Chapter 33 – the 28th day of August, 299 years after Aegon's Conquest
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: US NOW LEADS THE WORLD IN CONFIRMED CASES
CHINA DENIES RUMORS OF NEW VANUATU NAVAL BASE
LITERACY RATE IN WESTEROS ESTIMATED AT '8-10% OF POPULATION'
UNITED NATIONS COMMITMENT IN ESSOS GROWS: CONTINGENT OF 4,000 TO BE DEPLOYED TO PENTOS
CAN WINTER ON PLANETOS REALLY LAST TEN YEARS? CLIMATE SCIENTISTS DIVIDED
######
"Hello, and you're listening to radio free Westeros."
The announcer smiled a smile only his work colleagues could see, enclosed in the soundproof booth. The radio shack, like the rest of the structures in Camp White, had been erected in some haste. This was even truer of the huge transmission tower that now rose on the northern horizon. A guyed mask just over a thousand feet tall, it had been erected on a hill four leagues directly in front of the Ring. Already, so far as they could tell, it was the tallest structure ever to exist on Planetos.
"We're here at Camp White, just north of King's Landing. We're joined today by Salladhor Saan, Prince of the Narrow Sea and admiral in service of King Stannis. We're glad you could join us on our inaugural broadcast."
The pirate lord smiled, revealing yellow teeth. "Thank you very much. It is a pleasure to be here, and talking to you today."
"The pleasure is all ours, of course! And I think you are familiar by now, with the medium of radio, and how it works?"
"I think I am familiar now. I cannot say I know how it is that this device works, but I have seen this marvel for itself, how a man's voice can be thrown across a thousand leagues, so that any number of people, beyond count, can listen to his words."
"Indeed, it is an extraordinary thing. Admittedly, we can't say the audience today is very large. There may be a few hundred radios in all of Westeros at this point. Still, for any in range who've tuned to the right frequency, we have quite a show for you all today for our inaugural broadcast."
"We'll start with the news of course. The unfortunate War in Westeros continues. Survivors of the Royal Fleet have retreated to the Shield Islands in the Reach, at the mouth of the Mander River. Reportedly about thirty ships survived, with the others sunk, taken or burnt. The Admiral in command, Ser Imry Florent, brother in law to King Stannis, is missing and now presumed dead.
Ironborn raiding in the Westerlands appears to have ceased, lending weight to the idea that some new alliance has occurred there between Houses Lannister and Greyjoy, but many believe it is only a matter of time before they resume elsewhere. Reports now indicate that Lord Balon Greyjoy has once again declared himself a king and his lands independent, in a ceremony at a location called 'Nagga's Hill' on the island of Old Wyk. This is, in many ways, a repeat of his actions during the Greyjoy rebellion of ten years ago. Overall, a very unfortunate turn of events. Would you say, Mr. Saan?"
"Very unfortunate yes. I knew many of the knights and captains who served with the royal fleet, having fought with them on the Blackwater. This is a terrible tragedy, but I know the resolve of the king to the ending of this war is undiminished. Stannis has already won many great victories. A few defeats will not sway him. He will never recognize Lord Balon's declaration of course."
"I would like to talk as well about the…quite frankly extraordinary incident that occurred some weeks ago now. An American Air Force Pilot, a Lieutenant Maria Diaz, who appears to have run away with Theon Greyjoy, son of Lord Balon Greyjoy. Of course, if Balon now considers himself a king, this makes Theon, arguably, a prince."
"Ah…well that is why men call themselves princes, of course. As a title, it is quite irresistible to women, I have always found myself."
The announcer laughed. "You sound as though you are speaking from experience?"
"Of course, of course" Salladhor said, laughing in turn. The announcer continued.
"From what government sources have told us, an expedition was quickly staged to find them. They found the plane within three days and were able to retrieve it, undamaged. It is now back in the king's service. The two fugitives were tracked as far as Fair Castle, but by the time the search parties got there, it appears they had already taken ship for the Iron Islands. There were a hundred different ships they could have been on, so there was little chance of finding them and the search has been called off for now. Overall, a rather bizarre incident, with a resulting loss of face to our people."
