All characters in this story are over 18.
Paradise Obtained Chapter 11: Megan
The following day I placed a video call to Albrecht Haller. I did so at just after 11 a.m. my time. I knew that it would be four in the morning in Hamburg. I was making a point and trying to gain an advantage. I reckoned Haller would be expecting me to contact him and that he would take my call whatever the hour, so I took a degree of pleasure in getting him out of bed.
And it worked -- up to a point. For once it was not Helga who answered; it seemed she did sleep after all. And even Haller wasn't in his office, but a bedroom. He looked and sounded like I had woken him. However, I was astounded at how quickly he rallied and was master of what he wanted to tell me. The man must have an iron constitution and a quicksilver brain.
"I assume you can guess why I have called you Haller," I said, a note of anger in my voice. No 'Herr Haller' from me on this occasion.
He also changed his mode of address. I wasn't 'Mr Mitchell'. "Of course, Matthew. I was expecting your call and had you not contacted me, I would have done so myself." I noted that he made no complaint about my choice of timing.
In my outrage my plan to be calm and collected deserted me. "So tell me, you bastard, where the hell do you get off, taking control of my women?" I shouted. "God knows what you have got them to do aside from just spying on me!"
Haller remained calm. "Think back to our agreement Matthew. In fact, I happen to have our contract here. I have broken none of it and nor will I. I promised that I would not sell your method to governments and would ensure that it was not used for mass brainwashing or general control of populations. In truth, I have no more desire to see those things happen than you have. I promised to protect you against enemies and I have done so. And in return for your secrets, I have paid you a generous salary."
I had to concede mentally that all that was true.
"Neither have I done anything you didn't agree to. I said that I would exploit your invention to achieve a financial return, which you agreed you were not concerned with. I said I might ask you to go to particular places and you consented to ask no questions about this."
"That's all very well," I retorted, "but if you had told me that you intended to take control of my women I would have said no and you know it."
Haller's calmness was giving him an advantage. He was thinking straighter than me. "You must have realised that in giving me all your notes the possibility was there. Did it not occur to you that I might want something in return for the riches I am showering on you?"
The honest answer to that was 'no', not until it was too late anyway. But I wasn't about to admit my mistake, so instead I asked the most important question. "What is it you want? I deserve the truth. And where do I fit in?"
"I am willing to partly answer your question. I will not give you all the details because that would put your life in danger, but I will share the big picture. But first please indulge me by answering three questions if you will?"
"Get on with it Haller," I replied, trying to retain the upper hand.
He didn't seem concerned by my brusque response. "You are an intelligent man, Matthew. What do you think of the state of the world at present? How optimistic are you about its future and that of mankind?"
I considered for a moment: climate change, species loss, over population, pollution, exhaustion of resources, war, famine and drought. Religious and political extremism on the rise. We were probably even due a pandemic of some sort. "It's not great," I admitted.
"And how about out world leaders? Are they men and women of outstanding vision, courage and ability who will tackle the world's problems based on the best available science?"
I almost laughed at that question. "Certainly not," I replied.
"My third question. You did something extraordinary, Matthew. You invented a method of controlling the human mind -- well the female mind in your case. Do you think this is unique?"
I wondered where this was going, but I have my pride, so I answered him. "Well, it was pretty damn difficult, I can tell you that. So yes, if it's not too immodest I would assume that it is a unique achievement. As you know, I've been involved in the field for years and I've never seen any indication anyone else was working on similar lines."
"Then it may surprise you to learn that I am aware of a dozen programmes working on mind control. Most of them are sponsored by governments, but a few are by exceptional individuals like you. Oddly enough, it is the latter that have made the most progress, and I have assisted three such projects. You and a fellow-countryman of yours are two. The other is a pair of Americans. Your methods are quite different, but you have all achieved remarkable things."
Frankly, I was staggered. There were other mind control experts out there? Haller couldn't have said anything more guaranteed to get my attention. My old scientific curiosity, dormant for months, was reawakened. I was suddenly desperate to know more. A fantasy sprang into my mind of a great mind control conference where practitioners gathered and exchanged peer reviewed papers, until I remember the whole thing was highly unethical and illegal.
"But why? What's the point?" Then I remembered Haller's first two questions and it dawned on me. "Oh... my... god, you're planning to use mind control to rule the world. That's it isn't it? Haller you're fucking nuts. Have you got yourself a white cat and a secret volcano base yet?"