CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 21
Everyone, except Jacob Sawyer, had left the chamber. He sat on the front bench and looked around. The place looked different when it was empty. The green leather upholstery didn’t have a lot going for it, he thought. Jacob liked green. It reminded him of the lush tropical foliage around his grandparent’s farm in northern Queensland. The green there was vibrant and exciting, especially after rain, when the sun pierced the tree canopy and turned the trees and ferns into green works of art splashed with a palette of vivid colour softened with soft velvety pastels. He studied the upholstery hard, trying to find a natural tonal likeness, but he could find none. The chamber’s green had no life. It was as if the colour has been bleached out, leaving an insipid and soulless hue. And yet somehow he connected with it; because it matched his mood. The life he’d once believed in, had vanished, along with the values he held dear, leaving him drained and dry.
At thirty-two he had become as lifeless as a bone sucked of all its marrow. The passion that drove him to excel at law, and then politics, was dead. He had become a shadow of his former self; a dead man walking into a black hole that would soon devour him. Sure he would have enough money to do anything he wanted, but he knew material possessions could never fill the gap that is left when values and ethics are traded for greed and deception.
He looked down at the fact sheet in front of him. The page was filled with thumbnail photos of the states and territories coats of arms. He studied the images carefully and felt his throat muscles tighten when he read the Queensland’s motto: Audux et Fidelus, Bold, Aye and Faithful too. His eyes became moist but he forced himself to keep reading although his tears blurred the print. Orto Recens Quam Pura Nites, Newly Risen, How Bright Thous Shinest, the New South Wales’s motto. He sobbed when he read the words embedded in the
emblem George V had given to the city of Canberra in 1928 ‘For the Queen, The Law and The People’. Frozen, he stared at the clocks on either side of the Speaker’s chair, and understood their message; his time was running out.
The chamber was dark when he heard the voices of the cleaners in the hallway. Rising slowly, he stuffed the papers in to his briefcase and slipped through a small rear door into the evening chill.
‘How did this happen?’ he asked himself. ‘When did I sell out to the devil?’ He threw his case on the front seat of his silver Lexus and then drove across town to his parent’s home. He parked in the drive and drank in the lovely old colonial mansion where he had spent his childhood. Memories flooded his brain. As far back as kindergarten, secondary school, law school and his first day as a parliamentary junior staffer his life had been cradled in love, happiness and promise. He shook his head slowly and then walked to the door and pushed the buzzer.
His mother’s face soon beamed at him. ‘Jay it’s you. How wonderful.’ She said hugging him tightly.
‘Hi Mum. You look as lovely as ever.’
‘Come in darling. Daddy’s not at home; he’s over at the Lodge. There’s a special meeting about climate change.’ She looked at him as she held the door wide. ‘I’m surprised you’re not there too.’
‘I should be I guess, but I’m so over meetings, I decided to give this one a miss.’ Claire Sawyer closed the door and watched her son cross the vestibule that led to the kitchen. Jacob rarely sat in any other room. He loved the warmth and homeliness of the place. Claire could tell her son was troubled, and she knew it was serious. Jacob never missed meetings.
The fact he’d chosen to visit home instead of attending, what she knew to be an important meeting, made her sure her son had something on his mind. She was certain his problem was serious, because he was rubbing his thumb along the tips of his fingers. A soothing technique he’d developed on his first day at kindergarten. It had proven an effective way to reduce his separation anxiety, and it became a habit that remained with him throughout his adult life. Claire hadn’t seen him do it for years.
‘Can I get you a drink darling; tea, coffee, or a whisky perhaps?’
‘A coffee would be great.’
‘It’s amazing you should call today. I’ve baked your favourite chocolate and date loaf. It’s still warm.’
Jacob looked at his mother, then walked over and hugged her again. ‘Mum I’m in trouble; real trouble.’ He spoke quietly into her ear. ‘And I just don’t know how to get out of it.’
Claire held him for a moment, and then she stepped back and looked at him gently. ‘I know darling. Thank you for telling me.’
‘You know? How can you?’
‘I don’t know what the trouble is, but I’m your mother. I know when you’re in trouble Jay.’
‘How can you?’
‘You do that thing with your thumb and finger tips.’
‘Really? You look at my thumb and you can tell I’m in trouble?’ he sniggered.
‘Well that, and your eyes. They mirror the sadness inside. It shows.’ She took his hand. ‘Let’s go into the conservatory. It’s more comfortable in there.’
