Distraction - Bruce Sterling [59]
“That’s the truly tragic part. You can’t save an endangered species by cloning animals. I admit, it’s better than having them completely exterminated and lost forever. But they’re curios now, they walk around looking pretty, they’ve become collector’s items for the ultra-rich. A living species isn’t just the DNA code, it’s the whole spread of genetic variety in a big wild population, plus their learned behaviors, and their prey and their predators, all inside a natural environment. But there aren’t any natural environments anymore. Because the climate has changed.”
He sat up, the bedsprings crunching loudly. “The climate’s in flux now. You can’t shelter whole environments under airtight domes. Only two kinds of plants really thrive in today’s world: genetically altered crops, and really fast-moving weeds. So our world is all bamboo and kudzu now, it has nothing to do with the endangered foxglove lady’s slipper and its precious niche on some forgotten mountain. Politically, we hate admitting this to ourselves, because it means admitting the full extent of our horrible crimes against nature, but that’s ecological reality now. That’s the truth you asked me for. That is reality. Paying tons of money to preserve bits of Humpty Dumpty’s shell is strictly a pious gesture.”
“And that’s what you’re going to tell your Senators.”
“No, no, I never said that.” Oscar sighed. “I just wanted to tell you the truth.”
“What do you want to tell your Senators?”
“What do I want? I want you. I want you to be on my side. I want to reform your situation, and I want you to help me and counsel me.”
“I have my own krewe, thank you.”
“No, you don’t have anything. You have a very expensive facility that is on a short-term loan. And you’re dealing with people in Washington who can misplace an air base and laugh about it. No, when I look at your game from your position, I see that you have two realistic options. Number one, get out now, before the purge. Take another post, academia maybe, even Europe. If you angle it right, you can probably take some of your favorite grad students and bottle-washers with you.”
She scowled. “What’s option number two?”
“Take power. A preemptive strike. Just take the place over, and root out every one of those crooked sons of bitches. Come clean about everything, get ahead of the curve, and blow the place wide open.” Oscar levered himself up on one elbow. “If you leak it at just the right time, through just the right sources, and in just the right order, with just the right spin, you can get rid of the featherbedders and save most of the people who are doing actual research. That’s a very risky gambit, and it probably won’t succeed, and it will make you stacks of bitter enemies for life. But there is one saving grace there: if you’re turning the place upside down yourself, Congress will be so amazed that they won’t get around to shutting you down. If you get good press, and if they like your style, they might even back you.”
She sank back, crushed, against the pillow. “Look, I just want to work in my lab.”
“That’s not an option.”
“It’s very important work.”
“I know it is, but that’s just not an option.”
“You don’t really believe in anything, do you?”
“Yes I do,” he said passionately. “I believe that smart people working together can make a difference in this world. I know you’re very smart, and if we work together, then maybe I can help you. If you’re not with me, then you’re on your own.”
“I’m not helpless. I have friends and colleagues who trust me.”
“Well, that’s lovely. You can all be helpless together.”
“No, it’s not lovely. Because you’re sleeping with me. And you’re telling me you’re going to destroy everything I work for.”
“Look, it’s the truth! Would it be better if I slept with you and didn’t tell you what was going on? Because the possibility distinctly occurred to me. But I don’t have the heart.”
“You have the wrong person for this. I hate administration. I can’t take power. I’m no good at it.”
“Greta, look at me. I could make you good at