Oslo, Norway
As Lars Neilson climbed into the cab his mind wandered back to the day's activities at the conference. He was satisfied with his performance. I did a fine job defending my country's position, he thought to himself. Lars really believed that his presentation and that of his contemporary, Usho Natio from Japan, had done the job. He believed the two of them would be responsible for the International Whaling Commission agreeing to reopen commercial whaling.
It was quite surprising, he thought, how the two independent studies both Norway and Japan presented to the commission complemented each other so well. Norway had shown a 400% increase in whale population throughout the North Atlantic and the North Sea. They further produced evidence that this increase in all species of whale population was having a negative effect on the other aspects of the fishing industry. Lars had shown examples where the increased whale populations were now in direct competition with Norway's commercial fishing fleets. Not only were the whales competing for a diminishing food supply with commercial fishermen, but in many instances the increased size of the whale herds were responsible for millions of Krona damage to commercial fishing equipment.
Norway's study had concluded that the whales were no longer on the brink of extinction. To the contrary, they had concluded, the whale pods were flourishing, Lars had told the committee. He summarized that thinning was not only a good idea, but had now become a necessity. His coup de grace was the showing of a short film in the darkened auditorium as he spoke, depicting a pod of Humpback Whales feeding on krill. The sight of the pod of whales hunting as a unit, surfacing with their mouths open as they each swallowed hundreds of pounds of the small fish, surely had an effect on the panel. It had been his decision to include the film in his closing comments, a wise tactical move he now concluded with a grin on his face.
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the cab driver saying something, "What was that?" he replied.
"I said, did you see the news about the International Whaling Commission on the television tonight?"
"Ahhh; no, I didn't," replied Lars.
"They say tomorrow the International Whaling Commission is going to make a decision on whether or not to reopen the seas to whaling. They expect a big demonstration in the city."
"I hadn't heard that," answered Lars.
"The cab company has all of its drivers on alert to avoid the area around Karl Johans & Fredericks Gate. They believe that the demonstrations might get violent. I guess they expect that Greenpeace will be leading the demonstration with people from all over the world," continued the cab driver.
There was a long pause in the conversation, then, Lars repeated, "no, I didn't hear about that." Just then the conversation was interrupted by a message coming over the two-way radio from the taxi dispatcher. As the driver talked to his dispatcher, Lars thought to himself, it is beginning to make sense why Josh Edwards has invited him to dinner tonight; but we will turn the tables. Tonight the chicken will catch the fox....he smiled. Josh and Lars had been friends since their college days back in the states when they had attended Yale. They had roomed together for three years and had only been separated when Josh moved off campus to live with Linda.
Josh had been Lars’ first friend in America, and until recently they had remained close. It was only in the last two years, after Linda's death, that they had lost touch. Lars had been very excited to hear from Josh yesterday, he had been looking forward to dinner tonight, that is until he had just found out about the demonstration. However, now knowing what Greenpeace was planning for tomorrow could only mean that Josh was going to be involved. That would make dinner very uncomfortable, particularly if Josh knew of my role, Lars thought. And he was sure Josh knew.
Just then the taxi pulled up in front of Bagatelle's. Lars quickly paid the driver and got out. As the cab pulled away Lars turned and walked through the gleaming brass and glass doors into the restaurant. Waiting immediately inside the restaurant doors was Josh. Being the friends they were Josh rushed over extended his hand and in his usual bellowing voice, called him by his college nickname of "Big Norwegian Salami," a name Lars wished he had used with a little more discretion as he bestowed upon him a big, Yale Bear Hug. Lars couldn't help but notice that the other patrons in the restaurant were watching, and at first he felt a little self conscious. Lars finally relaxed, and returned his friend's affection by answering, "well if it isn't the Madman From Maine." They both laughed.
"You look great," Josh told Lars, who replied "yeah! for a government employee who gets no exercise and eats too much while driving a desk of bureaucratic paperwork."
"And you look fit. I'm impressed with your tan. And your hair, what little you have left, is blond enough for you to pass as a Norwegian," Lars replied.
The two men again laughed and were led to a booth in the corner by the Maitre D’. As they were being seated, Josh asked to have the waiter bring them two cold Beers.
"How have you been?" asked Lars.
"Well, I think I'm doing all right. I have lost a little weight, I jog 5 miles a day, and I work out three times a week. After all I don't have much else to do since Linda's death. I hate to admit it Lars, but this bachelor life isn't for me."
Lars, looking at Josh's expression, knew that his friend was not yet over the pain. "I was really sorry to hear that Linda was killed in the plane crash. It seems like only yesterday that you two were married." Lars said.
