Elephant Song - Smith Wilbur - Страница 63

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It was weak tactics to disagree with the man until he had listened to everything he had to say, and heard the full proposal that Harrison was obviously working towards.  in principle all you say makes excellent sense.  However, if you could be a little more specific, Tug.  Right, Harrison agreed.  Of course you know the state of Ubomo, don't you?

Daniel felt a little electric shock tickle the hair at the back of his neck.  It was so unexpected and yet, in some bizarre manner, he felt that it was predestined.  Something had been leading him inexorably in that direction.  It took him a moment to recover himself, then he said, Ubomo, the land of the red earth.  Yes, I have been there, though I can't claim to be an expert on the country.  Since independence from Britain in the sixties, it has been a little backwater.  Harrison shrugged.  There wasn't much to know about it.  it was the fief of an arrogant old dictator who resisted all change and progress.  Victor Omeru, Daniel said.  I met him once, but it was years ago, when he was bickering with his neighbours about the fishing rights in the Lake. That was typical of the man.  He resisted all change on principle.  He wanted to keep to the traditional ways and customs.  He wanted to keep his people docile and compliant.  Harrison shook his head.  Anyway, that is all history.  Omeru has gone and there is a dynamic young man at the head of government.  President Ephrem Taffari is there to open up the country and bring his people into the twentieth century.  Apart from the fishing rights, Ubomo has considerable natural assets.

Timber and minerals.  For twenty years I have tried to convince Omeru that these should be developed for the benefit of his people.

He has resisted with a blind intransigence.  Yes.  He was stubborn, Daniel agreed.  But I liked him.  Oh, yes, he was a lovable old codger, Harrison agreed.  But that is no longer relevant.  The country is ripe and ready for development and, on behalf of an international consortium of which BOSS is the leading member, I have negotiated the concession to undertake a major part of this development.  Doesn't sound as though you need me, then.  I wish it were as easy as that.

Harrison shook his head.  We are being overtaken by the wave of hysteria that is sweeping the world.  It is a psychological law that every mass popular movement is hi-jacked by fanatics and pushed beyond the dictates of reason and common sense.  The pendulum of public feeling always swings too far in each direction.  You are running into opposition to your plans to develop the natural resources of Ubomo.  Is that what you are trying to tell me, Tug?  Harrison cocked his head on one side.  He looked like an eagle when he did that, a great bald-headed bird of prey. You are direct, young man, but I should have expected that.  He sat down behind his desk and picked up an ivory-handled duelling pistol which he used as a paper weight.  He spun it on his forefinger and the gold inlay on the barrel sparkled like a Catherine-wheel.  There was a female scientist working in Ubomo during Omeru's presidency, he went on at last.  She and the old man had a close relationship and he gave her all sorts of special privileges that he denied other journalists and researchers.  She published a book on the forest-dwellers of Ubomo.  You and I would call them pygmies, although that term is unfashionable in today's climate.  The title was.

. . Harrison paused to think, and Daniel intervened.  The title was The People of the Tall Trees.

Yes, I have read the book.  The author's name is Kelly Kinnear.  Have you met her?

Harrison demanded.  No.  Daniel shook his head.  But I would like to.

She writes well.  Her style reminds me of Rachel Carson.  She is a-'She is a trouble-maker, Harrison cut in bluntly.  She is a shit-stirrer. The coarse term seemed uncharacteristic of him.  You'll have to explain that to me.  Daniel kept his voice even and his expression neutral.  He didn't want to declare his sentiments until he had heard Harrison out. When he came to power, President Taffari sent for this woman.  She was working in the forest at the time.  He explained to her his plans for the advancement and development of the country, and asked for her support and her assistance.  The meeting was not a success.  Kelly Kinnear had some misguided sense of loyalty to old President Omeru and she resisted President Taffari's overtures of friendship.  She is entitled to her views, of course, but then she began a campaign of agitation within Ubomo's borders.  She accused Taffari of violations of human rights.  She also accused him of planning to rape the country's natural resources by uncontrolled exploitation.  Harrison throw up those powerful scarred hands.  In fact she went into female hysterics and attacked the new government in every way she was able.  There was no logic nor reason nor even factual basis for these attacks.  Taffari had no alternative but to send her packing.

He chucked her out of Ubomo.

She is, as you probably know, a British subject, and she ended up back here in the UK.  However, she had not learned her lesson and she continues her campaign against the government of Ubomo.  BOSS has nothing to fear from someone like that, surely?  Daniel probed gently, and Harrison looked across at him sharply, searching for traces of irony in the question.  Then he transferred his attention back to the duelling pistol in his right hand.  Unfortunately, the woman has built up a foundation of influence on the strength of her writings.  She is articulate and, he hesitated, and personable.  She manages to hide her fanaticism under a cloak of reasoned logic which is, needless to say, based on false assumptions and distorted facts.  She has managed to recruit the support of the Green Party in this country and on the Continent.  You are right, BOSS has nothing to fear from such an obvious charlatan, but she is a nuisance.  She looks good on television.  Now she has come to know of our interest in Ubomo and the plans that our consortium has to develop the area.  She and her supporters are making a great deal of noise.

You might have seen that piece in the Guardian recently?  No.  Daniel shook his head.  I don't read the Guardian, and I've been pretty busy recently.  I'm a little out of touch.  Well, take my word for it then, it is making life just a trifle uncomfortable for me.  I have shareholders to answer to and an annual general meeting coming up.

Now, I've just learned that this woman has acquired a small block of shares in BOSS, which gives her the right to attend the AGM and to speak.  You can be certain she will have the radical press and a bunch of those lunatics from "Friends of the Earth" there with her,, she will make a circus of the occasion.  an awkward, Tug.  Daniel nodded, stifling his smile.  How can I help you?  Your influence in public and scientific circles is far greater than Kelly Kinnear's.  I have spoken to many people in various disciplines and diverse walks of life about you.  You are well respected your views on Africa are taken seriously.

What I propose is that you go to Ubomo and make a documentary that sets out the true facts and examines the issues that this Kinnear woman has raised.  It would blow her away like a puff of smoke.  Television is a much more powerful medium than the printed word, and I could guarantee you maximum exposure.

BOSS owns extensive media interests .

Daniel listened to him with rising incredulity.  It was like listening to a client propositioning a prostitute for the performance of a particularly lurid perversion.  He felt the urge to laugh with outrage, to reject violently this insult to his integrity.  This man truly believed that he was for sale.  it took an effort for him to sit still and listen expressionlessly.  Of course, I could also guarantee that you would receive the whole-hearted cooperation of President Taffari and his government.

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