When the crew arrived at Washington Dulles, they were forced to wait in order to gather all their equipment and pick up their hired vehicles. Sandy and Martin were however, whisked away in the Regal Electric Bentley by Joss. Sandy couldn’t help but notice that Joss looked very tired. Joss chatted to Martin about his research and explained that Professor Allenby had been away on business for some time and that she would be the point of contact for any information or help that was needed by the crew or Sandy until he returned.
” Will the Professor be available for an interview?” Sandy asked.
” Oh yes , I’m sure , I’ve no firm date when he’s coming back into the Country, things seem to be changing daily. I’ll have to let you know.” Joss smiled.
Martin and Sandy’s accommodation was beautiful. It had it’s own swimming pool and a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.
“I think we’ve had an upgrade , Martin.”
“Wow, impressive”. Martin turned to Sandy and signalled not to say anything. He reached into his pocket and took what looked like a small wi-fi hub out of his pocket and walked into one of the bedrooms. Martin beckoned to Sandy to follow.
He put the device on the bedroom table and plugged it into one of the sockets. It bleeped two or three times and a green light came on.
” Great , now we can talk. The place will be bugged to the hilt and there’ll be hidden cameras everywhere. With this device we can speak for a short while and no one will know what we are saying. It’ll just look like a bad connection. “
” OK, so what other magic tricks have you got up your sleeve , Martin?”
“Just wait and see. We have to be very careful, but some of the kit we have is very impressive. That’s why I was burning the midnight oil before coming away. We are wired for sound or actually we are wired to stop the sound.”
“And camera’s?” Sandy’s mobile phone rang. It was Allenby.
Sandy looked at Martin and signalled that she would move into the other room to take the call.
Martin unplugged the signal blocker and waited to hear from Sandy what Allenby had planned.
When Sandy returned to the living room , Martin could tell her mindset had changed, she squirmed and suggested that they go for a swim, that it was a lovely evening and it would be nice to relax in the pool. When Martin said that he was tired, she again squirmed and said .
” Oh come on Martin, let’s just have a bit of fun, it’s very secluded here. Let’s skinny dip”
They both took their clothes off and went out into the pool, Sandy took the lead and Martin felt that everything that was happening was a performance, Allenby was watching .
Later back in their large double bed , Sandy stretched over and turned on the signal blocker. Quickly she said, ” I’m really sorry, but I didn’t know what else to do. It was what Allenby wanted. The man is a pervert. It’s what he wanted me to do .”
Martin looked at her , they were both exhausted, but Martin couldn’t help but laugh.” I hope I’m not going to be all over the internet when I get back”. Sandy couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Martin said “And now he can listen to the sound of me snoring the git.” He reached over and turned off the signal blocker and went to sleep.
Sandy’s documentary was nominated for two Industry Awards. She had invites to many functions and requests for interviews which seriously ate into the time that she wanted to spend with the twins never mind the time that she wanted to spend to help Alex.
The main Award Ceremony was in September which she and her now hand picked team would be attending. Gerry told her that he had invited Allenby and that Allenby had accepted. Indeed Allenby in his role of Top Scientific Guru, had been asked to present a prize in the Science Category. Either way they were bound to bump into each other. Until then Sandy was determined to spend quality time with her twins and where possible cut back on engagements.
On one fine Spring day, she had managed to find the time to take the twins to the local Park for a Picnic, the weather promised to be kind, glorious sunshine and warm for a change. Martin unusually was working away and Sandy was pleased to have the twins to herself.
As Sandy began laying the Picnic Blanket on the ground and placing the food on plates while the twins ran off towards the children’s play area. Sandy sensed someone was behind her, as she turned around , she saw it was Maria.
“Hi Sandy, do you mind if I join you , she sat down.”
Maria stretched the rug out a little more and took a seat as she watched Sandy prepare the food for the picnic. The twins noticed the strange woman and ran back to see who it was. Sandy was at first annoyed, but when she saw the way Maria made a fuss of the two children, she thought better of it and decided it was just like an old friend joining her on an outing with her children. They all picked at the food and the children were again enticed away to play on the swings and slide.
“You have a lot going on at the moment , don’t you?” Maria asked as she drank a little orange juice from a beaker.
“You can say that again, too much, I’m finding it hard to focus. I’m not sure anyone or anything is getting my best. I’m spread a little thin at the moment.” Sandy plucked at some grass beside the end of the Picnic Rug and threw it in the air, she continued.
