CHAPTER 41

They strolled down a path that led away from the campus. That had not been the original plan but, a lot of things were changing for Bill Devon and he had underestimated how fast all of them would come. The man that he had went out of his way to talk with was even more alarmed or, so he thought. The fact was that Bill was pretty good about hiding his true nature. This guy, no matter what the outcome of the meeting, was not going to have to live the next four years in a prison before the possibility of parole. The funny part was in real prison they let you out if you get accepted and, in Bill’s soon to be job, you had to stay another four years if that happened.

Doctor David Kent gestured to the men in the suits, with the funny ear pieces. Those guys, the secret service, were doing their best to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Here on the campus of Tuskegee, that was very hard to do. Kent had to ask, “do they have to, well, do what they’re doing?”

Bill snorted a laugh and said, “so I’m told Doctor. To be honest with you, I had no idea they were going to show up on election night, like they did. You know, until January, I’m still the Secretary of State and I’m used to having my own guys. They had quite a row with the secret service that night.”

Kent looked concerned and a bit overwhelmed as he scoped out the agents. All he could do was just shrug and get this over with, “when Frank called me, I have to admit I was very curious why you wanted to see me. He didn’t say why and, I would have thought if someone like you, wanted to talk to someone like me, it would have been before the election, when you were pandering for votes.”

Bill got the meaning of the statement. The you and me really meant white and black. Bill ignored it and got on with it, “so you and Frank went to college together? What was the name of that place? Fort Valley or something like that?”

“Yeah,” Kent nodded, “it’s over in middle Georgia. That was a long time ago though and, to be honest, I hadn’t heard from Frank in years, especially after he got elected to the White House. President’s don’t just up and call nobody college professors, no matter how close they were in the old days.”

People got busy and they lost touch. It happened. Of course Bill knew from personal experience that a lot of the those estranged relations would pop right back up no sooner than you came into some kind of power. It happened to Bill, and was still happening to him. A man like this Doctor Kent, well, Bill could see it in his eyes, his attitude, and even his body language. To put it bluntly, the guy would never have called Frank, not even for a real favor that he might have asked for if Frank had not been one of the most powerful men in the world. It was pride, that Bill saw, in this college professors mannerisms, pure and simple.

“Yeah he told me a bit about that,” Bill told the guy. “He also told me you were a pretty stand up guy and, I hope it doesn’t offend you but, I’ve had my people check you out from top to bottom.”

“I’m not sure offended would be the right term,” Kent replied, “more like, concerned. I suppose you expect me to ask why? What is this? You want me to sit on some kind of presidential commission?”

“Oh no,” Bill waived it off, “none of that stuff. Doctor, I don’t know if you realize exactly how busy of a man I am, being the President elect. That’s not to mention a few other things including the secretary of state, who is also, in the middle of a bit of a diplomatic crisis at the moment.”

Kent nodded, “yeah I heard something about that on the news.”

“The fact is Doctor,” Bill said, “I don’t go out of my way to just meet anybody.”

Now Kent sounded curious, “so this is some kind of job offer. Well I know you had a running mate so I guess Vice President is out.”

Bill figured that was humor but, he didn’t laugh, “actually the job I have in mind for you is a lot more important. I want you to take the job I have now.”

Kent stopped walking and an eyebrow flew up, “secretary of state? You know I do recall hearing that you had already filled that position. I also don’t see why you would want me. I wouldn‘t have a clue what to do.”

Now Bill did laugh and he said, “well saying that I filled it is kind of a metaphor, really. The state job is very political, very powerful, and requires a great number of people to give a nod and a wink. I wouldn’t worry about the not knowing what you’re doing thing ether. You know, Frank’s administration wasn’t my first goat roping and when I took this job, I didn’t have a clue what it was all about. Besides, it’s also, only my day job.”

“All right Mister Devon,” Kent nodded, “I’m both lost and curious. What are we talking about here?”

