“What’s wrong?” asked Beau. “You okay?
“Nothing. It’s nothing,” Flora responded. “I’m okay.” But she wanted to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. “Actually Beau, have you seen this book before?” she asked, pulling out the enchanting volume.
“Whoa, careful with that,” he said, quickly pushing the book back in place. “That’s one of the most valuable things in this room. That book is the foundation of almost all of our work on reverting the world to an optimal climate. The author is considered by many to be the mother of Terrene.”
Flora’s eyes flew back to the spine of the text where the words “Beyond Carbon” were engraved in silver ink. Her lips softly breathed the words that followed: Jane Ingram.
************
Flora jumped up and swung her arms around her head, dancing triumphantly. “I’m Mayor again!” she said laughingly.
Garland threw his cards down onto the table. “You are the luckiest girl I’ve ever met,” he proclaimed, giving her an impulsive hug that might not have been so impulsive. Flora pushed him away and stuck her tongue out in response, but she had to agree, she was lucky to have such good friends...and Garland. They weren’t quite dating, but they were...close.
“There’s no such thing as luck,” Mendel objected, “just statistical anomalies. Let’s play again.”
“So we can lose again?” Aster added. “I’m gonna take a break.”
Though their cohort had been sorted into the different departments, they wouldn’t move into the department quarters until they became junior scholars. Flora, Aster, and Kava continued to live together as did the boys across the hall. Every night, they got together and played cards or other games in the boys’ room. They had become close as a group. Last night after consulting with Mendel, Flora had even shared her dreams with the group. No one thought she was crazy, or at least if they did, they loved her too much to say anything. Even Crick for the most part kept his mouth shut, though Flora suspected that was largely due to the way Garland kept his arm around his shoulders the whole time and squeezed hard every time it looked like Crick was going to talk. Now that he was in the same department as Garland, Kava, and Stalk, they seemed to have bonded somewhat.
“Me too,” Kava said. “I’m a bit tired from riding today.”
“Riding?” Flora asked, perking up.
“That’s right,” Garland responded proudly. “Master Romulus started training us on the horses today.”
“My butt hurts so much,” complained Stalk. “I hope archery is less painful.”
“If you’re no better at it than riding, then I’m sure it’ll be no less painful,” remarked Crick.
“I hear Romulus is a magnificent archer,” Aster added. “He’s amazing at everything.” Her eyes glazed over slightly as a smile crept onto her lips.
“Oh stop it,” Flora said, flushing slightly. “Mendel, did you do anything interesting today?”
“Certainly,” Mendel replied. “Today was allocated to studying. I worked with Scholar Jestam on a mathematical proof for Falting’s Theorem on diophantine geometry.”
“I have no idea what that is,” Aster interjected. “Oh hey, Flora, I asked around the Department of Tools, but there’s no one there named Samuel.”
“No one in Agriculture either,” added Bunsen, shrugging apologetically.
Flora sighed. “There aren’t that many people in the Institute. How come I can’t find him?”
“Don’t fret about it,” Mended reassured Flora. “Maybe your mom got the name wrong.”
“Or maybe you just imagined the whole thing,” countered Crick. “Come on, doesn’t anyone else think this is a little bit ridiculous? No one else got into the Institute based on dreams.”
“Screw you, Crick!” she yelled back. She had finally found a place where she fit. Crick was just a remnant of her past, one that needed to be eliminated. “I belong here more than you do,” she continued. “You’re only here because your mother was the teacher. She fixed your exam score and snuck you in.”
Flora prepared for a fight, but instead of the rampant anger she expected, Crick’s face held only fear.
“Wait, is that true?” Garland asked. The others looked at Mendel, Flora, and then back at Crick. Crick remained paralyzed. Without a word, he fled the room, leaving them in awkward silence.
Garland turned to Flora. “Is that true?” he asked again.
“Um, it might be,” she said, emotionally confused. “I don’t really know.”
No one spoke for a moment.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” Stalk said, getting up and walking out after Crick.
