CHAPTER EIGHT: BEATRICE

        It was evening at the Schully household. Dorrie walked up and down, organizing and cleaning up, while Joanne was busy in the kitchen preparing for the night’s festivities. Dorrie hopped into the shower and hurriedly took a bath. She walked back to her room and proceeded towards the wardrobe to pick out her favourite outfit; a long floral red dress which she bought some weeks ago. She wore it and stood in front of the mirror, checking herself from every angle to make sure that she was presentable. She walked over to her dresser and picked up the comb. She took the spray bottle full of water and sprayed it all over her big puffy hair before she gently combed it out section by section until it is tidy. She then tied her hair into a bun, which had become her preferred hairstyle and walked back to the mirror to look at the final product. She could hear her mother talking on the phone excitedly, boasting about her to her friends. Dorrie stood at the top of the stairs and listened in on the conversation for a while before she decided to rain on her mother’s parade. “Calm down mom,” said Dorrie as she walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, “It's only a 20 minute segment. He didn’t ask me a lot of questions.”

    “How can I not be excited?” Said Joanne, “My daughter is going to be on the news, interviewed by the one and only Collins Tangaza! On a national network!” She put her mobile phone on top of the microwave and walked towards the stove to check on her beef stew that she had been cooking for the entire day, “Today is a special occasion in the Schully household. Everyone in Benue is going to know your name!”

     “As if they don’t already?” Said Dorrie, “Last week, an article in The Daily Benue referred to me as the most likely to succeed without getting a child before 30. Some of these local reporters are absolutely ridiculous.”

     “Local being the keyword there.” Joanne replied as she laughed, “This however, is the Benue Broadcasting Network, a reputable news network, and it airs in other regions as well.”

     “It’s nothing special mom,” Dorrie replied dismissively, “They just wanted to hop on the trend before anyone else did, be the first to the story.”

     “Doreen Schully, what did I tell you about self-deprecating thoughts and comments?”

     “That they shouldn't be said out loud?” Dorrie replied with a sly smile on her face. Joanne turned and gave her daughter a stern look.

     “Okay okay,” Dorrie said while laughing, “That they poison the mind by feeding it negative thoughts.”

     “Exactly,” said Joanne, “You should always feed your mind with positive thoughts about yourself. Always be sure of who you are, even when others doubt you. I still can’t believe that you are going to be on the news. When professor Fundi called to tell me that he had been approached by the Benuan Broadcasting Network about a possible interview with you I didn’t think it was going to be a big thing.”

     “Me too. Then the organizers called to tell me that Collins Tangaza would be interviewing me on his weekly segment ‘On The Spot with Collins Tangaza’, I almost melted into the ground.” Dorrie said as she walked restlessly around the kitchen, “Collins Tangaza knows who I am mom! He has interviewed some of the greatest minds in Benue. It was truly a dream come true for me.”

     “I am so proud of you, my child. How you’ve grown into this smart and beautiful woman. Why, I remember it like it was just yesterday when you first joined college. And then you graduated not once, not twice but thrice. How time flies, it’s been 10 years.” Joanne said as she stirred the pot of stew.

     “Has it?” Dorrie said. She moved closer to the stove where her mother was standing and leaned against the refrigerator, “It doesn’t feel like it at all.”

    “Time moves fast when you are happy and living your life to its fullest potential. Instead of you moving through time…”

    “Time moves through you.” Dorrie replied before her mother could finish her statement. She knew all too well what her mother was going to say, she had heard it all throughout her time in college. Joanne smiled while watching over the stove. She stirred the stew repeatedly on high heat until the stew thickened to her desire. She bent over the stove to the oven and opened it, she was also preparing some bread for dinner. “I hope professor Fundi won’t be late,” Joanne said as she rushed to grab her oven mittens from the shelf, “Dinner should be ready in a while, and I wouldn’t want to start without our guest of honor.”

     “What!” Dorrie exclaimed, “I thought I was the guest of honour. I am the one who just got her phD in Human Development.”

     “Of course. But Professor Fundi had a lot to do with that. He has been your mentor ever since you first joined B.I.H.S.”

     “Yeah,” Dorrie said hesitantly, “But I did all the work.”

     “Under his supervision and his guidance. He’s helped you alot Dorrie. Don’t diminish that.”

     “It sounds to me like you’re insinuating that I wouldn’t have gotten my phD without professor Fundi.”

     “If I recall correctly, he is the one who encouraged you to join B.I.H.S in the first place. He opened your mind to new ideas, helped you navigate through college, he guided you and you excelled. I’m not saying that you got your phD because of him, I am saying that under his guidance, you became confident in your path, you were fearless in your pursuit for greatness, and here you are now. Dr.Doreen Schully.”

    “Wow,” Said Dorrie with a smile on her face, “I will never get tired of hearing that.”

    “Dr.Doreen Schully!” They said in unison as they laughed. Joanne wore her oven mittens and opened the oven door. A large gust of steam left the oven and she wafted it away, revealing her master creation, a large loaf of white bread. The kitchen was filled with a fresh, wheat-like smell. The scent of the bread bombarded Dorrie’s nose, exciting her taste buds and ultimately making her mouth water. “It smells amazing,” She commented, “Like my entire childhood packed into a single loaf of bread. It has an extremely sweet smell to it. I have never noticed that with any other bread that you’ve made before.”

     “And you know the best part about it?” Said Joanne as she carefully removed the loaf from the pan and placed it on a clean silver sauce pan on the kitchen counter, “I tried out a new recipe. It's a traditional Natoni style of bread. I’ll tell you more about it when we are all together on the dining table.”

    “So both dad and I have never tried this kind of bread before?”

    “Your dad did, before we got married. My mother made it for us when we announced that we were getting married, and as a wedding gift, she gave me the recipe.” said Joanne. She removed her oven mittens, put them aside and took out a knife from the drawer, “Your dad said that it was the softest and sweetest bread he had ever tasted.”

     “Is there an ingredient in the recipe that makes it so unique?” Dorrie asked. She moved closer to the counter and watched as her mother flawlessly cut through the thick and crisp crust of the loaf, cutting it into slices. Joanne looked at her daughter and put the bread knife on the counter. She stared out into the backyard briefly, then glanced back at her daughter. She walked towards the shelves and pulled out a dusty old box from the topmost shelf. She then walked back to the counter and looked at Dorrie again. She took a deep breath. “I want to share something with you, a family secret. I thought I was going to wait a while longer before I told you about it, but now is a perfect time as any other, since you’ve asked me about it.” Joanne said as she looked intensively at the box.

    “Okay mom. Is this about the bread?” Dorrie asked.

    “Partly,” replied Joanne, “As you go into the world, educated and at your own pace, now that you are old enough to make your own decisions and carve your own path, I would like to share with you, something that my mother told me a long time ago when I was your age and almost getting married to your father. Your grandmother told me of a black cat that visited her dreams. This cat was unlike any other that you have ever seen on Avulan, it was otherworldly. She told me that the cat only visited her twice, once when she decided to go out on her own, and a second time to reassure her that she was on the right path; it was a spirit of guidance. I didn’t think much of it then, I was skeptical about it, to me, it sounded like one of those old Natoni folklores that she used to tell us when I was growing up. But one day, before you were born, I saw a black cat in my dreams. It was the exact same one that my mother had seen all those years ago, with the exact same description that she had told me. It had a mostly deep yellow coat with a darker overcoat, with black spots all over its body, a strong front build, an extremely long tail, it was large in stature and had brilliant white eyes with large, black dilated pupils. When I looked into its face, it was an overwhelming feeling. Seeing it for the first time in my dream, it felt like I was connected to something greater, a presence far beyond my own. The recipe for this loaf of bread was given to my mother by that same black cat, as a gift to our family. There is a special ingredient, that only those who are aligned with my mother’s path are able to identify. It was a gift to her from the black cat, so that she would always find her family, wherever she was. Before your dad and I got married, your grandmother made this loaf for him, to see whether he would be a good fit for our family. The special ingredient gives the bread an extra sweet taste, not everybody is able to notice it. So when your father was able to identify it, she immediately gave us her blessings to marry. I was going to serve it today, hoping that you would join in the family tradition. But you noticed it just from the scent alone, without even tasting it, it’s amazing, no one has ever been able to do that, not even your grandmother. I think if she were here with us today, she would be very proud of you. And wherever she is right now, you already have her blessings.”

     “I had no idea that we had such an amazing family history. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner mom?” Dorrie asked her mother. She started to sniff the air again, each time, taking in the sweet scent of the bread.

     “I was waiting for the right time.” Joanne replied, “But now that you are done with your studies and going out into the world, there was no more need to wait.”

     “I miss grandma,” Dorrie said, “She always told the best stories, and gave the best gifts.”

     “I miss her too,” Joanne replied, “But she’s always with us. She’s always watching over us. Don’t you ever forget that.”

     “I won’t mom. And now that I have her blessings, I have no doubt she’s always with me, wherever I go.” Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. “That must be professor Fundi. Punctual as always.” said Dorrie. She rushed out of the kitchen and into the living room. She grabbed the keys from the glass table at the centre of the living room and walked towards the door. She heard two familiar voices conversing and as she opened the door, she saw professor Fundi talking to her father. Professor Fundi was a tall man, around his late 50’s. He wore a long grey coat, with a scarf tied around his neck and a hat. He and Robert Schully were deeply engrossed in their conversation, chatting and laughing about. “Good evening Doreen,” professor Fundi said cheerfully as he and Robert walked towards the door, “I hope I’m not late.”

