Forty signs of rain - Kim Stanley Robinson [82]
“No, I don’t think so.”
“It’s the latest Gini figures, do you know those?”
“No?”
“They’re a measurement of income distribution in a population, so an index of the gap between rich and poor. Most industrialized democracies rate at between 2.5 and 3.5, that’s where we were in the 1950’s, see, but our numbers started to shoot up in the 1980’s, and now we’re worse than the worst third world countries. 4.0 or greater is considered to be very inequitable, and we’re at 5.2 and rising.”
Anna looked briefly at the graph, interested in the statistical method. A Lorenz curve, plotting the distance away from perfect equality’s straight line tilted at forty-five degrees.
“Interesting…So this is for annual incomes?”
“That’s right.”
“So if it were for capital holdings—”
“It would be worse, I should think. Sure.” Frank shook his head, disgusted. He had come back from San Diego in a permanently foul mood. No doubt anxious to finish and go home.
“Well,” Anna said, looking at her printout, “maybe the Khembalis aren’t so bad off after all.”
“How’s that?”
Anna showed him the pages. “They’ve gotten a couple grants. It’ll make them some good contacts.”
“Very nice, did you do this?” Frank took the pages.
“I just pointed them at things. They’re turning out to be good at following through. And I helped Drepung rewrite the grant proposals. You know how it is, after doing this job for a few years you do know how to write a grant proposal.”
“No lie. Nice job.” He handed the pages back to her. “Good to see someone doing something.”
Anna returned to her desk, glancing after him. He was definitely edgy these days. He had always been that way, of course, ever since the day he arrived. Dissatisfied, cynical, sharp-tongued; it was hard not to contrast him to the Khembalis. Here he was, about to go home to one of the best departments in one of the best universities in one of the nicest cities in the world’s richest country, and he was unhappy. Meanwhile the Khembalis were essentially multigenerational exiles, occupying a tidal sandbar in near poverty, and they were happy.
Or at least cheerful. She did not mean to downplay their situation, but these days she never saw that unhappy look that had so struck her the first time she had seen Drepung. No, they were cheerful, which was different than happy; a policy perhaps, rather than a feeling. But that only made it more admirable.
Well, everyone was different. She got back to the tedious grind of changing data. Then Drepung called, and they shared the pleasure of the good news about the grant proposals. They discussed the details, and then Drepung said, “We have you to thank for this, Anna. So thank you.”
“You’re welcome, but it wasn’t really me, it’s the Foundation and all the other organizations.”
“But you are the one who piloted us through the maze. We owe you big time.”
Anna laughed despite herself.
“What?”
“Nothing, it’s just that you sound like Charlie. You sound like you’ve been watching sports on TV.”
“I do like watching basketball, I must admit.”
“That’s fine. Just don’t start listening to that rap music okay? I don’t think I could handle that.”
“I won’t. You know me, I like Bollywood. Anyway, you must let us thank you somehow for this. We will have you to dinner.”
“That would be nice.”
“And maybe you can join us at the zoo when our tigers arrive. Recently a pair of Bengal tigers were rescued off Khembalung after a flood. The papers in India call them the Swimming Tigers, and they are coming for a stay at the National Zoo here. We will have a small ceremony when they arrive.”
“That would be great. The boys would love that. And also—” An idea had occurred to her.
“Yes?”
“Maybe you could come upstairs and visit us here, and give one of our lunchtime lectures. That would be a great way to return a favor. We could learn more about your situation, and, you know, your approach to science, or to life, or whatever. Something like that. Do you think Rudra would be interested?”
“I’m sure he would. It would be a great opportunity.”
“Well not exactly, it’s just a lunchtime