Looking Backward from the Tricentennial

Part IV - Chapter Twenty-Three

Part IV : What have I done? (March 28-April 3, 2076)

We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.

- Albert Einstein

Gently ascending to the thirty-ninth floor, alone in the elevator with his thoughts of Idabee, Julian smiled. They'd just spent Saturday afternoon exploring the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum, which included life-size replicas of living spaces from the first Mars colony. He invited Idabee to come up for dinner, but she declined, reminding him they'd see plenty of each other the next day.

The transformation in his life—and his country—over a subjective month had been amazing. Was he falling in love? Was that the force that kept pushing up the corners of his mouth at random moments? It was too soon to say with certainty, but Idabee's decade-long crush certainly put her feelings in an advanced state. Julian's grin widened, remembering their passionate goodbye.

Earlier that week, Idabee had helped him join the American Union using his Treasury account. He made a good-faith pledge to vote with them in November and listed Idabee as the organizer who'd recruited him so she could get a commission on his membership dues. They went through the process of delegating his voting power in the assembly—as a basic member, he couldn't assign any of it to himself. Julian divided it up among all the delegates he knew, with Idabee getting the lion's share. Then Professor Carlton asked to meet with him before starting the organizer program, and they made plans to talk this evening.

So much of his existence had been constrained, his options limited, but in the tricentennial, Julian felt surrounded by possibilities.

When the elevator doors opened, Julian strolled into the hallway and toward Ray's door. Today, he needed to have a conversation with him about his daughter. Julian knew the relationship wasn't exactly a secret, but felt a clearing of the air was important. Ray wasn't just his doctor and guide to the year 2076; Julian considered him a friend as well. He didn't particularly want to jeopardize that, but if Ray didn't understand, he knew he'd choose to keep Idabee in his life.

Julian gave a sharp knock on the door before thumbing it open. He believed Ray was expecting him, but some audible notice seemed appropriate. Taking a deep breath, he announced himself, "Hey, it's Julian."

"In the kitchen," Ray called. Julian found his host throwing fresh herbs into a pot giving off an earthy aroma. "Perfect timing," he said.

Dinner was a kidney bean stew whose coconut flavor was enhanced by ginger and garlic. Julian dug in; he was halfway through his bowl before he broached the subject. "Ray, Idabee is really something."

"You've been spending a lot of time together," her father observed.

A memory of Idabee's lips pressed against his brought a smile to Julian's face. "We are. I guess I should thank you for introducing us." Ray nodded. "Tomorrow, she's taking me up to Philly. We're going to scope out the neighborhood where I grew up and see what it looks like today." He hesitated. "We're going to stay over, so I won't be back until Monday."

"Sounds like you two are getting along well," Ray said. "I'll be headed into the hospital on Monday, so I may not be here when you get back. Idabee used to visit me there when she was young, and her grandmother would tell the story of how you saved her at the reparations rally. So I feel somewhat responsible for her infatuation with you." He grinned. "Of course, if she decides not to keep you, there's a whole bunch more where you came from."

"Did I come with a money-back guarantee?" Julian laughed. "You know, I asked Edith if you two were playing matchmaker, waking me up now. Were you?"

Ray quickly sobered. "According to the records, you requested to be removed from cryonic suspension on February 15, 2076. I admit I had some flexibility whether to start or finish the process then, but I followed your instructions."