” I hate all this fuss about the documentary, seems like everyone has their opinion and wants me to talk to them about it. Mostly wasting my time. All I want to do is help Alex. He’ll die if I don’t do something won’t he? ” Sandy looked towards the twins playing on the swings and said
” All I want is to see him being a child , doing the things other children do.”
“I’m sorry, Sandy, for all I know Alex may not be alive, I haven’t heard anything for quite a while. It seems that you were right about Allenby, his people are getting a lot closer to us. Our communications are getting tighter and tighter, we are not sure who we can trust anymore. All I have been told is to ask you again to visit Allenby’s Science Park Facility , as soon as possible . I need you to do that.”
Sandy was about to remonstrate with Maria, but suddenly without warning Maria was grabbed from behind by two men who Sandy hadn’t even see approaching. Each man held an arm and they forcefully lifted her off the picnic mat , like a rag doll.
“Maria Seccoy, you are under arrest for violating parole conditions, please come with us now, please don’t make a scene.”
Maria began to struggle.
“Get off me you goons” She cried.
The men’s grip was however too firm and they began to manhandle her away from the site of the picnic.
Sandy watched in horror as Maria was taken away. It all happened so fast that she had no time to do anything. As she watched Maria disappear , suddenly the twins ran up to her.
“Mummy, what has happened to that nice lady.”
“Oh , she had to go home and see someone.”
” But those men…mummy”.
“What men ?”
“The men that were holding on to her , she didn’t look very happy.”
” Oh I don’t know, they just said they had to take her home. I’m sure it’s alright , she’ll be fine. Let’s pack up and go home. We can tell Daddy all about it. ” As she packed her things up, Sandy felt a shiver down her spine.
When she arrived back home with the twins, Sandy was relieved that Martin was there. Sandy didn’t need to explain much about what had happened to Maria , because it was all the twins could talk about. Sandy made her excuses and went upstairs to lie on the bed , she was feeling fearful as if the World was closing down on her. Martin listened to the twins and eventually settled them down in the living room and went upstairs to speak to Sandy.
“They took her , I mean how much do they know. Will they come here?” Sandy pleaded with Martin, her eyes red and glistening with tears. Martin handed her a tissue and she blew her nose.
“Well if they’ve been following Maria, they know she’s been here. Seems odd though that they’d arrest her in the middle of a Park while she was with you, particularly for a Parole Violation. Sounds like a set up to me. They wanted you to know she’d been taken away or captured whatever you want to call it. It could be just for show by her own side. “
Sandy looked up at Martin who continued talking.
“It could be the case, it’s now life or death for the people involved as you’ve seen, but you are in such a high-profile position with your documentary, they cannot touch you. You are the darling PR lady. They need you to spread the message and make it palatable. Maria may have been followed but no one really knows what she wanted to talk to you about. Do they?”
“Well no, those men , it was just Maria, they didn’t ask me anything?”
“It’s definitely a back-burner situation, we don’t know which side those men were on or how much they know about Maria. I’ve got something important to discuss, do you fancy a bite to eat downstairs?”
” Yes, I do , just give me a few minutes and I’ll freshen up in the bathroom, I’ll be down in a minute.” Sandy felt a lot better, she was not so frightened anymore and was intrigued with what Martin wanted to tell her.
As they sat down in the kitchen and began to eat . Martin said.
” I’ve had a look at the boxes that Maria delivered, it’s some very nice kit. I think you need to go back and gather more evidence. I think you and I can do it.”
” What do you mean , you and I? I can hardly bring you with me.”
“Well perhaps you can. I’m an expert in South American Archaeology. I’ve just published a Paper on Aztec Gene Profiling, mind blowing really , but we’ve been profiling Ancient remains and it really has thrown up some interesting data. Some of which, and you won’t believe this The Vatican are interested in. South America , being mainly Catholic still has not taken kindly to Allenby’s Policies, but more importantly , Gerry has suggested to Allenby that I detail my work to him in the hope that they can persuade the Vatican not to be quite so active in lobbying their views to the Governments within the Americas.”
“You’ve been talking to Gerry behind my back.” Sandy looked crossly at Martin.
” Well I thought he’d told you, I mean it’s pretty mundane really, the Paper, and everything.”
Sandy laughed!” Well , I mean who can I trust anymore, not even my own husband! No I’m bloody delighted, you and I can visit Allenby and take this whole thing apart, that’s what you’re saying isn’t it?”