As Stalk sped out the door, he almost ran head into Beau.
“Oh Beau,” Flora said, forcing a wide smile. “Come join us!”
Beau blushed. “Uh, no,” he stammered. “I mean, thank you. Yes, I’d like to, but no, that’s not why I’m here.” Beau just stood in the door frame, looking down at his hands.
“So why are you here?” asked Garland.
Beau snapped back to attention. “Grandmaster Sagerius has asked to see Flora. I’m to bring her to his office.”
“Now?” Flora asked surprised. “Isn’t it a little late?”
Beau shrugged. “He seemed very insistent. You better come with me.”
Flora looked over at Mendel who gave her an encouraging nod. “Okay, I’ll catch you later, guys,” she said and walked out to meet the Grandmaster.
************
Beau knocked on the door and waited. Beside him, Flora fidgeted nervously. Should she tell him about her dreams? Sure, he was a bit crazy, but Beau had also said that Sagerius was the smartest scholar ever. This could be her chance to ask about the ancients and to find out more about her dreams. But what if Sagerius didn’t believe her? What if he thought she was lying?
The door suddenly opened, revealing the grizzled face of Grandmaster Aggasiz Sagerius. “Who’s there?” he asked, looking over their heads.
“Over here sir,” Beau said, waving his arm to get Sagerius’ attention. “I brought Flora.”
Sagerius looked down and acted surprised to see them. “Who?” he asked.
“You asked me to bring Flora,” Beau explained. “You said it was urgent.”
“I said no such thing,” contradicted Sagerius, looking upset. Flora panicked.
“Well, might as well come in,” he relented, his face relaxing.
Flora stepped into the room. Just as Beau was about to follow, Sagerius closed the door right in Beau’s surprised face. “Come sit,” Sagerius said, motioning her over to a couch in the corner of the room. Sagerius’ office was packed full of boxes and mysterious objects. Flora picked her way carefully past the minefield of curios spread across the ground and settled onto the couch. Sagerius sat down on a chair opposite her.
“So what is it you came here to ask me?” Sagerius asked.
“Wait, didn’t you ask me to come here?” Flora asked.
“Now that’s an odd question to ask,” replied Sagerius. “I was almost certain you came here to ask me a question.” Sagerius cocked his head to the side, looking Flora straight in the eye. “Didn’t you?”
“Well,” started Flora, debating internally. “I’ve been having these dreams...”
“Ah yes, I have dreams too,” Sagerius assured her.
“But mine are...different,” she continued. “They’re about someone named Jane Ingram.”
“And mine are about someone named Ashton Ingram,” replied Sagerius.
Flora’s shock must have shown on her face as Sagerius went on to explain, “Your dreams are special, Flora. That is why you are here.”
The glazed look that she had come to associate with Grandmaster Sagerius fled from his face and was replaced by a look of stern concentration. “We don’t have much time. Please follow me.”
Sagerius led her through a door on the opposite corner of his office. Flora found herself in a large room whose bare
ness stood in stark contrast to the cluttered office she had just stepped out of. In the middle of the room, there was a small desk, on top of which stood what Flora recognized to be a computer.
“You recognize it, don’t you?” Sagerius asked. “My dreams have taught me many things which our ancient texts failed to teach. You too must let your dreams guide you as mine have guided me for the past forty years.”
“But I don’t remember much of my dreams,” objected Flora. “How can they guide me?”
“It is enough that the dreams have opened your eyes,” Sagerius replied. “It is true. The world is much bigger than Terrene. It is our duty to save it. If you listen to your dreams, they can help you, as they have helped me.” Flora thought about what Jane would say. She would say “You can save the world. And this is a good place to start.”
“This computer, it is a marvel of ancient technology, and the key to our salvation. As you know, we have been working on advanced biological sciences, designing organisms that can adjust the global climate and transform the Barren Lands into fertile valleys once more.”
