Chapter 198: Meeting with an old acquaintance

"You have proposed WHAT!?" Chloe was completely stunned. Of all the peace proposals she had heard, this was by far the most absurd. "I don't see anything wrong with it" Jackson murmured, who was sitting nearby. Just a day after the duel he was already able to sit up, testimony that the injuries were not so serious. And that he had a strong stamina. "In this way, there will be assured peace" "Yeah, but... well..." Chloe didn't know what to say. "More than a peace proposal, it looks like a trade agreement!" "I'm not a tycoon's daughter for nothing" Jocelyne replied, barely picking something off the plate she had in front of her. Her stomach was closed. Even though she had done her best to stay confident throughout the day, as soon as she returned to the others all her anxiety and mental fatigue fell on him. "Peace negotiations are no different from trade agreements, they are simply called differently. It all consists in convincing the other part to agree to cease hostilities in exchange for something" "And do you think they will accept?" "I seriously hope so. They will not give up their land and their people and we will not give up resources and food. This is the only solution that can satisfy everyone. Any other agreement will inevitably lead to war" Chloe lowered her head. She knew Jocelyne was right. Of all, the girl had proved that she was the one with the greatest sense. "But that just means postponing the problem. In a year or two the food that the dinosaurs will give us will run out, and the same will be true for resources" "That is why we will have to be conscientious and use that time to change our economic system, to create one that can support these conditions" Jocelyne replied. "We already know how to produce clean energy and we can convert our current dinosaur farms with cattle, sheep or other animals" "This will still have a cost" "Yeah, but any negotiation would have had it. I doubt the nations were foolish enough to think they were not losing anything. We are the losing side, after all, and the dinosaurs are the ones with the knife on the side of the handle" "Governments will not be happy" "Well, it's time for governments to stop playing tantrums and use their money for something useful. Whether he will like it or not, this is how things are now" "What if governments reject these terms? Have you thought about it?" "Of course yes. Why do you think I allowed these three to come with us?" Nicholas, Tailor, and Peter looked up as they felt called into question. The three reporters were surprised to know that they were part of the girl's plan. "We?" "Obvious. There is no weapon that governments fear more than the press, and you three represent the three largest news agencies on the planet" Jocelyne replied. "Here's what I ask you: prepare an exclusive. A pulitzer award-winning article. Put everything into it, reports, interviews, quotes, debates. And make sure you make sure that people understand the advantages of the proposal I put forward, and that they are even encouraged to support it" The three reporters looked at each other, then burst out laughing. They understood what Jocelyne had in mind. Like Sobek, Jocelyne also knew how to use ordinary people. People were easily influenced by the media: if the three major news companies had published similar articles, then the other media would have followed suit, and the overwhelming majority of the population would therefore be convinced that Jocelyne's peace proposal was the best solution. Once the population was convinced, the governments should have surrendered. "You will have to explain things in detail. Especially my prospects for the future, with the use of alternative energy and synthetic meat. This will already bring environmental and animal rights activists to our side right away" Jocelyne continued. "Then send your articles to your agencies, which I don't think will refuse to publish such an exclusive" The three reporters seemed very much in agreement. After all, they were there to write a great article, and now they had the chance. "We will have to interview you all night, you know?" they asked her rhetorically. "No problem. Since I've been here, I don't remember ever sleeping more than two hours a night" "Very good. Do you mind if we start just after dinner?" "As you prefer" The three reporters began chatting among themselves, evidently ready to wallow in the news. Chloe walked over to Jocelyne and whispered to her, "You know, right, our communications are probably controlled? Governments will not allow the publication of such things" "I know... and although I would like to remind you that this is censorship, I will ignore it. I already have a plan for that" Jocelyne replied. "I had foreseen that such a thing could happen, so I asked a friend to contact someone within the system" Chloe put a hand to her face. "May God help me" she murmured, anticipating the mess that would follow. ****** The outskirts of the city of Satoru, in the Confederate States of Vinland, wasn't a bad place to live: the houses were cheap, the scenery was pleasant, and the people were quiet. The ideal place to raise your children. Well, at least it was. Her kids were going to college now and she lived alone in that house, but despite that she still liked her. Suddenly the doorbell rang. Strange, she wasn't expecting anyone. She got up and headed for the door. When she opened the door, a middle-aged man with a very familiar face and an even more familiar cowboy hat was found at the door. "Ellie Sattler" were the words that came out of the man's mouth. She couldn't help but smile. "Alan Grant" she murmured as her heart did a somersault. She wasted no time and hugged the man. Ellie led Alan inside the house. He didn't seem very comfortable with her as he moved among the refined furniture. Ellie smiled: Alan had remained the same, he was a simple person and used to the outdoors, he wasn't suitable for staying in a house. "How are your children?" he asked her. "In college, both of them. What can you do, sooner or later they had to leave the nest" "And... Mark?" "It didn't work" Even though he shouldn't have been, Alan felt relieved by those words. He and Ellie had had a very long relationship and he was still in love with her despite her years. Unfortunately, Ellie had wanted to start a family years ago and Alan didn't like kids, and so their story was over. He was back in his studies and she was married to Mark Degler, a guy who worked at the State Department. Apparently, however, they had divorced. Alan had to admit that he was happy at the news. "Would you like some tea? Coffee? Something to drink?" Ellie asked him. "Er... water" "Come on, don't pay compliments" "No, seriously, water is fine..." "I get it, I'll take care of it. Vintage wine is the chosen one" Alan felt a bit worried as he saw his ex take a huge bottle of Nebbiolo from the cupboard. He didn't handle alcohol well and did not like to drink. He hoped she didn't give him too much. Fortunately, the woman seemed to