"Bizarre, yes. Also unfortunate. I am sure the king was greatly wroth at the time, but his grace is nothing if not a just man. Your efforts to make up for this incident will have placated him, I am sure, and allow for continued cooperation between our two peoples. Nonetheless, this incident changes little. It is clear that Lord Greyjoy was already intent on his treachery, regardless of what fate befell Theon."
"What then, of the defeat of the Royal Fleet at the hands of the Ironborn?"
Salladhor made a shrug the audience couldn't see. "His grace will build another. He has done so before, when he took Dragonstone, the last great stronghold of the Targaryens. Tywin Lannister and his bastard pretender are now trapped the same way. Eventually, the Ironborn will be defeated, as they have always been before, though I cannot promise Stannis will be as merciful as Robert. There will have to be proper punishment, this time."
The announcer decided to change the topic, before 'proper punishment' could be elaborated on.
"Regarding events on the far side of the Ring, as those of you listening are no doubt aware, just a few days ago we passed the one year anniversary of its appearance. There was some nervousness about that milestone of course. I know some diplomatic and scientific staff were withdrawn, or went on leave, to return back home in case they were trapped by its closure. Crowds descended on the Ring back in Australia, to bear witness. Apparently, there were more than half a million people at one point."
"Bigger than Woodstock" his colleague agreed.
"Bigger than Woodstock, yes. You probably would not get that reference Prince Saan. It was a large festival in America, fifty years ago."
"I see."
"But the attendees were sorely disappointed. The Ring remains, unchanged. But how long will it last? Ten years? A hundred? Could it be permanent?"
"It seems no man knows these things" Salladhor replied. "I am glad it did not close. We have only just become such fine friends" he offered graciously. "Though I can understand the frustrations of some. Why, I heard just a few days past of a Westerosi captain, who returned from the Jade Sea after two years of sailing. His ship was loaded up with spices, chests of cloves, cinnamon and saffron. They had fought storms and corsairs. Half his crew had died of thirst sailing around Valyria, and even his own son had perished. Still, the man would have been rich as a lord till the end of his days. Only he sails into King's Landing, and what does he find? Why, the city is overrun with spices! Now even the meanest beggar can sprinkle pepper on their soup. Your people have been so generous…"
"That…I mean wow, that must have been a disappointment to him. I hope he is all right."
Salladhor shrugged again. The announcer moved on. "Well there are issues that may yet threaten that free flows of goods and people. There is increasing concern over this new virus, the Wuhan coronavirus, which has now spread to dozens of countries. There are now more than three hundred thousand reported cases in the United States alone. Melbourne, on the far side of the Ring, has entered lockdown, and a two week mandatory waiting period has been enforced on all travel through the Ring. I believe you were one of the last to return, late last month, before this restriction?"
"Yes yes, I believe I was. There was um…how do you say? Mandatory testing? When I returned."
"Mandatory, yes."
"A woman in a white jacket stuck a little stick up my nose. It tickled, a most curious thing, not very gentle. She was a pretty girl though. I smiled at her. I told her, I have great experience sticking things into pretty girls. Perhaps you could join me on my ship and I will provide lessons on being more gentle?" Salladhor laughed. The announcers gave brief chuckles in response, exchanging a glance.
"Certainly an inconvenience, yes. Further complicating things, but you were allowed to leave?"
"Yes yes. The next day they said it was uh…negative and I was allowed to leave."
"I believed you also purchased some cars?"
"Ah, yes yes, I have. I was most pleased by this. Admittedly, there was disappointment before. Your Prime Minister he uh…declined my hopeful purchase of a flying machine." His smiled turned into a sudden frown. "He argued, that your pilots may not be safe in Lys, should I return there, and cited Loras Tyrell. I tried to explain. Lys is not Westeros. We are not savages like the Westerosi. Your pilot knights would be most welcome and I could guarantee their safe passage, but he seemed to think they would not be safe, simply because there are still those in Lys who own slaves. I explained that I freed my slaves, but it seems this is not satisfactory for him."
"We can see your frustration."
"This was disappointing, yes. However" his smiled swiftly returned "I have been allowed to purchase automobiles instead."