Sagerius removed the Portkey crystal from his neck and slid it into a slot in the computer. He then pulled a book out of his robe and placed it on the desk next to the computer. There was a flash of light, and then the computer screen turned on, showing an image of the book on its screen as well as a series of indecipherable numbers.
“I don’t know how,” continued Sagerius, “but somehow the computer captures all the information that it is fed seemingly instantly.” He then pulled the Portkey back out of the computer and hung it around his neck again. “All of our research, the work of hundreds of years, is all stored in this Portkey.”
“To everyone else, the Portkey is just a symbol of authority, the mark of the Grandmaster,” explained Sagerius. “I need you to understand that it is much more. It holds the key to all our understanding.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” Flora asked.
But before he could answer, they were interrupted by a loud banging on the outer door. “Already?” Sagerius muttered to himself. “Stay here. No matter what, don’t say a word,” he instructed. He stared harshly into her eyes. “Promise me you’ll stay hidden.”
The Grandmaster’s gaze stayed locked onto her until she nodded. Then he walked back into his office and closed the door behind him, leaving Flora in the computer room by herself. Flora peered intently through a small crack between the door and the frame just in time to see Sagerius open the door into the hallway.
“Good evening gentlemen,” Sagerius said, opening the door slightly. He then backed away from the door as several shapes pushed past him and into the room.
“By all means, come in, come in,” Sagerius said belatedly. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Seize him,” a deep voice said. The speaker was out of Flora’s view, but she saw two men with clubs on their belts grab the Grandmaster by the arms. Sagerius was in trouble! Flora wanted to take action, but she was paralyzed by indecision. Sagerius had told her to stay hidden, and she hadn’t the slightest clue what she would do against three armed men anyways.
“Oh my,” Sagerius reacted. “Are you afraid I’ll attack you?” Sagerius sounded curious, not threatening.
The mysterious speaker ignored him. “Aggasiz Sagerius, I hereby arrest you for deceiving the head council and betraying the interests of the Institute.”
“But I’m the Grandmaster,” objected Sagerius.
“No longer,” the speaker said gleefully. “I will be taking on the title of Grandmaster. And I’ll be taking...this.” Flora gasped as a hand reached out and grabbed the Portkey, ripping it off the chain. The speaker leaned forward. Flora could barely make out a square jaw with a little brown stubble.
“Morgan, you don’t need to do this,” Sagerius implored.
Flora was shocked. It was Romulus.
“Yes,” Romulus intoned. “I do. And you may no longer call me Morgan. As is tradition, I am taking on a new name along with the Grandmaster title. From here on in, I will be known as Regulus Romulus.”
“Grandmaster Regulus Romulus, sir,” shouted the two guards holding Sagerius.
“Likewise, I am stripping you of all your titles: Grandmaster, Keeper of the Faith, and Head of History. You will also revert to your given name, Samuel,” added Romulus.
Flora had to stifle her gasp. Sagerius knew her father.
“I see. Then I had better name my successor for Head of the Department of History.” said Sagerius thoughtfully as if it was some mundane task.
“There will be no successor,” declared Romulus. “The department will be disbanded.”
“But Morgan,” started Sagerius, finally showing some distress.
“You may address me as Grandmaster Romulus, Scholar Samuel,” Romulus said formally. And then to his men, “Let’s go.”
The guards escorted Scholar Samuel Sagerius out of the room and out of Flora’s sight. As quickly as she had found her benefactor, she had lost him. On his way out, Romulus paused at the door and turned around to give the room a final check. Flora held her breath. She stared at his handsome face, still beautiful, but now lined with a hint of arrogance and danger.
Then, with a final grunt, Regulus Romulus, Head of Governance and Security, Keeper of the Faith, and Grandmaster of the Institute, turned away and walked out the door, taking the one man with the answers Flora sought, the one connection back to her father, out of her grasp.
