John Krygelski - The Aegis Solution

“We do,” Rogan replied.

“A microphone and speaker system, a rope ladder, a platform above the ceiling — all pretty impressive.”

“Thanks.”

“But all I had to do to get in was tell you I was alone?”

“Yep” was all Rogan said.

“I don’t get it.”

Rogan stopped walking, joined a moment later by Johnson. Elias followed suit and turned to face him directly. The man responded matter-of-factly, “The Manager can explain if you’re curious.”

“The Manager?”

Rogan just nodded.

Elias shrugged. “Okay, let’s go meet the Manager.”

They resumed the walk and within less than two minutes arrived at an open doorway leading into what looked like a medium-sized meeting room.

Johnson gestured toward the table and seats. “Wait here, if you don’t mind. The Manager will be right in.”

Elias decided that it was probably a waste of time to ask the two of them any more questions, so he thanked them both, parked his suitcase on the carpeted floor, and waited.

He did not have time to look closely at his surroundings before a door opened at the opposite end of the room from where he had entered, and a woman walked in. It was difficult for Elias to judge her age. Her short hair was completely white, yet her face showed few age lines. She wore a turquoise, loosely fitting dress. He was not sure, but Elias thought some of the girls in his classes had called it a squaw dress in the more politically incorrect days when he was in elementary school. Instead of shoes, she had on leather sandals.

“I’m Mildred Pierce,” she announced, extending her hand in greeting as she crossed the room to Elias.

“Elias Charon.”

They shook hands. Elias noted the firm yet brief handshake.

“Welcome to Walden.”

“Walden?”

Pierce flashed an insincere smile. “That’s what we’ve named our little corner of Aegis.”

“Someone’s a Thoreau fan.”

“That’s right,” Pierce answered, the phony smile returning. “I think there was talk of the name long before it became an ‘official group.’ I’m not totally sure who thought of it, but I’m sure it was a ‘fan.’ It is a nice fit. Please have a seat.” She motioned toward the meeting table and chairs, and Elias sat in the closest one while Pierce chose one which left an empty seat between them.

“Would you like some herbal tea, or perhaps some wine? We have a fun Cabernet from Napa Valley.”

“That is very kind, but no thanks.”

Clasping her hands together on the table, Pierce asked, “What, if I may ask, did you do before coming to Aegis?”

He and Faulk had discussed what Elias’ cover would be, so he answered quickly, “I was a forensic accountant.”

He noticed her eyes narrow momentarily at his response, but the Manager’s voice retained its lightness and conviviality as she said, “Forensic accountant, huh? For whom did you work? The government?”

“At times. I was a freelancer, had my own PC with several clients; the Fed was one of them from time to time. I spent most of my time working for lawyers who were chasing assets on behalf of their clients.”

“Your own professional corporation,” Pierce repeated, leaning back in her chair and staring at the ceiling grid above her.

“That’s right. Why do you ask?”

Pierce returned her gaze to Elias. “I don’t know how much time you spent thinking about what it would be like here in Aegis.”

Elias shrugged and lied, “Not much.”

“Well, in many ways we are like a colony which is assembling itself after some apocalyptic event. Money has no value in here, at least at this time,” Pierce said cryptically. “What does have value are certain specific talents, fields of knowledge, or training.”

“That makes sense.”

“Obviously, doctors and dentists are the most in demand. Certain tradesmen, especially electricians and plumbers. Chefs, definitely. Naturally, the arts — actors, writers, artists, singers, comedians, musicians, and the lot. You see, we don’t get the Internet in Aegis. Nor do we receive any television channels. No radio. Nothing from the outside.”

“I knew there was no communication between Aegis and the outside world,” Elias stated, “but I don’t see why they don’t allow those things to come in.”

Elias, of course, did know. The electronic jamming, which was necessary to prevent any signals from leaving Aegis, also stopped anything from entering. There was always the alternative of cable but, as of yet, there was no such thing as a one-way cable feed. It had been suggested that a communication signal could be embedded in a laser which would be directed at a receiver on Aegis, but the debate as to what would be broadcast had brought this discussion to a deadlock.

“In the infinite wisdom of those who created this place,” Pierce pronounced with unconcealed sarcasm, “it was decided. That is all we know.

“The others of value to us are teachers, physical trainers, and therapists.”

“Therapists? You mean, like counselors?”

She nodded. “Yes, counselors. But also therapists who specialize in meditation, yoga, tai chi, aroma therapy.”

“And I assume you have a need for former police personnel, or those with military training.”

Elias once again saw the brief flash of distaste appear. “No. Not at all. Here in Walden there has been no need or desire for that group.”

He leaned forward and explained, “If you’ve established a community with no troublemakers within, I can understand that, but from the reception I almost received before I arrived here, it surely looked as though you could use some protection.”

“That is why we established the perimeter you came through,” she answered with a hint of smugness in her voice.

Allowing a rueful smile to show on his face, Elias remarked, “I didn’t hear accountants anywhere on the list.”

Pierce’s insincere smile was replaced with an equally insincere expression of sympathy. “I’m afraid not. Without any currency, or any other method of asset accumulation, there is actually no need for someone who can keep track of it.”

Pierce quickly continued, as if to placate her guest, “I’m certain that you noticed there are many other professions absent from the list.”

“Lawyers, for one?”

“Exactly. Many of them have arrived, and some initially pleaded their case as to the importance of their skills in assisting us to organize a rule-following society. But we quickly found out that their presence was anything but helpful in that direction. We also have no need for stockbrokers, for obvious reasons, bankers — really, the entire financial field.”

“I have no way of knowing this,” Elias interrupted, “but do you think that since financial problems may be the root cause for many of those who choose to check in at Aegis, there might be an emotional component to excluding that category?”

The bogus smile quickly returned and Pierce replied, “That very well may be, Mr. Charon. But you may be surprised to discover that this same excluded list is also populated with many who practiced in several of the engineering fields, with the exception of civil, electrical, and computer engineers.”

“Why no engineers?”

Pierce tilted back in her seat. “That can best be answered by sharing a story with you. I was still outside of Aegis and living in Miami Beach. My daughter, who was graduating from college at the time, told me that she, her boyfriend, and two of his friends were going to climb into his twenty-year-old car at nine o’clock at night and drive to Orlando so they could go to the amusement parks the following morning.

“I told her I thought it was a stupid idea. She asked why, and I explained that her boyfriend’s car could break down in the middle of the night and they would be stranded. Quite indignantly, she replied that I had no reason to be concerned because, after all, if the car broke down, she would have three engineers with her. When I finished laughing, my comment was simply ‘And what will they do if the car stops running, whip out their laptops and design a new car?’”