They talked for another hour, heatedly at times, back and forth. Kurt thanked Dr. Alexander for his kind words of encouragement about staying, but soon he realized that Kurt’s mind was definitely made up. He finished his wine and Kurt could see that he was beginning to grow weary. Kurt got up and walked over to him.
Kurt looked at the saddened face of this man for whom he had the greatest respect and said, quietly, “I must go.
It’s going on one o’clock. I can’t dispute your logic anymore, but deep inside I know I must get away. Maybe in a year or so I’ll feel differently, but I crave total freedom and…,” he paused before continuing, “I can’t even believe I’m saying this, but I want to live in an environment that is familiar. The loss of my culture bothers me.
I’m proud of what the United States accomplished and what really troubles me is that the world has forgotten all that was accomplished. It’s as if the United States never existed and as a historian, Doctor, I’m proud of what was achieved. Sorry, I’m not a bigot, you know that, but this land is a foreign country now, for me. I couldn’t leave without letting you know what an inspiration you’ve been to me in my profession, but also as a friend.
Your work ethic and absolute pure search for history has taught me so much.” Kurt took both hands of the old man and held them tightly. They didn’t say anything. Their hands stayed clenched then slowly parted.
“There’s something else I have to tell you. Something I have to share with you for several reasons.”
“Go ahead, Kurt,” he replied quietly.
“Two weekends ago, I was working at the Library. As you know I have had a lot of free time, so I thought I would do some personal family history, plus work a bit on the project you gave me to process the records that should be saved or destroyed. I know how important this project was to you and how you had to fight to even have them analyzed. I think it was two Saturdays ago, late in the afternoon, when I went into a room frankly I never knew existed. Inside I saw some cabinets which I opened. I was astonished by what I found. It was devoted to my father’s work. It had all the original plans for the Aquifer System, plus an Addendum done in 2035. In fact some of his original notes and his signature were on many of the documents. It was a treasure trove. So, I downloaded most of the material that pertained to his work. I copied it to a chip, which I have on me. Right here in fact,” he said tapping the sleeve pocket on his coat.
Dr. Alexander looked at him and then smiled. “I know, Kurt, I know. I knew you asked me if it was okay to do some off-time work on the project and also to look for some personal history, but, when I checked the time monitors I was curious about the amount of time you were spending down there. So, I snooped around a bit. I went down there last week. You may not realize this, but when I had everything, and I mean everything, inventoried ten years ago, it was all imprinted. I have every document prior to 2040 listed with content and its imprinted location. I could tell that you had found that special room because the sensors were disturbed on the door, the file, and even the documents. At first, I was concerned, for you, because that information, while not sensitive because it’s just historical records of a great project, in today’s climate, could be volatile. It contains valuable data on the whole structure of the System. So that scared me, actually, still scares me, since you copied the data.”
“I just came upon the room. There weren’t any special codes at the entrance. In fact, mine worked. So, since it involved my father, I was ecstatic. So I downloaded the data. It was right there. Later, as I looked at the data, I realized that it might help me another way,” Kurt said hesitatingly.
“How’s that?” Dr Alexander replied.
“I needed a way to get to England, sir. I have no worldly funds, no UN monies, so in order to get passage, I required something of value. This data or some of it might be of interest to the government of Columbia.”
“Kurt. Do you realize what you are saying?” he responded.
“I do, I certainly do, but doctor, there’s another reason I would give them the data. Water is either going to be the salvation or destruction of this country and in fact of this whole hemisphere. If these countries cannot agree on a fair usage of this resource, then my father’s work and the fate of the people are in jeopardy. By another country having access to the information, it might provide leverage for Atlantica to negotiate. All the data about the System supposedly was turned over to the Atlantica government in 2040 by the U.S. One thing for sure, Doctor, I realize now, after hearing from so many that Atlantica plans on using the Aquifer for economic leverage, that what I am doing may scuttle those plans. That was not the intent of the Aquifer that my father worked on for so many years,” he said.
“I understand your feelings. You have every right to believe that and I agree with you. What you are doing may just do that. I didn’t know what you had done with any of the data that you were researching and I was going to ask you before you left tonight. As your boss, I will be asked where you are when they discover you have not scanned in. I will also be asked what you were doing in the old Aquifer files, so I’m glad you told me the trutha.
