King of All I Survey-Chapter 146: Getting a Definite Maybe

Diego, AKA Joe, and I pushed our chairs away from the table and began to stand up.

"I vote yes, we join this Universal Earth Concord," said a voice from across the table. Diego and I froze halfway between standing and sitting. Could it be that easy? I looked up and saw that it was Gabriel Morales, President of the Supreme Court of Guatemala who had rendered his judgment on the matter.

From the looks the other two gave him, his quick decision caught them by surprise as well.

I finished standing and leaned across the table with my hand outstretched. "Thank, Mr. Morales, I am very grateful for the trust you place in us," I said, struggling to keep my voice calm and respectful without showing the wild exuberance I felt inside.

"Yes, well, I’m an old man who has built his career around judging people’s character and trying to make this a better country. My gut tells me, you’re honest, compassionate, and your intentions are good. I may not live long enough to see Guatemala get another chance like this to raise, not only the condition of life for our citizens, but also to raise its world standing as a nation of importance. I’ve seen what you’ve done here already, and if we can get more of that, I’d be a fool to refuse it."

"Thank you, I will do everything I can to see that desire fulfilled," I replied as we shook hands.

"Well, yes, I can not give my vote so easily," Hernandez interrupted. "I will put it to the legislature for a vote, and the results of that vote will be our binding decision." He looked down at the thick document sitting on the table in front of him and gave his head a rueful shake. "Knowing my colleagues, however, I fear some of them will respond hastily, without a thorough reading or understanding of this Universal Earth Concord... It would probably go better if you could provide enough of these," he held up the imprint learning device we had given him, "for all of them. Otherwise, even optimistically, it’s going to take weeks to even schedule a vote. It would also be helpful if you were to appear as my guest to present the case for joining this new Concord and to answer any questions they may have."

I smiled and nodded, "I can certainly do that. I will need to take these three devices back with me, however, and I’ll need to control the disposition of any such proprietary and as yet unreleased products that are distributed to the members of your esteemed body."

He nodded and waved a hand dismissively, "of course, of course. We can figure out the details, let me discuss a strategy with some of the senior members and we can work all that out together." He looked directly at me, "You will have my vote, and my support to get this passed, but I think it’s going to be difficult, and I’m not sure how it’ll go to be honest."

I nodded and walked around the table to shake his hand, "I understand completely. We can only do what we can do. Your support is very important to me Just let me know what I can do to help." I reached out to shake his hand. He took it and we shook.

I turned to face President Arroyo with an exaggerated look of expectation.

He laughed, "My decision will not come so easily, I’m afraid. There is a lot to consider on both sides of the issue. Either way, legally, I could not move forward without a bill from the legislature. When... if they present me with one, I will either veto it or sign it at that time. Regardless of my decision on this matter, however, I do extend my personal and official thanks to you for helping us solve the long-standing issues with cartels and trafficking, not to mention the institutional corruption issues. I hope that whatever the outcome here, we can continue to cooperate on those matters and the ongoing infrastructure improvements."

"We will not suddenly abandon you, should you decide against joining us," I assured him, "but it may be that our first priority and our fullest attention might shift elsewhere. You have the manpower from the former gangs to take on whatever infrastructure improvements you care to make. We will continue to manage that effort under your direction, and even pay their wages for some period of time, until our counselors have assured us that those men involved have no further need of rehabilitation or counseling to keep them on the right path at least. We will give you access to our soon to be announced technologies, though you may have pay for them and wait in line depending upon capacity and UEC acceptance from other countries. We will continue our good working relationship with you and Guatemala, no matter what happens, as long as the country allows us. Of course, we will not permit any resurgence of the organized crime networks or drug trade, nor any nation to prosecute war against you. You have my word," I concluded, as we shook hands.

President Arroyo looked at me with an assessing stare. "Any nation? You stopped an incursion from poorly equipped and disorganized gangs from Chiapas, but if a major nation with modern weaponry, aircraft, tanks, battleships decided to invade Guatemala, you think you can stand in their way? Honestly?" He raised a doubtful eyebrow.

I smiled and met his gaze. "In all honesty, Mr. President, I think such an attack would fare no better that the one from Chiapas. That’s all I will say on the matter."

His second eyebrow shot up to match the first in surprise at my plain and confident response. "Hmmm," he said, tilting his head as he reassessed the value of our good will and tried to decide if my confidence was likely to be justified or if it was careless boast. After a brief pause, he said, "I think I believe you."

"We do still have some of the more seriously violent criminals from your country in our confined rehabilitation facilities. We believe they cannot be safely released at this time. We offer them the best counseling available in the world as we work to return them as productive members of your society, but there will be some that..."

"That cannot ever walk the streets without posing a risk to innocent people." President Arroyo finished for me. "As far as I am concerned, they have been remanded into the care and custody of your organization as a third-party contractor. Their release is at your discretion. Perhaps Mr. Morales as the head of our judicial branch," he said turning toward him, "can draw up the legal paperwork for such an agreement in a way that supports our constitutional mandates."

