Glass Sky (21 page)

Here’s my chance to tell him.
“Ummm – speaking of the end justifying the means… You should probably know that I already started working…”

But Tengri’s attention had turned to the approaching Chinese President.

“Secretary General, Doctor Black.” Lui Xing Tao gave a tight smile. “We must talk.”

***

The morning’s crowd of protesters had swelled into a human ocean lapping at the UN compound’s perimeter. From Tengri’s high office, it played out in patterns of color. Pockets of tattered green 2030’s shirts mingled with the sulfur yellow 2040’s, contrasting eminences against the predominant 2050’s red that continued to spread as a new decade’s supporters received their colors.

Tengri’s gray suit reflected in the glass. “Amazing,” he said. “Coordinated actions in 475 cities. The environmental movement hasn’t been this organized since the emergency sulfur plan. Who’s behind this?”

“I don’t care, as long as it helps our cause.” Tania smiled to herself. She’d helped Ruth pick out the ripple pattern for this year’s “350” shirt.
I’d love to be in that crowd! To feel that energy!
Tania could just see the stairway where she’d escaped February’s precursor to this protest. But although police lights flashed below, there would be no paingivers today. Through sheer size, the crowd had reached invincibility.

Juarez and Lui will be here in minutes.
I have to tell him.
“Khan… I really… Remember when you told me I couldn’t work on that longterm climate plan?”

Tengri turned, skewering her with his dark eyes. “Yes?”

“I couldn’t afford to wait,” stammered Tania. “The research. Hiring staff. I had to act.” Silence. “So I started the work myself, by funneling money through shell companies. I’m calling the plan Pax Gaia and…”

Tengri looked at her as if she’d just opened an extra eyeball. “You funneled money through
shell companies?
How did you learn to do this?”

“I’m a quick study,” said Tania.

“And
how long has this been going on?” asked Tengri.

“Two months. I’ve hired the team and we’ve outlined our strategy. None of my hires know the full picture though. They’re split into cells.”

“Cells,” said Tengri. “Cells and shell companies.” He shook his head. “Tania? You? What next? Assassi…” He choked off the word as two darksuited steroid monsters barged into the office. They scanned the corners through their mirrored EyeSistants. One of them looked behind the potted plants.

“Room clear.” They vanished.

Tengri sucked a breath through his teeth. “Oops. Almost said the ‘ass’ word around the President’s security.” He shook his head. “As for – what did you call your plan?”

“Pax Gaia.”

“As for Pax Gaia… Damn, Tania. Good work!” He patted her on the shoulder. “Two months ago there was no way for me to get you funding. Too many people were still smarting over the money they lost when we switched from the disk array to the shield. But I think we’re going to be glad we got a head start on this.”

Tania exhaled. “Thank you.”

Tengri looked at her solemnly. “Just don’t expect help from me if this gets out,” he warned. “I’ve got enough battles to fight.”

***

President Juarez and President Lui arrived a few moments later. They stalled at the doorway for a moment, as if neither wanted to follow the other in, then Lui stepped back, emphasizing his gesture with a slight bow. Juarez entered and strode past Tania to the wrap-around window. Lui paused for a brief fist bump before joining her. His posture stiffened at the sight of the “350” protesters surging below.

“Incompetence!” Some trick of the acoustics carried Juarez’s muttered words to Tania’s ears. “I told Homeland Security to smash this early. Now look at it. Rabble. What I’d give to have
your
security forces.”

“Mine didn’t do any better,” Lui whispered back. “This limits…” He caught Tania’s glance and the rest of his words were lost.

“Shall we sit?” asked Tengri. He and Tania took one end of the table, facing the two presidents. “President Lui. This is your meeting.” Tengri poured three coffees, and a tea for himself.

“You made a convincing case this morning, Doctor Black,” said Lui. “We agree that we need a longterm shield plan. Our investment in the shield is wasted if we don’t cap global CO2 emissions. And we can’t cap emissions alone, especially since our two countries are already carbon negative.”

