‘Have any civilisations which collapsed a long time ago managed to rebuild themselves?’ From Russia.
‘No – at least, not in so far as resuming radio broadcasts which we can home in on is concerned. It would be difficult for them since, after they had used up the corroding remnants of the old technology, it would be much harder to start again from scratch. All of the easily accessible minerals and fuels would have been mined out – they would need a high level of technology to extract what remains, but that of course they do not have. We believe that they would be permanently trapped at a low level of technology.’
The representative from the USA spoke again. ‘How soon can you provide us with the specifications for fusion power?’
‘Immediately. We can download them into any computer connected to a wireless network. Just specify which and we will begin.’
The representative from one of the East African countries was next. ‘Of what use will fusion power be to us? We will never have the resources to build such things. But our people are starving now! What can you do to help us?’
‘We cannot supply anything to you except information and advice. As Cade can witness, our one attempt to make physical contact ended in disaster. The useful information we have is basically very technical so can only be utilised by your most technologically advanced countries. What you need to do, collectively, is find a way to spread the benefits of that to all countries via aid programmes. That is your problem – specifically, the United Nations’.’
‘So you give to those who already have everything, and we just have to hope that some crumbs fall from their table?’
Primo said nothing. I could feel his dismay at the trend of the discussion.
Another African representative, from one of the less sane governments, spoke next. ‘All you seem to have to offer us is a way of preventing our people from having children! You are trying to wipe us out! To make us extinct!’
There was a mutter around the room. I read the mood and relayed it to Primo. ‘They are torn in different directions. The reaction of many of the poorer countries is as you have heard. Some of the richer ones are very interested in the advanced technology you are offering, but don’t want to commit themselves until they are sure you are genuine. We won’t get any more out of this.’ I suggested some concluding words to Primo, who duly ended his appearance by asking all countries who wished to benefit from his offer to advise me of the computer systems they wanted the data downloaded to. The Assembly was buzzing with conversation as I left.
I waited around the UN for a while but nobody seemed to want to talk to me so I took a car to the jetty at the east end of 23rd Street where Matt was waiting with the boat. Freya arrived shortly afterwards.
‘Some of the delegates spoke to me afterwards – I don’t think they wanted to be seen speaking to you,’ she said. ‘They’ll be sending me details of their computers for downloading.’
‘Good, we’ve made some progress then.’
She looked grim. ‘It’s going to be hard work; there’s a lot of opposition out there.’ She sat in the open cockpit at the back of the boat, thoughtfully tapping her teeth with her thumb, then came to a decision. ‘I’ve seen the recordings of your early press conferences. You handled them very well. If you don’t mind, I think we should have another. We need all the help we can get.’
‘OK, set it up. I don’t see how it can do any harm.’ That proved to be the most inaccurate judgment I had made for a long time.
The next day I was back in the UN building, this time in a large room packed with journalists. Freya was in her element, organising and controlling the meeting. We both stood at a large lectern fringed with assorted microphones. The television lights shone brightly in our eyes, but the room was sufficiently well-lit to be able to see everyone. I had felt that an introductory speech would be superfluous, so we went straight into questions. The first question, from a BBC correspondent, set the tone:
‘Cade, putting aside for the moment the controversy about whether the kangasaurs are genuine or a computer-generated fantasy, how do you know that their intentions are honourable? Why should they help us?’
‘I think that the obvious answer to that also addresses the fantasy claim: I know that information about fusion power and other advanced technology has already been downloaded to many nations’ computer systems, worldwide, and is being examined by the top scientists in those fields. If it doesn’t check out, no doubt someone will say so, very soon. On a personal level, if you could experience the closeness of the mental link that I have with them, you could have no doubt as to their sincerity. Hard though it may be for a journalist to understand,’ I grinned to take the sting out of it, ‘their motives are altruistic – they have all that they need from life and are at peace with themselves and their environment. They are appalled by the mess we have got ourselves into, and want to stop our civilisation from disappearing like the other human societies they found. To be honest, I think that they find life a little dull, and we’re the most exciting thing that’s happened to them in millennia, so they are making a special project out of helping us.’
‘How do you respond to the argument that the technological information provided by the saurians will only benefit the richest and most advanced countries?’ This from a Swiss representative.
‘That’s true, and it will be up to international agreements to ensure that the benefits are disseminated. Clearly that will not happen quickly as it will take some time for the advanced countries to construct enough fusion power stations to meet their own needs. However, in compensation there will be some early benefit for the environment in that it is the richest countries which produce most pollution per head, so a reduction in their use of fossil fuels will have a major impact.’
‘But what can poorer countries do for themselves?’ A South American correspondent.
‘I hope that the message brought by the saurians will alter attitudes and make changes easier. There is much that can be done now; to insulate property so it requires less heating and cooling, to use low-energy electrical equipment, to adjust tax regimes to favour less polluting road vehicles, and indeed less polluting modes of transport in general. None of this is new – many countries have been implementing such measures for a long time. If everyone did their best to follow suit it would make a huge difference.’
‘What about the impact on petroleum businesses?’ Identifiably from the southern USA.
‘I would advise them to develop medium-term plans to switch from fuel production to plastics manufacture. But even that is unlikely to be sustainable in the long term. We need to make more use of less polluting materials.’
‘What have you to say to those people in Africa and elsewhere demonstrating against the proposals to restrict their fertility?’ An African journalist.
‘Population growth is the biggest problem of all in the long term. If everyone were to use resources at the same rate as people in the wealthiest countries, we would need several planets like Earth to provide for them all. The economic development of poorer countries is only making matters worse; as their standard of living rises, they produce and consume more of everything, including energy.’