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QBLH
by
Lazarus Cain
Episode Twenty
Tonight You're Mine
"Yes, Antiope. You forgot to say that Qblh will actually be the director of Antiope Industries, but you and I will be his chief executive officers."
"Didn't I say that?"
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Qblh can travel time and we just refueled his ship."
The audience was stunned.
"Anti-matter was needed to allow him to travel backwards in time. We created twenty- two pounds of anti-matter for his use. He came from the future to get it and is taking it with him into the past. Sorry that he couldn't stay and chat. He sends his apologies, but he had an urgent date with his lady, Isis."
Jim smiled and nudged John. "So she lies a little bit once in a while."
An understanding fellow broke in with a question. "Does this mean that we observed a truly alien business transaction, and does this mean that you will be conducting trade with Venetia as well as Earth."
Helen smiled. "You have made an important point my fine fellow. Antiope Industries is the only authorized corporation which can conduct trade with Venetia. Intergalactic trade will be subject to taxation by Isis. We are by royal command required to make a sizable profit to lure investors, and she expects sizable tax revenues."
"Does that mean we are to pay tribute to Isis for our power?"
"That is not considered intergalactic trade. Qblh has managed to arrange for that to be tax free. Any profit will be shared among Earth's native investors and the investor's local government may collect the taxes from his earnings. US power companies would pay US and state taxes and British power companies will pay British tax. We do not intend to interfere with Earth's tribal or national infrastructures."
"How does Isis plan on making a profit, if she's not cashing in on the energy revenue?"
Helen smiled. "She has more lucrative business opportunities than you can imagine, and many of your own people will be more than willing to offer millions in order to get involved with one of them."
Jim started to get somewhat disturbed. He hadn't told them that was how he was going to conduct business. Helen had pointed out the truth and it disturbed him. Helen and Antiope had both taken for granted that Venetian law would apply for business operations. Neither cared too much for Earth business operation strategies, and it was true everything that they said. Jim was not adept with contract law and he did delegate them executive powers. They both knew that they were still subject to Isis, and would still have to deal with her in the traditional manner; she was their queen.
Could Jim detect the means that Antiope and Helen would use to deal with their enemies? He thought of the scum and the billions that she could entice with avarice, lust, and other temptations.
She would be every bit as dangerous as she had ever been. Was she truly setting him free? Qblh could see his challenge: he had to preserve his reason in the midst of madmen; he had to preserve his faith in the midst of superstition; and he had to preserve his dignity in the company of buffoonery.
Why did he ever get himself in this position? He considered his state. He was a stranger in a strange land, but it was his world at the present and it was his task to preserve it.
"Go to my great city and proclaim to it the message I give you." These thoughts were not those of his consort, yet they motivated Qblh deeply. "Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."
God had punished the world already with a great flood. Jim had lost his wayward son Pharos to the flood. Qblh felt additionally responsible to help Earth in light of the past destruction. Cheap energy! Cheap energy meant inexpensive work. The human animal could be used as an intelligent self powered machine by corporate interests. Antiope Industries was capable of creating intelligent self powered machinery which could take the drudgery out of human existence.
Work was required to support an exponentially increasing human population. Fixed resources by nature will limit an expanding population, and how is this curtailment of expansion to come about? Will we decimate ourselves by war as famine overcomes those who can no longer be fed and pestilence overcomes the survivors of starvation. Qblh remembered the history of his own race, great feats had been accomplished because of dire need. Complacency had caused the visionaries to be ignored during the times of great abundance. During the times of tribulation, new solutions were sought and the extra funding provided to visionaries yielded great new inventions. An inexhaustible energy solution and the level of power that could be maintained was directly related to the level that a civilization could aspire.
Qblh needed his unit back to full power. The energy transfer had been managed and now he would have to wait the required duration as Idiot achieved full readiness.
He considered the evening with Antiope. Tonight she expected intimacy and he had been away such a long time. Helen had communicated a desire to make a trip with him. He would expect Antiope to make the same request. He sensed that Antiope's financial power would soon bore her, and she would seek some other form of past time. As long as Antiope felt needed and useful though, she would be content. She seemed to be quite happy with her Earth corporation for now.
Qblh resolved that they should spend the night on the town incognito. He had no taste for a lavish highly socialized evening. Qblh resolved instead to have a look at the city's gutters. To anticipate how to deal with Earth's problems, he decided that he would need a street level view of the ills of an American city.
Helen, still speaking, held the audience captured by her beauty. Helen had dressed a little more provocatively than Antiope, and it was quite apparent that the men were not paying complete attention to her words. Helen was quite aware of the fascination that the men had with her and she loved the attention.
Antiope whispered into Jim's ear. "Where are we off to tonight, lover?"
"We're going for a walk. Genie can transport us. I'll preview each area before we rematerialize so as to not draw attention to ourselves. Genie will provide you with an appropriate wardrobe."
"Is Genie with you now?"
"Of course."
"Can we manage to recreate the van? Perhaps the streets may be a little more appealing to me if you would at least give a lady a ride on your cheap date rather than make me walk. We could see more that way, and I'll even walk now and then as you carry the van with you."
"Genie, is that going to be a problem?"
"Let me calculate. It shall take a few seconds."
"Why Genie, you are getting slow."
"I have to consider several thousand options and calculate the optimal path. I assume you are seeking rematerialization in high crime districts in a method to maximize viewing of potential human abuse cases."
"Even in America expect violation of human rights. The more advanced the social structure, the greater the potential for abuse of power. The state will always try to advance its point of view as superior to the soul's point of view. It is quite obvious that people who live in darkness shall fear the truth as much as they fear being forced to change their lifestyles. The rich will always fear the poor, because they are afraid of being poor themselves. I must assess the weaknesses of this society, because she most certainly will strike humanity there.
I am considering the possibility of taking both of you back to another time."
"Why is that, Jim?"
"Because I want to."
"Now you have my undivided attention." She smiled at him.
"I don't think I can be satisfied by staying in one particular time field anymore. She mentioned something to that effect when I left her."
"She told you that in a ritual?"
"Yes, when she named me Qblh."
"Jim, if you're Qblh then she is expecting you to rule earth for her."
"She knows I won't do that."
"You will if you intend to defend Earth from her. She does know you, and she does control you."
"Not as much as she thinks she does."
"Nevertheless, you must always deal with her and you're here on Earth as a Venetian representative. It's in your blood. You're Qblh and she is Isis. I couldn't expect you to be any different than you are. I love you and I shall always defend you to the death as your bodyguard."
"You no longer are bound by that rank."
"I am still your humble and loyal servant."
"Antiope, I don't recall that humility is one of your characteristics."
Antiope pouted. "Don't be cruel Jim. I am very sensitive to all that you say. I can remember your words and your inflections better than you."
"So who do these people think I am?"
"Just another man seeking my favor. I am always surrounded by important American men. My calendar is always full. They believe you to be nothing more than an Air Force Intelligence Officer under the employ of General Armstrong."