The Zul Enigma (46 page)

‘Corrinne,’ Carlos
looked solemn, even a little sad, ‘this is my last Session.’

‘What?’ she said
wrinkling her forehead, the pupils of her eyes two intense black dots.

‘I’ve resigned.’

‘Resigned?’ she echoed.
‘But why?’ her voice sounded too high-pitched. ‘It’s Zul, isn’t it? And the
Americans,’ she covered her mouth with her hand. ‘You haven’t fallen out with
the boss about it, have you?’

‘Hey, hey! Slow down,’
Carlos said smiling. ‘I haven’t fallen out with the boss but you’re right, it
is
because of Zul. But I’m not leaving the UN. I’ll be setting up a new
initiative. It’s unique and needs to be rolled out all over the world. Because
I’m the one Zul contacted, Greg’s agreed to let me head it.’

‘Carlos!’ Corrinne
shrieked, ‘you don’t still think this Zul’s real do you?’

He smiled. ‘I do, but
Greg doesn’t,’ he held up his hands. ‘Yes – Greg knows what I think.
Either way it doesn’t affect the initiative… that will be a good thing…
regardless.’

‘What’s it about?’

‘Meditation. Zul warned
me by the end of this year every single one of us needs to become a better
person. Not just for our own individual good but for the survival of the
planet. We have to start putting others first, to act less selfishly. By practising
meditation, it will help us increase the level of our combined consciousness
and let us create a better future for our galaxy.’

‘And
that’s
the
project you’re going to head?’

‘Don’t look so
sceptical. I believe in it. Since… well,’ Carlos looked down at the table, ‘you
know… I’ve not been myself for the last few years, but this? I’m passionate
about it,’ he opened his arms wide. ‘I want to put everything I can into it.
It’s a huge job, but I’m ready.’

‘Oh Carlos. We’ll miss
you. Especially now we’ve got our “old” Carlos back.’

He laughed. ‘You say
that, but I know you. You can’t wait to get a normal boss again,’ and she
dipped her head and gave a little laugh, knowing there was more than a grain of
truth in what he said. ‘In any case, I won’t be far away – I’ll still be
in the same building.’

The waitress clattered
the tea down at Corrinne’s elbow, slopping some of it into the saucer and
slammed a frozen glass and an open bottle of beer in front of Carlos.

‘When do you leave us?’

‘Two days after the Session
finishes I fly to New York for a week with Greg. Then I come back here and
start.’

‘So fast!’

‘I’ve got a lot to do.
We need to see results before the end of the year.’

‘Who’ll take over from
you? Willem?’

‘
Sí
. I’m
impressed with what he’s done with no warning and almost no guidance.’ Carlos
poured his beer and drained nearly half the glass.

‘I like working with him
too. But Greg must think this new initiative’s really important to take you
away from us.’

‘If what Zul says is
true, it could affect the future of the planet and everyone on it.’

With her elbows resting
on the table Corrinne cradled her teacup between both hands and peered at
Carlos over the rim. ‘Don’t say any more. Honestly, I don’t want to know,’ and
he smiled. ‘Oh! I keep meaning to tell you. Rebecca Marshall called on Friday.’

‘Who?’

‘Rebecca Marshall. That
reporter from
National Geographic
. She’s finished the story on the Space
Elevator and wants to go through it with you. She’s worried there are some
inaccuracies.’

‘Of course this week’s
out,’ Carlos said. ‘The earliest is the weekend. Before I go back to New York
again. See if she can make lunch on Saturday or Sunday.’

***

‘Hey Drew. It’s me.’

‘Erika!’

‘Got a moment to talk?’

‘A moment’s about all I
do have.’

‘You’ll never guess.’

‘What?’

‘I spoke to Corrinne
this morning.’

‘And?’

‘Carlos quit.’

‘You’re shitting me.
He’s leaving the UN?’

‘Not the UN. Just OOSA.
He’s putting together some global initiative.’

‘Right… Joseph mentioned
it.’