But more importantly, which I can’t believe, it leads me to something that is extremely important and we need to talk about.“
They were both standing and Dr. Alexander said, “Kurt, please sit back down, I have a proposition for you.” Dr.
Alexander went back, sat down and Kurt followed.
“I have to confess something. Listen closely to what I am going to tell you. I know how important your father’s work is to you and I totally understand what you did. In some ways you are a God send because I have been trying for weeks to think of a way to influence the negotiations between the UN and Atlantica over the water.
But let me explain a couple of things first. I have remained in Atlantica for two reasons. I have vowed to secure as much history of this land as I could, with a government that wants to eliminate all reference to the U.S.A.
You’re right, Atlantica and most of the world, act as if the U.S. never existed. My concern, as a historian, is preservation of the past, not its destruction. I am also appalled, like you, of the apparent attitude coming out of Nuevo York. That is my primary life’s work as I near the end of my life, but what I have heard over the past months, is what I’ve heard for years from Paris. The UN has feared that when the Aquifer was completed, it would become a economic wedge instead of a hemispheric source of water. Now, within the last month, my sources tell me that Atlantica will take over operational control of the Aquifer System from Alleghenia which violates the federal charter and furthermore they will use the Aquifer as economic blackmail to gain concessions from the UN and the surrounding countries. This must be stopped,” the old man said in anger.
“Well that settles it, for me,” Kurt said. “But you said that you also had a secret, Doctor?”
“This will take a few minutes, so bear with me, Kurt.” He sighed and began again, “I want the UN to come in and take over the system. I have been in contact with associates in Paris who are close to the UN leadership. We have been trying to figure out some way for the UN to have leverage in their upcoming negotiations over water distribution. There was so much turmoil in the world during the past decades, that there was little concern for extracting valuable information about the actual operation of the Aquifer. It was all, in good faith, just turned over to the new government by the UN Commission. They received no copies of the plans or schematics. Now only Atlantica has the models and system software. That’s where your plans may provide a solution. Worst of all, we fear an open war over access to the water, especially since it will be at full capacity at the beginning of the year. My sources have told me that the Chinese and Brazilian Consortium working on the Aquifer, have told the Administration that it will be able to generate full capacity by January, 2051. I also have found out that they aren’t as pure in their intent as publicized. The consortium is to get twenty per cent of revenues collected for the next fifty years, whether it’s internal or exported. Another wrinkle, I’d say. So it is imperative, for all the people on this continent, living on meager water rations, that this system be utilized as it was designed. From what I can determine that is not the intent of this Administration.”
Kurt grew angry and said, “I knew they were close to having it completed. I should have realized the profit motivation is alive and well, even in this new society.” Then he added, “But what’s your secret, Doctor?”
“Kurt, your data may provide the bargaining chip to make this government understand that if they don’t cooperate, the system might be compromised. I hate using the word threat, but they may need to think that. How they can ignore the UN is beyond me, but if we have a chance to help the UN, we must do it. What you have in your possession may bring sense to the Administration. The UN has authority over usage of water resources all over the world. They have no schematics that would aid them in upcoming negotiations with the President of Atlantica, Roberto de Garcia. De Garcia is a revolutionary, but he is also an extremely brilliant man. He wants UN recognition for Atlantica’s accomplishments during its 10th Anniversary at the end of this year, but he also needs revenues. An agreement on shared water usage might do it. It’s rumored they will try to gain trade guarantees out of the UN, using their water resource like oil used to be leveraged. Your operational information in UN hands might be helpful to the negotiators. Would you be willing to work with me on one last project?” he concluded, sitting back.
“What do I have to do,” he said unequivocally.
“Listen. Am I correct in understanding that you need
passage to England? How are you getting out of here? It is very difficult for Anglos. You know that”
“I do and I have a way. The day after I found the Aquifer information, I came across another file with information on the Great Allegheny Passage.”
“My God, I used to walk that when I was a kid. It was a beautiful trail. I think it’s overgrown now. No one has used it for years.”
“You’re right, and the fact that it hasn’t been used is even better for what I am going to do,” Kurt said.
“What do you mean?” the doctor replied.
