7 The New World Order (1/2)
In the United Nations building, a team of doctors had just finished examining Olaf Troll.
The doctors were a team that were kept on standby to help delegates that felt unwell. Usually, their time was spent treating people who had overindulged in food, drink, and various other forms of entertainment. They welcomed the chance to do something more interesting, even though their work was hampered by the lack of electrical power.
There had been an attempt to start up the building's emergency electric generators. It resulted in a small fire and a greater panic. Fortunately, the fire was quickly put out with extinguishers.
John Knox, the doctor who headed the medical team, removed the earpieces of his stethoscope from his ears, straightened up, and gave Olaf Troll a friendly pat on the shoulder.
”You can button up your shirt now,” he said. ”Everything appears to be fine.”
”It should,” said Olaf Troll. ”I feel fine. Never felt better. I could eat something, though. I hope those locusts left something.”
”There is plenty of food left in the buffet room,” Knox reassured him. ”However, let me ask you once more: are you absolutely sure you put the implant behind your right ear?”
”Yes.”
”Amazing. I couldn't see a trace of anything there. No broken skin, bruise, nothing at all.”
”No glowing blue spot? Someone who was standing close by me told me they saw a glowing spot behind my ear.”
”No, no spot. If it was there, it's gone now.”
”Hmmm. Interesting.”
The door to the examination room of the clinic opened and an aide to Nelson Odongo - a young African woman - looked in.
”Excuse me,” she said. ”The secretary general would like to know if Mr Troll is all right.”
”He's fine,” Knox told her.
”In that case, Mr Troll, could you come with me to the general assembly chamber? An important vote will be taking place soon.”
”What, another one? They'll vote themselves to death in there.”
The aide smiled sweetly.
”There is a lot of decisions to be made,” she said.
”No doubt, no doubt. Where is my tie?”
”Here,” said a junior doctor, holding out Troll's green tie.
The genius of economics did not thank him, He took the tie and began tying it round his neck as he followed the young woman out of the clinic. He insisted on passing through the candlelit buffet room, where he grabbed a couple of chicken drumsticks, some bread, and a bottle of wine. The young woman started to protest when she saw Olaf Troll reaching for the wine, but he silenced her with a single look.
Such was the personal charisma of this remarkable man.
They entered the general assembly chamber just as Nelson Odongo was taking the stage for a final address before the vote. Olaf Troll was happy to see that many delegates were eating and drinking; in fact, when he entered the delegate closest to the entrance was in the process of lifting a sandwich to his mouth. His other, sandwich-free hand was holding the documentation scroll from the cube, and he was peering at it intently.
”May I have your attention please!” Nelson Odongo boomed. The buzz that filled the general assembly chamber died down.
”First of all, let me bring everyone up to date with the latest news and developments,” said Nelson Odongo. He allowed himself a dramatic pause, frowning at his audience.
”A team of engineers is working hard to restore power,” he began. ”Unfortunately, so far they haven't been successful. The news we have had from the city indicate a widespread, perhaps even global power outage. All communications have been cut, so we cannot be sure what is happening in the world. This is a dangerous time, a very dangerous time. We must act.”
The heads of state from all around the world nodded in agreement. It was indeed a very dangerous time. They all had rivals back home, rivals who would be sure to exploit the absence of the current leaders, and grab the chance to seize power with both hands. In many cases, that could mean prison or even death for the current heads of state. Action, decisive action was needed! Otherwise, heads would begin to roll.