    “Professor Fundi,” Dorrie said while shaking his hand, welcoming him into the Schully household, “I'm so glad you were able to make it. My mother has been expecting you. She said that you were our guest of honour.”

  “I can’t possibly be the guest of honour,” professor Fundi said as he stepped into the house, removing his shoes and placing them beside the door. He removed his coat and hat, hung them on the coat rack right beside the door and walked into the living room, “You are the one who’s being celebrated today.”

   “I don’t think she will share your sentiments.”Dorrie said as she laughed nervously, “Please sit. Make yourself at home. Dinner is almost ready.”

   “Don’t rush on my account,” Professor Fundi said as he sat down on the sofa, “Your father and I were just catching up.” Robert Schully followed behind and sat on the sofa seat right next to professor Fundi. Dorrie briefly looked at her father but did not say a word to him. She had been avoiding him since she came back home after her graduation. 

    “Well then,” Dorrie said, “I'll leave you two to get back to your conversation while I go set the table. I’ll let you know it’s time for dinner.” She put the keys back on the table and walked back to the kitchen as her father watched on in silence.

    “I see that she’s still upset with you,” Professor Fundi said to Robert, “She didn’t even greet you when you came in.”

    “I deserve it,” Robert replied, “I let her down.”

    “Is this about graduation?” professor Fundi asked.

    “Yes. I tried to explain myself to her but the damage was already done. I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me.”

    “Well I’m sure you must have had a good reason why you missed it. You’ve been there for all her other events and seen all her milestones.”

     “She’s not upset because I missed the ceremony, that’s only part of it. She is upset at me because of where I went.”

     “Where did you go? If you don’t mind me asking.”

     “I was following up on a very important story, which led me to Kamasha. When Dorrie was younger, I always kept her away from there, I told her that it wasn’t a safe place. So when she found out that I went there instead of being there for her graduation ceremony, she was furious and I can’t hold it against her. I understand why she is upset.”

    “Hmmm. When Doreen joined B.I.H.S, she told me that you had been actively trying to keep her away from Kamasha, but she never told me why. She kept on saying that you were just trying to keep her safe, and she kept telling herself that until she finally made peace with your explanation. Forgive me if I'm being too analytical about your current predicament but I think that, when you chose to go to Kamasha, whether it was personal or for business, instead of being there for her graduation, you betrayed her and that trust that she gave you. Because you did the exact thing that you prevented her from doing all those years ago.”

    “But how can I win back her trust? She hasn’t even said a word to me since she came back to Northern.” Robert said with despair in his voice. The professor’s words hit his soul hard, he spoke only the truth, Robert knew that he had potentially ruined his relationship with his daughter.

   “I’ve known Doreen for almost 10 years now. She has a kind spirit and because of her intelligence, she is a very practical person. She won’t stay mad at you forever, but you have to win back her trust, or else you might just lose her entirely.” Robert looked at professor Fundi who sought only to help his student repair her relationship with her father. But Robert started thinking, ‘If only I told Dorrie why I went to Kamasha. Maybe she would understand. Maybe she would talk to me and not be cold to me. What have I done? I’m ruining my relationship with my only daughter, because of a dead end story. But I have to see it through, I have to find Rachel. Only then will I tell her, for now I must keep her safe’.

     “Dinner’s ready. Everyone to the dining table please!” Joanne exclaimed from the kitchen. Dorrie had just finished setting the dining table and was helping her mother carry the bowls of stew to the table. “Robert dear could you come with the TV remote please. On The Spot with Tangaza is almost about to air.” Said Joanne. Robert rose from his seat, directing professor Fundi to do the same. He grabbed the TV remote from the table and they both walked towards the dining room which was parallel to the living room, separated from it by a half wall that allowed them to see the TV from the dining room. The aroma of the freshly baked bread and the spicy smell of the beef stew had encapsulated the entire floor, from the kitchen into the living room area. “Everything smells amazing, Mrs.Schully,” said professor Fundi with excitement all over his face, “Doreen has always mentioned how great of a cook you are, and how she missed your cooking when she was back at campus.”

    “I always told her that if she got good grades I would go over to Eastern and bring her some of her favorite foods. And she never disappointed me, not even once.” Joanne said while she laughed, arranging the dining table. Everyone was gathered around the table, with large appetites, ready to indulge themselves. Robert Schully sat on the high seat, professor Fundi sat to his right, while Joanne sat to his left with Dorrie by her side. They took turns passing round the bowls of stew while each of them served. A bottle of the high grade Syronian wine was opened and poured into each wine glass, “I was saving this for a very special occasion.” Joanne boasted, “Before we begin and turn on the TV, I would like to say a few words. To my only child, the heart of the Schully household. I feel as though it was yesterday when we first brought you home from the hospital. Then we got the chance to raise you and watch you grow up into a fine individual of both Natoni and Benuan heritage. I remember when you were feeling overwhelmed, and you came back home after your masters. And you weren’t sure which path you wanted to take. And I told you to listen to that voice in your head that keeps you calm and grounded. I told you to listen to the voice of the Universe, that it will guide you to wherever you needed to be, and here we are now, 4 years later.” Joanne looked at her daughter and smiled. She took her glass of wine and raised it, “A toast to my daughter, Dr.Doreen Schully. May the Universe guide you to greatness.”

     “To Dr.Doreen Schully.” professor Fundi said ecstatically while raising his glass, “One of my best students and one of the brightest minds to come out of the Benue Institute of Human Sciences”

     “To my daughter, Dr.Doreen Schully,” Robert said as he raised his glass, “May life be kind to you.”

     “Now that I’m hearing it out loud, I think I prefer just Dr.Schully.” Dorrie said as she raised her glass. She looked around the table, she was met with bright faces and wide smiles. There was a warmth in the room, everyone was so proud of her, she had accomplished so much, the first member of her family with a phD. They toasted the new doctor in the house and drank all the wine in their glasses. Joanne poured everyone some more wine while Robert switched on the TV at exactly 10:35 p.m. to the Benuan Broadcasting Network .

“...Welcome to On The Spot with Tangaza, I’m your host, Collins Tangaza. Today we welcome an alumnus from the Benue Institute of Human Sciences, which is located in Eastern Benue. The institution has overseen several developmental programs in Benue, most notably the Hydroelectric power plant that was installed on river Yeri almost 20 years ago. Today, the plant generates over 100 megawatts of power in a single hour, powering most of Eastern and Northern Benue. Joining me here today is just one of the many brilliant minds from the institution, Dr.Doreen Schully, who over the recent years has penetrated into the scientific community of Benue with her journals on human development. Her last journal, however, has been the talk of the scientific community since this year began. Dr.Schully has been praised by many of her peers and is poised to be one of the leading visionaries in Benue. Her ideas and theories have been praised for being practical, well thought out and easy to implement. But what’s all the fuss about her work? On the spot today is Dr.Schully. Dr.Schully, thank you for being here with us today.

The pleasure is all mine. I’m glad to be here.

So let’s unpack your work. What inspired you to write your journals on human development?

Well, my particular field of study has allowed me to travel to several different places, observing the lifestyles of different communities. This is a practical kind of work, you have to get into the field to learn and see what works and what doesn’t work, depending on the resources that are available for the communities. I have travelled to Natona, Chakara and Syrona several times for field work to collect data and come up with hypotheses. And while I was carrying out my research, I started to notice a trend. I also observed the same thing here in Benue. There is only one factor that affects the distribution of resources to our communities, and that is the population density.

Are you saying that these four regions, including Benue, are densely populated?

Yes I am. But a large population doesn't necessarily account for unequal distribution of resources. It has more to do with accountability. Whenever we plan for distribution of resources, we have to take the population into account. If the resource capacity is greater than the population at said time, then there is surplus, which means that the resources should be stored for a later date. But, if the population exceeds the capacity of the resources at that time, then we are straining our people. If you want to build your economy, your people are your greatest resource, when they are happy, you will be happy. You can’t expect to work your people on empty bellies and subpar education. Your greatest asset is your people and their livelihood should be the first task on the government’s to-do list.

In your journal, Human Development: Sustainability through Science, you state that you have a concept for a 100 year plan to get regions with low economies on track, can you briefly talk us through that plan?

Gladly. First of all, there needs to be an account of every resource in the region. That means there must be a detailed account on water distribution, electricity, transport routes and means, education and things of that sort. Once you have your resources in order, you have to check which ones are the most important, the ones that are required for basic daily life to progress and arrange them by order of necessity. Then, you have to take into account your population, that means there must be a frequent census, the people must register themselves to their government for their voices to be heard and needs to be met. All this information is then converted into data, something that can be stored and is easily replicated by an organized system. If the data projection for a time, 5 years from now shows, that the population will have grown, then measures to expand on resource distribution must be put forward and implemented by the government. But for this to work, the data must be frequently updated and organized in a specific system that will be able to handle that capacity of data. I propose a supercomputer of some sort to be able to process that information fast and give precise data without much human interference.

And in the same journal, Human Development: Sustainability through Science, you refer to this supercomputer as the Population Control Prototype. Do you truly aim to control the population with this device?