“Agreed,” said Tengri. “But if you want global cooperation, you’ll need to give up some control over the shield.” Although Tengri’s voice was level, Tania could sense the note of victory.
I’ve got to hand it to him. He’s good. This is going down as exactly as he planned!

“There’s no way we’re handing control of the shield to the UN,” said Juarez coldly. “We’re building it. The shield is ours.”

“Under international law, individual nations are not allowed to do geoengineering,” said Tengri. “Only the UN General Assembly and the Climate Council have that power.”

“Fuck international law then,” said Juarez.

Tengri sipped his tea. “I agree with you that the full UN is too unwieldy to control the shield. But what about the Climate Council? As the two biggest economies you’ve got nearly enough points for a veto. Dr. Black’s team could provide objective scientific guidance and longterm planning.”

Lui shook his head. “I fail to see what is in it for us.”

“Well, besides the benefits of international cooperation, you’ve both got elections coming up.” Tengri nodded at the window. “Those protestors out there are growing in numbers every month. Public opinion is fickle. Surely it’s worth making some compromise on control of the shield.”

Juarez smiled. “Here’s how the plan will look. China and the US will accept
guidance
on the shield. From the Climate Council, not the General Assembly. In return, UN member countries will agree to binding environmental targets, including CO2 cuts.”

“Guidance?” asked Tengri. He seemed genuinely surprised. “Meaning?”

“We have a
full
veto on all shield decisions,” said Juarez. “And we can make our own decisions without consulting others.”

“The General Assembly would never go for that,” said Tengri. “Nor would the other members of the Climate Council for that matter. You can’t expect only one party to be bound.”

Juarez braced her hands against the table and leaned slowly back. “Then make the entire deal nonbinding. A United States veto is nonnegotiable. As you mentioned, midterm elections are this fall. I can’t look weak.” She and Tengri glared at each other for several seconds.

“China must also have a veto,” said Lui. “I’m under pressure for taking the US as an unnecessary partner on the shield construction.”

The protesters’ distant chants rattled the windows, a dull buzz.

“So how does this work then?” asked Tengri. “If nobody is bound, who provides direction?”

Juarez gave a hyena smile. “I like your original suggestion. Doctor Black’s group at UNBio will guide our shield policy. They will also set the global environmental and CO2 targets.”

Tania felt a brief wave of elation, but it was tempered with worry.  “If all the targets are nonbinding, then I have no enforcement mechanisms,” she said. “How can this work?”

“You run a team of respected scientists,” said Lui. “You have a longterm vision. Isn’t this what you want?”

“I’ll be pushing spaghetti,” said Tania. “And I’m as popular as cancer with the Europeans. They tried to fire me.”

“Which is why they’ll respect your opinions,” said Lui. “You didn’t give in to pressure to build the disk array. You’re on nobody’s side but the planet’s.”

“Although, you have proven your willingness to bend the rules,” added Juarez. “If you’d like, this could also be the start of a very rewarding relationship.”

“Are you suggesting I’m corruptible?” sputtered Tania.

“Of course not,” soothed President Juarez. “I was referring to the work you already started on your new climate plan. Pax Gaia. Quite clever how you are funding it.”

“I… I…”
How did she find out?

The President smiled, but when she met Tania’s eyes, it was with ice.

Tengri shook his head. “You’re not offering enough. Without enforcement, Pax Gaia is doomed to fail.”

“Take it or leave it,” said Juarez. “Tania, this is your chance to have a voice.”

Tania tried to clear her head. “How much support would I have from you? If short-term sulfuring is required, for example? Would you provide food aid for the monsoon countries?”

President Juarez shrugged. “Hypotheticals.” She nodded to her Chinese counterpart, and the two of them stood up. “As I said, we control the shield. That’s not negotiable. I suggest that you don’t talk about this too long. We have alternatives that don’t involve you.” The door clicked shut behind them.

