Extinction Level Event (18 page)

"I've been working with the USDA to explain to them
what this situation means. We've already received another two dozen
reports from Mexico alone since you were notified." "So LaJoy sent
you here." "That's right." "Uh-huh. So what have we got here?",
asks McCarthy taking a step towards the line. "Don't!" Rodriguez
puts his arm in front of McCarthy's chest, stopping him in his
tracks. "LaJoy just told us that it is being caused by a virus.
Can't you see we're all protected?" "So that's why everyone is in
HAZMAT gear." "Yes. You need to put it on. Then meet me in that
trailer." Rodriguez points his finger to a parked laboratory
trailer.

McCarthy goes into a makeshift tent erected alongside
one of the homes, picking a HAZMAT suit and donning it over his
business-casual suit. Making an effort not to cringe at his new
clothing blend, McCarthy steps out of the tent and walks over to
the trailer. Entering the trailer, he spots numerous bags
containing worms and soil in the same fashion as his USDA van. As
promised, Rodriguez is inside. "So McCarthy. You were the first one
to see this phenomenon. Does this situation look identical?"
McCarthy looks out the window, where he sees HAZMAT workers
collecting small piles of dead earthworms on the sidewalk. "Yes.
This is it. Mexico has the same problem we do. I don't get it
though. We weren't using HAZMAT the first or second day." "Then you
were exposed." "But we've felt no bad effects yet. Huh. You said we
know that the worms are dying because of a virus?" "Yes. LaJoy has
got some biologists, including Dr. Krishnan, working on it at
UCLA." "Dr. Krishnan? I know that name." "He is one of the world's
leading experts in virology and molecular biology, yes", replies
Rodriguez on McCarthy's cue. "We need to recommend to LaJoy what
steps to take to avoid this. You read my reports on their ecology,
right? Do you know what this would mean for the environments of
California and Baja?"

"This is going to be a disaster", replies McCarthy
somberly. "You mentioned that agricultural productivity, which is
pivotal to the economic base in California and here in Mexico, will
be very hard hit. We need to make sure that this doesn't spread to
other states or regions of Mexico, or else their farms will be in
just as big jeopardy as the ones in the Central Valley. I'm
thinking what we can do about this, other than find a cure." "I
don't think that even a cure can prevent this. How would we reach
every worm of every species out there and innoculate them with a
cure? It would be an impossible task." "True. Wait- what about
taking worms from other states, Wyoming, Mississippi, anywhere, and
bringing them to California? We merely transplant them, even buy
them since they're grown for fishing, and use them to replace the
one now lost?" "An interesting idea. But how are we going to make
sure that they also don't get the disease? Innoculate them all?"
"Yes." Rodriguez leans back on the trailers' wall, turning the idea
over in his head. "We should tell this plan to LaJoy. Maybe he'll
like it." "If it's even possible." "We should always give it a try.
Although, if it doesn't work, we'll have no choice but to wait it
out and hope that the worms adapt and gain natural immunity to the
virus. Though who knows how long that will take." "Alright. Let's
put this in perspective, write it down, and send it to Los
Angeles." McCarthy opens his laptop and starts typing. "Hey, we
don't need that. Just call him." Rodriguez chuckles, breaking the
sour mood. "LaJoy doesn't have much time on his hands, and neither
do we. But he never seemed to be one that did." "Astute
observation.", McCarthy smiles lopsidedly as he reaches for his
phone.

05- A CAN OF WORMS

One week after his meeting with the Secretariat in
New York Manjak found himself working long hours, as usual, late
into the night. It was 7:48pm and he didn't expect to be out for
another two. The last two hours he was trying to get support from
the other agencies for two FAO aid workers kidnapped in Yemen.
Dispersing food sometimes became a dicey situation, especially in
areas where bands of bandits roamed about who thought of the
food-bearing workers as invading infidels. People disappeared. Then
it is up to Manjak to deal with the ensuing media blitz, the
interrogation-style conferences, the accusing politicians, and the
negative press coverage. Not to mention the actual work of trying
either negotiate for their release or bring it about more
forcefully.

