THE FOREVER GENE (THE SCIONS OF EARTH Book 1) (15 page)

He turned to the sheepish Personet crew.  "Welcome to Moonbase Alpha gentleman, and lady.  I apologise for the lack of protocol shown by our Russian friend, but don't worry, I will make sure that you are given a proper orientation, and then the media committee will assist you in compiling the material you require for your news reports."

Qara squirmed at the patronising tone of the American general and risked a glance at Katya to see her reaction.  The cosmonaut stood silently with her head up, betraying no emotion.  As a career soldier she must be used to this sort of thing.

Qara was not.  "Thank you, general, we are very pleased to be here and will do our best not to break any rules.  I hope your men will be careful with our equipment as it is very sensitive and we will not be able to record anything without it."

She wasn't sure who was more surprised that she had spoken so boldly, the general or herself.  The British commander turned his head away to hide a small smile, and she marked him down as a potential ally.

"Have no fear, young lady, your equipment is in safe hands and will be returned to your quarters shortly."  Armitage placed a large finger on the touchscreen in front of him.  "Carson!" he barked loudly.

"Sir?" said a disembodied voice from an AVIC on the desk.

"Escort our guests to the orientation programme prepared for them."

"There is no need for that, general, I shall take them," said a loud voice from the doorway.  Armitage looked up in distaste at the scruffy civilian who had walked in unannounced.  Qara half expected the general to bellow at the newcomer for interrupting but, to her surprise, he simply shrugged.  "Be my guest, Dr Mattheus.  I hope you will take better care of them than the Colonel here."

Mattheus beckoned the Personet crew to follow him out of the room.  Relieved to get away from the overbearing general, they needed no second invitation.

To the consternation of General Armitage and the military commanders of the other delegations, the Northern European Federation had appointed a scientist as the commander of its delegation.  Just thirty-four years old, Hans Mattheus was acknowledged to be the leading astrophysicist on the planet.  The word 'genius' did not adequately describe the level of his intellect.  He was respected by every scientist and technician on the Moon, irrespective of nationality.  His capacity to understand advanced Faerie Folk technology was prodigious and even Analyst Ko was said to be impressed.  He was soon indispensable to the project and was the scientific commander of the moonbase in all but name.  The other delegation commanders were simply not equipped to disagree with him on any technical issue.

"I hope you have not been too traumatised by my military colleagues," he said apologetically as they walked away down yet another corridor.  "I shall do my best to shield you from their occasional bouts of lunacy.  Although they all have the same rank, each one thinks he is superior to the others.  General Armitage maintains that the base remains United States territory and that the other delegations are just visitors.  General Chang believes that, because he represents a country with a population far larger than the others, his views should prevail.  General Yashin reminds everyone that Russia made more breakthroughs than anyone else during the space-race of the twentieth century.  The only one with any sense is the British General Gordon.  We call him 'Flash', you know.  He at least has realised that scientists should be running this project and has recommended to London that he be replaced by an astrophysicist. That would certainly make my task much easier, unless of course they send Witherspoon.  He is just impossible to work with."

Hans continued to chatter amiably despite setting a furious pace which Qara could barely match.  He was obviously a busy man with no time to waste.  Even Batu had to scuttle along to keep up.  She certainly didn't have any breath to spare for asking questions and had to content herself with hoping she could pin him down for an interview later. After a while he slowed down and began to peer down corridors to the left and right, as if searching for something.  She realised that the area they were in was deserted and began to wonder where he was taking them.

"Are we almost there, Dr Mattheus?" she gasped as her breath started to come back.

He turned back to look at her.  "Oh, I am sorry, I forget things sometimes.  Before we get to the little orientation programme General Armitage has arranged I have been asked to take you to see a mutual friend of ours.  I am not very familiar with this section of the base, I'm afraid, but I think it is this way."

He strode away down a corridor to the right, and they hurried after him once again.  Qara's mind raced.  Who on Earth, or the Moon for that matter, was the astrophysicist talking about?  She couldn't imagine anyone she knew mixing in the same circles as the likes of Dr Mattheus.  Well, except for the Faerie Folk...

The corridor they were in eventually opened out into a dimly lit docking bay similar to the one they had arrived at earlier.  A tall, hooded figure stood waiting to one side of an open docking tube; a very tall figure.  Hans marched straight up to it.