Far from it. I aim to give future generations the ability to live on Benue, freely and without worry of where they will find their next meal or how they are going to get an education. When a government has the capacity to take care of the basic needs of their people, the people  are in turn, free to live. I strive to make life better for those that will live in Benue after me, our land is great and we have so many resources at our disposal. But my vision of human development is a gradual process, we all must get involved to better our great region.

That is truly a great vision that you have for Benue. Share with us your thoughts and opinions on Dr.Schully’s ideas on the trajectory of development in Benue. The Human Development: Sustainability through Science journal by Dr.Schully is now available in bookstores in Eastern and Northern Benue. Dr. Schully, it has been a pleasure to meet and to talk to you.

It was great to be here.”

     There was cheering and clapping all over the dining table. Dorrie felt a bit awkward seeing her interview on TV. She had been anxious about the interview airing, contemplating how it would turn out and if she was able to put her point across. Looking back at it, she was quite pleased with how she answered all of Collins Tanagaza’s questions. The cheering continued for a while, when suddenly, there was a phone ring. It was persistent, and each time it would stop, it would start again some seconds later. It seemed odd that someone would call the Schully household so late at night, it was almost midnight. Robert rose from his seat and walked to the living room to answer the call as Joanne and professor Fundi continued to praise Dorrie’s interview. They talked for a while before Robert called out from the living room, “Dorrie,” Robert turned towards the dining room and said, “It’s for you.”

    “For me?” Dorrie asked, confused, wondering who would call her that late into the night. She rose from her seat and walked towards the living room. Robert handed her the landline and moved away. All eyes were on her as she answered the call.

    “...Hello? Yes… Yes… Yes this is she. Uh Huh… yes… yes… A scientific convection? When?... Uh Huh...  Well I’m not so sure if… okay… okay… okay I can be ready by then. Can I bring someone along with me?... okay… okay… see you then.”

Dorrie ended the call and stood still. She contemplated telling everyone about the call, she had a feeling that father would not be too pleased about it.  “Dorrie dear,” Joanne said as she and the professor walked into the living room, “Who was that on the phone?”

    “It was from the Kamasha Institute of Science and Technology. They’ve invited me to their annual Science convention for great minds that think alike. They said that one of their professors saw me on Collins’ show and wants me to go there and present my ideas to the scientific community.”

     “That’s such great news!” exclaimed professor Fundi, “Dorrie. You know what this means right?

     “If I impress them, they might just give me a grant,” Dorrie said to her mother, “Mom. This is the chance I have been waiting for. I have to go.”

     “There is nothing and no one standing in your way now Dorrie,” replied Joanne, “This is your moment. Seize it.”

    “They also said they are going to cater for all of the travel and accommodation expenses for me and one other person. All they want is for me to show up.” Dorrie said, she was jittery and full of excitement, her work was finally being recognized by all the right people.

     “That’s such great news dear,” Joanne said as she rushed to hug her daughter. “When will you be leaving for Kamasha?”

     “They said they’ll book a flight for tomorrow night so that I can make it to the opening ceremony,” Dorrie turned around and faced her father. Robert looked at his daughter, he was silent, waiting for her to speak, “I would like you to come with me dad.” She said. Robert was visibly shocked. He looked at his daughter, who seemed serious about the matter. Dorrie moved closer to her father and looked at him straight in the eye. “You said that you didn’t want me going to Kamasha alone,” she said, “Well I won’t be alone if you come with me. What do you say dad?”

     “It could be a good thing for the two of you,” Joanne said as she moved closer to Dorrie and Robert, “Go with her, keep her safe.”

     “What about you?” Robert turned to Joanne, “I can’t just leave you here by yourself.”

     “I can take care of myself,” replied Joanne, “Besides, if I ever get bored I can just book a flight and come see you. It’s no problem.”

     “You are sure you want to do this Dorrie?” Robert asked his daughter. “Don’t you think you’re rushing into this decision?”

     “No amount of time spent thinking will change my decision. This is what I want to do, and I want you there beside me.” replied Dorrie.

     “Well… If you’re sure about it, I won’t stop you from pursuing your dreams,” Robert said as he held on to his daughter’s hands, “I will accompany you to Kamasha for the convention.” Joanne watched as Dorrie dove into her father’s arms for the first time in a very long time. Joanne and Dorrie walked back into the dining room, hand in hand, excitedly chatting while clearing the table. Professor Fundi decided to leave at the heat of the moment escorted by Robert and they got a chance to have a final word before he left. “You did the right thing,” professor Fundi said as he wore his coat and adjusted his hat on his head, “If you want to keep her safe, going with her will be your best option.”

     “She would have gone regardless of whether I agreed to it or not,” said Robert, “I’m just glad that she asked me to go with her. Now I can keep an eye on her and still do my job.”

Professor Fundi walked out of the front gate and looked back at Robert,

     “Thank you for a lovely evening. Don’t forget to inform me when you get to the convention, there are some people that have been dying to meet Doreen for a long time. They will all be there and I want her to get as much exposure as she possibly can.” 

   “I will,” Robert replied, “I don’t suppose there is any chance that we might run into you at the convention?”

    “Maybe,” Said professor Fundi as he got into his taxi, “Have a goodnight Mr.Schully.”

    “You too professor.” Robert said. He watched as the taxi drove off and disappeared into the distance. He closed the front gate and walked back into the compound and stood for a while, lost in thought. They were supposed to leave for Kamasha the next day, but Robert knew this was going to be more than just a trip for him, ‘I need to make some calls’  he thought to himself as he walked back into the house, ‘It’s going to be a very interesting week’.

     The following day, Dorrie and Robert were busy making preparations for their trip to Kamasha. Joanne woke up and saw Robert rummaging through their closet, picking out clothes and sorting them into his luggage bag. She got out of bed, stretched and walked towards the end of the bed and sat facing the closet. She sat still and quiet for a while, looking at him, her mind racing before she finally decided to speak,

     “Tell me why,” said Joanne. Robert stopped what he was doing and turned to her. He looked at her briefly and went back to sorting his clothes, “Tell you what?” he asked.

     “Why didn’t you stop her from going?” asked Joanne, “I thought you would at least say something to discourage her.”

     “Ooh,” said Robert, “You couldn’t do it, so you wanted me to do it. How typical.”

     “You know she can’t be there. It’s not safe for her.” replied Joanne.

     “You could have told her that yourself,” said Robert, “You should have said something to her, instead of congratulating her and encouraging her to do it. And now we are in this mess.”

     “Are you saying that this is all my fault?” asked Joanne furiously. She rose from the bed and moved closer to Robert, “What was I supposed to do? Tell her no?”

     “You could have said something, anything. But instead you were hoping that I would, that I would take the hit again and be the bad parent, just like it has always been.”

     “What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Joanne in a low but angered tone, careful that they don’t wake Dorrie who she thought was still asleep in her room. Robert zipped his bag and closed the closet. He pushed his luggage towards the door and looked back at Joanne.

     “It means that you have never had the strength to tell Dorrie what she really needed to hear. You have always been the positive parent who she would always run to, she knew that you were never going to say no to her, she expects that from you. But you of all people know that it's not safe for her in Kamasha, for any of us. And you still couldn’t stop her, but you were expecting that I would. So what does that say about you Joanne? Huh? What kind of a parent are you?” said Robert as he walked out of the room. Joanne stood in the room, alone, pondering on Robert’s last remarks, ‘What kind of a parent are you?’ Robert’s voice echoed continuously in her mind. It seemed that, for the first time, Joanne was put in a position where she questioned her own parenting, was she really this careless parent that Robert had claimed that she was? In her own way, Joanne raised Dorrie to be independent, but in doing so, she felt as though she might have burdened Robert with most of the protective work. Joanne sat back on her bed and took seven deep breaths.Each time she would breathe in, she would reassure herself, that if not for her parenting, Dorrie would have grown up to be an anti-social, quiet and extremely cautious person, instead of the person that she actually grew up to be; a woman who was confident, sure of herself and of her path. Joanne felt sure of herself as a mother, and how she felt, was more than enough for her to know that she led her daughter towards the right path.

     “Dorrie!” Robert shouted as he knocked vigorously on her bedroom door, “You need to be ready in the next hour. I don’t want us to miss the flight.”

     “I’ll be on time dad,” Dorrie replied, “I just need a second to check on the travel and accommodation arrangements.” Dorrie spent around half an hour in her room before she came flying through her door and down the stairs. She walked into the kitchen for some breakfast and found her mother, washing the dishes while staring outside the window, completely lost in thought.

     “Are you okay mom?” asked Dorrie as she walked towards the refrigerator. She opened it and took out a loaf of bread, “You seem off today.”

     “Hmm?” said Joanne, Dorrie’s voice had brought her back to reality, “Yes I’m okay. Just sad that you and your father will be going away.”

    “I was thinking, once I get there and give my presentation I could talk to the organizers. Maybe they can let you come stay with us.” said Dorrie.

    “That would be too much to ask of them. They are already paying for your entire stay there.” Joanne replied.

    “I should at least try to ask,” said Dorrie, “I don’t feel great leaving you behind. Truth is I wanted you to come with me instead but I knew dad wouldn’t allow us to go there without him again.”

    “I think the two of you need to be on your own for a while.” said Joanne, “If I can, I’ll come see you, maybe stay for a few days.”

     “Promise me that you’ll try to come.” said Dorrie as she approached her mother.