"Yes, five of them, I believe?"
Salladhor gave an awkward laugh. "Well, there were five of them. I was instructed on their steering, and sought to ride myself back from the Ring. Only, when coming up on a ford before the city, I forget which of these rudders is the brake, and which is the uh…"
"Accelerator?"
"Accelerator, yes yes! I forget which is which. Next thing, I am in the river!" he laughed.
"Were you alright?"
"Oh, yes yes. My men pulled me out. Unfortunately, the automobile carriage is lost. Somewhere in Blackwater Bay now, I am thinking."
More laughter. "Also unfortunate. But you have the other four?"
"The other four made it, but not with me driving" Salladhor admitted. "Two of them, I have already given away. One to the queen, on behalf of his grace, and another to the Lord Hand. The other two I have retained for my own use. As far as I know, I am the first person from anywhere, to have these devices from the flying men. A great privilege! There was also something else, an uh…what is it called?" He made a gesture with his hands. "A jet skiff?"
"Jet ski" the announcer corrected.
"Jet ski, yes yes! This I have used, on the Blackwater. But this one was meant to be there!" More laughter. "So now I, Salladhor Saan, am the fastest man on water. The thing moves as fast as a dragon, a sea dragon, I am thinking!"
"They are impressive. I've been on a jet ski, they are a lot of fun."
"Oh yes, almost as good as a flying machine, I am thinking, but we shall see. I wonder how long I will be the fastest though. I have seen the new shipyard your people are building, and already I am seeing some vessel taking shape in it."
"Yes, that is true. They started work some two months ago, one a road to the coast, direct from the Ring, had been completed. Unfortunately there is no sea connection between our two worlds, of course. So we will have to start building ships from scratch."
"Yes, and you are doing so most quickly!" Salladhor exclaimed. "In just two months, it has appeared? As if conjured overnight. Many are wondering what sort of vessels you shall build, on this world's oceans? I saw some in Melbourne, on my last visit. I saw ships there that would put my beloved Valyrian to shame, I will admit."
"Well yes, they have begun construction on vessels" the announcer conceded. "It is not an uh…military ship, we are assured of that. It is a civilian vessel, though it will have some measure of armament for self defence. It will be used for surveying and trade, to transport goods more directly to the cities in Essos. So far, we have relied on aircraft, mostly helicopters, and this simply isn't very efficient. They are building as fast as they can. In just a few months, perhaps, it will be complete."
"Extraordinary" Salladhor observed. "I have been asking, who are these shipwrights? That build so fast?"
"I believe the Koreans are building it. Hyundai got the contract."
"Koreans? Hmmm, perhaps I must go ask these people to build me a new fleet? Of ships made of steel and glass…I hear too, the first of these ships will be named after um…he was a man who died? Your Hand of the Queen?"
"Ah yes, the ship will be named after the late former Australian Prime Minister, who died in King's Landing facing the wildfire. The ship will fly under an international flag. A United Nations ship. So in a few months, we will see the launch of the first modern vessel on the seas of Planetos - the UNS Tony Abbott."
Salladhor smiled again. "This thing, I am most looking forward to seeing."
When the broadcast was over, the announcer helped Salladhor Saan remove his mic and escorted him out the door. Out of curiosity, he asked what had become of the captain with the worthless hoard of spices.
Salladhor gave another little shrug. "The man gave in to his despair, I am afraid. He jumped off the Mud Gate yesterday."
######
That same day…
Beijing was as huge and smoggy as he remembered, though at least the worst of the winter was over. In summer, the sky could almost pass for blue at times.
Kevin Rudd had taken a regular commercial flight, just him and an aide sitting in business class, the better to maintain a low profile. Officially, he was here for low level diplomatic talks regarding potential economic opportunities beyond the Ring. He was scheduled for a meeting with similarly ranked officials this afternoon. His task before then, however, was far more important.
Exiting the gate at Beijing Capital International Airport they were met by a pair of officials from the Ministry of State Security, and quickly whisked into the back of an unmarked government car. The drive to Zhongnanhai, the central headquarters of the Communist Party not far from the Forbidden City (essentially the PRC's version of the Whitehouse) took less than thirty minutes in the light pre-dawn traffic.
