Growth (GAIA Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  When they were done Clarence took them to a private dining room for a light meal and said, "My boss told me to give her regards to Helene, but I don't think you're her."

  Lucas smiled, "No, I'm not, but she'll be here for the event and I'm sure she'll want to touch base."

  "My boss was really impressed by her."

  Lucas chuckled again, "So is everybody else."

  Chapter 31

  Following Moms' pattern the Gaian Movement was built to be a bottom up organization. The central group disseminated information, helped with organization, acted on the collective will and encouraged independence and autonomy in the groups. As a result there were strong groups and weak ones, groups with projects passionately pursued and those with no projects at all. The diversity of opinions and backgrounds yielded a constant flow of ideas and suggestions to the Gaia Forum site and best practices were discussed freely and followed when applicable. The central group facilitated, disseminated, encouraged and often financed the best ideas.

  Helene, especially, encouraged localism and local actions and the free sharing of information and experience. She felt, and quite correctly too, that many streams made a mighty river and that diversity was another name for flexibility. A single, unified voice was often important, but so was a great spectrum of ideas and activities.

  Harrison was gazing moodily out of his office window watching as dusk fell on the city and the lights blinked on across its face. He was thinking about the structure that the Gaian movement had achieved under Helene's guidance and wondered whether they would ever achieve critical mass. The "tipping point" as Helene called it when enough people had adopted the Gaian attitude about living on Earth and turned it into policies across the globe. "When Gaia has become the starting point for actions rather than the goal it is now."

  He was thinking about how to respond to a serious query from a colleague in the History Department at his old school that struck to the heart of what they were doing. The question, stripped of academic language was simply, "Can humanity contain its baser, most selfish urges enough to keep from dooming ourselves and the ecosphere? Can "good" triumph over "evil"?"

  Beyond stating the obvious, "We Gaians think so, that's why we work so hard at it," Harrison was trying to assess his own, honest opinion. Even if one believed that our natures doomed us to kill ourselves and trash the planet a person of empathy would still have to work to prevent it if possible, he thought. But what was the truth of the matter? Was there only one truth?

  Of course, the idea that the truth would be determined by our actions and was not fated to be one thing or another but was malleable and subject to change through effort was his basic belief. "Whatever I thought the outcome would be we'd all have to keep working. When the outcome is unknown one must continue trying."

  Ultimately he wrote back to his colleague, "DNA evolves. We live in a closed system. The answer will be more apparent when the walls are closing in. Until then let's hope for the best and work to bring it about."

  He thought about Aquarius' last appearance as a delegate to the Western Water Conference where, when asked for his opinion after a week of wrangling over rights and privileges said, "No one can live without clean water." The implications had been obvious to everyone in the room, if all were not included some were being condemned to death.

  In Harrison's mind the sentiment easily expanded to cover the Earth. "No one can live without a healthy ecosystem." Gaia was the answer to that problem. His sister had been remarkably prescient to turn Gaia into a religion, he thought. Faith could unite as no other emotion and faith in the future was an absolute necessity for parents and parents to be.

  "We have to succeed," he thought. "I have grandchildren."

  One of the important events at the Gathering was the Afternoon of Awards. Group leaders were assembled in one hall and awards were announced and handed out for winners in a number of categories. Best Practices often garnered the most recognition as the ideas could be on any phase of the Movement. There were also awards for re-wilding efforts, efficiencies in use of water, pollution reduction of all kinds, efficiencies in energy production or use and in media messages.

  Harrison already had a file box full of entries and more arrived every day. He was only one of a dozen judges who would decide on who got awards. It was a contest but one in which no one actually lost. All the entries would be acknowledged and distributed, positive or negative effects of past awards would be tracked and a positive impetus given to "bottom up" improvements. Maeve would preside and present the awards and a separate set of medals would be given to the youngest contributors. Helene had instituted the awards as a way of encouraging participation in ongoing improvements and it had become a big hit. Most groups held internal contest to come up with entries and regional contests were held as well.

  The very measurable outcome was a steady stream of good ideas being demonstrated by one group and adopted by everyone after exposure at the Gathering. Re-wilding efforts were always popular with the group as were strategies used in local politics. Songs about Gaia were an important category and were judged by all the attendees. Mindful of the powerful effects that hymns had always had in churches the Songs of Gaia drew a lot of attention and played an ever increasing role in weekly services.

  Harrison thought, "We need a choir."

  Chapter 32

  "We need air cover," Sam was saying to Lucas after watching the walk-through via Lucas' communicator. "Eyes in the skies. That way we'd have early warning of anything big on the way."

  "What do you have in mind?"

  "A flock of bees. They can hover high enough to see for miles and they can be deployed in a pattern that would give total coverage."

  "What sort of threat are you envisioning?" asked Lucas.

  "Something like a squad of crazies armed with rapid fire weapons attacking the crowd as it streamed toward the entrances."

  "If that happens we'd need our own squad of armed personnel."

