Chương 105: Book 4 - Chapter 2 C

That night a few people showed up for a secret meeting with me.

"Gentlemen, I'm speaking to you because I've learned that the Council has been eyeing the funds awarded by the British government over the phosphate mining operation. Without proper controls, the Council will soon be dipping into these funds for investments in your people's future. They will do so with no discussion, no record, and much of the investments disappearing into pockets. The pockets of people offering great investment opportunities far from here. People who are not Banabans.

"Should they accept my offer, it will only be longer before they run through all the money and only then would their thefts be discovered. The result would be a people with nothing but debts." This worried the men I spoke to. They were the college educated children who had grown up here but had gotten scholarships to go to universities in Hawaii, Australia and other places.

"Thank you for the information, Dr Cook."

"You're welcome. You've got a great home here. I hope it stays that way." The Council accepted my offer the next day. I used one of the island's two phones to call the government in Fiji to inform them of the agreement. They had to send out a representative to verify it. I took the opportunity to talk to the government official.

"How hard would it be to grant official citizenship to the people on Rabi Island?"

"That is a difficult question," was his answer.

"With their home island no longer an option, they are going to be staying here permanently."

"Technically, they are all illegal immigrants," he said.

"Even though they bought the island they live on?"

"Even so," he responded.

"Think about what my water filtration system could do for Fiji," I told him, handing him an information packet on graphene water filtration felt.

"I'd be happy to assist the government of Fiji to acquire and install the equipment if the citizenship issue got resolved."

"Thank you, I will communicate your offer, Dr Cook." Because the formal signing was put off for a week, I took the boat back to the Matei airstrip. I was happy to see the plane again as it had climate control.

"Are the tanks topped off?" I asked the pilot.

"Yes, Boss. And Chef Peter filled up his larder."

"Was your vacation at the resort good?" I asked the crew.

"Fantastic, Boss."

"Great, if everything is ready, let's head to Tarawa."

"One Kiribati Republic Capital, coming up," he said with a laugh. Back in my office aboard the plane I asked Matt, "Why is everybody calling me Boss now?"

"Cause you're the 'little Boss,' why do you think?" he asked with a twinkle in his eyes. I just shook my head and settled in for the three-and-a-half-hour flight. They were supposed to know I was arriving but the control tower sounded confused. When I finally landed, I hired a cab to take me to the government offices. The man working at a table in a room down a hallway frowned at me as I walked up to him.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"Hi, I'm here to inform you that I am purchasing the island of Banaba from the Banaba people and the Council of Rabi."

"I hope you didn't pay much. The place is worthless."

"I thought it was a fair price," I said, knowing I had grossly overpaid.

"What do you want it for?"

"I plan to reopen the phosphate mine and ship in good soil in exchange."

"That's great. We need more industry. The taxes will help too!" This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Don't get too excited. This is just a little project for me. My personal yearly income is higher than the entire GNP of Kiribati."

"Really?" he asked in astonishment.

"Really."

"Well, come in and sit down. Who did you say you were again?" he asked with the charm and flattery turned up to ten. The more they learned the more excited they got. They were especially pleased when I mentioned that I had encouraged Fiji to make the Banaba refugees citizens.

After they were done offering their support and help, I bought tickets for Matt and me, the scientists and the engineer that had also enjoyed the resort, as well as the photographers and security to fly on the local 737-200 to Nauru International Airport.

"Why didn't we take your plane? It's much nicer?" one of the photographers asked.

"The runway isn't long enough. It might do it but it would be tight. Possibly, it'd be stuck there permanently."

"Is that where your new island is?"

"It's just closer. It's still another hour-and-a-half by seaplane after we arrive." The people living on the island were very surprised to see a plane landing in the ocean. They were not happy to hear that the Rabi Council had sold the island out from under them.

"You're welcome to stay. I'm planning on restarting the phosphate mine and will need workers. If you do leave, I'm willing to pay you whatever the Council offers you for your homes and land, so you'll get double what anybody else gets." All but four decided to move to Rabi and left immediately on the seaplane with checks and plane tickets from me.

"So the plane's gone," Matt said.

"It'll come back."

"Where are we sleeping?" he asked looking around at the desolate island.

"I just bought those houses," I said pointing at the shacks.

"Go find one for us, one for the scientist and one for the photographers."

"Okay, Boss. What about security?"

"Sure, they can have a house too." We gathered for a meeting around a campfire on the beach near sunset.

"Okay, everybody!" I shouted.

"Grab food from the coolers for dinner and settle in. We have a few things to discuss." Once we all had food, even if it was cold, we settled in.

"First of all, the plane will be back. There's a HF radio here on the island, so don't think we are reenacting Gilligan's Island," I said to some laughter.

"I've arranged cargo deliveries for those staying on the island. Those will come by ship from Tarawa as it's much cheaper than by air. The houses you are in, are now mine and so now are yours to use. Please don't burn them down. If you can promise that, I'll make sure there's booze on the first boat with supplies." They cheered that and I smiled, enjoying the environment. My eyes kept catching on memories of what would be here someday.

"Science team, I need a full island survey. Figure out where to mine phosphate, where to place the topsoil coming in and figure out where to build a small jetty for better boat access.

"Water engineer?" I asked.

"Here Boss," he answered raising his hand from the other side of the small beach fire.

"We brought some of your equipment. Get the water going then figure out what it is like when it rains here. Where will we need to build drainage. Also get showers up and running right away. Don't try to put in water lines to the homes. We'll be building better structures soon enough."

"Photographers?"

"Here Boss!" they cheered.

"Get lots of pictures, make me look heroic for the newspapers back home," I said, which got lots of laughing and jeering.

"Security!"

"Here Boss."

"Kill any mosquito you find and prepare to repel a land shark invasion. You only have to hold out until the seaplane arrives tomorrow." I got another loud laugh and wondered if I had a future in stand-up comedy.

"Great, I'm headed to bed. The seaplane will be back in the morning with supplies to last until the boat arrives. Don't stay up too late. Everyone will be needed to unload the cargo." With paperwork in hand, the photographers, two security, Matt and I took the seaplane back to Nauru International Airport, where we had a hot breakfast then caught the 737-200 back to Tarawa. Everybody quickly cycled through the showers when we got to my waiting plane.

Representatives of the Kiribati government wanted to accompany me to verify the purchase.

"Sure, you guys can come. I won't be coming back this way, so you'll have to find your own way home from Fiji." That cut down the observers looking for a free trip from over twenty to just two. We unloaded the remainder of the equipment, and arranged for it to be added to the cargo boat leaving for Banaba. Matt ensured the promised booze was on the boat. Chef Peter collected local ingredients and we ate well during the flight to Fiji.

At the request of the Fiji government, we landed at Nadi International Airport, where a government boat was ready to transport us to the signing ceremony. The ceremony went well. The photographers took pictures and were anxious to break the story. After a ceremonial signing and completing the fund transfer, we reboarded the government boat. I stayed at a local resort overnight, the same one the scientists and aircrew had enjoyed.

The next day we flew back to Tarawa where I dropped the photographers and a couple thankful Kiribati government observers. The photographers boarded the cargo ship so they could go document the island.

"Good luck and congratulations on the wedding," I told them as we shook hands goodbye.

"Thanks Boss. We could have never afforded a honeymoon like this, plus you're paying us!" he said, excitedly.

"I think you have some things for me to bring back to civilization?" I said, ignoring the confirmation of my suspicions. They handed over a packet of papers describing their adventure so far and over thirty rolls of film.

"I promise to mail these to your paper as soon as I get to civilization."

"Thanks Boss. We promise, you look heroic in most of the pictures," they said with much mirth.