“Well,” they began walking again and Frank explained, “what I have in mind is a cabinet level position. It’s not as high on the totem pole as what I hold now but, I need you in a spot like so that so the other members of the cabinet just can’t ignore you.”

“What is it?”

Devon told him straight up, “Secretary of the Interior.”

Kent stopped walking again. He actually looked like someone had just stuck a couple of live battery cables to his spine, “if I understand things correctly, that’s no small position.”

“Like I said, they won’t ignore you,” Bill told him. “That’s not why I need you though. The fact is, I’m keeping most of Frank’s civil appointments in the various agencies and Interior is one of the more stable ones right now. You won’t have to really deal with any of that.”

“So there is a catch,” Kent replied. He rubbed at his chin and said, “you know I have to be asking myself, why me? I’m a nobody. I have no political ambitions either. It makes me wonder Mister Devon, are you looking for a fall guy here?”

“Not unless you screw up,” Bill told him in a very business like manner, “you see my real job, for the last two years has been…”

Kent’s eyes widened at hearing that last part and he quickly injected, “the elves.”

“Yep,” Bill nodded, “I’ve been Frank’s go to guy and point man on that issue for a while now. I admit, first I was stuck with it because I was the Secretary of State but, after that, well, I was read in to some serious stuff.”

Kent was obviously bouncing ideas around in his head. Bill had hit the guy pretty quick and hard with a job offer that must have seemed almost unreal. Bill even felt sorry for Kent but, time was an issue here. Still, David Kent was proving to be every bit as sharp as Frank said he was. The guy’s next statement proved it, “this is all about race, isn’t it?”

Bill shrugged, “well, that is what the problem in Feyland all boils down too. That’s as near as I can see it from all the reports I’m getting.”

Now it was Bill’s turn to be surprised. Kent immediately said, “I don’t think I can help you Mister Devon.”

“Huh?” Bill waived it off, “you mind telling me why?”

“Obvious,” Kent replied, “if I’m reading this right. You and Frank have had some discussions on the matter and decided you want an expert in race to run point. Frank probably figured I was the biggest expert he knows on the matter.”

“Well,” Bill admitted, “yes, Frank might have said that and why you wouldn’t take it as a compliment is beyond me. Still, I did my own homework on you. You’re a sociologist. You’ve spent a lot of time dealing with issues related to this very kind of thing. I couldn’t think of anyone more perfect to handle it.”

“That’s the problem Mister Devon,” Kent countered, “you’re not dealing with race relations here. We’re talking about inter species relations and that’s an entirely separate issue, or, so I told my class just yesterday. Do I need to go back and say something different?”

“No,” Bill easily waived it off, “you’re right on the money there. The elves are constantly reminding us of that. Only, who really is qualified? Somebody has to do it Doctor. I would think a guy with experience in talking to different groups would have the most experience.”

“Again,” Kent replied, “respectfully, I have to disagree. You don’t need a sociologist. You need a veterinarian. They’re the ones who have the most experience in dealing other species.”

“Interesting point,” Bill noted with respect, “and if you take my job offer you can put one on your staff. I can’t put a vet in a cabinet position. I’m going to have enough problems getting an old college professor in.”

“Now you’re talking like I’ve already accepted,” Kent said suspiciously.

“I don’t think you’re going to ultimately say no, if that’s what you mean,” Bill said with a smile. Then he turned serious and politely asked, “or is this more of a personal issue for you? You know? Something you aren’t saying?” The look that Kent developed told Bill he had hit the nail on the head, so, Bill told him, “go ahead and spill it. What have you got to loose?”

There were definitely second thoughts in the man’s mind but, finally, he came around and said, “I’m not sure if what we’re doing there is right. I’m not sure I can be a part of it.”

“Doctor,” Bill nodded but remained firm, “bad things go on everywhere. It’s the job of people like me to make sure that those things get minimized.”