Jacob sat in a large cane chair facing the glass doors that lead into a magnificent formal garden. ‘Can you talk about it tonight or shall we leave it a few days? We could meet for lunch maybe.’ She smiled reassuringly at him. ‘Some problems are better solved in stages. Just telling me you have a problem is stage one; we can look at the next stage when you’re ready.’
‘I need to talk about it. I can’t do it alone.’
‘Good, then let’s do it together.’ Jacob told her about the deal that Bellingham had put to Danieli Travioli. She sat quietly until he finished, then asked, ‘What would you gain from all this?’
‘Bellingham will retire and I’ll be his nominated successor.’ He lowered his eyes, ‘Plus I get five million in cash.’
Claire was thoughtful. ‘With five million in the bank, would you still want to be in politics? With that sort of money you could do anything you want. Do you really want to be the Minister for the Environment? It would be a very challenging portfolio; a lot of hard work; for not much return.’
Jacob’s eyes widened with shock. As if it was the first time he’d ever really considered what he’d be taking on if he was the minister. ‘Oh my God,’ he cried, ‘it will be a nightmare. The world will go mad and I’d be expected to have the solutions to put it all right.’
‘You haven’t really answered my question. Would you still want to be in politics with all that money in the bank?’
‘No way.’
‘So you’d take the money and go somewhere safe?’
‘Sure.’
‘And what would you do?’
‘Shit Mum, I haven’t really thought about it.’ He paused, ‘I’d buy a property and raise cattle’, he added.
‘Cattle?’
‘Yes I’d start a cattle stud.’
‘And you would never look back?’ She watched him closely, ‘You would leave all the aspirations behind.’
‘Aspirations?’
‘For years you’ve wanted to make a difference. You wanted to help make Australia great.’ She tilted her head slightly and raised her eyebrows a little, ‘So you don’t want to do that anymore?’
Jacob said nothing. He held her gaze. ‘I did Mum. I did want to make Australia great, but I’ve blown it. Now all I can do is go away and forget about politics. I have no other choice. I’m up to my neck in this whole mess.’
‘That’s not true.’ Claire said firmly. ‘You haven’t done anything to damage your dream.’ She paused then added, ‘Yet.’
‘What do you mean? I’ve attended every meeting with Bellingham. I’m tainted.’
‘No. You are not! It’s not your plan. It’s Bellingham’s. You’re his deputy. It’s you job to attend meetings with him. But now you take your knowledge to the Prime Minister and you tell him what Bellingham intends to do.’ She smiled, ‘He will be removed from office and you will probably be appointed as his successor immediately.’ She waited, and then added, ‘Unless of course the money is more appealing. Then you simply go ahead, help Bellingham and collect your reward.’
Jacob laughed. ‘You’re amazing. As if I’ll keep helping Bellingham. I hate the man.’ He smiled and nodded resolutely. ‘I will make a time to see the PM tomorrow.’
‘I wouldn’t rush into it son,’ she warned. ‘I’d wait a little longer. If you can keep close to Bellingham you might find out more.’
‘What’s to know? The guys working the biggest scam in history. I know all about it. I’ve sat beside him in meetings. I’ve listened to every crooked word he’s uttered. There is no more to know.’
‘But you don’t have any proof. If you try to expose him now, he will deny it. It will be your word against his.’ She said gently.
Jacob was thoughtful. ‘You’re right. I need something in writing,’ he paused, ‘but what?’
‘A copy of an agreement would be good. Surely the developer expects a written agreement.’
‘None was mentioned. But perhaps I could suggest one. I’m sure Travioli would feel good if he had a formal document to flash in Bellingham’s face if something goes wrong.’
‘Then you should wait. Just long enough to get some written proof.’ She nodded slowly, ‘Then you go to the PM and expose the traitor.’
‘You know Mum I actually hate the whole bloody environmental movement.’ Claire said nothing, but smiled gently and nodded for him to continue. He settled back in his chair, inhaled deeply and said, ‘The environment has become the new religion. Most environmentalists are zealots. Their fire and brimstone tirades are equal to any fundamental religious groups that preach hell and damnation. To them we’re the infidels and blasphemers, who are marked with the sign of Cain. They scream their messages of terror and tell us all the wage of sin is death and hell.’ Jacob shook his head, ‘They’re in your face fanatics who want to take us back to prehistoric times. They’re bloody hypocrites too. They enjoy the benefits of modern life, and yet they condemn us all and call us Pharisees.’ Claire nodded her agreement. ‘If the world’s such a rotten place, let them go off and live in communes, without any modern facilities. Let them live their simplistic life, but they should do it honestly.’