In most cases the kidnappers would demand ransom, but
to avoid larger and more lethal consequences the kidnapped would be
released before the set expiration date. Manjak was hoping this
would be another one of those cases, but just in case he wanted to
have some sort of special forces team ready to extract his
assessment workers if necessary.
Better to speak softly, and
carry a big stick.
Ironic that Roosevelts' words could be
applied to situations like these
. In addition to the UN
response, the home country's embassy of the kidnapped victims would
also try to establish contact with the kidnappers to make terms.
Which was usually a harder task that it sounded since the
kidnappers would take their victims, and being in Yemen, would
likely try to flee into the deep desert. There the FAO and foreign
embassies would have to wait until the kidnappers got in contact
with them, which was usually through means other than an
easily-traceable cell phone. In this case, Yemen is dangerously
close to Somalia, which despite years of attempted recovery and
efforts by international navies to cleanse of pirates, drug
runners, and insurgents is still one of the world's most notorious
hotspots.

Manjak looks out at the hundreds of yellow and red
lights denoting evening traffic passing along the Via di
Caracalla's twin lanes. Since it is a Friday, that probably meant
that his two kids would be out with their friends socializing at
the movies or some nightclub. As long as they were back by 1 Manjak
didn't have a problem with it. This rule, which he had made, also
allowed him to work until ten without hurry. Sofia wasn't in Rome.
She had gone to Mexico to investigate some new soil development
that had occurred there. he wasn't sure what "new soil development"
meant but the latest reports from the Mexican government hinted
that soil had started to show signs of decay.
Some type of
chemical spill they don't want anyone to know about?
Manjak
wondered. Governments often try to keep accidents and spills from
being made public until the last minute, since they lose prestige
both at home and abroad if they are seen as incapable of mitigating
and controlling a problem.

Prestige is, in addition to being a concern for
governments, a natural concern for Manjak as well. Getting the two
aid workers back from Yemen within the week should help the FAO and
the United Nations save some face, which is exactly what the
kidnappers are looking to discard. If the FAO loses face to little,
puny incidents like these then how will it be trusted to react in
larger, more reactive, and more volatile situations? These are the
consideration that Manjak must take into account as he threads his
line so very carefully.
Bao has it easy.
We appoint her,
she takes control and responsibility for the organization. All the
WFP does is rapid-response. Logistics is difficult and timing is
crucial, but ultimately they don't have to deal with long term
consequences. So far so good, though, since they've got a far
better reputation than we do. Kudos to Bao.
Manjak knows that
despite the WFPs job is more difficult than he gives Bao credit
for. Oftentimes the logistics of getting to food to the recipients
is very hard and demanding; while donations and financial aid is
oftentimes a rarer delicacy.