     “I promise,” said Joanne with a reassuring smile on her face, “Now eat. I don’t want you travelling on an empty stomach.” Dorrie smiled at her mother and walked towards the drawers and took out a knife . She then took out a plate and opened up the loaf of bread, she took out four slices and put them on a plate. She could hear her father, walking up and down the stairs, bringing down their luggage. Dorrie ate as fast as she could, with a slice of bread on one hand and a mug of coffee on the other. As she took the last sip, Robert called out to her, “Dorrie! Time to go.” She put her empty mug and plate in the sink and rinsed her hands. She turned to her mother and dove into her arms, giving her the tightest and warmest hug she could possibly give. “Don’t forget to call me before you board the plane,” said Joanne as she wiped the tears that were trickling down her face.                                              

    “I will mom. I promise.” Replied Dorrie. She held on to her mother’s hands for a while before she finally decided to let go. She quickly walked out of the kitchen, into the living room and out of the house. Robert had been standing at the gate, waiting impatiently for her. She rushed through the compound to the gate before she stopped and looked back at Joanne who had followed behind her. Dorrie smiled at and waved at her before Robert came and locked the door behind her. “Aren’t you going to say goodbye to mom?” She asked him, “She’ll be all alone for an entire week.”

    “We already talked,” said Robert dismisingly, “We need to go now Dorrie. We need to make it to Eastern in an hour if we’re going to make it in time for check-in.”

     “Okay. Let’s get going then” said Dorrie as she followed her father towards the bus. They boarded and went off on their journey together. Per their travel route, they took a bus to Eastern Maintown Benue, where Benue’s only interregional airport was located. And after some hours of waiting, they boarded their flight to East Maintown Kamasha. 

     After a long and uneventful fourteen hour flight, Dorrie and her father were finally in Kamasha. As it was in her nature, Dorrie wasted no time soaking in the different culture and customs. Barely even out of the airport, she was fascinated by what she observed. Everything was automated, extremely fast and efficient, compared to what she was used to in Benue. Since she landed in Kamasha, She had not been served by a single human being. Kamasha was truly the dream home of a scientist. On the hallway from the landing strip, there were bright red arrows which directed them and the rest of the passengers towards the arrivals’ unit where their credentials and travel details were all confirmed by a machine which scanned their tickets and passports. They then walked towards the luggage unit and found that all their luggage had already been picked out and placed on a trolley with their name on it. Dorrie and her father were then directed into the arrivals waiting lounge, where a representative of the Kamasha Institute of Science and Technology approached them once he recognized Dorrie. “Dr.Schully,” a pale looking, tall, heavyset man with a stern face in a black suit said as he walked towards Dorrie and Robert, “Welcome to Kamasha. Everyone at the institute has been eagerly awaiting your arrival. My name is James Dennings and I will be your bodyguard for the entirety of your stay here. Dorrie briefly glanced at her father, who in turn, looked at Mr.Dennings, “Bodyguard?” said Robert, “Why would she need a bodyguard?”

     “Everyone needs security sir,” Mr.Dennings replied, “Especially here in East Kamasha.” He turned to Dorrie, “May I help you with your luggage trolley?” 

     “Yes you may,” replied Dorrie, she pushed the trolley towards him. He held on to it and looked out into the driveway, “Follow me to the car please.” said Mr.Dennings as he pushed the trolley forward. Dorrie and Robert followed behind him and they walked out of the arrivals unit through the door and into the driveway where an inconspicuous looking black sedan had been parked, waiting for them. 

     “Wait a minute,” said Robert in a stern voice, both Mr.Dennings and Dorrie stopped and looked back at him, “You still haven’t told us where you will be taking us.”

    “To the East Kamasha Luxury Suites. You’ve both been booked for a one week, all expenses paid stay by the institute,” Mr.Dennings replied, “Dr.Schully was already made aware of this by the organizers through email.”

     “It’s true dad,” said Dorrie. She continued walking towards the other side of the driveway and looked back at her father, “I spoke with Mr.Dennings before we left Benue. The organizers gave me all his details and also sent me his photo. So I called him after I called to check up on mom.”

     “Why didn’t you tell me before?” Robert asked, “Don’t you think I would have wanted to know that information? Maybe look into it before we left?”

     “Actually, I didn't,” said Dorrie as she got into the car and closed her door. Robert switched his glances to Mr.Dennings who was busy loading all their luggage into the car. He then closed the boot and looked back, he noticed that Robert had been staring him down. He walked towards Robert and stood beside him, “Do we have a problem sir?” Mr.Dennings asked. Robert looked at his daughter who was busy making conversation with the driver, then looked back at Mr.Dennings. “None at all. Let’s get going then.” replied Robert. Mr.Dennings briefly smiled at him and opened the back seat door, ushering Robert to get in the car. Robert hesitantly got in and slammed the door behind him. Mr.Dennings rushed to the front passenger seat. “Is everyone comfortable?” He asked as he got in the car. He locked his door and wore his safety belt. 

    “I’m good.” Dorrie answered. He then turned and looked at Robert, “Never better.” Robert replied, “Now can we get a move on. It's late and Dr. Schully here has a long day ahead of her tomorrow.”

    “Alright,” Mr.Dennings replied. He ushered the driver to get going. They drove out of the driveway into the main road and out of the airport. And just as Dorrie had suspected, there were no guards at the airport gate. Instead, there were pressure sensors all through the main road, controlling the opening and closing of the gate. Their credentials were then checked at the gate again by a scanner before they were allowed to leave the premises. 

      “Is everything in Kamasha automated?” asked Dorrie, “I haven’t seen a single person do anything in that airport since we landed.”

      “The Kamashan government has insisted that the integration of science into our daily lives is vital for our progression.” Mr.Dennings replied, “The institute comes up with new technology every few weeks or so. They have natured some of the greatest minds in Kamasha. Every single automation device that you saw in the airport was made by someone from the institution.”

      “It's amazing what they have been able to achieve, I’m sure the support from the Kamashan government also played a part in their success.” said Dorrie.

     “But what about employment?” Robert interjected, “If the robots take all the jobs then what are people going to do?”

     “Adapt.” replied Mr.Dennings.

     “Automation is the future dad. Just because it hasn’t started in Benue doesn’t mean it's not going to happen in the future.” Dorrie added, “I’m glad the Kamashans have taken the lead, they are showing us the way and soon, the entire world will follow behind them.”

     Robert looked back at his daughter who was looking out into the town. ‘Doesn’t she realise the severe social consequences that automation could bring?’ Robert thought to himself, ‘But she’s a scientist, it’s always about the end, never about the means’. Dorrie was soaking in the Kamashan nightlife. Even though it was late at night, almost midnight, there were still so many people out and about in the town, such a thing was taboo back in her home region. There were so many bright lights and large signs on tall buildings, inviting you to partake. Dorrie could feel a sense of desire bubbling in her. ‘I wonder if I will get the chance to explore East Kamasha’ she thought to herself, ‘I can’t go back home without visiting at least one of these places’. She looked back in the car at her father. She noticed that he was occasionally checking his phone, tapping it against his hand as he looked outside the window. He seemed quite restless, he was anxious about something, ‘It’s probably because of the flight’ Dorrie thought, ‘He’ll feel better once we get to the hotel and rest’. They drove through town for about an hour before they finally got to the hotel. It was a large 50 storey building, with the hotel name at the front of the driveway, ‘THE EAST KAMASHA LUXURY SUITES’. Dorrie got out of the car and was in awe. She looked around the driveway and noticed all the cars looked quite expensive, some she had never even seen or heard of before. She saw some people walking around, dressed head to toe in expensive and classy looking attire. They were walking through the lobby like they owned the place, they were definitely the elites of the town. Mr.Dennings ushered Dorrie and Robert to follow him into the hotel where he checked them in. Dorrie noted that the hotel concierge was the first non-automated service she had encountered. She looked around the hotel lobby and it was truly a sight to behold. It was extremely fancy, with marble floors, endowed with the finest and most exquisite furniture, high ceilings with the most exotic chandeliers. She turned towards the lounge and bar which were extremely spacious and were illuminated with warm toned lights, setting the mood for a very wealthy relaxation atmosphere. ‘I’m definitely not in Benue’ Dorrie thought to herself. After Mr.Dennings finalized their check in and accommodation arrangements, he along with one of the hotel stewards accompanied Dorrie and Robert to their rooms which were on the 21st floor of the hotel. 

     Once they got to their rooms, which were coincidentally situated opposite each other, Robert grabbed his room key and rushed into his room without saying a word. Dorrie remained in the corridor with Mr.Dennings. Once she got Dorrie got her room key, the hotel steward also left. They walked towards Dorrie’s room. She opened the door and walked in hesitantly, taking a minute to completely soak in the sight. It was a very large room, quite spacious, it looked larger than the entire upstairs unit of the Schully household. She looked up to the ceiling and noticed that there was a chandelier that looked similar to the one she saw back at the hotel lobby, only smaller. She walked towards the bed, running her hands through the soft, thick, white cotton duvet. There were several pillows on the bed. Dorrie held one in her hands and slightly felt it, it was extremely soft and firm, springing back into shape when she let go of it. She continued to walk around the room, there was a study seat and table, with a nice cosy warm lamp that illuminated it. She turned around towards the dresser that was on the opposite end of the bed, when something caught her eye. She walked towards it as Mr.Dennings watched on from the door. There was a note at the top of the dresser. Dorrie took it and read it out loud before directing her eyes to the basket that was placed right next to it,

   ‘Dear Dr.Schully, thank you for accepting our invitation to participate in this year’s scientific convention for great minds that think alike. We look forward to having you on our introductory panel, to get to learn more about you and your brilliant ideas for the future. Please accept these gifts as a small token of our gratitude.