” Well , that is actually the plan.”
She reached over to Martin and gave him a hug.
“Martin, that’s brilliant news, I didn’t want to go back there by myself. I had made up my mind I would return. I think it will be very dangerous but I don’t think Alex will survive if we don’t do something soon. Does this mean that you trust Gerry?”
“I don’t think trust is the word. It’s damage limitation , Sandy” he put his hand to her cheek.” I think Gerry is right though, the South American Gene Profiling really is relevant. There’s a strong lobby also from the Right Wingers for purity in the race, they want to remove the European Spanish Heritage. Potentially it’s a time bomb. You’ve got the Church on one side and Dictators on the other and my evidence putting a spanner in the whole works.” Martin smiled.
” You always were a trouble maker. Where will it end? Remove History, Change History or Cleanse History.” Sandy dipped her fork and played with some peas on her plate.
” Cleanse is a good word. The Catholics are against the whole thing and there could be one gigantic blood bath. I suspect that is what Allenby wants.
“Heaven help us , this is a real nightmare.” One of the peas flew across the table onto the floor.
Later that month it was announced that Sandy and her Crew had won the Best Documentary Award and Best Investigative Reporting at the Award Ceremony in September. It had proved easy to add Martin to her existing team. There was the usual gossip about nepotism, which Sandy thought quite hypocritical; as before she had been judged as highly sexed and working her way through the Executive Board. Now she was helping her husband. She just couldn’t win.
She had overheard a conversation in the Ladies Toilet between two make- up assistants, they were scandalised by her open relationship with Gerry and her promotion of her own “cuckold ” husband onto her show. In the past , Sandy would have confronted both the women and given them a piece of her mind. However, she knew it wasn’t important what they thought and in fact it was very good cover. She decided to let it roll, let them believe what they wanted to believe, she had more important things on her mind.
Allenby was unable to attend the Award Ceremony and had sent his apologies. However, he had suggested that a more in depth documentary be made now with cameras and a full crew. Sandy was invited back to his facility with her crew in what was going to be a two to three week project.
Sandy’s Documentary was given a prime-time spot on a popular Government Network. The figures that came through were significant and were an excellent demographic. The Documentary had caused a furore of discussion in the Media about three “High Profile” Cure cases which had been included in the documentary, and had led to questions in the English Parliament about Policy towards medically challenged children curiously there was no mention of hereditary causes.
Sandy had never before had a reason to question how serious debate over issues was glossed over. Her final analysis of what had been said was that the Parliamentary Questions were deliberately sterile. Her documentary in the guise of promoting Allenby’s “solution” raised some serious questions about the origins of these conditions and their subsequent “Miracle Cures”. They were simply ignored or not addressed. The overall opinion was how wonderful Medical Science was and how it should be applauded.
Sandy’s main concern, though, was she had not received any texts on her and Martin’s secret mobile for a number of months. She checked every night and had been disappointed. There was no news about Alex and his condition.
Thankfully the night after the Broadcast ,they received a text . Sandy was to place an order with a Computer Equipment manufacturer who would make a delivery to her house. Dutifully Sandy placed the order and the next day the delivery arrived. Maria was the delivery driver, as she explained later, an excellent cover as her work record showed her as a self-employed courier driver. She could work for a number of Companies and deliver across a large Geographic Area without gaining attention. It was working well.
Martin helped Maria unload the boxed equipment and once inside the front door Maria put the boxes down and hugged Sandy. Sandy sensed something was wrong. Maria seemed quiet. After the initial greetings and the offer to sit down Maria quietly said.
” I thought your programme was wonderful. I could read between the lines. Allenby must think you are in his pocket.” Maria looked Sandy in the eye.
” I suppose he must, that was the intention.” Sandy replied.
Martin felt uneasy at the mention of Allenby and moved away to make some drinks for everyone. After a few moments they all sat down at the kitchen table, mugs in hand.
Sandy continued. ” I had to promote Allenby, it’s what he wants, I suppose it’s the next phase of his project, at the same time I hope that it would get people thinking. We’re being led down a very nasty path , there is no discussion or debate. It simply is not allowed. Our eyes have been closed and hence it’s come to this. What’s in the boxes Maria? Have you any news about Alex?”
Maria stood up and began to open them, she did not say anything at first.
