Chapter 41 Chapter Thirty-Nine
In a room on the side of the main hall of the convention center, Will King was chairing a special meeting of the environmental lobby to discuss the next strategy. Only eleven people attended the meeting.
He turned to Susan Smiley, shaking his head as he mouthed something only she could understand: When things come to a head, it's not the same as fuck.He thought he would get more support, but that was just wishful thinking.As the saying goes: Easier said than done.
Just as Will was about to speak, the door opened.A man walked in and sat down in the back seat, looking familiar.Their eyes met, and the stranger smiled at Will, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded.He's been here before.
"Okay," Will began, "I think you all know that some scientists are now starting to question the threat of global warming, when in fact it's still a problem, but it's not us who..."
"That's right." The stranger interrupted with a thick voice.
Will stared at him and nodded: "Yes, we are not here to discuss the merits and demerits of their comments, we are..."
“Maybe we should discuss it,” shouted a woman in her fifties in the front row of the audience. “At the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the academic authority of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts said that the claim of global warming is not credible.”
"That's possible," Will interjected abruptly, "but let me remind you that we're here to stop further mining of the Arctic Circle, because that would cause an environmental havoc that has nothing to do with global warming."
"Excuse me, but this is the Climate Change Conference," the woman retorted, standing up now, "We've all been lied to, admit it, there's no global warming, there's no…"
"Sorry," Will said angrily, raising his voice, "that's not the topic of today's discussion..."
"This problem cannot be covered up." The woman argued endlessly.
Another man stood up: "I agree. I'm here to discuss whether global warming exists or does it not? The latest research shows that it's just a huge hoax orchestrated by governments..."
"... Protestantism in the 21st century," shouted another in the audience, "you know? A lot of this kind of research is based on data from weather stations around the world, and those data are not reliable. I'm from Rome, you guys Guess where our weather station is? A polluted airport with hot exhaust from planes filling the air, so how accurate are the weather readings?"
"That's right!" the woman stated her position. "I have read an article saying that in the past thousand years, there have been at least two periods of so-called global warming. They are just part of the natural cycle and have nothing to do with humans."
Will sighed heavily, and raised his hands: "Okay, okay. Your speeches are very interesting, but we have an urgent task at hand, so don't digress. We have to find someone who is willing to listen to us Someone, someone who can help us in our fight to save the Arctic. The issue of global warming is important, but that's not the point today."
The stranger sitting in the back seat stood up and applauded: "I agree with you 100%."
"Great to hear that," Will said, "Do I know you?"
"I don't think you do, sir," replied the Norwegian, smiling.
Another ordinary day for Carlos Rizzo.He loves his job as a concierge manager, which pays well and people respect him.When he was on duty, he would see many celebrities and dignitaries coming in and out, and most of them would nod and smile at his service, and the rich were very generous when they paid their tips. When he came to report, the hotel lobby was bustling. Many guests had just finished lunch, and some people were waiting in line at the reception to check out, while the rest waited patiently for check-in.As soon as he put on his uniform, he went to work. Carlos smiled at a pretty receptionist across the hall, who waved him back in kind, as she always did.If he was a few years younger and had better hair, he might still have a chance.And now that he was a grandfather, those days were but a distant memory. He stopped in front of the elevator, pushed the button and took a step back, arms folded and waiting. Akbar Bazaz tidied up the rucksack behind him, hurried through the noisy lobby, and carefully passed among the guests.He came behind Carlos and waited for the elevator at the back of the line. When the elevator arrived, the gentleman at the head of the line, Carlos, stepped aside to let the other two men and a woman go first.He didn't follow until everyone had entered the elevator. "What floor?" he asked, looking around. "Third floor, thank you." The woman said. "Let's go to the second floor." One of the men stopped talking to a business partner. Carlos pressed the button and looked at Akbar through the crowd. "And you, sir?" "I do whatever I want," the Muslim replied. The elevator goes up.The two businessmen walked out on the second floor, and then the elevator went up to the third floor, and the woman also went out. "I'm going underground," Carlos explained. "And you?" "Me too," Akbar pulled out his pistol, "press the button."
Another ordinary day for Carlos Rizzo.He loves his job as a concierge manager, which pays well and people respect him.When he was on duty, he would see many celebrities and dignitaries coming in and out, and most of them would nod and smile at his service, and the rich were very generous when they paid their tips. When he came to report, the hotel lobby was bustling. Many guests had just finished lunch, and some people were waiting in line at the reception to check out, while the rest waited patiently for check-in.As soon as he put on his uniform, he went to work. Carlos smiled at a pretty receptionist across the hall, who waved him back in kind, as she always did.If he was a few years younger and had better hair, he might still have a chance.And now that he was a grandfather, those days were but a distant memory. He stopped in front of the elevator, pushed the button and took a step back, arms folded and waiting. Akbar Bazaz tidied up the rucksack behind him, hurried through the noisy lobby, and carefully passed among the guests.He came behind Carlos and waited for the elevator at the back of the line. When the elevator arrived, the gentleman at the head of the line, Carlos, stepped aside to let the other two men and a woman go first.He didn't follow until everyone had entered the elevator. "What floor?" he asked, looking around. "Third floor, thank you." The woman said. "Let's go to the second floor." One of the men stopped talking to a business partner. Carlos pressed the button and looked at Akbar through the crowd. "And you, sir?" "I do whatever I want," the Muslim replied. The elevator goes up.The two businessmen walked out on the second floor, and then the elevator went up to the third floor, and the woman also went out. "I'm going underground," Carlos explained. "And you?" "Me too," Akbar pulled out his pistol, "press the button."