Jacob was thoughtful for a moment, then continued, ‘Sure we’ve made some blunders, but for fucks sake that’s how we learn. Humans have the greatest capacity for critical analysis. It’s in our nature to assess and re-assess. It’s what keeps us moving forward. We’re never happy to stay stuck in one place, with one idea and one rigid way of living. We’re constantly refining the way we do things.’ He chuckled, ‘The irony is that the more we’re told we can’t do something, the harder we try to prove the doomsayers wrong. The fucking environmentalists just don’t get it. The arrogant bastards; they actually believe they have the franchise on knowledge, and they’re right and everyone else is wrong.’ Jacob looked across at his mother. He knew she felt the same way. Shit she was the one who taught him to question everything and not to be a follower. Ever since he was old enough to talk she had encouraged him to ask why. She said the world had enough happy joiners; it needed more trailblazers who understood absolutes were total nonsense.
Claire placed her coffee cup on the table and said, ‘I agree with you darling,’ she paused, and then added, ‘I’m concerned too. What’s happening in science is dangerous. All the big name scientists are on the same bus. They’re all peddling the same message and pushing the same climate change theories. The danger is that the whole scientific community is selling one idea, and the general public has swallowed it hook, line and sinker.’
Jacob’s face lit up. ‘I knew you’d feel like this. Why haven’t you talked to me about it?’
‘Well darling, you’ve been rather busy lately and you haven’t been around much.’
‘Sorry Mum.’
‘Don’t be. Things happen when the time’s right; we’re talking about it now.’
Jacob felt a surge of affection for the woman sitting opposite him. He felt a calm he hadn’t experienced for months. ‘When scientists start a me-too club we’re in real trouble.’ He watched her carefully, ‘We’re bringing back the Reformation. The environmentalists are no better than the churches of the middle ages. They’re conducting their own inquisitions and God help anyone who speaks against them; especially other scientists. Their creed is total conformity or prepare to burn.’
‘You’re absolutely right.’ Claire said, ‘Scientists are all supporting each other and they’re blocking all voices of dissent.’ She frowned. ‘A few of us at the university are looking for new ways to get alternative views into the public arena. Mainstream channels are of no use anymore. They squash anything that argues against popular scientific opinion. Their censorship is very effective. And many good scientists are too scared to even put forward arguments that could widen the debate. They’re scared they will be targeted as radicals and there will be a negative impact on their careers.’ Claire shook her head, ‘Which is true of course; they will be targeted. And they will be publically ridiculed and discredited. Their careers will end.’ She looked sad for a brief moment, ‘But they will not be stopped. No amount of coercion and peer power will keep them quiet. They will continue to tell everyone who will listen, that the earth is not about to self destruct. Environmental Armageddon is not just around the corner.’ She smiled, ‘There are some very determined people out there Jacob; and they are excellent scientists to boot. They will spread the word. Just like Jesus told people to disregard the teachings of the Old Testament, these people will tell everyone that we’re going through a natural cyclic event. The earth is responding to powerful cosmic forces. It is realigning itself. It is experiencing an evolutionary change and it will come out the other side stronger than before.’ Claire concluded.
‘You can’t have an intelligent discussion with environmentalists. They never actually listen to what you’re saying. You can almost see their mind working while you’re trying to share your personal views about climate change, or anything else to do with the environment for that matter. They make eye contact with you but you can tell they’re not listening. They get this supercilious smile on their face and they look at you as though you’re some sort of idiot child one must be patient with and feel sympathy for. Religious believers get that same silly smile if you try to discuss their faith or try sincerely to tell them how you feel.’
Claire smiled and nodded, she knew exactly what Jacob meant; she’d see that smile often. ‘I know that smile. It is such a self-righteous, smug, little expression. They think they’re being extremely tolerant, listening to a poor misguided fool, but that silly little smile is a dead give away. It is a beacon to show they are so arrogantly caught up in the belief that they were personally selected to receive privileged knowledge and they have found salvation. They also believe they must convert others, and patiently suffer other people's ignorance until the Holy Spirit touches the poor misguided fools, and miraculously open their hearts. That’s what the little smile is all about Jacob. That smile is to show they have been given grace and all the rest of us are unclean, ignorant, sinners.