“Shit, shit, shit.” Tengri suddenly looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. “This doesn’t make any sense. What they are proposing won’t work. They’ve got to know that. So what did we miss?”

“It’s a poison chalice,” said Tania. “They’ll blame UNBio when nobody listens and it all falls apart. Could they be bluffing?”

Tengri drummed the table with his palms. “I don’t know… I don’t know… I can’t read Chinese politicians. Inscrutable. They send them all to some sort of alien robot school. But Juarez – I know her. She wasn’t bluffing.”

Another round of shouting rattled the windows.
I’ve seen the simulations. Everything rides on Pax Gaia. Everything.

“They’ve left us no choice,” said Tania. “We’ve got to take what we can get. We have to make this work.”

Her hand felt in vain for the comfort of her gorilla coin.

ENEWS: JULY 15, 2050

AFTER four days of tense negotiations, the Climate Council and UN General Assembly have ratified a draft agreement for managing the Nanoglass shield and dealing with the ongoing climate crisis. Under the terms of the agreement UNBio, under the guidance of the sometimes-controversial Tania Black, will be given responsibility for creating a long-range plan which will include both environmental and CO2 targets. Once the shield is created, the United States and China will accept guidance from both UNBio and the Climate Council on the use of the shield.

Environmentalists are already criticizing the plan for its lack of an effective enforcement mechanism. But Chinese President Lui praised the deal. “Despite dark aspersions to the contrary, this shows quite clearly that our two great countries are willing to partner with the global community.”

***

‹Forward, forward,› Cheng squealed. ‹To the ladder.›

Jie popped out of the connector tunnel, into the cargo dome. This part of the base felt the most industrial; no decorations brightened the walls, just curved alloy fins arcing up the outer shell. The weight of the protective rocks distended the fabric walls, giving them an uneven, slightly organic look, like shiny gray intestines.

He weaved towards the ladder, gliding around shelves stacked with spotlessly clean boxes.

‹Up,› said Cheng. They’d only been playing for 20 minutes, but he’d already mastered the transmission delay, and the words arrived with perfect timing. Jie grabbed the ladder’s handrail, swiveled around it, and aimed at the hole in the ceiling.

“Secret agent, coming through!”

He launched, tilting his head to offer the best possible view to the helmet cameras. A light-second away, Cheng’s gaming console stitched the images into a 3D scene. Arms hauling, feet dangling, Jie burst into the gym.

“Boo!” Sharon leapt out from behind him, waving her hands.

“Yaaaaaa. Shit. You scared me!” A moment later Cheng blurted some choice words in Mandarin.

Dog testicles. Where did he learn to swear like that?

“Secret agents get ambushed if they aren’t careful,” Sharon laughed. She circled Jie, studying his helmet camera setup. “Hi, Cheng! I see they got it working.”

“Same technology they use for virtual reality building walkthroughs,” said Jie. Cheng’s voice arrived in his ear buds. “Cheng says ‘Hello, Sharon. Hello Rajit.’”

Rajit nodded from the exercise bike. He was strapped down against the force of his peddling, reading a scroll, exertion beading sweat on his forehead.

“Peruvian government troops are defending the water trucks from…” droned the television to images of burning streets. Gloom and despair, 24x7. Jie tuned it out.
I’ve got enough on my mind.

‹We need to see what Rajit’s reading,› Cheng whispered. ‹Maybe it’s a code.›

Rajit’s eyes flicked over as Jie stalked towards him. “Shouldn’t you be working?”

“I just finished a diagnostic,” said Jie. “Earthcon is analyzing results now.”

“Try helping us outside some time,” grumbled Rajit. “While they’re analyzing. I’m tired of working extra hours.”

“We talked about this already,” said Jie. “I need to be ready.” Not that he’d pushed for surface time. Playing errand boy for Earthcon’s nanolab technicians was be boring, but at least it felt safe.

“Rajit does have a point, Jie,” said Sharon. “If there’s any way you could help while your machine is being fixed…”

“There isn’t,” snapped Jie. “So please stop nagging me about it.”

