Milo Moon: It Never Happened (26 page)

‘Near a lake with windows.’

‘Milo is very excited about it too, Mary.’

‘Can I see Milo?’

‘Of course Mary. Tomorrow morning. Will that be all right?’

‘I’ll have a big sleep and be ready!’

‘Good Mary. Now, are you feeling well after this afternoon’s treatment?’

‘Oh, I feel fine Sylvie. It was nice to see Mr. Smithe again too.’

‘Where did you see Mr. Smithe, Mary?’ Sylvie asked, and sensed something was wrong.

‘He was with the other men. In the white room with all the lights.’

‘And you’re sure it was Mr. Smithe. George Smithe?’

‘Oh yes. I couldn’t really talk because I felt funny, but it was him. I’m happy he escaped from Sootere too. He didn’t say hello to me though.’

‘What do you mean, you felt funny?’

‘Well, I could see and hear things, but I couldn’t talk.’

‘Can you remember what you saw in the white room with the lights?’

‘There were men in green clothes and machines going beep, beep, beep. And Mr. Smithe had a silver stick and he put it on my head. Then he said something about being ready for the next one in ten minutes.’

‘You have a very good memory, Mary.’

‘I like to remember things, Sylvie. Will we be able to see Mr. Smithe again?’

‘I don’t know, Mary. I’ll have to ask.’

‘Okay,’ Mary said brightly.

‘I’ll let you get some rest and see you tomorrow, Mary.’

As soon as Sylvie left she called Luc Fleury.

‘We need to talk. Urgently.’

*****

Jean-Paul arrived as promised a little after seven and Marie hugged him before he had a chance to get fully through the door. He closed the door behind himself as Marie still clung to him.

‘It’s a very nice way to be so welcomed!’ he said

‘I’m going to place you under house arrest and you’ll never be able to leave. Ever!’ Marie whispered into Jean-Paul’s ear.

‘Oh I see. So what do loveable cops serve their prisoners for dinner?’

‘You’ll find out after you’ve had me for appetiser.’

‘And for dessert?’

‘Me again.’

*****

Françoise Klausner’s mobile phone rang just before eight. It was the Federal Chancellor, Urs Lindner.

‘Hello.’

‘There’s an emergency Federal Council meeting tonight at ten.’

‘What’s the emergency?’

‘Rudiger Staheli died in his office late this afternoon.’

‘Oh my god! Yes. How?’

‘A heart attack.’

‘Right, I’ll be there.’

*****

‘What, do you mean she recognised him?’

‘She said Mueller was George Smithe, Luc.’

‘That doesn’t make any sense Sylvie. Mueller can’t be Smithe.’

‘Mary was certain. And her recall of this afternoon’s procedure seemed realistic. You were there. Did Mueller say something like being ready for the next one in ten minutes? And have a silver stick that he put near Mary’s head?’

‘That’s fairly accurate. I’ll call Ernst Gehrig.’

The six Federal Councillors arrived for the emergency meeting. The Federal Chancellor, Urs Lindner chaired the meeting in Staheli’s place. Although not one of the seven members of the Federal Council, the Chancellor was charged with running the office of the Federal Council and all matters of protocol and procedures.

‘It is my duty to inform you that Mr. Rudiger Staheli died at five-twenty this afternoon. He was found by his personal secretary at around four-thirty after suffering what appears to have been a heart attack. Emergency services were called immediately, and although treatment was administered promptly at the scene, Mr. Staheli did not regain consciousness and was pronounced dead on arrival at Bern hospital. In his absence, it has been my duty to call you to this meeting to inform you of the necessary procedures to ensure the stability of the Swiss government. Before we proceed, I must ask for your permission councillors, to proceed as chairman of this Federal Council meeting?’

There were unanimous nods of agreement.

‘Thank you councillors. The first matter is that of the office of President. The protocols call for the next councillor in line for the rotational presidency to complete the current term, and then maintain the post for the forthcoming year. With your permission councillors, I ask that you confirm the foreign affairs councillor, Françoise Klausner as Switzerland’s president from midnight tonight. Please raise you hand if you wish to contest this decision.’

Lindner and Klausner waited. After more than half a minute of silence and no hands were raised, Lindner spoke again.

‘The motion is carried. My next duty is to ask for your authority to call for nominations for the vacant seat on this council. In line with protocol, Mr. Staheli’s responsibility for the Federal Finance Department will be assumed by the newly elected councillor. Please raise your hand if you have an objection.’

After only a short pause Lindner said, ‘Motion carried. Thank you. As from midnight tonight, Françoise Klausner will assume the capacity of president, and will be sworn in officially at a parliamentary sitting at nine o’clock tomorrow morning. Following this, nominations for the council vacancy will be called for from the parliament. Thank you councillors. I wish you all good luck, and call this meeting of the Federal Council of Switzerland closed.’

*****

Luc Fleury finally got Gehrig on the phone a little after eleven.

‘Okay Luc. I’ll advise Klaus Henniger.’

Chapter 25 - A New Day

The president’s personal secretary, Patrick Eggen greeted the new president and lead her to the President’s office.

‘Before we start, I don’t like being called Madam President, so let’s just stay with Françoise in private and Madam Klausner in public.’

‘Yes m’am.’

‘Françoise, Patrick!’

‘Yes..eh.. Françoise.’

‘Good. Now, where do we start?’

‘I’ll hold all the routine and non-urgent matters for a few days while you settle in. This is the key to the President’s confidential files. They are all held in the safe near your desk. I presume you’ll want to check these files quite quickly. There is a news conference at two, but I have cleared all other appointments for today and tomorrow.’