Chapter 11: The Benefactor
“Dr. Ingram, in your expert opinion, is the McKinley administration’s break from the Cairo Treaty of 2024 the cause of the 3 degree rise in average temperature exhibited in the Vail properties over the last ten years?” The speaker was a young lawyer, conservatively dressed in a dark gray pant suit with her hair tied up in a bun. She wore wire-framed glasses, but Jane knew that they were just for show. Courtroom trials were more staged than television shows and more lucrative as well.
“Objection, your honor.” The defense lawyer, a balding gentleman well into his fifties, stood up to make his point. “This is conjecture.”
“Dr. Ingram is a published climate scientist with over thirty years of experience,” replied the plaintiff’s attorney quickly. “I am asking her opinion based on scientific fact.”
The judge, a portly Asian woman who seemed to have lost the ability to smile along with her figure said, “I’ll allow it. Dr. Ingram, please answer the question.”
Jane lifted her chin and spoke clearly. “Yes, I believe that the dissolution of the Cairo Treaty was the main cause of the rise in global temperatures, including the rise in temperatures at the Vail properties shown on those charts.” Line delivered.
“Thank you very much Dr. Ingram,” the young lawyer said. “No further questions.”
The defense lawyer stood up slowly and carefully walked up to the witness stand to begin his cross examination. “Thank you very much for joining us here today, Dr. Ingram. I have just a few questions here.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Can you tell me what the Cairo Treaty of 2024 was supposed to do?”
“It limited the carbon emissions of all participating countries,” Jane responded.
“Yes, and how many countries are we talking about?” the lawyer asked.
“One hundred and ninety-eight, sir.”
“Hmmm, that sure sounds like a lot of countries,” he remarked laughingly as if he couldn’t count that high. “And yet this lawsuit only names one country. Don’t you find that odd?”
“Objection,” the plaintiff’s attorney broke in, letting shocked indignance creep into her voice, a skill that Jane knew came from years of practice. “Opposing council is asking the witness to give opinion on areas outside her expertise.”
“Enough rhetoricals, counselor,” the judge said. “Stick to direct questions.”
“And what percent of carbon emissions are caused by the United States?” the defense attorney asked.
“About thirty percent,” Jane said tersely.
“Is thirty percent considered a majority?” the attorney asked, his own carefully rehearsed look of jovial condescension now coming into play. “I’m asking for your scientific opinion here.”
Jane ignored the chuckles in the courtroom. Losing her cool would lose her this case and this job. “No, it is not,” Jane replied clearly.
“Then how can you blame the McKinley administration for a rise in global temperatures, how can their actions be the main, or majority, cause when the United States’ carbon emissions only account for thirty percent of the whole?” The defense attorney was turning beet red. It must have taken a lot of training to be able to get that indignant on cue.
“The Cairo treaty was based on trust,” explained Jane pertly, refusing to let the lawyer goad her into anger. “All one hundred and ninety-eight countries who participated sacrificed their own energy needs on the belief that all other member nations were doing the same. When the McKinley administration withdrew the U.S. from the carbon emission restrictions, China immediately pulled out as well, followed soon after by Russia. The entire treaty quickly dissolved. The removal of our thirty percent caused a one hundred percent failure in global carbon restrictions.” Jane smiled as she looked the attorney straight in the eye. “In my expert opinion, 100% constitutes a scientific majority.”
************
As Jane walked out of the courtroom, she saw a familiar face in the crowd.
“Mai-lin,” she said, shaking the hand of her old colleague vigorously. “It’s good to see you.” They still met every couple of months for coffee though Mai-lin always brought her own.
“Same here, though it was kind of painful watching that circus in there,” Mai-lin said.
“How so?” Jane asked as they headed down the street towards the corner coffee shop
“The whole case is rather trivial,” Mai-lin said. “Vail Resorts suing the government because their ski season has been shortened to a few weeks a year? There’s no way they’ll win.”
“They could settle. Plus, it’s a great PR opportunity,” explained Jane. “The press will publicize the link between the government’s lack of carbon emissions regulations and real changes in our environment.”