Sharon shrugged. “Okay, then.”

Rajit grunted and returned to his scroll.

‹Dad, are you going to play or not?› came Cheng’s voice.

Jie inched closer to Rajit, feeling like an invader after the harsh words. He leaned over to give Cheng a glimpse of what Rajit was working on. Dense formulae covered the page.

‹It is a code,› Cheng said in awe. ‹Maybe Agent Sally can help us decipher it. To the greenhouse!›

‹Good idea,› said Jie.

He wheeled, retreating to the ladder, but before he could reach it a voice interrupted.

“Jie, this is Earthcon. We’re ready to run another test.”

“Sorry, Cheng.” Jie shot a significant look at Sharon and Rajit. See. I’m working. “Duty calls. Agent Sally will have to look at that code later.”

***

Earthcon had uploaded another firmware update to the nanolab, and Jie soon lost track of time in the simulation’s dark isolation. Eventually, a plate clanked on the workshop bench in the other world.

‹I brought you dinner,› said Sally’s voice. ‹You must be starving. The rest of us ate two hours ago.›

A rustle of clothing as Sally sat down next to him. The salad dressing’s spicy vinegar elicited a grumble from Jie’s stomach. Sally had taken to keeping him company in the evenings. Playing music, breaking the tedium between the tests. She’d even picked up the basics of the nanolab.

“Earthcon, can you tweak the injection velocity while I eat?” Jie pulled off the goggles, blinking at the bright lights. He gobbled down a tomato slice, mumbling through a mouthful of juice. ‹These tomatoes are amazing.›

‹If you can still call them tomatoes,› said Sally. ‹Genes from twenty plants and four insects. A full source of protein. They last two months without refrigeration.›

‹They’re lucky to last a day around me,› said Jie. ‹Thank you, greenhouse.›

Sally glanced at Jie’s waist. ‹Between the healthy food and the mandatory exercise, you’ll be irresistible when we get home.›

‹If we get home,› said Jie. ‹It’s so frustrating. I’m like a surgeon without a scalpel. And Rajit and Sharon are upset because I’m not helping outside.›

‹Three people can’t do the work of four,› said Sally. ‹We’re struggling out there.› She leaned in, sending a small thrill up his back. ‹But you’ll get through this Jie. We will get back to Earth. And when we do, maybe you and I…› The weak gravity seemed to shift, centering on Sally, pulling them together.

She smiled, leaning closer…

“Jie,” interrupted a voice. “Tania Black is calling. Should we transfer?” Sally shot an irritated glance at the ceiling. Gravity returned to normal.

“Tania Black? Calling me? Yes, of course.”

Tania’s face appeared. He’d watched her speech at the UN climate conference, as well as her statements to the press after the deal had been ratified, so he would have recognized her even if they hadn’t met on the Witty Show. She’d pulled her hair back in a ponytail, and a fine network of lines webbed the edges of her eyes. She’d aged five years since they met.

“Tian Jie? I hope it’s OK that I called you.”

“Yes, of course. Nice to…”

“Jie? Can you hear me?” she interrupted.

“Tania, there is a two-second transmission delay.” Jie held up his hand. “Drop your hand when you finish speaking. That way we won’t talk over each other.”

Tania held up her hand. “Have I caught you at a bad time?”

Sally made an innocent face. “We were having a late dinner,” Jie said, spearing a tomato and waving it in front of the monitor. “This is 2051 tomato. Very delicious.”

“We’re still on the 2049s in Boulder,” said Tania. “But we did finally get watermelon grapes!”

Sally picked Jie’s goggles off the bench. ‹Do you mind?› she mouthed. Jie nodded, flicking on the injector safeties. The nanolab is hard to damage, but if she crosses the streams – that would be bad.

He turned to the screen. “I’m glad you called, Tania. After Thailand, my boy Cheng wants to be biologist when he grows up. An entomologist.” Jie wagged a finger at her. “Do you know how sad that is for an engineer father to hear?”