‘Promoting meditation.’

‘Don’t tell me he’s gone
off his rocker again.’

‘Drew!’

‘I… it’s… oh Erika… it’s
to do with all that shit that went down last month. The reason he ended up in
hospital.’

‘I don’t know about that
– Corrinne’s being very evasive. All she said is Carlos is back on a big
high. In fact, she said she’s never seen him so passionate about anything…
ever.’

‘That man – I tell
you – he’s always going off half-cocked about something.’

‘Give him a break, Drew.
Can’t you just be pleased for him? He’s had such a tough time.’

‘Yeah, I know. I just
hope it won’t do him more harm than good.’

‘And what about you? Any
nearer deciding whether you’re going to stay at NASA?’

‘I can’t talk now,’ he
lowered his voice, ‘but the whole camaraderie thing here’s taken a dive since
the budget cut proposal. I don’t know what to do.’

‘Did Joe talk to you? He
told me he needs someone like you in Vienna for the joint venture project he’s
setting up.’

‘Yeah, he mentioned it.
We’re meeting next week.’

Erika paused. ‘It would
be nice to have you living in the same country again.’

‘Yeah,’ Drew said, ‘I’d
like that too.’

***

Carlos was sitting in the glass-covered atrium of Café Landtmann reading his
newspaper and drinking a brauner, black coffee with a dash of milk. He’d
arrived early to make sure of a table, since he knew how busy it could get
there, especially on a Sunday.

He
spotted Rebecca through the window as she walked along the pavement, hands in
her pockets and heading into the dry warm wind that announces springtime in
Vienna. The change in temperature had transformed the city. All around in the
parks, at street intersections, in hanging baskets, in window boxes and in pots
on balconies, there had been a colour explosion as the spring flowers bloomed
simultaneously. Everyone was breathing a collective sigh of relief to see the
end of such a bitter and punishing winter.

Rebecca was wearing a
light blue cotton jacket over her T-shirt and jeans and Carlos watched as she
walked in and hesitated, overwhelmed by the high ceiling, the huge chandeliers
and the utter opulence of the restaurant’s furnishings. Amused by her reaction,
he stood up and waved to attract her attention. She zigzagged her way through
the tables towards him and after they shook hands, a uniformed waiter pulled
out a chair for her.

She shed her jacket and
laid it across her lap. ‘Wow!’ she exclaimed, ‘this is incredible. I’ve seen a
few amazing places in Vienna, but this,’ she said looking around with wide
eyes, ‘this takes the biscuit.’

Carlos laughed. ‘I’m
glad you like it. It’s a Viennese institution – one of the most elegant
cafés in town.’

‘So I see! It has a
fabulous atmosphere. And it’s so busy.’

‘It got famous during
the Second World War. It’s where all the spies used to meet.’

‘They couldn’t have been
very good – not if everyone knew where they were,’ she said, making
Carlos laugh again and when she joined in he was reminded of what a very pretty
smile she had.

‘So,’ he said, ‘why
don’t I read the article while you look at the menu?’

After finishing their main course, Rebecca ordered the café’s signature coffee
– mocha with brandy, coffee liqueur, whipped cream and sprinkles; and
apple strudel, while Carlos had another brauner.

When the slice of
dessert powdered with icing sugar and presented on a fine bone china tea plate
appeared, Rebecca’s eyes sparkled. ‘This looks absolutely delicious,’ she said
glancing up at Carlos, who smiled at the expression on her face.

He sipped his coffee.
‘Tell me, who else do you write for. You can’t just freelance for
National
Geographic
?’

She shook her head.
‘I’ve got a full-time job. I’m Editor of the
BBC Focus Magazine
based in
Bristol.’

‘Ah
sí
. I know
it.’

‘I’ve been there four
years. I just got promoted to Editor a few months ago. But …’ she chased a
piece of strudel around the plate with her pastry fork, finally resorting to
using the tip of her forefinger to keep it still as she slid it onto the prongs
and lifted it to her mouth. She wiped her finger on the huge white linen napkin
lying on her lap as she chewed.