“It’s not what I mean,” Kent replied. “I mean overall. When the Europeans struck out and conquered the world, a lot of people got hurt, lost their homes, entire civilizations were destroyed. How can you say we aren’t going to do that again. In case you were curious, there are a lot of people, right now, that are wondering that very thing about Feyland.”
“I have admit Doctor,” Bill replied, “that the thought had not crossed my mind, you know, about people wondering. I’ve been too busy dealing with the reality of the situation. I haven’t had time for the hypothetical’s and, now, I’m about to have none at all. That’s why I need people like you. You say you’re worried about, maybe, us destroying Feyland, even by accident? Well here’s your chance to do something about it and not speculate.”

“Easier said than done,” Kent replied.

“Trust me Doctor,” Bill snapped right back with, “there’s nothing easy about the job I’m offering you. The simple fact is, if we don’t figure something out, we’re about to have a war on our hands that we probably can’t win.”

Now the Doctor became emotional, “you see! I knew it was something like that! Why is it, every place we go, we wind up in another war. I bet it’s a money thing too. I’ve read that the elves are way behind us in all sorts of technologies. Somebody is sniffing a profit to be made selling microwaves. Tell me that’s not true!”

“I have no idea,” Bill told the guy, “and besides that, are microwaves really a bad thing?”

“They are if you’re going to war to make the market,” Kent rapidly replied.

There was no reason to get into a counter point about this one. Bill simply got to his next one, “the fact is Doctor, a war is exactly what Frank and, soon, my administration will be trying to avoid. We already have troops over there you know.”

Kent injected, “I heard something about that. I knew it was starting then. We’ll be a step ahead when the shooting starts.”

Bill almost laughed at that, “we’re more like two or three steps behind and, as for when the shooting starts, it already has.”

Kent’s jaw dropped, “what? Why hasn’t this been on the news?”

“I have no idea,” Bill said which was really a lie. He knew exactly why it wasn’t on the news, despite the fact that they had reporters imbedded with the troops. The simple fact was that the current operations were not much of an entertaining story and the news services were all about that. If the situation got worse, that would change quickly enough. Still, there was nothing to be gained by pointing that out now. Instead, Bill told the doctor, “you’d have to ask them.”

Kent seemed more resolute, “you see, that’s exactly what I was afraid of. We have no right and, more important, no reason to send troops in there. Yet, we’ve already done it and we’re already shooting. What possible threat could they be to us.”

Bill was standing like a stone wall, “a very serious one. You jump on the team and you will get read into everything, and not like what happened to me. I didn’t find out about everything until almost the end of Frank’s term. You’re going to get all the facts, right from the start. Then you can make up your own mind.”

Kent was not impressed, “secrets.”

“More like,” Bill picked his words, “stuff that just gets ignored.”

“How can they possibly be a threat to us Mister Secretary,” Kent asked with conviction. “If worse ever came to worse over there, all we’d have to do is shut down that wormhole or whatever it is. They can’t possibly be a threat.”

Bill was still like a statue and still very serious, “I wish it were that simple Doctor. I really do. Join the team and have some say in the matter. That’s all I really came here to say.”

The college professor did not say yes but, what he did say, told Bill everything he needed. When Kent replied, “can I have time to think about it,” Bill knew the guy was on board. That was why Bill thanked the man for his time and got to his next appointment. It was the other reason he was down here in the south. Alabama might not be Atlanta but, it was pretty damn close and the CDC was in Atlanta.

At first, Bill thought that he would just swing over that way on his trip back to DC but, he found that being the big guy, even the soon to be big guy, had it’s advantages. Unlike Doctor David Kent, Didi Compton was, technically speaking, already on the pay roll. Bill did not have to go out of his way to see her. He only had to tell somebody he wanted to see her and they made it happen at Bill’s convenience. That was as new to Bill as the secret service. He’d spent a good deal of his adult life in positions of power and he was still surprised when Didi was shanghaied and flew to another state where she could meet with him in an empty class room.

The funny part was that Didi acted like it was all perfectly normal. Bill wondered if she really thought that or, was she just a good ass kisser? In the end, it didn’t really matter, he told her up front, “there are some people that are a little concerned with your recent reports.”