” Alex is not a very well , we have had to move him a number of times and I think it has taken it’s toll. I have a letter from him for you and if you want I can take something to give to him from you.” As she opened one box , she took out a letter from among the electronic equipment inside.
Sandy reached out to take the letter and recognised Alex’s child like scrawl. Unlike his previous letter, this one was only one page and on one side and she couldn’t quite read all the words, Alex had obviously struggled writing it. It was still precious. She handed it to Martin who also read it, he also began to survey the electronic paraphernalia on the table.
” Alex’s condition is deteriorating isn’t it?” Martin said to Maria as he picked up one or two items from the table.
” We are doing our best. Sandy’s work has raised moral throughout our organisation, she did an excellent job. We will not stop fighting people like Allenby.” Maria looked up at both of them.
” How is the Organisation doing? According to Allenby it’s very close to being unravelled. Is that true?” Sandy pushed her hair away from her forehead as she looked at Maria for an answer.
“Really?” Maria looked at Sandy.” That is what he thinks, well that’s good if he does. I can’t be certain, we all work on a need to know basis, but there will always be resistance as long as there are people and children to protect.”
“Allenby is killing people, I saw a nurse she was given a cocktail of drugs so she would tell them what she knew, whatever they gave her , she never recovered. She died right in front of me. Allenby watched, he said it was necessary.” Sandy looked at Maria.
” Did you see Dr King?” Maria had a priority and the death of the Nurse was not her concern.
” Yes, I saw him, he was at Allenby’s Science Park and he had been through some sort of interrogation before the Nurse, they were taking him to the recovery room, I expect he is dead now , just like the Nurse.” Sandy answered feeling very depressed.
” I hope not, he was making such inroads and treating so many conditions, he was our best Specialist. It’s why I came to see you. We need to get him back, it’s the only chance we have for a lot of our children. Our treatment success rates have declined . Now we know that he is there, we must try and get him back. We need you to go back to the Science Park and find out if he’s still alive and if we can get him out of there. It’s ours and Alex’s only hope.”
Martin interrupted ” No it’s too dangerous ”
Sandy burst into tears. Maria continued ” We need to try.”
Maria was a zealot .The loss of her own child had made her very focused. It was her life, working to stop the gene pool cleansing projects. She waited while Martin hugged Sandy and comforted her. Maria put her hand on Sandy’s hand. Martin looked at Maria suspiciously , he knew Maria was not going to give in.
“Look Maria, you need to give us some time, we’ve got the twins, Sandy needs to be there for them too, you are asking too much.” Martin pleaded with Maria as he held Sandy.
Sandy howled like a wild animal, she was getting torn in so many directions and she felt she could no longer cope. The twins had almost forgotten what it was like to have a bedtime story read to them by their mum. Sandy was always tired and thinking of other things. Maria knew she wasn’t going to get the answer she wanted tonight, and although time was of the essence, Maria knew she had to back off.
Maria took a deep breath and continued.
“OK , but there are some more pictures of Alex I can show you , some recent video. I might as well leave this equipment here for now. I’ll support you both should you decide you are able to go back to Allenby’s hell-hole.”
Sandy had already made up her mind. Sandy stopped crying and began to calm down.
Maria handed Sandy a small hand held device with video of Alex on it. He was playing, he was so much more slower and thinner than she remembered. He smiled and waved at the camera, but it was obvious he was in pain. His stomach seemed distended.”
” My poor child!” Sandy touched the screen with her fingertips.
“He looks so ill. Martin look!”
Martin knew now there was nothing he could do to change Sandy’s mind. Before Maria left , Sandy and Martin wrote a short note to Alex and gave it to Maria to pass on . Maria said she would make sure he got it and as she went out the door she gave a final glance to Sandy .
Sandy was desk bound for the next few weeks, the bruising had subsided . As she sat at her desk, having completed the initial pitch and been given the go ahead and an increased budget to make the Government Funded Documentary that would tell the story of Allenby and his Institution, she couldn’t help but ask herself was it all too late.
Her initial pitch had gained unanimous approval and she had received a congratulatory email from Allenby, as well as some flowers and champagne which were delivered to her home address, with a note saying that he hoped that they would meet again soon. She threw it all in the bin . It all felt very creepy.
She had showed Martin , Allenby’s email and he suggested that if Allenby came to London, she should book some holiday and say that she was away with her family. Gerry would have to deal with him. It was a sensible suggestion and one that would be plausible. Except Sandy knew Allenby would not believe it or accept no for an answer and she would also miss out on an opportunity to find out about his next move. Would Sandy be able to take much more of Allenby, she knew she had to and the thought turned her stomach.
