Solomon's Private File #86
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 17 in this story, in the Spring of 2043.
Solomon's Private File #86 "No Rod to Spare"
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I was called by the Temple in DC. Tomba had died in his sleep. I told
the group. Kam was there with us as one of us, and as the Dalai Lama.
We participated in the prayer sessions. Then it was time to select the
new Abbot. The four candidates came to me. I said, "He told you that he
told me who he wanted to be Abbot after him. He should have told you,
not me. Just like him. Never one to do for another what would make them
more wise if they did it. We all know how frustrating that was." I said
with a slight smile, "I see you agree. Remember who he was with love,
not who he now isn't, with sorrow. Do him the honor of that. You know
it's what he wants." I said to the oldest, "Roger, he chose you. No, he
didn't ask my opinion. I see the question; would I have given it to
him? I don't know, because it didn't happen. Probably because he didn't
need to spend a whole day on that." They couldn't resist some small
smiles. Kam poked and hugged me. We did the ceremony.
Rod was inspecting the rare earths plant in Mexico. One of the large
high pressure acid processing containers exploded. Right in front of
the inspection team. Three people died. Including Rod. Four were
seriously injured. I was asked to time research it. We had a meeting. I
gave my report. I said, "First, I've determined that he died because he
wasn't taking high precautions, and his reactions were too slow to do
anything about it when it happened. Second, there was nothing wrong
with the design, or the manufacturing and operation of the equipment.
There was a bomb, remote controlled. Sabotage. I back traced it all.
Chinese government. Not rogue; policy. Oh, and there were more bombs.
Not there now, but documented and saved. Were some in South Africa,
too. I assigned a watch on all rare earths mining and processing
plants. This will NOT happen again."
I said, "Analysis. This wouldn't have happened if I had gone public
with my time diving ability. I think we should fix that to prevent more
of this." They nodded. I said, "If this goes public, it could be taken
as an act of physical war. Action; I plan to scare the shit out of some
people over that." Some fierce grins and chuckles. I gave them the
crystals. After they read them, I said, "May I er, manage this?" Mom
said, "What will you do?" I said, "I plan to talk with some people.
State, and such. Everything after that depends on how that goes." They
nodded. I said, "One more thing. You women better screw a lot! We've
got some reincarnations to host." Nods and chuckles.
I asked to see the President of Mexico. He agreed to see me. Honored,
actually. I said, "I wish we could have gotten to know each other under
other circumstances. I'm here about the mine processing explosion. One
of the founders of my group died in that." He was genially shocked.
Then angry. He said, "How could that happen?" I said, "He was very old,
and his reflexes just weren't fast enough to cope with the bomb, and he
had not taken the new training that I developed that could have saved
him. Yes, it was sabotage. Radio controlled bomb. There were more of
them, too." He said, "Do you know who?" I said, "You remember my father
could see back into time?" He nodded. I said, "I recently developed
that ability. Chinese government did it. They wanted to keep their
effective monopoly on rare earths production that I personally was
trying to break. Yes, that deposit was my discovery, and the new more
efficient process they were using was my invention. China only knew it
was in your country. Seems they didn't think much of you." He said,
"But you did. There were other possible sites?" I said, "Yes. A keep it
in the family thing." He had some tears. He said, "They didn't ask for
tax breaks. No pollution. They employed our people with good wages.
They are a GOOD company for Mexico!" I said, "All the companies we
support are that way. We require it." He nodded said, "You would."
He said, "What are you going to do about this?" I said, "I caused the
company to be here. I feel some personal responsibility for what
happened. He was so excited about this new project. That's why he was
here. He loved his work. We all loved that." More tears. I said, "You
were my first stop in this new er, project. Next is with a US
government office that brought the supply issue to my attention. She
will tell me not to do anything." He said, "But you will ignore that."
I said, "She will know that." He said, "Your own people?" I said, "They
want to know what I will do. I couldn't tell them, because I don't know
yet. I think we all know that some people are going to be at least a
little unhappy soon." He grinned fiercely, "Make it so!" I said, "When
the time is right, would you like to be involved with the announcement
of what happened, and who caused it, and my time research ability that
proved it?" He had more tears, and said, "You would give this to us?"
I said, "It happened in YOUR country, and YOUR people were injured
and killed. If you want to, yes. If you think it would be bad for your
country to anger China, I would really understand if you don't want to
be involved. I could do it all myself. If you want to discuss it with
your people, please be careful they don't leak it to the wrong people."
He said, "China is no friend to us! I will do it when you advise." I
had to chuckle. I said, "The public must not know one of my people was
there." He said, "I understand. They would want to know who, and that
could expose more of you." I said, "I think both of our countries are
fortunate that your country has such a wise and caring leader." He had
even more tears. We hugged with love.
I asked to see the Secretary of State, and my contact there. I was
told it would be a while because of scheduling conflicts. I said, "In
two days or sooner, anywhere in the world, and I can provide
transportation. Or you won't know in advance when I do something that's
going to shake up your political world. Heads could roll, almost
literally, and more might wish they did. Don't spill the beans before I
say so, or you could be included in that mayhem. One of my friends was
murdered. I'm deadly serious about this, and I'll be watching you."
