research. Your generosity has been boundless. You have made me feel more than welcome.”
The lights dimmed and a mammoth screen lowered behind her with images to accompany her remarks.
“On the theme of the condition of mankind’s progress, I’ll begin by saying we are without question driving headlong toward calamity.
“In the early 1800s the earth’s human population stood at around one billion. Today, we’re in the range of seven billion…”
Images of cities choked by traffic, overcrowding, polluted by factories filled the screen.
“In less than forty years, notwithstanding the world decline in fertility rates, the world’s human population will reach about nine billion, which would be like adding another China and another India to the planet.”
She paused before resuming.
“In a little over two hundred years, we will have seen the human population increase nearly tenfold.”
More grim images of poverty.
“This should be cause for alarm, yet political leaders are moving with glacial speed. Most movements parrot the same tired emphasis that rapid industrialization, rapid urbanization, out-of-control consumption and resource depletion have given rise to global warming, which is exacting a toll. The mantra of ‘we must go green, we must reduce our carbon footprint, we must save the earth,’ is a substitute for effective action.”
The screen displayed images of spewing smoke stacks and melting ice shelves.
“This line of thinking is but a digit in the full equation; it is useless as a foundation for a solution, akin to a bandage on a terminal patient. It deflects attention from the root cause of our destruction of the planet.
“Overpopulation.
“To put it simply, the earth cannot sustain the current trend of population growth. There are simply too many of us putting too much strain on the earth. We are wearing it out. Birth control, contraception, sterilization, natural disasters and pandemics, even wars are not enough to alleviate the stress we have put on this planet.
“Within fifteen years, every corner of the globe will face acute water and food shortages, unlike anything we’ve experienced. While wealthy nations shield themselves with technological and financial resources, poorer regions with unchecked populations will grow desperate. It will lead to civil unrest, instability and chaos.”
The speaker paused to drink water.
“We must take critical action now. As hope for the planet flickers, governments must take brave new steps. There are several options, but one that I put forward today is for the United Nations to champion a year of zero population growth.
“As it stands, there are approximately 140 million births each year worldwide and 55 million deaths. In order to address this ratio, in the face of our current crises, governments should be encouraged to enact legislation that outlaws pregnancy for one year.”
The speaker paused for the murmur of disbelief then continued.
“At the same time, all programs that prolong, or extend the life of anyone over the age of eighty, could be terminated for the same period. I am not advocating euthanasia, just removal of practices that thwart natural mortality and delay the inevitable. The combination of these initiatives holds the potential to curtail world population by some 200 million humans. China and governments of other populous nations have taken similar approaches, but they have not gone far enough.”
The speaker drank water, absorbing further ripples of reaction.
“Some may call me an apocalyptic prophet. They may align me with fringe elements, doomsday cults, extremists or brand me an outcast for challenging popular opiate thought.
“That does not trouble me, for in my life I have experienced how humanity reacts in times of distress. I have seen the worst unfold before my eyes after warnings were ignored, after rational thought evaporated.
“I am your witness to reality.
“I advocate extreme action because we face an extreme situation. Time is running out on human existence on this planet. We are entering the panic zone…”
The video faded to black.
“This is extreme,” Lancer said. “Is it Sutsoff?”
“No way of telling. No one’s heard of this ‘Condition of Mankind’s Progress Symposium.’ My friend thinks the video was made in Turkey or Africa.”
“Or it’s a complete hoax produced by undergrads at Yale or MIT,” Weeks said. “I just don’t think Gretchen is behind this, or anything like it.”
“Really, and why not?” Lancer asked.
“To let a professional disagreement fester over time into motivation for a vengeful act, using our work on Crucible, is just unfathomable, impossible.”
“Les, you didn’t work with Gretchen as closely as Foster and I did. The stuff in this manifesto is precisely what she was leaning to before she left.”
“Let me get this straight,” Lancer said. “Gretchen Sutsoff could be using Crucible’s research to put her extremist views into action?”
“That’s the scenario Foster and I fear,” Kenyon said.
“I just don’t buy it.” Weeks shook his head.
“Well, consider this,” Kenyon said. “About a month ago the CIA looked into Foster’s concerns about rumors online. They talked to me, too. I know that at first they dismissed Foster, but I recently heard from a friend at Langley who said the agency had reconsidered.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. At this stage one can only speculate that they must have discovered something.”
“Your video?”
“Maybe, and maybe something more substantial,” Kenyon said. “Look at the circumstances. It’s the stuff of nightmares. Maybe they don’t want to alarm anybody. Do you know Gretchen Sutsoff’s story?”
“Foster said she’d had a troubled life.”
“Listen, our lives were put under a microscope when we were security-cleared to work on Crucible. I worked closely with Gretchen. She was very private, very guarded. Now we scientists can be eccentric in our own way, but she was different. Way out there. She seemed to have a pathological dislike of other human beings.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. She refused to ever talk to anyone if it wasn’t necessary, let alone open up to anyone. In my time with her I learned that her father had a military background and that her family traveled, lived around the world. Then there was some sort of tragedy and Gretchen was hurt, she suffered some kind of neurological disorder.”
“Do you know what it was?”
“No, but it obviously didn’t hinder her intelligence. I think she took medication. Still, every now and then, she’d have episodes.”
“What sort of episodes?”
“Like an outburst. She had one around the time she left, when she’d advocated live human trials with File 91 without consent.”
“Foster told me he denied her request, it violated the Nuremberg Code.”
“Did he tell you what she said?”
“No.”
“It’s what precipitated her departure-I was the only one present with him and I’ll never forget it. She said something like, ‘These trials are for the public’s own damn good. Most people don’t have a clue what is best for them. They’re lemmings. Believe me I’ve seen them at their worst. Rational minds need to do the thinking for them.’”
“That sounds arrogant.”
“There’s more. She was storming out, when she stopped, turned and said, ‘You know, Nazi scientists were responsible for many of the modern world’s advances, and they did it because they were not restricted by boundaries. They had complete freedom to perfect the human race, to explore a vision.’”
“A vision of what?”
“Hell, likely. I believe at that time Gretchen was on the verge of a breakdown.”
“Do you have any idea how I can find her?”