 Sincerely, 

The Kamasha Institute of Science and Technology.’

     Dorrie put the note back on her dresser and started to rummage through the basket. It was filled with all sorts of sugary confectionary treats that she loved. Also included in the basket were three bottles of high grade Syronian wine. Dorrie was extremely happy and jittery, she opened up one of the bottles and poured it into a glass and tasted it, “This is amazing!” she said after only one sip, “I wonder how they got it smooth like that.” 

     “Everything in that basket was made in the institute,” said Mr.Dennings, “Even the wine.”

     “Isn’t the wine Syronian?” asked Dorrie.

     “We have scientists from all over, including Syrona,” he replied, “And let’s be honest. No one is going to buy wine from Kamasha.”

     “I definitely wouldn’t,” said Dorrie as she laughed, “Who am I going to thank for this? For everything, the room, the basket, the opportunity to be here.”

     “You will get a chance to meet with the organizers soon enough,” replied Mr.Dennings, “Now you must rest. I’m sure that you are extremely tired.”

     “I am actually. We’ve been travelling nonstop since yesterday,” said Dorrie, “Make sure you get here by 7 o’clock tomorrow. The convention starts at 8 o’clock and I don’t want to be late.”

    “I will be at your door before then, Dr.Schully. Rest assured of that,” he replied, “You can call me anytime if you need anything.”

    “I will. Have a goodnight Mr.Dennings. Thank you for escorting us today.” Said Dorrie.

    “Anything for a great young mind like yours, doctor.” replied Mr.Dennings as he closed the door, leaving Dorrie alone in her suite. She pranced around the room, with a glass of wine in her hand, having a jolly feel of her life for the coming week. She walked towards the blinds and opened them, she had a perfect aerial view of East Kamasha. She could see everything. It was quite an amazing sight, everything was modern, just how she had envisioned the future. She stood at the balcony for a while before she started to feel the cold night breeze overwhelm her skin. She decided to hop into the bathroom for a quick shower. There were so many beauty products on the bathroom shelf for her to choose from. Once she was done, she wore her robe and got cosy. She switched on the TV and scrolled through the movie catalogue until she found something that peaked her interest. She began unpacking her luggage and arranged her clothes in the closet and some of her belongings on the dresser. She took out her journals and placed them on the study table, she was ready for the convention, ready to prove herself to the scientific community of Kamasha. But in the meantime, she was going to watch a movie.

     The next morning, Dorrie was up at 6 o’clock, with blood red eyes and a yawn every 10 minutes. She had stayed up all night watching movies and had lost track of time. It was an extremely important day for her, she couldn’t walk into the convention with an exhausted face and tired demeanor. It was imperative that she impressed the organizers who had taken a chance on her and brought her to Kamasha. Dorrie requested for some coffee to keep her active and jump start her brain. She only needed to get through the introductory panel to introduce herself to the Kamashan scientific community. After her cup of coffee, Dorrie hopped into the shower for a quick rinse. A few minutes later, she rushed to the closet to pick out something to wear. She grabbed her journals from the study table and put them in her bag. She rushed back to the dresser to do her hair, which she tied up into a high bun. She then stepped into the view of the large closet mirror to make sure that she was presentable enough for the panel. ‘I hope no one is going to notice how tired I am’ she thought to herself, ‘I just need to make it through the panel and then I’ll come back to get some rest’. Just as she was wearing her shoes, she heard a knock on her door, “Dr. Schully!” She recognized Mr.Dennings’ voice, “It’s time to go!”

      “I’m coming!” replied Dorrie. She checked herself one last time in the mirror, ‘I look fine’ she said to herself, ‘Time to impress the Kamashans’. Dorrie grabbed her bag and rushed out of her room. She found Mr.Dennings and her father waiting for her in the hallway. They then took the elevator to the lobby, checked out with the concierge and walked out of the hotel, into the driveway, where the same sedan that had picked them up from the airport was waiting for them. They all got into the car and the driver wasted no time driving out of the hotel compound and into the main road. It was going to be a long drive to North Kamasha, to the Kamasha Institute of Science and Technology, where the convection was being held. Dorrie looked out of the window for a while, absorbing the modern culture of Kamasha and its people. It was the beginning of a new week, everyone was busy, travelling around town to their places of work. There were complex transit routes and systems, the average Kamashan could get around town with virtually any means that they wanted; everything was fast and efficient, including the public transport. Everyone was talking to somebody, whether it was on a handheld mobile device or a wireless device, in Kamasha, there was a constant stream of information being passed on from one person to the other. Dorrie noticed that life was extremely fast paced around town; everyone walked fast, cars and buses zoomed through the streets of East Kamasha, there was no traffic whatsoever, and why would there be? Kamashans had no time for traffic. Dorrie took a break from her sight seeing and turned her attention to her father, whom she had not seen or heard from since he went into his room the previous night. She observed him for a while, he kept checking his phone and looking out of the window, just as he had been doing the previous day. ‘What could be making him this anxious?’ Dorrie thought to herself. Something was definitely bothering him. She decided to make conversation with him to try and calm him down.

     “I saw a movie yesterday,” said Dorrie, “Before I went to sleep. It was quite interesting.”

     “Hmm?” replied Robert as he realised that Dorrie was speaking to him, “Which movie was that?”

     “Back to the future,” said Dorrie, “I watched the first movie and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to complete the entire trilogy.”

    “I take it you never got over your obsession with time travel movies,” replied Robert, “Did you even get any rest?”

    “I did. Eventually” said Dorrie, “Don’t you want to ask me what the movie was about?”

    “Indulge me.” 

    “Well it was definitely a time travel movie, but it was a bit more complex. It was based around the multiversal theory. Basically, the main characters go back in time, but as a result of their presence, the outcomes change. When they go back to their original time, they find that things are not how they had left it. Since they had gone back in time and changed the outcome, they end up creating a new and different alternate universe.”

    “That sounds extremely complex. But how could there be multiple universes existing independently of each other?” asked Robert, Dorrie had successfully grabbed his attention.

    “The multiversal theory has been widely speculated within the scientific community. Let’s say I gave you a box. In theory, if you decide to open the box, then there must be an alternate dimension somewhere else where you didn’t open the box. So two different universes have spawned from that one universe where you still have the box in your possession, but haven’t decided what you're going to do with it yet.”

    “But if that is true, then it means there could be an infinite number of universes existing at any given time.” replied Robert, “How is that even possible?”

    “Physics is weird,” said Dorrie, “But the concept still makes sense theoretically.There was, however, one thing that I didn’t get about the movie.”

     “Which is?” asked Robert.

     “Whenever the main characters would go back to their original time and find that the timeline was altered, they would go back to the exact point where the change had occurred. But to do this, they would be in two places at once. Which is, their past selves who had originally time travelled and caused the change, and their future selves who came back to correct the timeline. I don’t think that would be possible.” Mr.Dennings and the driver briefly glanced at each other, they had both been listening to Dorrie and Robert’s conversation.

     “How so?” asked Robert, he was intrigued but not surprised at Dorrie’s critical thinking abilities.

     “How can one being exist in two places at the same time? Especially a human being. I don’t think our bodies are built for that. Theoretically it might be possible, considering that even in the movie, they said that they would be able to pull it off only if their past selves did not recognize the presence of their future selves. But there were times that there would even be three instances of the same person in one single timeline, that was when I got sceptical.”

     “It's just a movie Dorrie,” said Robert, “You can’t look to movies for a true reflection on real life scenarios.”

     “I believe we are going to be able to time travel one day,” replied Dorrie, “The movies are a sign that we are thinking about it, theorizing, and trying to find a way which works and that makes sense both theoretically and practically. But we still have a long way to go before we get there, before we find a way that would be fitting for us as human beings. Eventually, we shall find a way. We always do.” As Dorrie finished her statement, the car suddenly stopped. She looked out of her window and saw a sign board for the Kamasha Institute of Science and Technology, they had finally made it after an hour’s drive. Mr.Dennings scanned all their credentials before they were granted access into the compound. Once they drove in, Dorrie started to look around. The compound was packed full of people and cars, they could barely find a place to park. Several people were walking around, interacting with one another while a larger group walked towards the main building. The Institute was unlike any school Dorrie had ever seen before, it was modern and had a future-esque style to its design and structure. It almost seemed like an alien habitat, with tall, circular shaped buildings closely packed together in a staircase-like arrangement that was pleasing to the eyes. The steel frame of the buildings were laced from top to bottom in clear glass windows that you could see through. At the top of the buildings were solar panels that trapped radiation from Waaridei, powering the entire Institute. Dorrie observed in awe as they drove through the driveway looking for a place to park, it was truly a sight to behold.

     “I don’t think we are going to find a place to park the car anywhere around here,” said Mr.Dennings, “How about we drop the two of you off at the main building and you proceed for the convention. I will come join you later.”