She had not heard from Maria for a long time. Gerry supplied the money without question and only asked about her work, not specifically about Alex. Perhaps if she had heard something about his condition she might have shared it with him, but she hadn’t had any new information. She didn’t know whether Alex was alive or dead, but for the sake of her own well being she chose to believe he was alive.
Monday morning arrived like a sledgehammer to Sandy and Martin heads. They both went their separate ways, Martin as always handling the child care and Sandy setting off for the office. Just as Sandy stepped into the lift from the Car Park at Sunshine Media , a man rushed in behind her as the doors were about to close. It was one of the young production runners, an ex- County Rugby Player. As he turned around to check what floor he was going to , his lap top bumped against Sandy’s thigh. It was still tender and she squealed.
” Oops sorry , are you OK?” The young man turned around and looked at Sandy.
” Fine thanks, I’m a bit bruised, Kick Boxing Class at the weekend, I need to learn to defend better.”
” Apologies, I’m a clumsy oaf. Really sorry.” He apologised in his accomplished Public Schoolboy accent.
Sandy reached the floor, where she normally gave her expenses to Gerry’s secretary. She moved awkwardly out of the lift. To her surprise Gerry was standing opposite the lift door and greeted her as she got out. He looked tanned and relaxed.
“Sandy, so good to see you!” He made a show of hugging her , not realising why she moved away reluctant to be bumped again.
“Sorry Gerry, I’m a bit tender, I fell down in the garden , I ‘m pretty badly bruised.” She drew away from him and looked at him sceptically.
” You look well, where have you been?” Sandy enquired, noticing Gerry’s concerned look.
“Oh I see, dangerous places garden’s .” Gerry moved backwards away from her. ” Oh the Caribbean , Mills likes it , I was bored as hell, but we combined a bit of work too. New travel programme possibly.”
“Nice.” Sandy began to make her way to where Gerry’s Secretary sat, ready to leave her expenses on her desk. Gerry continued talking to her.
” I need a debrief on your Allenby trip, I’m curious to know what you thought about his facility.”
” Sure Gerry, will we use my office downstairs? It was really interesting stuff. The place is amazing. I’m buzzing with ideas. There’s a hell of a lot going on there.”
“OK, I’ll see you in half an hour, we won’t be interrupted.”
“OK Gerry”. Sandy put her paperwork on the Secretary’s desk and made her way out of the open plan office down to her basement office.
Gerry meanwhile headed to the coffee machine and flattered one of the young Production Assistants who was just getting herself a coffee. As usual his banter worked wonders for the new girl and she left the coffee machine on a high, impressed that one of the “Management Team” had taken the time to speak to her. She felt she had made a good impression. As Gerry pressed the buttons to get his coffee, all he could think about was the welfare of his son. Sandy had not looked at all well.
Half an hour later Gerry and Sandy both sat opposite each other in her basement office. Sandy who had no photographs or even many notes told Gerry what she had seen.
“It’s worse than I even thought….” Sandy looked up at Gerry, she wasn’t sure if she could trust him.
“How do you mean?”
“It’s a Death Camp Gerry. That facility is used to torture people and kill them when they are no longer needed. It’s all very dangerous and very scary. Allenby wants a good PR Job done on it, no accidental leaks apparently there is some sort of Global Agreement that means the people who are captured are basically fair game, he can do what he wants with them. Officially they no longer exist.”
” I cannot believe it has come to this” Gerry looked dismayed, the relaxed demeanour disappeared and a look of despair replaced it.
“Believe it Gerry. Allenby wants to make his actions look that it’s for the benefit of mankind and that what he is doing is to protect our future.” Sandy noticed Gerry looked dismayed.
The man is a monster of the worst kind.” Gerry shook his head.
“Yes, that’s true, but he has a lot of important backers, who supply a massive budget to provide the kind of place he has near Washington. It’s acres, an amazing self-contained Science Park. Allenby’s aim is to close down any sites throughout the World that protect and care for children like Alex. I got very close to him, but he didn’t let his guard down. I did get the most fantastic tour of the place. ” Warts and All” as he liked to say. Gregor is a captive there.
“Gregor? The chap from Norway?”
“Iceland, yes he’s now a convert to the Professor’s beliefs. He’s a statistical genius and he’s now helping Allenby’s team solve the Big Problem of keeping the World Gene Pool clean. Pristine. No more inherited defects, no unpleasant , incurable conditions.”