"I'm sorry, it took me a little longer to find them than I expected and I had to extract them from the clutches of General Armitage.  I hope you haven't been waiting long.  Are you sure you wouldn't like me to arrange a more comfortable place to talk?  There isn't even anywhere to sit in this drafty old bay."

Translator Vi pushed back her hood and swept a lock of long white hair away over her ear.  "No thank you, Dr Mattheus, you have been most kind already and I don't have much time.  I would appreciate it if you would keep what I am about to say confidential, at least for now."

She looked earnestly down at Qara.  "It is pleasing to see you again, Qara.  I asked Dr Mattheus if he would set up a private meeting so that we could speak again."

Qara hadn't seen the translator since they had parted company at the house on Shelter Island.  She knew from their conversations there that Vi would have to go back to her reproduction centre, but had expected to see her a few more times before she left.  But she hadn't heard from the translator, and when she had called the Faerie Folk's facility in an attempt to contact her, she had been told that Vi was already on board Emissary.

"Hello," Qara said a little awkwardly, aware of Hans Mattheus looking on curiously.  "I hope you have had no ill effects from your treatment."

"No, not at all, Physician Ti says that it will not affect me for some time."

"I tried to call you at the facility but they told me you had left already."

"Yes, I was informed of your calls, but I have not been permitted to contact anyone. When I arrived back in Ulan Bator my status as translator was officially terminated and Analyst Ko insisted that I leave for Emissary at once.  Whenever I asked for permission to contact Earth I was told that Ko had prohibited it.  I do not know what his reasons are.  If he knew I was talking to you now he would probably be extremely angry.  It is only with the help of Dr Mattheus that I have been able to sneak away.  I was lucky enough to meet him by chance on one of his visits to Emissary to study its star drive."

Qara smiled.  "Well, perhaps now that I am here on the Moon we can arrange to meet like this regularly."

The translator's serious expression didn't change.  "I'm afraid that won't be possible," she said.  "I came to say goodbye.  The expedition has been recalled.  We are leaving."

CHAPTER EIGHT

"The Faerie Folk are leaving!"

David first saw the headline blinking across an electronic billboard as he left his hotel in Buenos Aires.  He ignored it, dismissing it as Personet nonsense.  Every morning there was another outrageous story about the Faerie Folk, most of which turned out to be untrue.

The taxi-cab he used to get to and from the site was waiting at the kerb for him.  Armando, the exuberant young driver who collected him every day, usually carried on a mostly one-sided conversation with him all the way to the site. His English was relatively good, although freely sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases.  David's contribution was to respond politely to the parts he understood.

Today, however, Armando was glued to one of the local Spanish audio channels.  "The Faerie Folk are leaving, senor," was all he said as David slid into the back seat.  David resisted asking him for details, content with not having to concentrate on the driver's chatter for once.  But, by the time the cab reached its destination in the upmarket suburb of Lujan, he had become curious about what was going on.  All of the billboards and shop-front wall-screens he saw were showing the same headline below the faces of animated reporters. 

It seemed rather strange that the Faerie Folk would decide to leave so suddenly.  Had they completed their research?  Why would they leave before completing the hard-water building projects which were under way around the world?  And what about the star drive project on the Moon? 

When the building site hove into view it took his mind off the news for a while.  Ambassador Ba had been true to his word.  David had wanted to open a branch of the Factory in Argentina for years, but there were factions within its government which seemed determined to thwart him at every turn.  He had lost count of the number of proposals and applications which had been made and the conferences and hearings he had attended.  Despite all of his efforts over a period of nearly three years, he still had no idea what it was that the powers that be actually wanted.

Then the ambassador had stepped in and all of the objections and pre-requisites had magically vanished.  David had no idea what promises had been made, but within six weeks the government had approved the project and granted permission for the necessary quantity of water to be drawn from the River Plate. The land had been purchased and cleared long ago, so the work could begin immediately.  There was some delay as the hole for the foundations was excavated and tankers delivered the river water.

A few days later, a team of Faerie Folk analysts arrived by airbus and set up an open-air workshop.  With water being the principal building material, there was no need to worry about rain.

Initially, he had intended to observe for a few days and then return to Boston, but he had become fascinated with the simplicity of the construction process and the almost limitless design parameters of the hard-water.  He extended his stay and watched as the dark blue building took shape.