The guards checked their identification briefly at the Xinhua gate, but they were expected, and quickly waved through. They drove around the southern lake, before making a few vaguely familiar twists and turns through the complex. It looked much as he remembered, though it had been a decade since he had visited, with a lot more pomp and circumstance, during his tenure as PM. He found himself scratching his chin idly. He didn't have a beard back then, but now it had grown silver as his hair. They were taken to a side entrance of Qinzheng Hall, where the General Secretary had his office, and quickly ushered inside.
They were admitted to a waiting room and offered a seat. A young secretary offered them a tray loaded with tea and coffee. They waited there for some time. He glanced at his watch more often then may have been strictly polite. Over an hour passed and dawn had broken by the time an aide came to fetch them. To wait on one of the two most powerful men in either world, this was not bad, Rudd reflected.
He remained silent as he was escorted to the General Secretary's office. Xi Jinping was seated behind a desk, sipping his own cup of tea. The door was closed behind him, leaving the two men completely alone. Not so much as a security guard remained, though he knew a whole squad must be hidden behind a door somewhere. The paramount leader of the People's Republic of China looked up at him.
Kevin Rudd approached the desk and gave a slight bow. "General Secretary" he said in Mandarin. "Thank you very much for receiving me, and with short notice."
Xi nodded his head politely.
"I know you would not come unless it was something important. Please my friend, have a seat" he said, gesturing to the chair opposite. Rudd did so. The General Secretary reached out and they shook hands. He gestured to another tray loaded with tea, and Rudd took one graciously.
"I know you are a busy man, and I will not take up more of your time this is necessary."
"You may be calm, you have a whole hour of my time, as requested. How is your wife?" They spent a minute exchanging pleasantries. Rudd knew this routine. So far, so good. Still, he hesitated before pulling the laptop out of his bag.
"I think today, how long have we known each other? Thirty-five years? Since our first meeting in Xiamen."
"Yes, a long time."
"I feel we have a good working relationship."
"Yes, our exchanges are always frank."
"Then we know we are both sensible men, even if the world has become crazy. I remind you of this" Rudd said, pulling the device out and setting it up on the desk. Xi Jinping nodded, eyeing the laptop warily.
"I am not sure what your own people have told you" Rudd continued, opening it and quickly turning it on. "Perhaps you know much already, but we have found various anomalies on this new world. At first we were not sure, but now there is great certainty. I will admit, there are those in Canberra and Washington who objected to me coming here today, but others have seen sense. There is no point trying to conceal these anomalies much longer, and to do so would only cause more distrust, at a time when it is not needed."
He brought up the correct file and started playing a brief video. After Jaerillos's demonstration, he had returned a few night's later and been permitted to film the phenomenon. As far as he could tell, he was the first to be granted this privilege.
"We do not understand yet how this is done" Rudd explained, as a flame moved on its own and water swirled, without any visible manipulation. "Flames, water, they talk of wind as well, and maybe other things, all being moved without touching it. And there are no magnets or anything else we can see. At first we did not believe stories of wizards, but now…"
The file finished playing, Rudd turned to the Chinese leader.
"I am instructed to tell you…the magic is real" he said simply. "That is our conclusion."
Xi had been staring at the screen. He was doing his best to appear unperturbed, but Rudd thought he had known him long enough to detect his unease. "We had our suspicions" the General Secretary said guardedly. "Now, it seems, you confirm them."
Rudd nodded. "This is the clearest example so far, but there have been others. Most you are probably aware of."
He flicked through a number of other files, images and video. The king's glowing sword. The Great Wall of Ice at the northern end of Westeros. A pot of wildfire, burning bright green. The dragon skulls under the red keep. More fire mages in Braavos, summoning beasts that looked to be made of flame.
"There are too many anomalies. Too much that defies uh…a scientific explanation. We must take this seriously. We must understand it."
To his relief, the General Secretary nodded. "Of course. Whether it is magic or…new science, we must understand it." Xi took another sip of tea, leaning back in his chair. He seemed almost agitated now and deep in thought. The silence stretched for a few seconds, Rudd hesitated to interrupt him, but soon decided the silence must be filled.