Morales shrugged. "Probably not, to be honest, but I can write one up that no one in our branch of government will challenge, especially with you as co-signatory."

Arroyo shrugged, "that will have to do, then." He turned back to face me. "So, regarding the issue of Mr. Camal de Leon challenging me publicly for the Presidency...?"

I held out my hands palm up to either side. "He is his own man and will make his own decisions. I can tell you that I have in mind another offer that I believe he will accept. An offer that will give him no opportunity to pose any further issues for you, Mr. President." I smirked, "And again, I have to tell that is all I can say about that issue."

A brief look of what appeared to be genuine concern clouded Arroyo’s face, "He’s not going to be harmed...?"

"No, no, nothing like that. I would hope you know that’s not my style. He will have his leadership opportunity... elsewhere."

Arroyo’s face know showed a clear curiosity, "Oh?"

"I’ve said too much already. Good-bye Mr. President, and thank you again for everything you’ve done for the people of your country. Gentlemen." I nodded to the other two as Diego and I opened the door and left the conference room.

Outside the door were two of the Presidential Guard. They escorted us to the front door, and then to the Palace Gates which they closed behind us.

I looked at Diego/ Joe. "Well, that was interesting."

"Yes, quite," he replied, "It went very well considering the possibilities."

We walked through the streets as we talked, I had no particular destination in mind. I figured that at some point we would duck into an area where we could remain unseen as we used the Local Interdimensional Transport Vehicle systems that were built into our android bodies.

"I didn’t expect to get any answer, certainly not a positive one from any of them so fast," I told Joe, "I though Hernandez was going to be a real problem, but he seemed to be completely on board with joining the Universal Earth Concord."

"Yes, but I share his opinion that official legislative approval will be difficult at best," Joe said. "As it stands, I think it is more likely that they will fail to approve it."

I frowned, "Really? It seems like such a good deal for Guatemala, how could they say no?"

"You have no experience at all in politics, King Tim. The content of the agreement is not the big issue."

I glanced over at him as we walked, "What then?"

"The biggest issue is... let’s say the ego of the men voting on it. You have largely kept them out of the loop on this, and now you want them to rubber-stamp handing ultimate control over the country to a stranger, a foreigner, a 23-year-old kid (as far as they know), someone who doesn’t respect them enough to ask their opinions in advance. Someone who has not offered them any... personal reasons to support this crazy scheme."

I shrugged, "So, what do I do? Hernandez is already going to set me up to convince them and answer questions as they debate the proposal."

"If I were a seasoned politician and a skillful leader of men," Joe began, "I would talk privately with Mr. Hernandez and ask him to begin arranging private meeting for you with key members of the legislature who have a level of influence within the body. Members likely to resist the idea strenuously, and even with those likely to support it. I would try to establish my personal credibility and competence with each of them. I would demonstrate my deep concern for their thoughts on how we should move forward, asking for their suggestions and listening intently. I would offer them the imprint learning devices with the document in advance of its general distribution, as a gesture of respect for their special significance in the legislature. I would ask for their help in gathering support for the proposal and offer them my support in return. I would also ask for advice on specific communities and projects which should be given top priority in infrastructure upgrades, community service facilities, and even new factory placement to increase employment opportunities. Joe looked toward me and gave me a wry look, "In a select few cases, I might even act on their advice."

I laughed, "so, it’s not really about using their advice or learning from them, it’s about making them feel important?"

"Now, you’re beginning to understand politics, young King Tim," Joe replied with a soft chuckle.

I shook my head and frowned. "No wonder this planet needs so much help."

Joe chuckled louder.

"No. I won’t do it." I said forcefully, maybe more forcefully than I should have. Joe looked at me doubtfully. "I’m not going to go through the motions and pretend I care what they say. I’m going to meet with them, some of them anyway and we’ll see how it goes, but I’m going to ask questions and solicit advice with the intent to consider it and act upon it if it makes sense. I mean, they’ve lived here all their lives, they’ve been in government here, making policies that have huge impacts on people’s lives. They must know something about what’s really needed here. They must have good ideas about how I could do things better, Joe. Now that you point it out, I’m not really doing that great a job at taking advice from people who know more than me. Present company excepted, of course. Anyway, I need to get better at that, and this is a good place to start. I’m not going to play act to make people feel better about themselves and hope that makes them like me enough to vote for something no matter what it is. I’m just not. I will go talk with them and seek their wisdom." I shrugged, "Who knows, maybe it’ll turn out they don’t have any, but at least I have to try. Not just for their votes either, but because it’s the right way to do something like this."

Joe was staring at me while I made this little speech. He was staring right at me and not looking where he was going at all even though we were walking a pretty brisk pace. I knew, it didn’t matter for him, he was intimately aware of every particle in the universe so the odd of him waking into a signpost or something were pretty small, but still it was kind of unnerving, and I knew it would look odd to anyone who saw him.

"Um, Joe? Watch where you’re going. You’re going to attract suspicion."

He quickly swivelled his head forward, "Oops," he said.

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