The analysts first produced thin slabs of hard-water on large flat trays in the workshop.  These layers were used to line the floor and sides of the excavation, which was then filled with water.  This created a reservoir within which the walls, ceilings and roof panels could be pre-fabricated.

The analysts produced more thin slabs in the workshop, which were used to make moulds of the required shapes and sizes.  The moulds were lowered into the reservoir and filled with water.  Then they were sealed and removed.  The water within the moulds was hardened and the moulds stripped away, leaving behind the fully formed components of the building.

Once this process was complete, the hole was re-filled and the entire reservoir hardened.  This resulted in a perfectly level foundation slab upon which the pre-fabricated components could be set.  Seamless joins were achieved by momentarily softening the edges of adjacent components and hardening them again once they had bonded together.

Using the same softening and re-hardening process, snags and defects could be quickly rectified and any accidental damage easily repaired.

Armando dropped David off outside the almost complete building and drove off, still glued to his Personet channel.  David walked through the reception area and into the dining room beyond.  The carpeting, furniture and artwork which would transform the bare rooms into plush suites hadn't been installed yet, but a local contractor was busy installing an AVIC and wall-screen.  One of the analysts was showing him how to tap the solar energy stored in the roof and walls.

David had spoken very little with the analysts working on the site.  They were diligent and efficient, but displayed very little interest in anything other than their work.  He had attempted to begin conversations with one or two of them but had not been able to draw more than a few polite platitudes.  He gathered that the rank and file of the Faerie Folk had not learned more than a few words of any terrestrial language.  He was not even sure which of them was in charge.  They all wore the same purple-pink shimmer-robes and their elfin features were so similar that he had difficulty telling individuals apart from each other.

He approached the one which seemed to be supervising that day and asked him whether it was true that the Faerie Folk were leaving.

"It is true," was the response.

"Will you finish the building before you leave?"

"Yes, it will be completed."

"What about the other building projects around the world?"

"The ambassador will explain."

"What about your research?  Have you learned anything of value?"

"The ambassador will explain."

David decided to call a more prolific source of information.

Pris answered immediately.  "No-one knows why they are leaving.  What have you heard?  What do the analysts at the building site say?"

"They aren't willing to say much, I've asked."

"Well at least the ambassador has promised to clarify things later today, although he seems to be annoyed that this has leaked out."

"What puzzles me is why they would go to all the trouble of coming here and giving us all of this technology, only to leave before getting the full benefit of their visit?"

She sighed.  "You're thinking like a human, dear.  How do you know that they aren't motivated by principles we are unfamiliar with?  A race so much older than us must have outgrown petty selfishness long ago."

"I suppose you're right," he said doubtfully.

"Why don't you call the ambassador?  He knows you well enough by now."

"I thought of that, but I'm sure he will be too busy to take calls with all of this going on.  I guess we'll just have to wait for the media announcement.  On a different note, why don't you come down here for a few days?  The weather is beautiful and I know you hate Boston's winter.  You can help me host a grand opening for the new Factory."

"That would be lovely; I'm sure I can re-arrange a few lectures.  I'll fly in on Saturday."

"Perfect.  The building should be finished by next week and we can invite some local dignitaries to toast the place with a few bottles of champagne."

"I'm sure we can do better than that, dear.  Leave it to me."

By the time the ambassador's announcement began a few hours later, the contractor had the AVIC up and running.  All of the locals on the site unceremoniously downed tools and clustered around the wall-screen.  David joined them as the broadcaster cut to the central domed area of the Faerie Folk's facility outside Ulan Bator.  Local Personet reporters kept up an animated torrent of Spanish commentary until Ambassador Ba stepped onto a podium in front of a bank of microphones.  Analyst Ko could be seen standing nearby.  David thought he detected a scowl on the chief analyst's normally impassive face.

The ambassador stood silently for so long that David began to wonder if something was wrong.  When Ba eventually looked up, his green-eyed gaze slowly sweeping the sizeable audience in front of him, there was complete silence.  Even the most excitable reporters waited breathlessly for what he was about to say.