Manjak's phone rings. As it is past 7:00pm Maria is
not there to answer for him, prompting him to answer it himself.
"Manjak, Deputy Director FAO speaking." It doesn't take long to
recognize the all-too familiar voice on the other side of the phone
line. "Trip! I knew you'd still be up there. Where are the kids?"
"They're out, honey. You know, as long as they're back by one."
"They'd better be back by one. They're not even eighteen yet."
"Listen, honey, we've done this drill a thousand times. They know
how to handle themselves." "I know, its just. . . ". A pause. Sofia
sighs over the line, before continuing. "How long are you going to
be there?" "At least til 9:30, you heard about that thing in Yemen
haven't you? I'm here trying to coordinate a rescue for the poor
pickles who happened to fall into the apple cider." "You mean fly
in the venus fly-trap." laughs Sofia. "Whatever." Sometimes only
the two of them understood their inside jokes, but the venus
fly-trap was an old, and intimate, one. "You're calling me at this
time to talk about botany?" Laughs. "Specifically, botany in
Mexico?" Sofia's light laugh over the line instantly breaks off.
"That's what I wanted to tell you, Trip. The botany in Mexico. This
isn't a joke." Trip recognizes her voice-over into business-mode,
even over the line. He checks his watch, realizing that its only
11am across the Atlantic on the Mexican western coast right now.
"Serious? So this is about the soil changes, environmental disaster
or whatever that's happening in what, Baja California? Where are
you right now?" "I'm in Ensenada. This started about six days ago,
but its already spread throughout all of Baja and even Caborca and
Hermosilla south of Arizona. I don't know how long the government
can keep it quiet and continue with the ludicrous story of an oil
pipeline spill." "They're saying its an oil spill?" "Actually,
natural gas. It’s a natural gas pipeline from Hermosilla to Naco.
That's not the point. Another rumor amongst the officials here is
that its some sort of run-off herbicide from the US. They say it
originated in California, and that somehow the run-off from the
herbicide is affecting the environment." "Affecting the
environment? What do you mean by that?" Trip wondered why Sofia was
beating around the bush. "Its killing the earthworms, Trip. Its
killing the earthworms." The last words coming from Sofia's mouth
as a silent curse. "Killing the earthworms? That's the craziest
thing I've ever heard!! Just earthworms or everything it comes into
contact with? How's it spreading?" Trip almost yells the last line
into the phone as excitement, awe, and a weird feeling in his
stomach creep into his voice. "No. I don't understand how either,
yet. But whatever the cause the earthworms are dying, every single
species, and the phenomenon is spreading. We also know that
California has the same problem. The US authorities are referring
to it as a 'worm epizootic'".

"Worm epizootic that is ridiculous?!!", Manjak slumps
back in his chair, completely taken aback by the mind-wracking
news.

Never in his life, let alone his career, had he
thought to come face-to-face with as odd a phenomenon as the one
his wife had just described to him over the phone. If it wasn't for
her tone of voice with which he was so familiar with, he would have
thought of the entire conversation as one giant prank played on
him. Quickly composing from the aftershock, Manjak realizes he
needs details. "How are the Mexicans taking this?" "Their story
won't hold, but they're going to have to admit it's a cross-border
problem from a herbicide or some environmental contaminant. The
place is rather arid here in the north, but since it is spreading
it could harm the southern regions of the country if it gets that
far. That would be catastrophic to the tropical forests that rely
on the rich soil layer to support their wildlife. And of course
here in Hermosilla their pacific coastline is also quite green."
"That sounds pretty bad.", Manjak thinks for a minute. "You said it
started in northern, American California. Has it spread into the
central valley, there's like a billion dollars worth of agriculture
in that area?" "Yes, they're saying that it was first recorded in
that area over a week ago. Then it spread down to here. The US
authorities, EPA, USDA, they've all put quarantine measures to
prevent cargo from going in and out in California. Mostly
agricultural, dairy, any type of biological products. But that
didn't stop it from coming into Mexico. And the authorities here
are having more problems with the quarantine that in the US,
although they're diverting army units and so forth." "They're
putting the army to enforce quarantine?! Wow. I thought they would
already have their hands full with the drug lords." "That's why its
becoming more complicated. How much of an impact will this have on
their local ecosystems?" ,asks Sofia.

"It's not so much their ecosystems as their farms."
Manjak started wondering how well farmers in California would do if
suddenly asked to grow crops without the help of their favorite
wildlife pets. "What happens if the farms don't get their soil
recycled as they should? Food quality will go down, per hectare
production might decrease? Who knows? Have you spoken with a
wormologist?" "Not yet. Representing the FAO I kind of get a
back-seat to events. The state agencies have priority, mostly
trying to contain the situation. Although there is a well-known
worm specialist working with the USDA, though. Yes; his name is
Gonzalo Rodriguez, from UCLA." Manjak taps his desk with his
fingers as he reaches for a pencil and paper. "Gonzalo Rodriguez? I
need to get in touch with this guy." "Sure, I think you should
too." Sofia takes a deep breath. "You're taking this fairly well.
Most people were shocked first time they heard it. I know I was."
"Trust me honey, deep down I'm doing hola-hoops. Just stay safe, if
any trouble happens. I don't think we've ever encountered a problem
like this."