I watched a good You Tube video a few weeks ago. It shows Richard Dawkins addressing a gathering of college students. At the end of the address one of the students says, ‘but what if you’re wrong?' Dawkins explained that he could tell from her question that she had been raised in as a Christian and therefore she was committed to Christian beliefs and doctrine. He concluded by saying, ‘what if you’re wrong?’
'It’s so simple. We know so little about the world and the vast universe that it might be billions of years before we actually know anything really concrete. Why can’t we humans just acknowledge that, and admit that no one has a franchise on truth and no one can claim their system is foolproof?’
Claire smiled, ‘It would be nice if we could do that Jay, but I don’t think it’s going to change in the immediate future. We humans still find it easier to be told what to think and how to behave. We’re still small children who need our parents to tell us what to believe and which club to belong to. Then when we join we like to think we’ve become part of an exclusive group that affords us great prestige. We want to be part of a unique band of people; it makes us feel special,’ she laughed gently, ‘and a little bit of persecution can help too. It gives the club even greater status, so in turn its members gain more kudos when they join.’ Claire reached over and patted Jacob on the knee, “I don’t want to be a member of an exclusive club, I want to be free to question everything and put sacred cows out to pasture.’
‘Me too.’ Jacob agreed. ‘I don’t want to be told what to think. I want to make my own decisions. I don’t care how hard the environmental movement pushes its global warming theory; or how much it ridicules people who dare to question their ideas, I will not be told how to live my life. I want to make my own discoveries and I don’t need a group of fanatics pushing me down a preordained pathway, because as Richard Dawkins said, ‘what if they’re wrong?’”
‘I have a great podcast you should listen to. It’s Jennifer Marohasy, she’s the Director of the Australian Environment Foundation and a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Public Affairs. She’s talking about climate change with Michael Duffy on ABC radio national. She puts forward some data that rarely makes it into the mainstream media. Her final comment is that it’s another ice age we should be worried about, not a fiddly bit of global warming. I’ll email you the file. It’s extremely thought provoking.’ She smiled, ‘Ego. It’s all human ego. Humans are control obsessed. Most humans think they have all the answers; all the knowledge. They actually believe that they are the only ones who understand what makes the universe tick. They are so wrong. This obsession about controlling the environment could end up turning into our worst nightmare.”
‘How so?’
‘What if the universe is doing what it does best, without any help from anyone? What if the shifts are a cyclic event that happens every million years or so? What if the shifts are a natural evolutionary phenomenon? She paused and studied him, ‘It’s possible.’ She said softly, ‘Think about it Jay. The universe has been taking care of itself for eons, and it’s done it beautifully. Suppose humans are really just getting in the way? Why can’t they simply step aside and let evolution take its course?’
‘But what about Global Warming?’ Jacob asked.
‘What about it?”
‘Well there’s a heap of evidence pointing to the fact that human activity is a major contributor.’
‘Rubbish.’
‘So you don’t think any of the research is convincing?’
“No. I don’t.’
‘Oh, come on. Some great minds back the stuff.”
‘And that’s the problem.”
“Great minds are the problem.”
‘Global Warming, Rising Seas, Melting Ice Caps, are real, but all the great minds are riding the same gravy-train. It will take a group of very brave scientist to burst the illusion.’
‘Illusion?’
‘Yes. It’s the Emperor’s New Clothes all over again. Only it’s a lot more complex. With the whole scientific community pushing the same barrow it will take something really big to burst the bubble. Something too big to be ignored.’
‘Sure, but what about the evidence? You can’t ignore it.’
‘Oh come on Jay. The evidence only shows change is happening. It doesn’t show why? The theories are based on human activity, but what about natural evolution?’
‘You could be right.’
‘I believe I am. But no one is going to listen to me.’ She looked serious. ‘But they might listen to you.’
‘No way, Mum.’
‘Why not? People do listen to you.’
‘Sure.’
‘I’m serious. If Al Gore can run around the globe stirring up fear and mayhem, why can’t you?’
‘People love Al Gore. He’s a bloody celebrity. I’m a junior minister for God’s sake.’
‘Exactly. And that makes you perfect for the job. You talk to the people in the street; not in TV studios and conference centres.’ She shook her head slowly, ‘People hate change. It scares them. They’ll do anything to keep things static. The way they know and understand them; it’s the same with Global Warming. People are scared. But what if they stopped fighting and learned to just step back and let nature do its job?’
