to see it, that’s twenty days. Meanwhile, let’s see what happens with Marisol and her mother.”

  “Twenty-three days, and I’d go right now.”

  “Okay, well, it would be better to get organized and go on vacation by that date. We’ll take advantage of the trip to see the city. And if it’s like they say, maybe we’ll stay.”

  “Okay, Dad, it’s a deal.”

  Tzedek straightened up in the seat of his command center in the building, smiling. The live video of the dining room was clear and he had heard everything. They’d go sooner than they thought. He’d been lucky to find them. For a minute, he frowned thinking about how many more people he could find if he kept looking. But he cleared his head, thinking that they’d already waited until the last minute. The situation was chaotic, and if they keep waiting they wouldn’t even be able to save the cities. The day was coming. He had to check on this Marisol and her family, and get them vaccinated. Or maybe not.