   “Sure.” said Dorrie. The car drove towards the main building, where people were standing in line to get into the convention. Dorrie and Robert got out of the car and watched as the car drove off, taking a left turn towards the back of the building. They walked towards the back of the line at the main entrance. They waited in line for a while before they got to the front where their credentials were checked again. They were then allowed into the building and were instructed to pass by a desk that was stationed right at the entrance. At the desk, they were given name tags to wear around their necks. A representative of the institute was then made aware of Dr.Schully’s arrival.

     “Dr.Schully!” A woman exclaimed as she approached Dorrie and Robert. She was tall, with long straight hair, and wore glasses and a lab coat with a name tag dangling from her pocket, “My name is Jessica, I am a student here. I am so pleased that you made it, everyone here is so excited to meet you.”

     “I am so sorry I am late,” said Dorrie, “I had no idea it would take this long to get here from the hotel that my father and I are staying at.”

     “Excuse me for my rudeness,” said Jessica as she turned towards Robert and shook his hand nervously, “I’m so glad you could join us today Mr.Schully, your daughter is quite the celebrity here.” 

     “She’s a celebrity everywhere,” replied Robert, “But we should be thanking you for inviting us here. This is quite the gathering you have going on.” Jessica whispered something to one of the students that stood beside her and walked from behind the desk towards Dorrie and Robert, “It’s like this every year,” she said, “Please follow me into the hall. The introductory panel is just about to start.” Dorrie and Robert followed behind her as she seamlessly navigated her way through the large crowd of people. There were scientific displays everywhere and several presentations going on which attracted large and localized crowds of people. Dorrie could not help but notice her name being whispered through the the hallways as she walked by, 

     “Isn’t that Dr.Schully?” said one person.

     “Dr.Schully is here in Kamasha? She must be on this year’s introductory panel for great minds who think alike.” said another.

    “Is that really Dr. Schully?”

    “Dr. Schully just walked past us!”

    “I can’t wait to meet her after her panel!”

    Suddenly, she heard a large shuffling of feet, the attendees had started to get wind of her presence and they began following her. Robert placed himself between his daughter and the crowd. As Jessica cleared the way from the front, Robert protected her from the back. It was only until Mr.Dennings burst into the scene to control the starstruck crowd, that Robert truly understood the extent of Dorrie’s stardom, and what her presence meant for the entire scientific community in Kamasha. They tried their best to keep Dorrie out of the reach of the crowd that had gradually started to engulf them before they made it to the hall where the introductory panel was being held. Once they made it to the hall, security controlled the crowd and held them back, allowing them to walk in undisturbed. The panel was already underway but the audience was still eager for Dr.Schully’s arrival. Once her presence was noticed by some members of the audience, there was cheering and her name was being chanted all over the hall. She rushed towards the stage, the other members of the panel stood up and cheered her on as she made onto the stage and walked towards her seat. She smiled, recognizing that she had caused quite a stir. She waved back at the audience and the crowd that had gathered outside of the hall and the cheers grew louder. She greeted the interviewer and placed her bag on the side of her seat before she sat down. She looked out into the crowd again and watched as their cheers for her slowly died down, and the interviewer took control of the room once again.

    “Dr.Schully,” said the interviewer, “I think by the reaction of the audience you can tell just how excited we are as a community to have you here with us today. It is truly an honour.” the audience continued to clap and cheer.

     “I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting this at all,” replied Dorrie as she laughed nervously. She was taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself down, “But I’m grateful to be here with you all, for the cause of science.”

     “Speaking of science, let us get to the matter at hand. We want to learn more about you and your journey as a woman in science.”

     “Well, my story starts out like any other,” said Dorrie, “I thought that I was going to do one thing, but ended up doing something else. I first joined the Benue Institute of Human Science 10 years ago. I did my bachelors and my masters, but I always felt like there was still a lot more for me to do, and to learn, and with the guidance of my mentor and friend professor Fundi, I got my phD after I wrote my thesis, which was my take on a 100 year plan for development in Benue. Most specifically in Northern Benue where I grew up.” 

    “We all watched your interview with Collins Tangaza, and I must say that the way you articulate your ideas had us all impressed. You talked about a future in which everybody’s basic needs are met, a future in which everybody is free to live as they please and live out their dreams. Why was that so important to you?”

    “I remember a time when I couldn’t pursue what I wanted, simply because my parents weren’t able to afford it. I know what it feels like to be told no, even when it's something that you really want. I know how it feels like to have your dreams in your sights, but it's too far for you to reach. I, along with many others, know what it means to put your needs before your wants. I know that this has happened to so many other people before me, and it will happen to more of our youth if we don’t do something about it now. We need to always look towards the future.”

     “Certainly. Most of the time we as scientists draw inspiration from our daily lives to come up with our inventions. We are able to identify what is missing from our communities, and we innovate. Being as though you are Benuan, could you comment on the current state of Kamasha, from a visitor’s perspective.”

     “I’ve only been in Kamasha for less than a day and I can say, without a doubt, that the endeavors of your scientific community have turned Kamasha into a place that should be looked upon as a blueprint for how to go about development. Just the other day I was at the East Kamasha Airport and I noticed that every single service was automated. I was beyond impressed.”

     “Just as you said, Dr.Schully, we always have to look towards the future. And we as the scientific community of Kamasha, decided that the future will start here with us. Thanks to the help of great minds like yours, minds that think alike.”

    The panel continued for another 2 hours, each of the panelists took turns introducing themselves to the community and discussed their upcoming projects and ideas. Later, there was a question and answer segment where some of the members of the audience took turns asking the panelists questions, most of which were directed at Dr.Schully. And after the panel was over, some members of the audience were selected  and allowed to interact with the panelists one on one. Dorrie had talked to at least 15 different people before she started feeling worn out. She was exhausted by the day’s activities and as much as she tried, she could not bear the mental strain any longer. She looked around the hall and saw that there was still a very large crowd outside the door. She turned towards the audience to Jessica who was standing alongside Mr.Dennings, but there was no sign of her father anywhere around. She waved at them, ushering Mr.Dennings to come onto the stage. She grabbed her bag, looked around and noticed that everyone was busy chatting among each other, paying her no mind. She was walking off the stage, when suddenly, she heard someone called out her name,

    “Dr.Schully,” said a voice behind her, “Leaving so soon?” Dorrie turned around and watched as a woman in a lab coat walked towards her. She was medium in height, with a bright face of an olive complexion. She wore glasses, her hands in her coat pockets while her wavy hair dangled to her shoulders. Dorrie was mesmerized by her and watched as she gracefully approached her.

    “That was such an amazing panel, I really enjoyed it. The entire audience was completely enthralled by all of you,” said the woman, she took out her hand from her pocket, “My name is Dr.Donohan.” Dorrie shook her hand and looked at her without saying a word before she realized who she was actually talking to. “Wait...The Dr.Donohan?,” asked Dorrie nervously, she was smiling unconsciously as a train of thought raced up and down through her mind, “The same Dr.Donohan who won last year’s grant for the Y-chromosite technology?”

     “Yes, that same one,” said Dr.Donohan as she laughed and flipped her hair back, “But it’s really nothing special.”  

     “Are you kidding?” replied Dorrie, “Your research on the XY sex chromosomes is revolutionary. You have developed a technology that will provide couples the ability to start their families using their own genes without depending on conventional means like adoption. Your work is quite special, you’re going to help a lot of families.”

    “Thank you,” said Dr.Donohan, “I didn’t realize that you were familiar with my work.”

    “The Y-chromosite technology was the talk of the town last year in my home region,” replied Dorrie, “Everyone wanted to know about it. The entire scientific community in Benue was absolutely intrigued by it. I went to so many scientific seminars and it would always be brought up for discussion. How is the development process going?”

     “Well,” said Dr.Donohan, “I am still in early development. My work is highly dependent on resources from the institute, but those resources are also being used by other departments, so it has been a slow process.”

    “You were a student here, weren’t you?” asked Dorrie.

    “That’s right,” said Dr.Donohan,  “I am currently working on the Y-chromosite technology from the institute’s advanced genetic engineering department. I was still doing my bachelor’s when I discovered the Y-chromosite gene. I worked on it for a while before I decided to submit my work to the organizers, under the guidance of my mentor. I get funding for my work from the institute. The grant gives me full access to every single facility and resource that I need, but that also means that I have to work within the terms and limits of the institute. That’s why my progress has been a little bit slow, but that won’t be a problem for too long.”

    “Well,” said Dorrie, “I for one will be very excited once the chromosite gets into the market. This technology is so advanced and quite futuristic. I mean, soon enough, anyone will be able to procreate, with or without a partner. It will be another leap into the future.”

    “And speaking of leaps into the future,” said Dr.Donohan, “Your work on human development in Benue is quite the read. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone through your journals, you really put so much time and effort into your research.”

    “Thank you,” said Dorrie, “Coming from a bright and talented mind like yours, I feel reassured of my work. It was a passion project for me. I needed to get out there, understand what human development actually meant to the people. And once I was out in the field, I understood how important it was for me to make sure that I amplified the voice of the people.”

    “The people are a region’s greatest asset.” said Dr.Donohan.

    “Yes. Exactly,” replied Dorrie excitedly, she noticed that Dr.Donohan had quoted her. “If I win this year’s grant, I want to go back home and make a difference. I want to use my ideas to make life better for everyone in Benue. I just want to give back to my community and my home.”