remember his problems with wine, because she just poured him half a glass. "You remembered" Alan murmured taking the glass and his face full of thanks. Ellie laughed. "I won't easily forget that night. I had to drag you home passed out on my shoulder, and you hadn't even drunk two glasses" Alan took an embarrassed sip. "I heard you work for the government now" he said to change the subject. "Department of Biological Risks, right?" "Yes. It was easy to get into it with my skills... and with a husband who works in the State Department"Ellie replied. "I don't dislike my job. After all, I do what I've always done: I study other forms of life. In recent times, biological risks are increasingly due to advances in the field of genetic and biological engineering" "I heard you quickly climbed the hierarchy. You're a big shot now. You work very high up in the hierarchy" "Oh yes. High enough to know this isn't a courtesy visit" Ellie's face suddenly turned serious. "We know that you are in contact with the girl who is currently negotiating with the dinosaurs. You and Ian. It's good to know that you are working together again. If it weren't for the circumstances I would feel almost excluded" Alan frowned at Ellie's words. "So it's true, communications are intercepted" "Does it surprise you? We are faced with an event that can't be define nothing but absurd. All governments carefully check every phone call, message or email that comes from Cartago. And of course the Biological Risks Department is made aware of such interceptions. Well... at least the people at the top, like me. After all, we don't know what caused the sudden increase in the dinosaurs' cognitive abilities, or whether or not it's dangerous to humans" Ellie took a sip, then looked him seriously in the eye:" But you and that little girl, along with your gang of little friends, you seem to know a lot more than we do. How long have you been investigating the matter?" Alan considered. He didn't want to lie to Ellie, but he didn't know if there were hidden microphones or cameras in her house. But he wanted to trust her despite the risks. "For a while" he admitted. "And you haven't informed anyone?" "Would anyone have believed it?" Ellie took that rhetorical question for an answer. "So... what's behind it?" "We don't know for sure yet, but we have some hypotheses. Dr. Robert Oz gave them to us" "Right, Robert Oz. I confess I was surprised to learn that he was part of your gang. Didn't people call him a charlatan?" "They were wrong. For the moment, his hypothesis is the best, as well as the one that best explains what is happening" Ellie nodded. "I won't ask you for details, but I want you to answer this question honestly: is it a biohazard?" "Yes. The worst ever, and we can't stop it anymore. According to Robert Oz we have already passed the point of no return. It cannot be cured and we cannot prevent its spread on a global scale. The positive side is that it shouldn't, at least theoretically, be harmful to humans" "But it will completely change the animal world" "Exactly. Whoever created..." "Created? Is it artificial?" "Didn't you suspect it already? Such a thing couldn't have been natural. Whoever created it unleashed an ecological disaster, and we don't know what repercussions it will have on the planet. Now we have no choice but to try to coexist with the dinosaurs" Alan remembered Robert's words well: the dinosaur carrying the Mother Cell had to be killed before the dinosaurs began to gather into an army and move against humanity. Now that that opportunity was lost, it was impossible to restore the planetary ecosystem to its original state. The only hope now was to reach an agreement with the dinosaurs, or Eden would turn into the battlefield between animals and humans, and Alan doubted that humans had a high chance of winning considering the superb armament and numerical superiority of the animals. If all the fauna on the planet turned against them it would be the end. "So, it can't be stopped" Ellie muttered, fiddling with her glass. "If you're not here to tell me how to get the world back to normal, then what do you want from me, Alan?" "Ellie, I know what I'm going to ask will sound like a lot, but I need your help. It's vital for the peace and the destiny of our species" "Speak, I listen to you" "Before Odaria made the ambassador's identity known, and therefore before the wiretapping began, Jocelyne gave me a task. We agreed on a word, which she would never say during our video calls, except when it was necessary. That way they wouldn't have intercepted us, because only I would have understood the meaning of that word" Alan explained. "Once I heard that word, I would have only one task: to come here and ask you to open a safe channel within the next twenty-four hours so that Jocelyne could talk to me freely. We have to do it now" Ellie sighed deeply. "Are you asking me to use my position to open a secret channel in the most guarded electronic network on the planet? Do you realize that, if we will be discovered, I'll be lucky to just lose my job?" "Yes, and I ask your forgiveness for asking so much, but I have to do it. Jocelyne assured me that she would only use the word if it was of extreme importance. You just have to open a safe channel for me, I'll take care of the rest and..." "Hey, hey, who said I'll not help? Come on Alan, you know I like the risk. I was just anticipating the danger of this new adventure" Alan gasped, unable to say anything, then couldn't help but smile. That was just Ellie, his Ellie: the same strong, reckless woman who feared nothing and who was willing to risk everything just for her whim. "I don't know how to thank you" "Forget about it. Take away a curiosity, though: why isn't Ian here with you?" Ellie asked. "Ian is offering me cover. We have taken into account the possibility of being monitored, so at the moment he is playing the part of the longtime friend who comes to have a beer with me. Officially, I am currently inside my studio, where no one can enter and where we have made sure there are no bugs or cameras. And Ian... well, he claims to have made progress as a ventriloquist, and so he's talking aloud to fake a conversation between two old friends" Ellie was silent for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Anyone who knows you would understand that this is all a farce. You can't hold the wine, let alone beer. And you who converse with Ian Malcolm without losing your mind sounds more false than a six euros banknote" "Yes, maybe we took some liberties, but it doesn't matter. As long as Ian can cover me it's fine. Even if I'm afraid to find out what he will have made me say" "Some things are better not to know, trust me" "I know it" Ellie laughed, then stood up, "I'm going to get dressed. I cannot create a secure information channel for you with any computer, so you will have to come with me to the Department. You're going to have to disguise yourself, by the way" she said. "I hope it's worth it. Do you really trust that girl?" Alan nodded without a doubt. "Yes"