“I mean that I am going to hike that trail. It can’t be in that bad a shape and shouldn’t be monitored. As you might remember, I have been doing a lot of power hiking over this area the past year. My legs are strong and I know I can walk that trail,” Kurt said confidently. “My plan was to hike to Columbia and attempt to get passage there to England, hoping this data might help me with the authorities.”
“Very clever, but dangerous, to say the least. They are a bit of a rogue country, but who knows, I guess that was about your only choice. Ingenious, I must say. The trail idea is a good one. You’re right, that’s the last place Security would be checking. By the way do I have your code?” he asked.
“Why?” Kurt replied.
“I have another idea for you and one that would kill two birds with one stone. Listen to me. I am going to try and arrange for your passage to England with the stipulation that you provide the data you have to a UN
representative. The UN can fly anywhere, so I’m going to make my contacts in Paris and see if I can’t arrange for the UN to somehow intercept you on your way. This would help you from being at the mercy of the
authorities in Columbia, who might not buy your plan. They may accept your data, but not your request for passage. If I can make the connection, it will help you avoid having to go to Columbia. They might arrest you, take the material and throw away the key. It is a volatile place. They aren’t the happiest country on the continent. If this works, you get safe passage and the UN gets the data that may solve the water problem.”
“Well, that trumps my plan. This is incredible. I’d rather have the UN involved. Atlantica would have to listen to them as opposed to Columbia. The question is how do I know if you’ve made the connection and if they want to get involved?” he asked.
“Let me think. I usually call various people in Europe. It’s a great cover because I’m always working on my papers. So I’ll contact Paris as soon as you leave because it will soon be morning there. It will take me a day or so, but I’m sure I can make the right connection, get their approval, and find out how they plan on picking you up. You must develop a contact plan.”
“Better yet, I don’t know what I’m going to be up against out there. Starting in two days, I’ll call you at noon.
I’m sure on one of those days, I’ll be in a location where I can reach you. You can then tell me the retrival plan.
What you need to remember is that a call can be traced within thirty seconds, so when we do talk, give me my orders quickly as to where I am supposed to be and who I am supposed to meet. Of course, this assumes you can arrange it. If you can’t, I will go back to Plan A. You are Plan B,” Kurt finished.
“Noon, beginning in two days, that’s good. That will give me plenty of time to make contact and develop a plan for your pick up. I also need a place where you can be picked up. Just a moment,” he said and got up. He walked over to his desk in the library. Rustling around in a large drawer he came back to the living room with a map. He unfolded it and spread it out on the coffee table in front of him. Holding it at one end, he offered the other end to Kurt. “Three days, hmmm,” he muttered to himself.
Kurt watched as he pored over the map and dropped a finger down. “Fallingwater. That’s it!” he exclaimed excitedly. “It’s been empty for years. I know you know it.”
Kurt looked at him and slowly a smile came to his face as he said, “That’s so ironic that you picked
Fallingwater. In the back of my mind when I was working on the trail, I saw that the trail goes near Fallingwater and for a while thought maybe I could take a short detour to see it for the last time. I used to go there with my dad. I love that structure and the setting. It’s one of my all time favorite places.”
“Well if I can pull this off, it will be your launching pad for England and possibly it will be the beginning of a truly new age for this continent.” He looked back at the map and then up to Kurt. “Kurt, this was meant to be. I feel it - I know it, my boy.”
They went over the plan again and finally there was nothing more to talk about. They looked at each other and both got up at the same time.
“Time to go, sir. I can’t believe this has worked out this way. It’s absolutely incredible,” he said as he walked over to Dr. Alexander. They hugged tightly at the door.
“I’m so proud of you. So very proud and your Dad, I know, is also proud. God speed,” he said as Kurt opened the door and went out into the dark night.
Kurt walked down the sidewalk into the darkness. As he headed into the night, he knew he probably would never be back or see this great man again. Just as he reached the brick of the road he heard his voice.
“Kurt, remember. What you are doing and living is history. Write it down in your journal. Write down what you see and feel as you go on this journey. I said that the history of this new country is important, it is, but you are creating your own historical journey, which I believe will be even more important than that, Kurt” he finished as his voice blended into the noises of night.
Kurt turned and looked back at Dr. Alexander standing in the doorway. He waved, shifted his backpack
securely and walked up the street. The blackness outside seemed to grasp at him. Kurt heard the heavy door snugly close. His gut was tight with sadness at leaving Dr. Alexander.