    “Do you feel like the people of Benue will be welcoming to your ideas?” asked Dr.Donohan, “Say the Population Control Prototype. Will they be accepting of it?”

     “I don’t think I will be able to fully integrate my plan without maximum cooperation from the people. They need to be a part of the process, part of my vision for a better Benue,” said Dorrie, “I have gotten so much support from the scientific community in Benue, and I have no doubt that my people will join in my vision.”

    “Interesting,” said Dr.Donohan, “It did cause quite a stir here in Kamasha once we started getting wind of it. A singular database to control the distribution of resources sounded like an impossible thing to do.”

    “Let me ask you something Dr.Donohan,” said Dorrie, “Who do you trust more? The government or your mobile phone?”

    “Definitely my mobile phone,” replied Dr.Donohan, “Mobile phones don’t have any personal agendas. And they always get the job done.”

    “Exactly,” said Dorrie, “You see, the thing about a machine is, if it is programmed for a specific purpose and kept in all the right conditions, it’s going to do what it’s supposed to do, and do it well. I don’t think I can say the same about a human being.”

    “Well that’s true,” Dr.Donohan, “If you are able to pull it off, it is going to be the most complex and most efficient machine to ever be built on Avulan.”

    “What about DADA?” asked Dorrie, “You don’t think a satellite that was sent to Tyran almost 60 years ago is the most complex machine we’ve ever built?”

    “DADA is more of a glorified camera that was sent out into space. The last time I checked, it’s transmission software was completely destroyed by the radio wave phenomena that happened 40 years ago. So it's basically just floating around Tyran, waiting to die and plunge into its atmosphere.” said Dr.Donohan, “But a fully automated database with the capacity to store data for an entire region and still give projections on resource usage and distribution? That is something special.” Dorrie looked at Dr.Donohan in awe. She was confident, extremely intelligent and quite the looker. This was the first time she had ever met someone from a different field of science who was not only interested in her work but quite interested in her as well. Just then, Mr.Dennings and Jessica walked towards them. Mr.Dennings moved closer to Dorrie and started to whisper something in her ear. 

    “Dr.Donohan,” said Jessica as she moved closer to her, “I see you got my message.”

    “Indeed I did,” Dr.Donohan replied. Dorrie and Mr.Dennings talked for a little while longer before she turned back to Dr.Donohan. She seemed concerned about something. 

    “Dr.Donohan,” said Dorrie, “I am sorry I have to cut our conversation short but I really must be going now. I am extremely exhausted.”

    “It is quite alright,” replied Dr.Donohan, “I am sure we will have more opportunities to catch up as the week progresses. I wish you all the best in your presentations.”

    “Thank you,” said Dorrie, “It was such an honour meeting you, Dr.Donohan.” said Dorrie as she shook her hand again. 

    “The pleasure is all mine,” replied Dr.Donohan, “And please. Call me Beatrice.” Dorrie smiled back at her, “Beatrice,” she said, “I hope we meet again soon.” She along with Mr. Dennings and Jessica walked off the stage and through the hall where she was immediately bombarded by the crowd. Dr.Donohan kept Dorrie in her sights and watched as she walked through the relentless crowd,

 ‘We will definitely meet again, Dr.Schully’, she said to herself, 

 ‘Soon.’

      For the next few days, Dr.Schully was travelling back and forth from her hotel to the institute to give presentations on her research. Her presentation rooms were always full, with some people opting to stand outside the hall and watch her instead of being completely left out. And by the end of the week, Dr.Schully had discussed in detail about her 100 year plan to develop her home region of Benue, including the possible integration of the Population Control Prototype. Her presentations were all quite successful, she was able to get her point across within the one-hour duration that she had been allocated for each presentation. With the convention almost over, Dorrie prepared to end her week-long stay in Kamasha by getting to know the members of the scientific community, interacting with them and learning more about their work and their upcoming projects. She along with Mr.Dennings were walking up and down the institute, visiting scientific displays by different departments such as robotics, genetics, advanced genetics, mathematics, medicine, food and nutrition, informatics and technology; Dr.Schully wanted to see it all. She was eager to learn from the vast Kamashan scientific community, and because of who she was, the infamous Dr.Schully, her curiosity was indulged everywhere she went. She became completely engrossed in the experience. She walked around, taking notes and interacting with her peers, soaking in as much information as she possibly could before she eventually had to go back to Benue. But little did she know that hiding in plain sight somewhere in the crowd, was one of the convention’s organizers who had been keeping a close eye on her, watching her every move and had been present for each of her presentations, including the introductory panel. The man had been moving through the convention, inconspicuously dressed, blending seamlessly into the large crowds of people. He walked to a secure location within the institute and looked around, making sure that he was not followed or spotted by anyone. He walked towards a wall that to many, would seem like a dead-end. He placed his right thumb onto a concealed scanner on the wall, which revealed a hidden door. He walked into a hidden room as the door swiftly closed behind him. The man walked further into the room, there was a circular table in the middle and a brilliant light shone upon it. He walked towards an empty seat and looked around at the table, everyone else was already seated, waiting for him.

    “Professor Cain, glad you could finally join us,” said a stern, robotic-like voice, “We take it that your prospecting went well.”

    “Yes it has,” replied professor Cain, “I’ve been scouting the convention and I must say, we do have some great talent this year. Regardless, I have completed my main objective. I attended all of Dr.Schully’s presentations and I have come up with a summary of what she calls her 100 year plan to develop her home region of Benue.”

     “Acknowledged,” said the voice, “ The High Council would like to recognize all the members present today. Council in charge of the Education division, Dr.Livingston. Council in charge of the Health and Sanitation division, Dr.Westbrook. Council in charge of the Infrastructure Development division, Engineer Higgins. Council in charge of the Security division, General Denvers. Council in charge of the Information division, General Qadira. Council in charge of the Science and Technology division, Professor Cain. And joining us today as the new council in charge of the Energy division, Professor Fundi. ” 

    “Could we not find a replacement for professor Gregory a bit closer to home?” Asked General Denvers. He was a heavy built man, sharply dressed in military attire. He had an unpleasant face and an intimidating demeanour, “Since when do we allow Benuans in the high council?”

    “Does the presence of Professor Fundi intimidate you, General Denvers?” Asked General Qadira, “Do you feel threatened by him or his intelligence?”

     “The high council is no place for someone like him… or you.” replied General Denvers.

     “Is this because I am a woman?” asked General Qadira, “Or is it because of where I come from?”

     “Both,” he replied, “Next thing you know the high council is going to be overrun with immigrants and women. Compromising our integrity and competence.”

     “Don’t you worry about that,” said Professor Fundi as he laughed, “You will be long gone before that ever happens.”

     “I will not allow it!” said General Denvers in an unsettling voice, “Not in the high council, not in Kamasha.”

     “Enough!” said the voice, “Members of the council, please be advised that this is not a children’s playground. We come here to discuss important matters pertaining to our great  region of Kamasha. This is government time, so I suggest you allocate time later on to continue with your petty bickering.”

     “General Denvers,” said the voice, “All members present here have been personally handpicked by the king and queen themselves. Everyone here has proven themselves loyal to the throne and to the interests of Kamasha and its people. Therefore, every single member of the high council must be shown the utmost respect and reverence. That is an order.”

     “Understood,” he replied, “My apologies, professor Fundi.”

     “What about me?” said General Qadira, “Where’s my apology?”

     “Apology for what?’ Asked General Denvers.

     “For questioning my position here,” said General Qadira.

     “Unfortunately for you, I don’t apologize to women,” said General Denvers, “I never have and I’m definitely not going to start now.”

      “I guess that’s the reason why your wife left you,” said General Qadira, “I always told Katy that she deserved better.”

      “You stay out of my business!” He ordered.

      “Or what?” asked General Qadira, “Are you going to throw me out of Kamasha?”

      “Don’t test me Qadira,” said General Denvers, “I am in no mood for you today.”

      “Can we get this over with before General Denvers here starts crying again like he did last time,” said General Qadira, “I don’t want to be the playground bully again today.”

     “Are you two finished?” asked Engineer Higgins who was visibly annoyed by all the shenanigans, “We have work to do.”

     “I still want my apology.” said General Qadira.

     “Well you’re not getting one,” replied General Denvers.

     “High council,” said General Qadira, “Requesting permission to remind this man and everyone else in the room who I am.”

     “Request approved.” Said the voice.

     “Just like that? You just do what she says?” asked General Denvers.

     “Now you listen here,” said General Qadira in a stern tone, “Listen and listen well because this will be the last time I address this. The only reason that this high council exists is because of me. I made it all happen. I am the one who suggested to General Mutona, to divide the Security and Information divisions. If not for me, General Denvers, you would still be working at the Internal Defense unit, solving cases that my brother could solve in his sleep without breaking a sweat. I am the one who spoke to the king and queen personally, requesting that they bring all of the division heads together, to form this high council. The royals listen to me. The only reason this high council exists in the first place is to make sure that you are all made aware of the decisions that I make, that I get to hear your opinions about your divisions before I give the final say. I don’t want any of you to think any different, we are not on the same level, I outrank every single one of you here. Me, an immigrant and a woman. So before you address me, you best remember, who you are talking to.” The entire room was quiet. They looked around the room at each other before their gazes finally landed on General Denvers.

    “General Denvers,” said the voice, “We are all waiting for you.”

    “Alright,” General Denvers said reluctantly, “I am sorry I undermined you, general. It will not happen again.”