“No deviants”.
“None of any sort, someone wants perfection, no gentle fall out anymore. The only way to do it is to shut down any Global Resistance, by whatever means possible. I think he is going to “screen” everyone.
“It was bound to happen.”
“Anyone who has the potential to produce progeny”
“Inevitable really , cause and effect. We want perfect humanity , we need to make it perfect.”
“At what cost though? Our own humanity.”
“It’s going to be very difficult , I need time to think things through. Allenby has come very far, he has a very powerful lobby, things are going in the wrong direction very quickly. I can see where this is leading. “
Sandy looked at Gerry and said ” I think he can be broken. I’m sure he can.”
“It’s no good breaking him, there’ll just be another Allenby to replace him.” Gerry replied rapidly.
” I need to think” Gerry continued.” I just don’t know enough about what he is trying to destroy. How many facilities are there like the one Alex was in? Can they be replaced when they are discovered? The people that run them and finance them who are they? they seem to have no profile. You’d think they’ be jumping off the roof tops saying these people are trying to kill us and our children.”
” It’s been going on for years” Sandy said.” Perhaps we are immune to the threat. I wouldn’t know anything about this if it wasn’t for Alex. If he’d been healthy I wouldn’t even be involved. I would be saying the whole thing sounds fantastical. It began with monitoring, then separating and finally killing. Wiping out all traces of deviance from all of Societies throughout the World. The people who are fighting only know because they have been the target, or have been found out because they have passed a defect on.”
“…. and being blackmailed.” Gerry interjected.
” I’m not sorry about that, I’ve changed and I’ve become very hard over the last few months. I don’t trust you Gerry, I need your money that’s true but I’ve no intention of telling you everything I know. Let me know what comes of your thinking and we’ll talk it through. Meanwhile I’m going to hash up a Media Project that put’s Allenby’s Facility in a good light, it’s what he wants Publicity, but Publicity of the right kind.”
Gerry looked Sandy right in the eye, there was no doubt Sandy had changed, she never would have spoken to him like that before. He knew at the moment it was impossible to convince Sandy that he could be trusted, so he nodded.
” I understand, I’ll get in touch when I’ve got some ideas. When Allenby gets in contact with me, which I’ve no doubt he will. I’ll tell him that you’re on the case.”
” You can believe everything that bastard tells you. I played my part to get what I want and I’ve got the bruises to prove it. He strikes me as the type that likes to talk “boys talk”. Tag him along .Vanity might be his downfall. Whatever you do don’t accept any invitation’s from him, he’ll sample you and I have no idea where that would lead.”
Gerry stood up and left the office , he knew Sandy was right to keep mum about what she knew. He was disappointed he couldn’t arrange a visit for himself to see Alex, but that was impossible now. They had nothing else to say to each other for the moment. Gerry closed Sandy’s office door behind him and went back upstairs to his own office where he could think and plan and wait for a call from Allenby.
Being practical in this modern world cooking can be a chore and not something we look forward to doing.
Where we have the time and resources to cook,then anything Mediterranean is my favorite,be it roasted vegetables in olive oil, baked feta cheese coated in sesame seeds and honey, aubergine dip and fresh mint with fresh tomatoes.
Ah if only, those flavours and textures could be every day
” A computer is a device that processes inputs to product outputs. By this definition the brain is a computer because it takes in information and produces outputs.” Quote from Googling The Internet.
The brain takes information and transforms it into something else. So my first computer was my brain and an amazing tool it was and I like to think still is.
However , one figure, stands out in the history of the Computer and she was born in the midst of the hedonism of George the Third ‘s reign she would become a renowned mathematician and the first person to see the potential of a machine converting raw data to something other than it’s component parts ie. not simply a machine for calculation, but a much broader canvas. That person was Ada Lovelace, the only legitimate child of Lord Byron.
Ada Lovelace’s clear concise thinking lead us to the concept of the computer as a clever machine. Dear,Dear Ada was a mathematical genius and was able to see the potential in Babbage’s Analytical Engine and took her place in history as a “Wicked Mathematician.”, but also someone who encouraged others. Not dare I say it someone who wanted to dominate others.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, some of which would be best assigned to a watery grave. Computing has been turned into a megalomaniac , male dominated globally polluting market place reserved for those with big budgets and even bigger egos.
