You Can't Go NORBAC Again. Chapter 5

By Simahoyo

I love Panama. They shipped things by cargo ship, by plane and even in any leftover space in cruise ships. Then the Bahamas and Cuba jumped in and shipped all of the trash bags, rubber gloves, rain coats, shower caps, rain boots and face masks I could get donated. Falu Kekula saved so many people with her, "trash bag method ", she deserves her own stamp.

Then Congressman Riddlemeyer started to demand our undivided attention just as we were close to a breakthrough with a vaccine. I was angry enough to fly to DC and speak to LaMar Smith, Riddlemeyer's boss.

It was a very interesting meeting. Apparently Riddlemeyer had been falsifying reports, using NORBAC as his own little errand service and harassing his ex-wife. Congressman Smith left determined to deal with him. He also introduced a bill that required use of the Center for Disease Control before moving on to a higher organization if the CDC declared their need for help.

Just after Christmas, we got hit with a huge storm, and getting to work was an adventure. Mom had warned me about Canadian winters. She told me what to bring with me, and then made a point of telling me that when she first married Dad, how impressed she was by the warm Boston winters. One look out the window told me she hadn't been exaggerating.

The humps covered with snow were the cars. The buses has group to a halt and tightly wrapped people fought the wind walking to work. By know I knew that everyone at NORBAC was making their way into the office, except lucky Carlos, who gone to Mexico to check on an outbreak in a remote village.

I dressed in three layers, mostly in wool, before I even thought about putting on my heaviest coat, two layers of socks under my boots, two scarves-one around my neck and the other over my face, added a hat and gloves, picked up my cell phone and brief case and headed out to work.

Ordinarily a brisk mile and a half walk makes me feel energized. Today, I had to climb up and over ,of ice and snow not only on the side walk, but at each intersection Mom was right. Boston winters are warmer. I found a wind shelter in the door way of an office building, and called David

"What?"

"It's Maura. I'm not going to be in on time. I underestimated how long it would take."

The mean wretch laughed. "Having a little trouble with our Canadian Winters?"

'HA,ha. I have to get in. I'm expecting a call from Havana in 2 hours. They won't understand about the snow. I'm going as fast as safety will allow."

"Okay, I'll see you when you get here."

I had just gotten the full blast of wind in my face when my cell phone rang. I wasn't about to bother looking at who it might be. I leaned against a building and answered, "Dr. Isles."

"This is U.S. Representative Carlton Riddlemeyer. I am the Undersecretary of the Science and Technology Committee."

"Hello, I..."

"I have an entire list of important areas where NORBAC needs to send a team right away, and I understand that you, Dr. Isles, suggested that these items be taken up by the Center For Disease Control."

"Representative Riddlemeyer, I am walking to work through snow..."

"Don't interrupt me. I'm not through with you. I intend to end the Center for Disease Control and save the taxpayers some money."

I felt myself slip on the ice and went down on both knees–unfortunately I didn't drop my cell phone. Riddlemeyer was still telling me off as a nice little boy helped me up. "Merci.", I told him. I continued walking.

"So, don't push me, or I will see to it that you are fired from your position at NORBAC..."

"By the time you achieve that goal, I will be finished with my six months here."

"Well, then, I suppose you need to be reminded of your place in the scheme of things. You depend on the Media to publicize your work–and I can stop the Media from covering your work. I can also stop the Media from covering anything you do."

I heard myself use what Jane calls my, "poisonous honey voice"...after I stopped myself from laughing. "If it is that important to you–enjoy yourself. I have to get to work."

Once at work, I waited until I was cleaned up and warmed up before I called Dad and gave him the best laugh he's had in years. "He's probably thinking that a word to the beltway press will close down all your work. He's forgotten that NORBAC is not the good ole USA."

"It's more than Canada, the US and Mexico now. Six more countries joined–and they love me,"

"I'm proud of you, Kiddo Your Mom is too. Our friends are sick of our bragging."

"Oh Daddy, don't tease."

"I'm perfectly serious. Keep up the good work, and try to stay warm."

I hung up, and in walked Rachel. "What did you say to Carlton? He's gloating about his plan to ban you from the Media. Will that hurt your work?"

I motioned for her to be seated. "He doesn't know that that my father owns an international news conglomerate."

Rachel's lips formed an, "O", then a grin. "Oh, that's priceless. He'll huff and he'll puff and nothing will happen."

"Sad, isn't it?"

"Oh, just what he deserves. I wish I could see his face..."

Knowing Dad, He'd find a way to do just that.

Dad pulled some strings and the next thing I knew was that there would be a major press conference in Mexico City, with the President of Mexico, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Vice-President of the United States, and the heads of state of Grenada, Dominica, The Bahamas, Barbados, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago, with Carlos representing NORBAC.

Naturally, I tuned in to see what the announcement was. Mayko, Rachel, David and Bob came over to watch with me–now that the boxes were gone, it turned out they liked my kitchen better than David's

I had expected that Grenada, Dominica and Mexico would announce their programs to allow interns to count a year volunteering to fight Ebola toward a Medical licence, and Carlos' speech got big applause in my living room, but then Canada announced they would be doing the same, and every other nation, including the United States joined the program. By the end of the session, NORBAC had gone from six nations to nine,

"My God, woman, what did you bribe them with?", asked David.

"I'm thrilled. I can hardly believe it, but this is the best day of my life, so far."

"I'll bet Carl is furious. How on earth.

"Dad has a long reach."

"Now we just have to educate the politicians about Ebola.", said Mayko.

"And find a vaccine.", added Bob.

"And I'm sending you home to Boston for a week to see your boyfriend and family."

"What? I have too much work to do. I can't take a week off."

"I'm prescribing it. You're no use to me all worn out, so go...hang out with your morgue buddies and cop friends. Say 'Hi.' to your tortoise."

"Bob, what have you been telling David?"

Bob dropped his eyes. "I like your stories about Bass, your African Spurred Tortois. I'll bet he misses you. I miss by dog–and Jack because you talk about him all the time–and Jane and Suzie too. So, you could say, 'Hi!' to them and relax for a week, and then get right back to it–right?"

"You should go. You'll have plenty to do when you get back, and I think your Dad managed to let Riddlemeyer know his place in the world." Mayko winked at me. "Besides I looked up your boyfriend on line. He's cute."

So I went.

.TBC