"The Prime Minister proposes a joint commission" he said cautiously. "America, Australia, China, and others. Russia, Japan, India, the Europeans of course. You know. We must establish a new working group, a new committee of the General Assembly perhaps, for the purpose of studying these anomalies."
"You were right to bring this to me" Xi said finally. With one finger he was tapping the table idly. "Such anomalies could prove…disruptive. Most disruptive."
"Yes. I agree. A new committee is the best way to handle this."
Xi gave a tiny nod. "That is good. However, another issue remains. What of equal access to the Mófamén?" he asked. Rudd knew this was the Chinese term for the Ring, since its appearance last year. Magic Gate. He knew this would be a big point of contention. He considered his answer carefully.
"Australia has granted passage for Chinese personnel, and many other countries, since the first days after the appearance of the Mófamén" he replied. "Your diplomats, scientists, guards. They have all been granted passage."
"But there remain restrictions on this passage" Xi said, his tone sharpening noticeably. "You do not permit our aircraft to operate independently. Every time, we must ask for permission to enter your airspace, in the simple hope it is granted. You demand oversight of our activities, yet your actions are themselves independent. You are selling aircraft to barbarians for gold, and bestowing them with other gifts of technology. You are launching drones and satellites, to view this hidden world from the sky, then denying anyone else the chance to do the same."
"With respect General Secretary, that would be a duplication of effort" Rudd replied diplomatically. "The purpose of these exchanges is not gold, but to build trust and encourage cooperation, and we have shared our satellite images with you."
"As you say" Xi replied, sounding disappointed. "Yet what if some new great anomaly is found? How can we know that America can always be trusted?"
He stood up suddenly, holding a teacup. He went to stand over by the window. From here, they had a limited view of the Forbidden City across the lakes. Beyond it was the Beijing skyline, one that now rivaled New York in scale. Xi took another sip from the cup. He resumed talking, his back to Rudd.
"You have come to me as an intermediary to share this information, and I thank you for it. This also builds trust." He turned around, his face once again in shadow. "But how can we be sure you are always honest intermediaries? From the beginning, you have bowed down to the Americans. Your government talks of equal access, but you still act as America's 51st province."
"We understand the tension" Rudd replied. "We understand the need to ensure equal access to the Mófamén. It is now one of the most important gates in the world, like the Suez Canal or the Persian Gulf. But if the Mófamén had opened in China, would you not seek to retain sovereignty over your own airspace?"
"And would you not seek what I am asking?" Xi replied. "America, a country that claims the world's oceans, that appoints itself as the world's policeman, that plants its flag on the moon, a superpower. Would they not have demanded equal access from day one? We have been very patient."
"The situation is complex" Rudd conceded. "Especially now, with this new virus, and economic disruption." He finished the cup of tea. "May I ask what terms I should take to the Prime Minister?"
Xi sat down again, considering him. "Your talk of a United Nations committee is good, provided China has a permanent seat on the table. But equal access to the Mófamén must first be guaranteed. We demand unimpeded passage through your airspace. We will inform you of flights and schedules, but no longer require your constant permission. Creation of an international corridor to the sea must also be considered. We will launch our own rockets to survey this world. We will send our diplomatic missions where we will, not just to cities where you have already established your presence. We will build our own shipyard and launch our own ships, to match your own. We will consult with each other, and promise to share whatever we learn, especially regarding these anomalies. These are our terms. They are reasonable ones. Your Prime Minister would be most wise to accept them."
"May I ask, what will happen if they are not accepted?"
Xi frowned. "You must know, eventually, there will be consequences" he said, without elaborating further. "I will bid you farewell now, ambassador. Tell your masters in Canberra and Washington that unless our reasonable demands are met, China's patience will not last forever, nor the rest of the international community. That is our frank exchange today."
He fixed Rudd with a dismissive look, and he knew the meeting was over. Rudd stood up, collected his laptop, handed the General Secretary a USB with a copy of all the relevant files, thanked him graciously for his time and the tea, gave a slight bow of his head, and walked from the room.