Let’s face it , we have access to amazing information and we can choose to use it for good or for bad and that is what I reckon Ada Lovelace envisaged.
We have lost our way, just as a child’s brain develops and goes from being open minded and questioning to trying to satisfy the demands of the modern world and with that it’s megalomaniac , egotistical entrepreneurs whose goals just aren’t actually clear other than to dominate people, the market or perhaps the World, under the guise of Philanthropy.
Ada knew a fake when she saw it, and in honour of her, although by no means a brilliant thinker, I intend to be a free thinker and my brain , my first computer plays a part in that.
If I lose it , it’s OK , there are plenty more independent , quality thinkers out there and they will always be there, and able to use technology for the good of all. Let Ada be your inspiration.
On arrival in London, Sandy felt the nervous shock she had experienced begin to dissipate, she had not been able to sleep on the plane and the in-flight movies were either fatuous or far too violent for her to watch. Sandy knew that real life was far more dangerous than any fake cinematic creation. She weighed up whether she would share all that had happened during the visit with Martin. Her body was still sore from the sexual gymnastics she had performed for Allenby. She was now convinced that he was a psychotic narcissistic dangerous man, one capable of enormous cruelty, but one nevertheless who she needed to keep close to.
Sandy had briefly said goodbye to Joss as the chauffeured car arrived at her accommodation to pick Sandy up and taker her to the airport. They had briefly exchanged social niceties in keeping with their limited knowledge of each other, but Sandy knew Joss was relieved to see the back of yet another one of her lover’s conquests.
As Joss waved Sandy off , Sandy realised Joss was just as trapped as all of those poor unfortunates in Allenby’s Prison. Sandy was just another humiliation for Joss to endure. Allenby had her exactly where he wanted her. There was no time for a friendly girl chat, although the two of them would have had a lot to talk about if the opportunity ever arose .Sandy surmised that Joss would not listen initially but had the impression that Joss was beginning to question the controlling behaviour of her mentor. Sandy was perhaps one humiliation too many and that might be another chink in the invincible Professor’s armour.
Back in London however , Sandy thoughts took refuge with her family. It was a Friday night when she got back and Martin had announced that the twins were planning the “traditional Mothering Sunday Celebrations”. Sandy had forgotten entirely that it was Mothering Sunday, she looked at Martin in disbelief. Martin could see that Sandy was not sure that she could cope, but he reassured her that it was for the best and that he had organised everything with the twins and it was their surprise for her. There would be a trip to the supermarket on Saturday morning and the Cinema on Saturday Afternoon. Then on Sunday there would visit each set of in-laws with cards and presents in hand. Sandy went through the weekend in a daze, which she explained away as jet lag. Still it had lifted her spirits and let her forget for a short time what lay ahead.
Late on Sunday night with the twins in bed she had her chance to tell Martin what she had seen. They were both getting ready for bed and Martin noted the bruises on Sandy’s thigh.
” That looks nasty”
” Oh yes, it was very nasty.” Sandy replied with a distance that meant there was nothing that could be said that would make anything better.
“Sandy you did what you had to do. “
” I know , there was no other way. I did what I did for Alex.” Her head bent down.
” Look Sandy , you don’t need to justify yourself to me. I understand. I know that when this is over, we may not be the same people, we might not be able to help that, but for now until we get Alex back home with us and safe, I’ve got your back. I can keep everything together for you, no matter what you have to do. You are my heroine.”
Sandy looked Martin in the eyes and reached out her arms to him and hugged him.
” I feel so dirty, so used ,thank you Martin for telling me that , I needed to hear it. Martin whatever love is this is what I imagine it feels like. I had no option. We will get through this, I can’t forget what I’ve seen and done, but it’s like a battle and this is just the beginning. I don’t know if what we’re doing will work. I’m in deep, well over my head. I don’t even know who I can trust anymore , apart from you. Have you heard from Maria?”
Martin explained he had heard nothing from Maria. There was nothing else either of them could say, they lay in bed and held each other. Sandy gently wept and her eyes closed and she eventually went to sleep. Martin could not sleep, but he kept still and listened for the familiar rise and fall of Sandy’s breath. It was back to work for both of them tomorrow. Their normal routine, Martin dropping off the children at school and picking them up in the afternoon. Sandy would be away most of the day, he never knew what time she would be back. That was how it was and it was going to stay that way for the foreseeable future. There was nothing else they could do.
thenotsomightyom 