That REALLY got their attention. We had that meeting. I told them what
happened, like I had before. My contact cried, and said, "I didn't mean
for this to happen!" I said, "None of us did. I have the most
responsibility for not preventing it. I found the deposit. I invented
the new improved processing. I got my friend involved in it. I didn't
see in advance what China would do about it. Don't say I couldn't have.
I actually could have, and didn't. I could and should have had a danger
watch on the plant. I didn't." Sec said, "What are you going to do
about it?" I said, "I haven't decided. Discussion?" After that, I said,
"Very cautious, you people. Well, here's at least part of the plan. I'm
going to apply the suicide bomber consequence. It obviously applies
here, in the illegal act. Unless they want to declare war on Mexico.
Oh, and the US should support what I do and say, or Mexico will be VERY
upset with you. I'm keeping their President informed. He REALLY likes
that company! Great for his country. And remember about spilling the
beans." My contact said, "What will you do next?" I said, "I'm going to
have a little private chat with the President of China. He'll probably
need a diaper, and me, earplugs." They nodded.
At a good time, I ported to the office of the President of China. I
said, "I am Solomon. You made a big mistake. Possibly world changing.
We will now discuss that, and your possible consequences." He said,
it. We are in a time bubble. To those outside of it, we will be
together only a few seconds. To us, maybe hours. Not even my own people
can communicate through this." He looked at me in horror, and said,
"You are not monitored?" I said, "That is correct. Do you fear? I will
give you another reason why you should. You are responsible for the
death of one of my group." He became REALLY afraid. I said, "I was told
about a shortage of rare earths material, and asked to do something
about it. I found a big deposit in Mexico. I invented a better method
of processing the ore. The new mining company was testing it there, and
in South Africa. I was just about to make that process public, when you
had that plant blown up with a bomb. One of the founders of my group,
very old, was there inspecting it. He was killed, not able to react
fast enough to stop it. You might be interested to know how I know who
is responsible. You know my father could do time research. I recently
developed that ability, myself. I have proof. The American State
Department knows all about this. So does the President of Mexico, who
is VERY angry with you. Now you may comment." He didn't say anything. I
said, "You have some choices. Either your action was illegal, or you
are at war with Mexico. You will be asked that by a lot of countries,
including the UN. You will have to have an answer. No, you will not
allowed to be silent. You talk or scream in agony. Your choice!"
He said, "What will you do?" I said, "Depends on what you say." He
said, "If we are at war?" I said, "Then there will likely be sanctions
and isolation. Mexico has all of the Americas who will support them,
and Western Europe. After this, who will you have, after they work out
the true reason for your action?" He thought a while, and then said,
"If illegal?" I said, "Then I will apply to all who were involved, the
"And not support the punishment of your country if apologies and large
just compensation is given. Either way, and despite the possible
objections of other nations, it's all going public. You attacked ME,
and my people! I really want to do more, but I must be fair and just.
hands up and nodded. After a while he said, "An illegal act. Will there
be a delay in the consequence for us to apologize and provide
compensation?" I said, "To give them the opportunity to kill
themselves? To me, death is not worse than living will be for them.
Suggestion?"
He said, "You can prevent them from killing themselves." I said, "If
you announce that, I will do that and postpone the consequence as you
ask. Except for you. I will allow you to kill yourself just before the
consequence is applied, because you chose it over declaring war. I
should tell you that being burned alive by boiling acid is a VERY bad
thing to experience. I have, so I can apply the consequence when
needed, so I know. I do you a kindness I do not feel, with my offer."
He said, "You are in truth a kind man. I did not know there would be
people killed in the action. I did not wish it. I absolutely did not
wish for any of your people to be harmed, you who do only good for the
world." I said, "Your lesson of unintended predictable bad consequences
of bad actions will be lost to the world, if you take that knowledge
with you." He nodded, and had some tears. I said, "Make no mention that
one of my people were killed. It is not good for the world to know all
we do to help." He said, "I understand and will obey."
I said, "My memory of this conversation will be given to all my
group, and will be permanently archived. And with the evidence. It is
so for all we do. I will announce what happened. Then you may say and
do what you decide to do. If I think it is not good enough, you can be
sure I will tell you. If those in your government would oppose you,
tell me, most so if you dislike them." He burst out laughing. He said,
"I don't believe I did that!" I said, "We can bear only so much stress
before it needs to be released. I gave you that, for your mental
balance." He said, "A true master psychologist." I said, "You might be
surprised at how much of my seeming humor is coldly calculated. I will
have a watch on you. If you need to talk to me, I will hear it. If you
need help in convincing your people, I can give a preview of the
consequence to any who would oppose your just actions. I will now
remove the time bubble." I did. I said, "Here is a crystal of this
meeting." I gave him that, and something else. He said, "What are
these?" I said "Assistance if the consequence preview is needed. Ear
plugs." He said, looking at me strangely, "You actually like your
humor." I said, "Shhh." He said, trying not to smile, "I can't resist
liking you. I wish we had met under better conditions." I said, "We
have, in a past life. Yes. Be consoled that death of the body is not
the end. Someday some incarnation of your spirit will remember this
life, and learn much from it. Such happened to me. At times I was a
VERY bad person. Now I work for God. Strange." He stood, and we bowed
to each other, and said our farewells. I ported home, and passed the
crystal around. There was a lot of approval, along with hugs and
kisses.
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Grant
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