Didi did not even have to ask which reports he was talking about. All she said was, “they should be. My god, how did it take this long to even get to somebody that matters, sir?”

“That’s not the issue Doctor Compton,” Bill remained easy going, “the fact is, your reports were sitting on the President’s desk within hours of you turning them over to your boss in Atlanta.”

Now the woman was confused, “well, why haven’t we… um, done anything?”

“I’m not going to go into that right now,” Bill told her. “Let’s just say the nature of your work is classified and leave it at that. What the President wanted me to ask you is, how dangerous is this stuff we’re dealing with? Is it air borne? What kind of communicability factor are we talking here?”

That confused the woman so she said, “um, sir, it’s not like that at all. I mean it was all in the report but…”

“What?” Bill shrugged, “you said it was a bacteria, right? We can inoculate against that, right? All that isn’t as big an issue as the real question. You were pretty vague about what you thought it’s probable origins were. I admit I didn’t understand your entire report but, it sounded like you were telling us that it came from Feyland, is that right?”

It was quite clear that Didi was at a loss for words. Bill was not entirely sure why but, as the case proved to be, it was because she had no idea where to start, “it isn’t airborne. In fact, I have no idea how it even survives in this environment. Judging by the tests we’ve run, it shouldn’t be.”

Bill blinked, “what? Excuse me but, let me get this right, I do recall your report saying that this is a wide spread problem, even now. How is that possible?”

“We don’t know,” Didi admitted. “What we do know is, these cases are coming in from all over the world, not just in the US.”

Bill remembered that much, “yeah but, most of the cases are both here and in Britain, right?”

“Yes,” Didi nodded, “and that’s why we immediately looked at Coven Hill, the dispersion pattern was just too concentrated to be a coincidence.”
“Ok, that’s a reasonable assumption,” Bill nodded. He then added, “course we were aware this might happen. We’ve taken steps, right? We had plans in place.”

“They’re useless,” Didi replied. “We’ve tried to back track this thing and, it…”

As Didi stumbled, Bill finally had to nudge her, “it what Doctor?”

“It’s not spreading like a disease,” she finally blurted out. After a moment of composing her thoughts she said, “the concentration levels in the patients we examined, well, they just don’t add up. Some of the ones, including the bodies, didn’t have the amounts you would expect. The people they came into contact with are clean. There was no clear line of transmission. There’s no path to follow.”
“Ok,” Bill raised a hand and then calmly proceeded, “how lethal is it?”

“We don’t know,” Didi admitted.

Now Bill smiled and shook his head, “you wrote the report Doctor, is there anything you do know?”

“I know it’s spreading like wildfire,” Didi told him, “and it is killing people. We know how it works, how it kills you that is, once it becomes active. Some of the samples we’ve seen, well, it’s like the bacteria is inert. Again, I don’t know how you get infected with a bacteria that’s, well, sleeping.”

“All right,” Bill nodded. Again, it was not something that was entirely unexpected. They had known from the start that despite the fact that the CDC had not found anything that was particularly alien over there, there was a possibility that it would happen. Now, it apparently had and, this was not a new problem for humanity. It was a problem, yes. It was serious, yes. It was also manageable.

That is why, when Bill got up he told his Doctor, “I’m going to need you back in Boston, very soon. We have what we’ve been after.”

Didi’s eyes got big, “we have live Orcs?”

“Sort of,” Bill told her. “We have two eggs. They’re already at the Tideman facility so I need you and biker boy to get back up there and start doing a run down on them. We paid a very steep price for those. I hope they’re of some use.”

“Oh my god,” Didi had gone from near panic over her germ, to absolute excitement at the drop of a hat. Bill had to wonder how she did that. She was jumpy and excited when she told him, “oh my god, yeah the eggs might even be better than live adults. There’s so many more things we can learn from them!”

“Good,” Bill got up, nodded, and headed for his next meeting. He had no shortage of them right now.