‘Fine Patrick. Would you arrange for Klaus Henniger and Ernst Gehrig to see me either late this afternoon, or early this evening, and I’d also like to see Marc Guyer at some time today.’

‘Yes, certainly, .. eh, Françoise.’

‘Good. And lastly, check with the Federal Chancellor and ask for a meeting of the Federal Council as soon as possible. From memory, the next regular meeting was due for tomorrow afternoon anyway, so that would be a good time for me.’

‘Yes, will do.’

‘Right. Thank you Patrick, I’ll get on with some reading here and you can bring me up to date on other issues over lunch. Perhaps you could arrange for some sandwiches to be delivered to the office here and we can handle those matters over a sandwich.’

‘Er,..yes...eh.’

‘What’s wrong Patrick?’

‘Oh, nothing ..eh,Françoise. Just that you’re very unlike Mr. Staheli.’

‘Thank goodness for that Patrick. I’m sure we’ll get on just fine.’

Françoise knew which file she needed to read first. She opened the safe, and the very top file was the one she was after.
‘CERN Facility Twelve’
All of the notes were hand written, and all were headed,
‘Not noted on file’,
which meant there was no other record. She was interrupted in her reading by a number of diplomatically polite welcoming calls from a number of other world leaders, and politely assured them all, saying that a smooth transition was underway. She was pleased as well that all who were involved in the CERN problem were polite enough to leave the matter for the time being. While she understood Staheli’s notes and his logic behind most, she was shocked to discover that he had agreed to, and already signed the US Rendition proposal.

*****

‘Sylvie said we’re going on a plane again,’ Milo said, with great excitement.

‘Yes, that’s right Milo. This afternoon probably. As soon as we’re sure that you and Mary are well enough to travel,’ Luc Fleury told him, as he checked the small dressing on the back of Milo’s head. All looked to be healing normally and Fleury was more confident now that Mueller had performed the procedure correctly.

‘Will Marie come to see us?’

‘Oh, I’m not sure Milo. You know she’s very busy.’

‘I like Marie.’

‘Yes Milo, I know.’

‘Mary misses Marie too. She told me.’

‘Well, I’ll see what I can do Milo, but I can’t promise you anything.’

‘That’s all right. I know she’ll look for us soon.’

‘I hope so too, Milo.’

‘It’s been a long time.’

‘Since you saw Marie?’

‘No, since Klinik Siebzehn.’

‘I see. How long Milo?’

‘Ariel was very young then. He had a number. 1937.’

‘You can remember that Milo?’

‘Yes. That’s a long time ago isn’t it Luc?’

‘Yes Milo. It is.’

‘Hilda might remember better than me though.’

‘Mary’s friend?’

‘Yes. She was smart.’

Luc Fleury was trying to piece together the memories of Milo, Ariel, Mary and Hilda. Milo and Mary’s mental function was certainly improving, but their memories that were slowly coming back lead him to unpleasant possible conclusions.

‘Are they okay to travel?’ Sylvie asked Luc Fleury, as they met after their assessments.

‘I think so. I’ll confirm the arrangements for this afternoon. But, just one thing.’

‘Yes?’

‘Have you noticed any change in their memory capacity since yesterday?’

‘I was going to mention that. Yes, I have. Mary talked about a garden she recalled. She went on for ages and in great detail. And Milo spent a long time talking about Ariel and Hilda. Do you think this is a result of removing the implants?’

‘I really don’t know Sylvie, but it’s rather odd timing isn’t it?’

‘Yes. It’s been very sudden.’

*****

‘I have a late shift today.’

‘What time?’

‘Two.’

‘So what do we do with a free morning, Marie?’

‘I’ll show you JP!’

Jean-Paul and Marie had a late breakfast and Marie enjoyed taking the time to cook crêpes.

‘You’re not working today?’

‘No. I’m on vacation.’

‘Oh. Until when?’

‘Until I decide what to do next.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I’ve quit my job at the bank.’

‘Why? Banking’s a good job isn’t it?’

‘If you like to be bored to death, then yes.’

‘So, what are you going to do?’

‘I’ve been offered a job working as a sound technician.’

‘And, what’s that?’ Marie asked, with a smile.

‘Managing the sound equipment for concerts and festivals.’

‘Well, I agree. Sounds like more fun than banking.’

‘It’s irregular hours, and it doesn’t pay as well.’

‘What, like a cop? Horrid hours and shit money.’

‘Exactly.’

‘So, are you going to do it?’

‘I want to. But if I do, I’ll have to find a cheaper apartment. I’ve already started looking.’

‘Anything interesting?’

‘A couple. I’ve got a few to see later today and tomorrow.’

‘Well, maybe you should add one more to your inspection list.’

‘Yes. Where?’

Marie left her crêpes and moved to Jean-Paul, who was seated at the kitchen table. She hugged him, kissed him and then said, ‘Here you loveable dumbo!’

‘You really mean……,’

‘Only if you bring your famous new rock star friends home for dinner.’

*****

‘I’m sorry we’ve had to keep you for so long Dr. Mueller, but we’ve had some information that we’d like to clarify with you,’ Klaus Henniger said.

‘Look, I agreed to perform the two procedures. I’m sure you can verify that they went well, and that the two patients have recovered fully.’

‘That’s correct. I’ve checked and both seem to be doing fine.’

‘Well, now can I go? I’ve fulfilled my obligations.’

‘Dr. Mueller, how long have you worked at the facility below CERN?’

‘I don’t need to answer your questions.’

‘If you wish. But I assure you we’ll extend your stay until you do.’

‘Many years. Thirty or more.’

‘Would I be correct in assuming that you may be due for retirement soon?’

‘Why would that concern you?’