     “Thank you, General Denvers,” said General Qadira, “We are all friends here. Let’s try to keep things professional.”

     “Now that everything has been smoothed out,” said the voice, “We would like to hear your report, professor.” Professor Cain swiftly rose from his chair and walked towards the centre. All eyes were on him. He cleared his throat and began to give the report.

     “Dr.Schully is one of the greatest minds to emerge in these past couple of years. She has been all over Avulan, and has carried out countless research projects on the pace and progress of human development projects and why most of them end up being unsuccessful. This has formed the basis of her research. Her most recent journal, Human Development: Sustainability through Science, has a well thought out plan to increase the success rate for development projects, through the utilization of population density. Dr.Schully has emphasized that the population is any region’s greatest asset, if you make the population happy, then the economy of your region will benefit heavily. In this particular journal, Dr.Schully outlined a step by step procedure that any region’s government would take if they wanted to implement a population-centered plan to carry out development projects. I will outline the 3 main points:

1. Accounting for resources in the region. Which means there must be a government database where resource information is stored and accounted for. Our resources must be highly controlled and protected and everyone in the region must have access to every single resource that is available. Everyone, nobody should be left behind, according to Dr. Schully.

2. Accounting for the population. Which means our people must be counted frequently. We must know how many births are happening, how many deaths, how many of our children are going to school, how many of our young adults are going to college, how many of our adults are part of the workforce, how many of our elderly need financial and medical support. We must account for every single person.

3. Accounting for the population density in a given area. We need to find out why some areas are sparsely populated while others are densely populated. If an area is densely populated, then it means that there is a valuable resource in that area that is making people prefer it to somewhere else. If a case like this happens then Dr. Schully suggests spreading out resources such as entertainment hubs, social centers or institutions of learning, since we can’t relocate natural occurring resources. A controlled population density will in turn reduce the environmental stress caused by overpopulation and will ensure that everybody will have access to resources.”

     “Does Dr. Schully show any evidence that her theory can be able to work on a large scale?” Asked General Qadira, “Her plan may be good in theory, but can it be implemented?”

    “Ever since her work was brought to my attention by my students, I have been meticulously going through it. I have read through her thought process, gone through her experiments and I have also seen some of her fieldwork tapes. She has a very good understanding of the people, and that is what separates her from any other developer out there.” replied professor Cain.

    “Is her work applicable to a practical large scale setup?” Dr.Livingston asked, “You haven’t answered the question professor.”

     “I can’t say for sure, but I would take a chance one it. She has the best plan yet. The Population Control Device might be the answer that we have been waiting for.”

     “What of it?” asked the voice.

     “If I may, high council,” said Professor Fundi.

     “You may,” replied the voice.

     “I have been with Dr.Schully since she was still carrying out her research and I have a very good understanding of her work. The Population Control Device will be a very complex database that will help us plan for future resource distribution plans, by making predictions about the population density in a given area at any given time.”

     “Exactly,” said professor Cain, “According to Dr. Schully’s work, the database will be a state of the art, modem and complex supercomputer. It will be fully automated and will be able to store a large amount of data, giving us predictions based on the trajectory of growth of the population in Kamasha.”

     “I see,” the voice replied, “Has this device already been built?”

     “Only in theory,” said professor Cain, “But with the help of our robotics team we might be able to get it up and running in the next 5 to 10 years or so.”

     “Do you truly believe that this Population Control Device will be essential for the progression of our work here in Kamasha?” the voice asked, “We could opt to make our own without the help of Dr.Schully.”

     “We need her,” said professor Cain, “If the public was to ever find out what we were really doing with it, they would be furious. We need to be careful and implement our plans as discreetly as possible.”

     “How long will it take for the robotics teams to build the genetic database system?” Asked General Denvers.

     “The database will take at least 7 years to create from scratch,” said professor Cain, “With the help of our advanced genetic engineering team, we will be able to collect a DNA sample from each Kamashan who registers for resource allocation during the census.”

     “Excellent,” said General Qadira, “But what am I to tell the people? How will we explain the collection of DNA samples without making it seem suspicious?”

     “That is why you need Dr.Schully.” said Dr.Livingston, “She will be our poster child for this project. As she carries out her Development projects, here in Kamasha, we introduce her to Kamasha, let the people get familiar with her and trust her. Let her be the spokesperson for the database. She'll go around the region spreading her vision. To her and the rest of Avulan, this will be the greatest development project that we’ve ever done. We will carry out the census just as she says, collecting information about the Kamashan people and storing it in the supercomputer’s database. And while we do the census, we also collect the DNA samples for the genetic database. No one will suspect a thing, because Dr.Schully would have done all the hard work for us. Once we get the people to trust her and believe in her vision, no one will interfere with our plans.”

    “Meanwhile,” said the voice, “We continue on our mission to create the most advanced security and information database on Avulan without any interference. ”

    “Once the database is launched,” said General Qadira, “We will know about everything that happens here in Kamasha. We will have information on every one of our citizens.”

   “No one is going to be able to make a move without us knowing.” said General Denvers.

   “We will control everything and everyone.” said Engineer Higgins.

   “Exactly. But there is one more thing, High Council.” said professor Cain.

   “What is it, professor?” asked the voice.

   “It is about my students. The advanced genetic engineering team. We have been working on another project since early last year. The Y-chromosite technology. I don’t think my students will want to abandon that project for a new one, especially to build a genetic database for the government.”

     “How do you suppose we go about that?” asked the voice, “Remember we are on a clock with this.”

     “I suggest we speed up the development of the Y-chromosite gene. We want to get it into the market soon, but we need the resources to do that.” Said professor Cain, “Once we are done with it, my students will be more than willing to create the genetic database.”

    “You want funding for the development of this Y-chromosite technology,” said the voice, “Is it of any concern to the interests of the Kamashan people?”

    “Yes it is,” said Dr.Westbrook, he had been extremely quiet since the meeting began, “The Y-choromosite technology is groundbreaking, to say the least.”

     “Expound on that, Dr.Westbrook.” said the voice.

     “Well, the Y-chromosite gene is a segment of DNA that is able to integrate itself into any organism that it comes into contact with. What separates this gene from any other we have discovered is the gene’s impeccable ability to mutate any genetic information that it comes into contact with, and these changes are observable on a chromosomal level.”

     “That’s right,” said professor Cain, “The Y-chromosite gene is able to completely mutate an entire chromosome and change it genotypically. Which means we are able to control the expression of genes to what we want. Currently, my head scientist, Dr.Beatrice Donohan, has figured out a way to control the expression of sex chromosomes and sex-linked genes using the Y-chromosite gene. The science is quite complicated so I won’t go into too much detail.”

     “Does this technology have the potential to do well in the health market?” asked the voice.

     “Definitely,” said Dr.Westbrook, “Recently, there has been a surge in single parent households where only one parent is present, whether it be voluntarily or involuntarily. Couple that with same sex parent households, the Y-chromosite gene technology will be able to provide these families with a more natural reproductive means, something that has long been thought of to be impossible.”

    “I see,” said the voice, “How long will the development of the gene take? I want your scientists focused and working on the genetic database before the Population Control Device is launched.”

    “Dr.Donohan has estimated that it might take at least 3 more years for the gene to be safe for us to commence human trials,” said Professor Cain, “And with the construction of the international research centre underway, we will be able to open our first clinic once it is complete and introduce it into the market.”

     “Okay then,” said the voice, “You and your team have 4 years to complete development of the Y-chromosite gene technology. I will make sure you get all the resources you need so that you hasten the developmental process. In the meantime, prepare your teams for the creation of the supercomputer and the genetic database.”

     “I will, High Council,” said professor Cain, “You will not regret this.”

     “You better hope so, Cain,” said the voice, “The royals have put a lot on the line for this project.”

    “I will do my best,” said professor Cain.
    “In the event that your best is not enough to pull this off on time,”said the voice, “General Qadira and General Denvers have their orders.”

    “What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Professor Cain, “Are you insinuating that I might not be able to pull it off?”

    “You’re working on a schedule, with a large group of very impressionable and intelligent scientists. Someone is bound to make a mistake, and start asking questions about what we are actually doing.”

     “I will deal with my teams,” he replied, “I will only tell them what they need to know.”

     “I don’t doubt that,” said the voice, “But I feel that it is imperative that I remind you that there will be consequences if you fail to meet our deadline for this project.”

     “Are you threatening me?” Asked professor Cain, “This is preposterous! You wouldn’t even have known about Dr.Schully or Dr.Donohan and their work if it wasn’t for me.”

    “Don’t be too sure about that,” said the voice, “We have eyes everywhere so we see everything, we have ears everywhere so we hear everything and we have people in all the right places so we know everyone. We can do this project with or without you, professor. You are only here because you are efficient, and because Dr.Donohan trusts you.”

     “And what if I don’t get the job done on time?” Professor Cain asked as he looked at General Qadira and General Denvers who stared at him coldly.

     “If I were you,” said Genera Qadira, “I’d do what I’m told, and do it well.”

     “Keep your teams in order and we won’t have any problems.” General Denvers added.

     “Just do your job. Leave the rest to us,” said the voice, “Is that understood professor?”

     “Yes, High Council.” replied professor Cain.

     “Good, I’m glad we are all in agreement,” said the voice, “We meet again in 7 weeks. Meeting adjourned.”