'Soil is considered an agricultural commodity, or component, and special clearances and permits would be required for a shipment of that quantity. In effect, we were asked to serve as importing agent for the shipment, the reasoning being that our stature would make it easier to get the various permits required. Well, it just couldn't be done, even under our aegis. The Customs Service frowns on the importation, in large quantities, of any foreign soil, and the high microbial count in this particular soil led to adamant objections. Nuvironment dropped its request.' Zelaskowich paused, raised his thin eyebrows slightly. 'That makes this analysis you've brought me most curious. You're absolutely certain it was obtained from a sample found in this country?'
'Yes,' Garth replied.
'Then it appears that the Customs Service must have relented and given Nuvironment itself the permits, and they used a different purchasing and shipping agent.'
'What if they just went ahead and imported it without the Customs Service even knowing about it?' I asked. 'Blaisdel certainly has the resources-probably including his own piece of jungle-to do it himself, without ever going outside Blaisdel Holding Company.'
Zelaskowich pursed his lips and grimaced slightly, as if I had said something that wasn't fit to be heard by decent company. 'That's certainly true, Dr. Frederickson, but Nuvironment is an outstanding company, with an impeccable reputation. They just wouldn't do something like that.'
It was clear that Samuel Zelaskowich had spent a lot more time on his hands and knees in the dirt than he ever had in the business community, but I decided not to tarnish his illusions. 'Maybe some other company imported the soil.'
The botanist tentatively scratched his left temple, shrugged. 'I suppose anything is possible, but if that's the case I'm afraid I can't be of much help to you. Nuvironment is the only concern I know of that would have any possible use for that type of soil in such large quantities.'
I glanced at Garth, who seemed to be only half listening. My brother had taken Vicky Brown's letter out of his pocket and was rereading it yet again. I wished he would stop; I didn't think it was good for him.
'What did Nuvironment plan to do with the soil, Dr. Zelaskowich?'
'Please, call me Samuel.'
'All right, Samuel. I'm Mongo, and my brother's name is Garth. What use would Nuvironment have for soil from the Amazon?'
'Nuvironment is not a profit-making corporation, Mongo; indeed, I suspect that it must draw financing from other Blaisdel holdings-lots of financing-in order to maintain its operations. It exists for the sole purpose of researching-and one day, hopefully, building-biospheres.'
'Biospheres?' It was Garth; it seemed my brother was paying attention after all.
'Yes,' Samuel Zelaskowich replied. 'Biospheres are totally self-contained, self-sustaining environments-small worlds, really, that regulate themselves much as the earth does, producing and recycling everything from oxygen, food, and water, to waste. Someday, Nuvironment hopes to be able to produce such biospheres on a massive scale, each one encompassing many acres. It's theoretically possible to construct such a facility, which would be enclosed under a giant plastic dome that would let in only sunlight, if you had all the necessary components in exactly the right proportions. You see, a very delicate balance would have to be maintained if one cycle was not to eventually overwhelm the others-production of waste overwhelming the system's capacity to biodegrade, for example, or an incorrect ratio of air-breathing, carbon-dioxide-producing animals to plants that would absorb the carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Nutrients would have to be able to sustain life inside the biosphere, while at the same time there must be resources-microbes, for example-available to biodegrade and recycle those things that die. It's a very complex problem, this finding of just the right balance, especially when you plan to maintain human life inside the biosphere. Fruit bats and hummingbirds would be natural choices to pollinate various plants, but you would need more than three thousand blooming plants just to supply the nectar needed to sustain a single pair of hummingbirds. And you can't use just any species of hummingbird; your hummingbirds would have to be low fliers, so that they wouldn't bump into the top of the dome and injure themselves. Even termites, which you would need for the proper balance of life forms, could pose special problems; certain species might develop a taste for the epoxy compound which would be needed for properly sealing the various plastic and glass panels to each other and to a steel supporting structure.'
'So the soil would be used to degrade waste products?' I asked.
'Yes. But there's more to it. In theory, you would also need the rain forest itself, albeit on a very small scale, to produce both sufficient oxygen and rain.'
Zelaskowich nodded. 'Yes; produced by condensing coils mounted in the top of the dome, over your rain forest. Naturally, this rain forest would produce a great deal of organic waste, and that particular type of soil, with its high microbial count, would be required to break down the waste.'
'You're saying this company planned to build a jungle under glass?' Garth asked, making no effort to mask his skepticism.
'Or plastic. Yes, Garth. And not only a rain forest, but also a desert, an ocean, a freshwater lake, and saltwater marshes as well; all of these things would be needed if they hoped to maintain a proper ecological balance inside the biosphere.'
'To what end? What would be the point?'
'One day-and that day could be far in the future-Nuvironment hopes to be the sole supplier of such biospheres to the world's space agencies. Such a biosphere would enable humans to live on and colonize not only, say, the moon, but other planets as well. If and when that day comes, Henry Blaisdel's long-term investment will, of course, be repaid many times over. But I don't really think he worries about what Nuvironment is costing him, or future profits; after all, he'll be dead for years, perhaps centuries, before biospheres could be in use throughout the solar system-if that day ever comes. Blaisdel is a philanthropist, with an apparently highly developed social consciousness. In my opinion, he sees Nuvironment, with its sole function of finding a way to build biospheres, as his bid for immortality. After all, there are lots of billionaires in the world, so that simply amassing great sums of money is not sufficient to guarantee that you will even be remembered, much less honored. For example, Howard Hughes is remembered by most people for his eccentricities, not his accomplishments. I suspect Henry Blaisdel doesn't want to make the same mistake-although that's only my opinion, as I say.'
Garth and I exchanged glances, and then Garth stepped up to the botanist and shook his hand. 'Thank you, Samuel. You've been very helpful, and I can't tell you how much Mongo and I appreciate your taking the time to share this information with us.'
Zelaskowich looked back and forth between us, a puzzled expression on his face. 'But I haven't been able to tell you where the soil sample could have come from.'
'You've shown us where to look next,' I said.
'Oh dear,' the botanist said, and he flushed slightly. 'Are you going to question the people at Nuvironment?'
'Is that a problem?'
Samuel Zelaskowich took off his glasses and began to fumble with them; he looked decidedly uncomfortable. 'It's just that. . well, I'm afraid they tend to be very secretive about their research activities; they want outsiders to know as little as possible about what they're doing. In my enthusiasm to share my knowledge with you, I may have been indiscreet. Actually, I rather doubt that anyone there will even agree to talk to you, and the fact that I've leaked-that's the word they'll surely think of-information to you could reflect badly on the. . Botanical Garden.' He paused, flushed again, put his glasses back on and pulled himself up straight. 'What I really mean is that it could cause me some personal difficulties if you talk to the people at Nuvironment.'
'Don't worry, Samuel. Neither Garth nor I will say where we got our information; your name won't be mentioned.'
'But they will most definitely speak to us,' Garth murmured in a low, flat voice that was almost inaudible.
'Thank you,' Zelaskowich said, visibly relieved. 'Uh, may I inquire as to just why it is that this information is so important to you?'
'We're trying to find a little girl who's in danger,' Garth replied simply as he headed for the door. 'Merry Christmas,' he called over his shoulder.
'Merry Christmas, Samuel,' I said, and headed after Garth.