‘But…’ Carlos prompted
and she looked sideways at him from under her long thick lashes.

‘I know it sounds
unprofessional just getting promoted and everything, but I realise now,’ she
pulled a face, ‘it’s just not what I want.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘It’s a great magazine,
don’t get me wrong, and a wonderful team, and I love what we’re doing –
bringing science into the lives of the general public… but… but the truth, is
I’d rather be running down the stories than worrying about circulation and
legal suits.’

Carlos nodded. ‘I know
exactly what you mean. I’ve been there too. I was so happy at NASA. Then I took
the job at OOSA and, well, my life changed. I went from scientist to
bureaucrat-diplomat-manager. It was okay at first, but now I hate it. I miss
being in on the buzz of new discoveries and groundbreaking developments.’

‘I had no idea,’ Rebecca
said, brown eyes shining. She leaned forward. ‘So what did you do about it?’

He also leaned forward,
touched by her interest. ‘I quit,’ he whispered.

She threw her head back
and laughed.

‘What’s so funny?’ he
asked.

‘I’ll tell you later,’
she smiled, but then her expression changed. ‘Oh no! You just buggered up my
piece for
National Geographic
.’

Carlos grinned. ‘Sorry
about that!’

‘So… what will you do?’

‘I’m heading a new
initiative for the UN. I’m very excited about it.’

‘Tell me more,’ she said
with that eager look again. ‘Is it something to do with outer space?’

‘I can’t say anything
yet. This new baby’s only a few days old. Anyhow,’ he flung his arms up in the
air, ‘enough about me. What about you?’

‘I’ve just handed in my
notice too. That’s why I was laughing.’

‘And do
you
have
another job?

‘No. I want to
freelance. At least for a while. Until I decide what I really want to do.
Actually I’ve always wanted to write a book.’

‘A book? What about?’

‘I don’t know. I’m
waiting for inspiration. But I do know I want to move out of Bristol. It’s not
the most stimulating place on the planet – at least for me it’s not.’

A waiter arrived to
clear the crockery and Carlos asked Rebecca if she’d like another coffee.

‘Where will you go?’
Carlos asked. ‘London?’

She shook her head. ‘I’d
like to end up in New York. It would be good for my career. But first I want to
see Europe. And I’ve worked out how. Swine flu! People are queuing up to give
out free vaccine in places like Africa and Afghanistan… but how about the
low-income families in developed countries?’

‘So that’s how you plan
to travel round Europe. Volunteering with the UN.’

‘Exactly!’

Carlos smiled.
‘Fantastic! And if you come back here, you must stay with me,’ he said. ‘I’ve
got a big apartment – a penthouse on top of a converted palace.’

‘Ooh! That sounds posh,’
Rebecca said raising her brows.

‘It is. It even has a
night club in the basement!’

***

‘That about wraps it up I think,’ Greg said draining his tea. He and Carlos had
spent the past week working on the meditation initiative.

‘
Sí
.
And thanks for all your help and support. I… I didn’t expect you to…’

‘Carlos, you are most
welcome. Zul’s appearance has been a wake-up call for me too. It reminded me
what the UN was set up to achieve, “the big picture” so to speak. Too few
people remember the passion and spirituality this organisation was based on.
Even I’d forgotten, I’ve been so focused on the day-to-day grind.’

‘It’s only since talking
to you I see how pivotal the concept of meditation has always been.’ Carlos
rubbed his hands together, ‘and now we’ve confirmed the launch date…’

‘There’s a huge amount
of work to do. Are you sure you shouldn’t give yourself more time?’

‘June 4th is good. After
the announcement by satellite transmission, we’ll target religious,
educational, commercial and government organisations. Those four segments are
the main thrust and will give us the chance to reach nearly every human on the
planet.’

‘What you’re doing is
really something. But what happens after the 21st December?’