  "That's why I want air cover," said Sam. "With enough warning we can take out individuals using the Killer Bees. We could also position several armored personnel carriers around a wide perimeter."

  They discussed other dangers they could see as possible and Lucas made notes for his next meeting with Clarence.

  "It's just so shitty that a movement based on love of the Earth has to prepare for these kinds of things."

  "Nah," said Sam. "This is just more of the same. We struggle against pollution and exploitation, physical attack is right in line with that."

  "Still," said Lucas, "it's a pain in the ass."

  "Better a pain than wholesale murder. The pain of poor preparation will last a lot longer."

  Lucas called Maeve on his way back to the venue to meet with Clarence again.

  "Hi honey, what are you up to today?" he asked when he heard her voice.

  "Not much. I sent the boys off with Aquarius to tramp around the mountain. He's always such a good influence on them."

  "Yes he is. Nothing like having a prophet for a new age in your back yard."

  "And Miriam is following Leah around being her apprentice assistant. She thinks that's a pretty grand title and is very serious about learning everything she can."

  "No Reception Room today?"

  "No. I need a break and with the kids occupied I have a chance to wind down. My plan is spa, massage and mindless videos. What about you?"

  "My plan is to check every aspect of our security here to make sure I have a wife and children after the Gathering."

  "An excellent goal," said Maeve. "Make sure you do a good job."

  On the mountainside the boys were panting after climbing two thousand feet and happily complied with Aquarius' request to sit quietly and watch. He prepared a spot for them to sit under an evergreen by sweeping a space clear of needles, cones and biting insects.

  "We'll just sit here quietly and watch the water," he said pointing to the pond about twenty yards away. "Quietly so the forest settles down an
d the animals come out."

  His serious tone was enough to keep them still and gradually, as their breathing slowed and the natural stillness returned things began to happen. First the birds resumed calling to each other, then, across the meadow on the other side of the pond, a family of Bighorn sheep appeared, wary but relaxed. They drank at the pond and grazed on the meadow. When two of the young sheep began playing "chase" and running through the edge of the water a loud slap startled everyone and sent the young sheep running to their moms.

  "Beaver," whispered Aquarius pointing.

  A small head could be seen swimming across the pond and suddenly its broad tail flashed up and down producing another loud slap. With a proprietary look around the furry body upended itself and dove beneath the surface. After several minutes when he didn't reappear Jack asked, "Where did he go?"

  "Home," answered Aquarius and explained to the boys about beavers.

  "There's a little spring that comes out of the rocks over there," he said pointing, "and the beavers built their lodge and dam over there," he pointed again to where a few poles and sticks could be seen poking through the surface. "They build the entrance under water but inside the lodge they're dry."

  "How do they build it in the water?" asked Jack.

  Aquarius explained that most of the building happened on dry land. "It's only after they dam up the water that the pond begins to form."

  They continued to sit quietly and watched the life that had congregated in the area because of the pond. Birds of all types visited, some hunted for fish in the shallow water, some dipped into it and sunned themselves on branches around it. Small furry mammals darted here and there, a puma crept out of the shadows to drink with its long tail twitching and left when a family of peccaries arrived.

  By the time Aquarius rose and signaled the boys to follow they were enthralled. On the way back down the mountain they chattered about the wild life they had seen, especially about the puma who looked like a big house cat but who had the power to kill.

  The boys were excited and weary when they ran to Maeve's room. She helped them undress while they told her the things they had seen and then promptly fell asleep, smiling and twitching like dogs dreaming of chasing rabbits.

  Chapter 33

  The young woman waiting in Helene's anteroom was visibly ill at ease and clearly felt out of place. Her nervousness had worried the Security detail enough that they screened her with extra care. She was not chipped, she wasn't in the face recognition bank and her outlandish appearance included a shaved head and a scar in the shape of a star on her cheek. Security showed her image to Helene who, after a glance said, "Let her in."

  The young woman came nervously through the door and shuffled to the seat Helene pointed at.

  "How can we help you? But first, who are you?"

  "I'm Mishi," she mumbled, "from Below."

  Helene looked at her aide for help but got an "I don't know" shrug in answer.

  "We want to start a Gaia Meeting."

  Helene sat back, clearly intrigued. "Who is we?" she asked.

  The young woman fidgeted a little, "You know, the Down Belows."

  "My dear we're happy to help but we've never heard of the Down Belows."

  Mishi looked startled. "You haven't?"

  "No, I'm afraid not."

  For a moment the young woman looked lost and then brightened, "Can I show you?"

  Helene looked around at her aides, looking for a volunteer and smiled when Lowell nodded at her. Lowell was from Ghana, a tall, strong, imposing young man with a sharp mind and a soft heart. Helene often used him as a personal guard since his appearance alone usually kept people at bay and his intelligence made communication easy.

  "Okay," she said to Mishi. "Take Lowell and show him and then come back here and we'll talk."

  The young woman looked at Lowell appraisingly and decided he'd be all right.

  "Okay ma'am. I'll be glad to."

