2050 by Dave Borland - HTML preview

chapter forty-three

“This is your skipper, folks. Down below we’re going over Laurel Summit. In a minute you’ll be able to see two mountain ridges. They’re coming up, that’s Chestnut Ridge at 11:00 o’clock and Laurel Ridge about 3:00

0’clock. We’ll run up between them which is near the beginning of the Aquifer System. Up ahead you’ll see we’re being approached by three Atlantica patrol craft. Don’t be concerned, I’ve just requested a change of our flight pattern to Lake Erie. Because of that they will be escorting us to our destination point. We are over the Appalachians and underneath this mountain range is the Aquifer. We’ll fly our adjusted flight pattern until we reach the master ship.”

Kurt looked out the window and followed the ridges of the whitened mountain ranges. He remembered his father telling him when he was a young boy of his taking extensive flights over these very ranges when the Aquifer was in its initial development stages. From up here you would never know there was anything

underneath these mountains. There were occasional towers, not unlike the abandoned cell phone towers that still cover much of the terrain over the land. He could see off to the northwest, a body of water which must be the Cambria Lake Reservoir, one of six reservoirs built in conjunction with the Aquifer. It spread for miles in the distance between the mountain ranges. He was amazed, as he looked below, at the scope and ingeniousness of the Aquifer, which then took his thoughts to his father. ‘What a mind,’ he thought.

Elizabeth put her hand on his knee and said, “Must be quite a thrill to know your father’s work is finally going to be utilized as it was designed, for all people, because of what you have done.”

“Funny you should say that, because I was just thinking about him and what a visionary he was.

“Kurt, I don’t know if you’ve taken time to think this way, but you are right in the middle of one of the most historical events of this century.” Elizabeth looked at him and said,” Culture and water, that’s it in a nutshell.

Cultural similarities have divided the world, but water, which is in short supply, may unite it. Water is required by all cultures, all people. Think about what the headline may read a month from now in “Le Monde”. Dateline Paris, “A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE ACUTE WATER SHORTAGE FOR THE NORTHERN

AMERICAN HEMISPHERE”. Historically speaking, that is pretty big stuff. It’s quite a tale and will make a great addition to that leather bound portfolio you have with you. One more thing, as I was talking away just now, I realized that the irony is what you have done may be a blessing in disguise for Atlantica,” she said to Kurt.

“Why would that be?”

“Because when they come to an agreement with the UN they will have gained international recognition as an equal partner in world decisions. That’s the way things work in history. Sometimes by accident or the misdirected will of others, a situation becomes beneficial when first thought to be a detriment. I’ve seen it happen so many times in the past,” she said.

Over the intercom came the voice of the pilot. “The master ship is within sight. You’ll be on board in five minutes. Your next stop is London. Thanks for flying with me today,” he said.

Isabelle leaned over to Kurt and Elizabeth, “Two things I need to tell you as we get ready to leave here. Elena informs me that she has contacted Dr. Alexander and informed him that you gave us the data, and that we have another passenger. Ironically, when she told him the passenger’s name, he asked me where she was picked up.

Elena explained what had happened and that we had just flown over her farm, he was astounded. It seems he knew Elizabeth’s parents and had actually visited the farm many years ago. Anyway, I have been in touch with Paris and we will deliver the data as soon as we arrive.

The second thing is that Elena will be releasing McDonald and Major Warlock from their situation in

approximately a half hour, as soon as we are well over the Atlantic. I think everything is ready for our departure. I must add that Dr. Alexander wanted me to make sure that you understand that the UN and he, personally, thank you for what you have done. That said, I want to add that you probably don’t yet realize how critical your work will be in sorting out this potential conflict,” she said as her wide black face opened into a broad smile.

Kurt looked at Elizabeth, reached out and gently clutched her hand, then looked over at Isabelle, “I think we do.

In fact, we were just talking about how all the great changes in the world are now concentrated on two factors, culture and water. Down there it’s all coming together,” Kurt said, looking through the window at the mountain range which lay on top of the Aquifer. He slowly smiled, “There I go again, the idealist is alive and well. All I know at this moment, this present time, is that there will be water for all people and cultures at least in this hemisphere. My dad is a very happy man.”

