Milo Moon: It Never Happened (23 page)

Once in the car, Staheli started planning for his next Federal Council meeting. Getting Sootere closed was seemingly easy. What to do with one hundred and fifty-five lifeless souls was his dilemma. If he could manage that part to his satisfaction he would personally be happy to push the button to flood Sootere with solidifying foam and forget it ever existed.

Staheli arrived back in Bern a little late and was apologetic to his Federal Council for being late for their scheduled meeting.

‘I’m sorry, but it took longer to get back up from the facility than we had imagined.’

‘So it exists?’ Françoise Klausner asked.

‘Yes.’

‘How many people?’

‘One hundred and fifty-five.’

A stunned silence followed his answer.

‘So. Where do we go from here?’ Staheli asked his council collectively.

‘Apart from Germany, there seems to be a political agreement developing for a transfer of the facility to Russia,’ Klausner said.

‘Well, be careful of Germany’s stance here. The head of the program is a German national.’

‘That changes things little then,’ Klausner replied.

‘They’re certainly not going to be seen supporting this in any way naturally, but we’ll use that ace later maybe. Keep it to ourselves for now,’ Staheli said. ‘Any other comments?’

‘Yes,’ Antoinette Haller said. ‘I’m being hit from all sides. I know it’s coming from Basel. Hints of stock market collapses, unemployment, pharmaceutical shortages and even relocation of one or two of our biggest companies and warnings of tax revenue losses.’

‘I’ve been getting the same thing,’ Schellenberg said, and was followed by all other councillors in saying they were being lobbied very hard.

‘Right. Let’s look at practicalities here first,’ Staheli started. ‘Getting the people out of there is not easy. The air is drugged and gassed and even if we managed to get them out, their chances of survival are extremely slim. We don’t have the knowledge of expertise, and I fear most of them would die within days. I now understand that we were very lucky with the two who escaped. We received a supply of a rare compound to treat the two. I found out this morning that was arranged by a doctor at the facility. Unfortunately, as is my understanding, there is not enough available to treat one hundred and fifty people all at once. Secondly, there appears to be a consensus of the main parties involved here to want to move the facility. Probably to Russia I am lead to believe. At present, I don’t have a third option.’

‘So, we turn a blind eye and let these people just walk out with their guinea pigs and allow the suffering to continue?’ Klausner asked

‘As if it never existed?’ Schellenberg added.

‘Whichever way this goes, you’ll be correct,’ Staheli said. ‘This place will never have existed, as soon as we have made our decision.’

‘And the two we have?’ Klausner asked.

‘Non-negotiable as far as I’m concerned,’ Staheli said firmly. ‘Do I have you collective permission to grant them both, immediate Swiss nationality?’

‘Thank you. I’ll move on that immediately,’ Staheli said, as he received nods of approval.

‘At least Milo Moon and Mary Seaton will exist,’ Klausner said curtly.

Rudiger Staheli returned to his office and called his personal secretary.

‘I want to speak to the Secretary of State and the British and Russian foreign ministers. Also the French president and German Chancellor. All today.’

‘Yes sir.’

Chapter 22 - No Secrets

‘Hello.’

‘Hello Jean-Paul. It’s Marie.’

‘The invisible woman!’

‘Look, I’m sorry, I can……’

‘It’s okay Marie. I understand. Maybe another….’

‘No Jean-Paul. No it’s not like that. I want to see …’

‘But it’s been weeks. I left messages and…’

‘I know. I know. I can explain. Really.’

‘What’s there to explain?’

‘A lot Jean-Paul. A lot. Please let me ….’

‘Have you been undercover in a drug gang?’ Jean-Paul said, a little sarcastically.

‘You’re getting warm Jean-Paul. Can I explain over dinner?’

‘When?’

‘Tonight?’

‘It’s eight o’clock already.’

‘I’ll cook. Oh please Jean-Paul.’

‘Are you always like this?’

‘Like what?’

‘Dressing up as a cop and asking guys for cigarettes?’

‘Yeah. I do it all the time. Twice a week. Sometimes I wear a gorilla suit and ask for bananas.’

‘You’re truly mad Marie. All right. Half an hour.’

‘Thank you Jean-Paul. Really.’

‘Get your gorilla suit on, and I’ll buy some bananas on the way.’

*****

‘Where’s Marie?’

‘I told you, Milo. She had to go home.’

Sylvie Rousseau and Luc Fleury tried their best to pacify Milo and Mary, but it was no surprise that it was a difficult task. They had become attached to her, and now they were looking for someone or something to replace the security Marie gave them.

‘You need to be strong for Mary now Milo,’ Luc said. ‘You’ll be moving from here soon. Into your own apartment.’

‘With Mary?’

‘Yes. Mary will have her own room too.’

‘And sky?’

‘Yes Milo, of course. You’ll both have windows to see the sky.’ Sylvie assured Milo.

‘And clouds?’

‘Yes Milo.’

Milo left Sylvie and Luc and returned to his room. Mary was sitting in his bed waiting for him.

‘Where have you been, Milo? I’ve been waiting for you.’

‘I was with Sylvie and Luc.’

‘Did you find Marie?’

‘No Mary. Marie has gone home. To Geneva.’

‘I miss her, Milo.’

‘I do to, Mary. But we have each other. I’ll look after you.’

‘Oh Milo,’ Mary said as she hugged him.

‘Do you still like my breasts?’

‘Of course Mary.’

‘You can hold them if you like.’

‘How did you get them, Mary?’

‘Oh Milo. I’ll show you. Stand up.’

Sylvie passed Milo’s door and was mortified by what she saw. She ran to get Luc and they looked on quietly, and then went back to the office.