  She left with Lowell and in the corridor said, "When we get there I'm gonna call you Blackie and you call me Mishi."

  "Why?"

  "Because that's how they'll call you Down Below. Sometimes I'm Shavey, because of my head. Sometimes I'm Star Scar. See?"

  "Okay."

  Mishi led him into an elevator that took them to Basement Level 1, then into another that dropped to Basement Level 10. From there they went through a steel door and down three flights of steel stairs, their footsteps ringing loud in the industrial space. Another door led into a dimly lit corridor. As they walked along Lowell could barely make out paintings on the walls and floor of strange scenes.

  "This is the Gallery," said Mishi.

  At the end of the corridor she opened another steel door into what looked like a city street. Lowell stopped in amazement. "What's this?" he asked.

  "This is Down Below. Where we live."

  She emphasized the "we" and saw that Lowell was in complete ignorance. "Just be cool," she said and led him into the street.

  People were in the street going about their business but they were not the same as the people in the levels above. The differences were subtle but Lowell began to see the pattern. Up above money ruled. Public spaces were open to all but private spaces were segregated by class, meaning how much expense one could afford. Here there were no robo-cars, clothing was eclectic, make-up on men and women often outre'. He learned later that living quarters were tiny and most construction had been self-made.

  As they walked along Mishi nodded at people who all stared at the newcomer in her tow. A hundred yards down the street she led him into a space that was cafe' in front and meeting room behind. An old woman sat at a table sipping from a cracked cup. Mishi brought Lowell to her and said, "Great grand ma'am, he's from Gaia."

  The old woman looked at him and pointed to the seat opposite her. When Lowell sat she asked him,. "Have you been here before?"

  "No ma'am. I'm not even sure where here is."

  "You don't know about Down Below?

  "No ma'am."

  The old lady nodded, "I guess that's to be expected."

  She motioned at Mishi to refill her cup and to serve herself and Lowell.

  "This is the low rent district," she chortled. "The lowest of low rents. This is where the outcasts congregate. The poor on the dole who can't work, runaways from home who refuse to return, outlaws hiding from the authorities, addicts, drunks and freaks of every kind." She paused to sip at her refilled cup. "Everyone who draws stares up above, everyone who can't find respect up there, that's who finds their way to Down Below."

  "I never knew this existed. Does anyone up there know about it?"

  "Oh yes. All the bureaus know about us because we get services. Nobody wants to publicize us because, well, because of who we are. Misfits. No fits."

  "But you're people. You shouldn't have to hide yourselves away," said Lowell.

  The old woman looked fondly at him and smiled. "Such a nice young man you are," she said. "But we want to be hidden away. Down here you are who you are and no one looks down on you. Well, even if some do many don't. You can find a group here, you can live a life here and you're not the object of either pity or derision. Many who can afford life above prefer life down here."

  Lowell's head was spinning. "Was this space planned for you?"

  "Oh no. This level is in case of disaster above. We're deep enough that bombs won't reach us, the water and power supplies are independent from the rest of the building's and there's an area for food production. We found this place and gradually filled it. By the time we were discovered everyone felt it was a good solution so we've been left alone."

  Lowell felt his head still reeling a little. "And you want to establish a Gaia Meeting group?

  "Yes."

  "Well, I'll have to speak to my boss about it but I don't see why not."

  "That would be good and you'll get a bonus."

  "What's that?"

  "There's a Down Below beneath every cube in the city and maybe every cube
in the country."

  Lowell was staring at her in disbelief and the old woman laughed at his amazement.

  "You can have a new, complete network operating behind the scenes, below the scenes. How would that be?"

  "I'll have to bring someone back with me to set up. How do I get back in?"

  The old lady waved her hand and Mishi reappeared, "My great granddaughter will arrange it with you. Make it soon."

  She waved him away and he rose to follow Mishi. She had taken off the shapeless suit she'd worn to see Helene and was dressed in tight fitting pants and a see-through blouse. For the first time Lowell saw the shapely young woman she'd been hiding with round buttocks and perky breasts and felt his breath catch in his throat.

  "This way," she said and led him through a door. In the room behind she turned to him and pressed herself against him saying "Want to have some fun?"

  His face showed he did not quite get the message so she said, "Want to fuck?"

  Lowell was conflicted but the bulge in his pants answered the question for her and she quickly led him into another room and onto a bed. Despite himself he was drawn into her passion. Afterward she put her private number into his communicator and said, "Call me when you're ready."

  He nodded.

  "And make it soon," she said, leering at him.

  She led him out of the street and up the flights to the elevator. While they waited she kissed him fervently and sent him off with a promise, "Next time we'll make it longer."

  Lowell traveled up in the elevators wondering how much he could tell Helene.

  Chapter 34

  Helene was bemused by Lowell's account of his trip Down Below and called the Vice President of Maintenance for the cube. When she asked about the people living in the nether reaches the response was a long silence and a hesitant, "Er, I'd rather come to you to discuss this."