Isabelle said, “He should be and I’m sure he is also a proud papa.” She heard a beep in her earpiece and listened to the message. “We are over Lake Erie,” she said and we will be connecting to the master ship. Up ahead in the brilliant blue, cloudless sky, the oval shaped craft hovered in place awaiting their arrival.

“Will people a thousand, even a hundred years from now remember anything about that bold experiment, the United States of America?” Kurt said.

Elizabeth answered, “Probably not. Oh, some leaders, some events, maybe the Declaration of Independence, the Civil War, the World Wars, the Terrorist War, and the Constitutional Convention of 2038, but that may be all they remember.”

“You’re probably right, so we have to be the catalyst for an accurate recording of all that has happened. That’s what I’ve been doing and it’s what you and I can do together,” Kurt said, patting the portfolio he had pulled from his backpack.

“Kurt, you have your theme. The story must be written of idealism at its best and worst of times. You must write this and I will help you. I want to help you. I insist on helping you.”

Kurt responded, “I already have a title. An author wrote an article, he called the prevalent attitude, the malaise of the country prior to its end, a cancer of complacency. I have never forgotten that line and that’s my title, ‘A Cancer of Complacency.’

THE END

ADDENDUM

In this novel there is one copyright reference and two American landmarks and treasures:

1) Reference is made to a classic work of T.S. Eliot, “Four Quartets” and a particular poem, “Burnt Norton”. It also may be used in the opening introduction of the novel.

2) Fallingwater, an American treasure, is a National Trust for Historic Preservation site. It is also a

“Commonwealth Treasure” of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is entrusted to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, established 1932.

3) The Great Allegheny Passage is a newly opened trail that is one of the most spectacular hiking and biking trails in the country that covers over 300 miles between Pittsburgh, Pa. and Washington, D.C.

David Borland

Author, 2050

New Country Capital U.S. State re-alignment

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AMERICA – Atlanta - N. Carolina, S. Carolina,

Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Alabama

ATLANTICA - New York - New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island

CARIBBEANIA – Miami - Florida, Puerto Rico

(Composed of all countries in the Caribbean)

CANADA – Toronto - Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota

COLUMBIA – Washington - District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware

PAN MEXICO - Los Angelas - Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico(Annexed into Mexico)

MONTANAS - Denver - Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah

PACIFICA - Seattle - Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Hawaii

(David St. John: Do you know someone who could draw a map for me based on the new countries outlined

below?)

MAP OF NORTHERN HEMISPHERE -2050

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A map of the Northern Hemisphere in the year, 2050

To include: Country Capital

ATLANTICA - Nuevo York

COLUMBIA - Washington

AMERICA - Atlanta

PACIFICA - Seattle

LIBERTANIA - Denver

PAN MEXICO - Los Angeles

CANADA - Toronto

ATLANTICA SUB-MAP TO INCLUDE:

CAPITAL - NUEVO YORK

ALLEGHENIA - Western most state

Capital - Pittsburgh

GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE -

-Pittsburgh to Columbia Trail

-Fallingwater, Ohiopyle

-Rivers: Mononahela, Allegheny,

Youghigheny

-Aquifer System – Outline

GLOSSARY OF TERMS IN 2050

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Alleghenia - western state of Atlantica

Atlantica - new country in northeast

Publican - low level security officer

Africano - citizens of African descent

Latino - citizens of Latin American descent

Datafile - personal data unit

Voicescan - voice security ID

Tram - overhead rail transit vehicle

Solarcom unit - personal portable solar generator

Skimmer - air propelled low flying aircraft

Palm phone - personal call unit

TellCom - phone/video transmitter

Topo’s - topographical scans of locations

InfoNetwork - citizen data network

World Net - world media network

Heliocraft - small, solar powered helicopter

Jet Craft - air powered water craft

Nuevo York - capital of Atlantica (old New York)

Tram - local above rail system car