“You’re kidding!” Tania’s worry-lines vanished for a moment. “Part of my PhD was on insect conservation. I’d love to talk to him. Send him my contact information.” She dropped her hand.

Jie raised his hand. “You’d do that? No, you are too busy. I see you on TV. You’re making important Pax Gaia plans now.”

“Pax Gaia depends on your work,” said Tania. “So we’re basically teammates. It would be my pleasure to help out. Besides, I have no kids. It’ll be fun.”

“Cheng will be thrilled!” exclaimed Jie. “Is there anything I can do in return?”

Sally’s fingers moved inside the control glove, a jerky amateur. Jie turned so he wouldn’t be distracted.

“You could help on one thing,” said Tania. “I have no idea of the shield schedule, so I don’t know where to start our Pax Gaia plans. I know you’re struggling. But do you have any estimates at all?”

“Oh, no no no.” Jie recoiled, hands out as if pushing away the screen. “I see the news. They are calling me an idiot. And it’s not even my fault. The nanolab hardware is not working properly. I’m done giving estimates.”

“I won’t share the dates,” said Tania. “And I understand error bars. Please. Just give me an idea.”

Jie wavered. Tania had a sincerity that couldn’t be faked. Besides, it’s not like I can harm my reputation at this point.

Tania watched, hopeful.

“Shield assembly robots are on schedule,” said Jie. “Mass driver construction is behind because we are short one astronaut. My research is biggest problem. We figured out Nanoglass tile production on Earth now, which will help. But we still need to adjust for moon. Only when the nanolab is going can I start work. Could be a week. Could be a year. Or maybe they get mad and send me home.”

Jie felt a sudden surge of loneliness and frustration. “Very difficult. Not having right tools. I’m mostly just sitting here, not able to act.” Come on, Jie. Don’t lose face. He looked down so that Tania couldn’t see his eyes.

“I can’t imagine the pressure you’re under. If there’s anything you need?”

Sally groped out and touched his leg. “Jie…” Her grin gave her a maniacal look in the bulging mirrored goggles. “I’ve caught something. It’s happened three times in a row now.”

Jie spun, his plate clattering to the floor. “You what?” He practically ripped the goggles off her head. ‹Reset,› Jie ordered. ‹New block.› Yes. Yes! A grey square balanced in the molecular tweezers, a perfect silicon scaffolding out of which to build a Nanoglass tile. He flicked it away.

‹New block.› Again he caught it, turning it around. Somewhere outside, deep inside the nanolab, intersecting pulses of coherent light held a real block of silicon in position.

‹New block.› He could barely summon air for the words. ‹New block.› Twice more, the same result.

‹It’s not another false positive?› asked Sally.

‹Iron molecule. Negative charge.› Jie ordered, waving the gloves horizontally. Nothing. ‹Hairy dog fucking dragon licker!›

‹Safeties?› asked Sally.

‹Oh. Right. Safeties!› He felt around in the physical world, touched the pad. ‹Repeat.› He grabbed the iron molecule with a magnetic probe, and flicked it at the block. It stuck. Good.

‹So it’s working?› asked Sally.

‹Another iron.› Jie flicked it faster. It bounced this time, but he managed to catch it. Ha! I’ve still got it! Interesting that it bounced though. On Earth that would have stuck. ‹Another iron.›

He felt a tug on his forehead and light flooded through the edges of his goggles. ‹Moon to Jie,› said Sally. “Care to share with the rest of us? You have a call holding. And I bet there are huge long distance charges.”

Jie removed his hands from the controller, grinning so hard his face hurt. “It’s working. The nanolab is working! I can finally start doing what they sent me up here for!”

Sally threw herself onto him, nearly knocking him off his stool in her excitement, but her arms caught him, pulling him close. Cheering echoed off the domed roof, as news of the breakthrough spread to the engineering teams on Earth.

On the screen Tania’s bewilderment changed to delight.