‘Surely you’re not suggesting people do nothing?’
‘That’s exactly what I am suggesting. I think it’s time to do nothing and just see what happens. Christ, the changes are miniscule in the scheme of things. You’re a researcher, you know ultimate findings all depend on your benchmark. Modern scientists are using measurement comparisons that are a just a tiny blip on the universal timeline. When are they going to get out of their inflated ego and admit they just don’t have enough data to make any intelligent predictions based on the age of the universe? If they used that as their baseline, then their calculations would fade into nothingness.’ Claire sighed. ‘Just this week a diamond find is now making scientists say the earth is probably billions of years older than first thought. Look son, there are no absolutes. We know a little, but we have a whole lot more to learn. We are fools to think we have hard and fast answers to anything. It’s all speculation.’ Claire leaned back in her chair thoughtfully, and then continued, ‘There’s another aspect to consider. It’s the rich economies who are making all the fuss. What about developing economies? Can they afford to be part of the rush to stop Global Warming? Of course they can’t. Just think of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. If you’re wealthy and your existence is not dependant on simply getting through the day, you have the luxury to lament the state of the earth. You can take the high moral ground and demand change. Wealth makes it possible to invest in new ideas and impose all sorts of restrictions on your people. Rich countries can afford to develop new technology and people can afford to adopt them. What about poor countries? Is anyone really thinking about them? Do the powerful western countries give a damn about how they will survive? Is the west going to compensate them for loss of trade opportunities? Or fund the new projects to help them to become clean and green? No, of course they aren’t. They have already plundered the natural resources; they’ve made their fortunes. They’re fine. But how will poor countries manage? And who really cares about them anyway?’
Jacob walked over to the French doors and looked into the garden. The tiny solar lights looked like stars that had fallen from the sky. He turned back to his mother and she could see he was strong again. His eyes were bright and his carriage was confident. ‘I guess time will prove whose right.’
‘Absolutely. Time is the great awakener. I just hope people can get over their fear and let the universe take control.’
‘Speaking of taking control; I’ve been a bloody fool. Why in the name of God did I sell out and get caught up in this whole fucking mess with Bellingham?’
Claire smiled at him, ‘Don’t beat yourself up Jacob. You have become a casualty of the environmental propaganda. You’re not alone you know. You fell for the fear driven crap and it robbed you of your faith in the future. When you make people believe they have no future, you take away everything. If you replace the vision of hope with one of despair, then the human psyche turns on itself. Self-preservation becomes the driving force and values change.’ She paused and studied her son, ‘Don’t let the priests win Jacob. Rush into their temple and upturn their tables. Do it with passion. And do it fearlessly.’
Jacob nodded; his eyes glistened. ‘I will.’
‘Good. Now let’s heat up the lasagne I was keeping for your father.’
‘I love you Mum.’
“I know.’
‘I’m sorry I let you down.’
Claire looked shocked, ‘Jacob, we’re each given our own bag of personal challenges and learning opportunities, and they’re all different. You’ve been given a unique situation to process and analyse and you’re the only one who can make the decision about how to move forward, and what lessons you’ll gain from it.’ Claire rose, walked over and hugged him, ‘Son I don’t have to tell you I will always be here for you. No matter what you decide. Personal growth determines how we see the world and use the learning opportunities that come our way.’ She smiled at him, ‘I love you too.’
They ate in silence, and then Claire cleared the table and refilled their wine glasses, ‘This whole environmental thing is just a rehash of what people in earlier times went through. It is indeed the new religion. People believe the power is in the hands of the priests, and the followers behave exactly like missionaries. They think they’ve found the truth and they self-righteously want to spread through the globe to preach their religion and scare the shit out of the non-believers. They peddle their fear and warn the sinners they will perish and end up in a teeth-gnashing place called hell.’ Claire laughed, ‘They’re the enlightened ones; we’re the heathens who need salvation.’ She smiled at Jacob, ‘Anyone who says we’ve come a long way is living in la-la-land. We’re still stuck in the dark ages and we’re still followers. People are being manipulated by fear Jacob. The environment debate is big business; many people will make a lot of money from it. And it’s an issue that’s been hijacked by the politicians. It is a control mechanism. Don’t be fooled by the scare mongering. Get out there Jacob; rattle a few self-righteous tin cans and discover who the real heathens are. Be daring. Start your own crusade and show people how to see the world through new eyes.’