Eventually, he spoke.  "Regrettably, what has been reported this morning is true.  We must return home sooner than we had anticipated.  Our genetic crisis has intensified.  The conception rate of our current generation of females has fallen alarmingly, and almost all of their offspring are male.  My expedition has been away for a long time, collecting data from various races.  Although we routinely transmit data back to our system as we collect it, the researchers and analysts who are familiar with the sources of the data are better qualified to interpret it than anyone else.  So, the Ancient Council has ordered us to return.  It is hoped that we will provide the impetus needed to achieve the breakthrough that has eluded us so far."

He paused, and had to raise his hands to stifle the barrage of questions which erupted.

"Please, my friends, bear with me.  All of your concerns will be addressed.  I realise that this comes as a surprise, although it is obvious that we must leave your planet at some stage.  Let me assure you that, before we go, all of the building projects currently under way will be handed over to local contractors.  We shall leave detailed instructions which they will be able to follow in order to complete the projects.  And we will publish the hard-water formula and details of the construction process on your Personet so that anyone who wishes to make use of it will have the information they need.

"I also have some good news.  The process of upgrading your space technology has been progressing well.  At its current rate, it should be completed within two to three of your months.  Analyst Ko will ensure that your scientists on the Moon have a blueprint which will guide them through the final stages.  Your first star ship has already been constructed and is currently being outfitted.  Instructions on how to activate the star drive will be left with your astronauts.  They have already begun to study our star charts and the mechanics of space navigation.

"Now, I am afraid I only have time to answer a few questions."

Many of the reporters bellowed variations of the same question.  "When are you leaving?"

The ambassador leaned towards Ko, who spoke briefly into his ear.

"We anticipate leaving in two of your weeks.  Just one more question please."

A knot of reporters huddled together quickly to discuss what to ask.

"Will we meet you or any of your people again, ambassador?"

He inclined his head.  "I am sure of it.  I have no doubt that, in a few short years, you will have become regular interstellar travellers, as have many of our other client races.  The location of our home system is on the star charts we have provided, and we would welcome a visit from you.  Hopefully, by then, we will be well on our way to resolving our own crisis and be in a position to greet you in a spirit of joy and celebration."

He stopped speaking but did not leave the podium.  Some of the reporters shouted more questions, which he ignored.

"There is one more thing I have to say."

He waited until the reporters fell silent.

Again, he drew out the silence and David couldn't decide whether the effect was promising or ominous.  He suddenly had a mental picture of the ambassador throwing back his head and laughing maniacally before telling them all that the Earth was doomed.

"In recognition of your hospitality, and to make up for our sudden departure, we have a parting gift for you."

"What is it?" was the chorus which met this unexpected announcement.

The ambassador drew his lips back from his pointed teeth in a brief smile.  "I am sorry, it is not ready yet and I would prefer not to disclose what it is now.  What I will say is that it is something which will directly benefit everyone on your planet.  We will have it ready by the time we leave.  All I ask is a little patience."

He stepped off the podium, abruptly ending the interview.

Everyone around David erupted into animated conversation, excitedly speculating about what the gift was going to be.  He stood lost in thought for a few moments as they meandered away, hopefully back to work.

Wasn't the star drive supposed to be the ultimate gift that would benefit the whole of humanity?  Why would the Faerie Folk want to give us something else?  Were they simply motivated by benevolence, as Pris seemed to think?  Or was there more to all of this than met the eye?

She would say he was being uncharitably cynical.  After all, the ambassador had been true to his word up until now.

Armando was full of ideas on the way back to the hotel that evening.  "They are going to show us how to turn stones into gold, senor," he pronounced authoritatively.  "Then everyone will have his own El Dorado.  I will buy my own taxi-cab and one for my brother Diego."

He glanced at David in the rear view mirror.  "You must collect stones now, because soon everybody will want them.  I have put some in my house already," he said conspiratorially.  "What do you think it will be, senor?"

David shrugged.  "Your theory is as good as any, I suppose."

The lurid ideas bandied about on the Personet during the next couple of weeks made Armando's seem level-headed by comparison.

When he went to meet Pris at the Ezeiza landing pod in downtown Buenos Aires, she told him that her favourite was one the Pentagon was said to be taking seriously.  "They are calling it the 'life ray', as opposed to the 'death ray'.  According to the theory, the Faerie Folk are installing ray guns in secret satellites orbiting the globe.  When they are ready, the ray guns will be activated and destroy every weapon on the planet.