‘What should we do Luc?’

‘Nothing.’

‘What do you mean, nothing? We can’t….’

‘Yes we can Sylvie. We can turn a blind eye.’

‘But….’

‘No buts as far as I’m concerned. Let them have some enjoyment together.’

‘But it’s not ……’

‘Not what? Right? Proper? They’re adults, Sylvie.’

‘It’s George. This George…..’

‘No it’s not Sylvie. Mary and Milo are equals. There’s no coercion here.’

‘So we note this?’

‘No. I don’t think so. They’re going to need each other for a long time Sylvie. We can’t expect them not to be close.’

‘I just can’t, I mean, I really don’t know what….’

‘Our job is almost done Sylvie. Do you want them to be guinea pigs and medical cases forever?’

‘No. I suppose you have a point. Time to let go?’

‘Yes Sylvie. There’s always that point, isn’t there?’

An hour later Luc passed Milo’s door and found Milo and Mary asleep in each other’s arms. He went back to find Sylvie.

‘Come with me.’

Sylvie followed. When they returned to the office, Sylvie closed the door and said, ‘Yes Luc. I understand. Time to let go.’

‘I’ll recommend that they are well enough for the surgery to remove the monitors. They need that last step before they can become fully human again.’

*****

‘What? The spooks?’

‘No, not spooks. Just a short mission that needed confidentiality.’

‘But you’re a Geneva cop.’

‘Yes. But from time to time there are things a cop has to do.’

‘So, do you disappear off the face of the earth often?’

‘Nope. First time.’

‘So I was the lucky one then?’

‘No Jean-Paul. I was the lucky one to have met you. I’m just so sorry it happened when it did. I really wanted to call you, but I wasn’t allowed. I couldn’t even call my mum.’

‘Do you have to go back?’

‘I’m not sure. I really don’t know. I’m still officially seconded, but I go back to work as normal in Geneva tomorrow.’

‘So this case? It’s not finished?’

‘No. But I think my part has. Maybe in a couple of months I might have to do something.’

‘And you can’t tell me anything about it.’

‘They’re not secrets Jean-Paul. It’s just part of being a cop. Confidentiality.’

‘Like a doctor?’

‘I suppose. But really, it’s just a job.’

‘Well, if you have to disappear again, can you leave me a sign or something?’

‘What, a neon sign saying, I’m gone!’

‘Naaa! Maybe just a secretly positioned fridge magnet.’

‘Can we go shopping for a special one after my shift tomorrow?’

Jean-Paul opened his arms and Marie fell into them and buried her face in his chest. ‘Of course we can.’

Marie woke at five a.m. She showered and dressed and returned to her bedroom. She kissed Jean-Paul and he woke.

‘I love you,’ she said, and gave him a key.

‘See you later my love.’

Jean-Paul smiled, and she kissed him again.

Chapter 23 - The Art Of The Achievable

‘Thank you for coming again so early. I hope we can cease these extra early morning meetings shortly,’ Staheli said, as he opened their now daily council meeting. ‘I have some progress to report. Moon and Seaton are doing very well, and I have received advice that they are in good enough health to undergo surgery to remove the monitors from their heads. In consultation with the Army’s Medical Examiner, Ernst Gehrig, I have decided to make a request to Dr. Mueller at CERN to supervise this procedure.’

‘Do you think he’ll agree?’ Françoise Klausner asked.

‘I hope so. He seemed to express some concern for them, and as we know little about the apparatus or procedure I have been advised this would be the best possible solution. In other developments, the US, UK and Russia are all pushing to take care and responsibility for the people down there.’

‘To transfer it?’ Schellenberg asked.

‘I prefer the term, to take responsibility.’

‘So we just let them go?’

‘There are a number of outstanding issues that would find agreement easier to reach if we manage this situation well.’

‘Political expediency then?’

‘Look. We’ve all been in politics long enough to know that it’s the art of the achievable. We’re at the point now where we can either scream and carry on, invade the place and probably end up with dead bodies and a long list of enemies. Or we take the pragmatic approach and do the best in the situation we’re faced with.’

‘Such as?’ Klausner asked.

‘There is a list of outstanding bi-laterals with the EU that may find a smoother road. Some issues we have currently with the banking regulators in the US, and perhaps beneficial trading terms for energy supplies from Russia all spring to mind.’

‘Have we forgotten about the people down there? And the morality?’ Marc Guyer asked.

Staheli sat quietly before answering. ‘The only way this can be done is in total secrecy. As I said before, this place will have never existed. The same as our recent morning meetings have not been minuted, and will never have occurred. The measures we need to take will be by my order only, which I will never have given. It will not be a Federal Council decision. There will be no record of this matter at all.’

‘With due respect. That’ll mean you could face prosecution if any of this gets out in the future,’ the justice minister advised.

‘I understand what I need to do,’ Staheli said, with a grave tone in his voice. ‘My prime consideration in this matter is for Switzerland and for the people down there. This way they will at least survive, and I can only hope that they are treated better, and that the program will gradually be phased out. This is my understanding from speaking with the three sponsors of the program. At the same time, there will be considerable benefit for Switzerland, as we endeavour to conclude some complex and long outstanding multi-lateral and bi-lateral agreements.’

‘Is there any way you can do this with the backing of the Federal Council?’ Klausner asked.

‘No. There can’t be a trace left of this. The mistakes made in secret after the war, now need to be solved the same way. In secret, and hopefully forever lost in history as was supposed to have happened after Nuremberg.’

Françoise Klausner looked at Rudiger Staheli and saw his face. Etched with impending guilt at what he was about to do. As much as she hated the proposed solution, she knew there was no practical alternative.