"Yeah, it sure does," replied Josh. "Did you know we had nine years together, that is counting the two years we lived together before our marriage? I don't mind telling you Lars, another hundred would have been great."
Lars looked at Josh and asked, "Did you ever really find out what happened to the aircraft?"
"Yes, we think we know," Josh said. "The investigation revealed that it appeared Linda was attempting to photograph a trail of pollution coming out of a discharge pipe into the Ohio River. The pilot apparently tried to accommodate Linda by flying lower and closer to the discharge. It appears that just at the instant that he put his aircraft into a sharp bank to facilitate photography, a cross wind hit the aircraft, putting it into a near vertical wings up position. That attitude caused the wings to loose lift and the aircraft started loosing altitude. There just wasn't enough altitude or time for the pilot to react."
The two sat in silence for a minute. There just weren't any appropriate words that Lars could muster, and Josh, well Josh just seemed to be lost in his thoughts.
"Your beers, sir." Both men were startled by the waiter as he placed their beers on the table. Josh looked at Lars and said, "These beers are definitely too dark to be your average beer."
"You are in Norway Josh, we drink good Norwegian beer, not a made-for-export brew." Looking at their waiter, Lars continued, "Gero, my friend, knew better than to bring me anything but a good dark Norwegian beer. Drink up. This will put hair on your chest or, in your case, more appropriately, on you head." Both men laughed and began tackling the first of what were to be many steins that evening.
Josh was savoring the stout, yet sweet beer when the waiter again approached the table with menus. Lars looked at him and said, "They will not be necessary." With that he turned to Josh and asked, "Do you mind if I order for both of us?"
"No, no, go right ahead, just please, no pickled herring. I don't know what it is about you Scandinavians, but wherever I go, you serve pickled herring. If I didn't know better, I'd swear you were trying to get rid of it." Both again laughed, drawing the attention of the patrons around them.
"I am going to order the owner's, Eyvind Hellstom’s, special; lobster lasagna."
"Lobster lasagna!" exclaimed Josh.
"Yes, believe me, you will love it. Chef Hellstrom takes large chunks of cold-water lobster layered among perfectly cooked homemade noodles, napped with a velvety white sauce. It is world renowned. Copied, but believe me, never duplicated. People come from all over the world for this dish."
"Sounds good to me," replied Josh.
Lars turned to the waiter and ordered dinner.
As Lars finished ordering, Josh looked at him and said, "You know my Norwegian is not very good, but I could have sworn I heard the word herring in that order."
Lars laughed, "Well sort of. You see I ordered another house specialty, herring and caviar. The herring is made into a creamed pate, shaped like a fish, and then surrounded by caviar scattered on greens with chopped onion and egg. The finishing touch to this dish is the hot mustard cream sauce. Again trust me. This is a dish that even the herring would savor."
Pausing for a moment to sip his beer, Lars asked, "Would you care for wine with dinner?"
"No the beer is just fine. As a matter of fact, I'll have another."
Dinner proceeded with a congenial conversation. Lars was beginning to believe that Josh really didn't know about his role in the move to convince the International Whaling Commission to lift the moratorium on commercial whaling. But then, it was as the fourth or fifth stein was delivered, that Josh looked at Lars and said, "I understand you did a bang-up job today. I have been told that if the commercial whaling moratorium is lifted, it will be primarily because of your efforts."
Lars was stunned! Not sure how to respond, he just looked at Josh and said "thank you." That was a stupid reply, he thought to himself.
Josh proceeded with an explanation of how sorry he was that they were going to be on opposite sides of an issue. He explained, "As a Director in Greenpeace, it is my job to prevent the unnecessary slaughter of the marine mammals." Looking at Lars he then asked, "Have you ever really gotten close to a whale? I mean really close?"
"No, no I haven't," Lars replied. "But believe me, I have looked at the facts and it is clear that the whale population has increased significantly over the last ten years and it is continuing to grow."
"Lars, I'm not talking about whether the population is increasing or decreasing. I know it is increasing. Greenpeace fought hard to put the moratorium in effect. And do you know what; it worked! Many species have come back from the edge of extinction. But remember, they were put there by man. Hunted and slaughtered for what? Their oil which can be fabricated synthetically in at least 1000 factories around the world. Whale meat which is eaten only by a small percentage of the world population. And by the way, it's not healthy. There is no reason to kill a whale, economically or environmentally."
"Josh, I have seen the facts. Whales are increasing at an alarming rate. The fishermen of my country are no longer able to make a living from the sea, with declining fish stocks, competition from the whales, and then the damage inflicted to their equipment from the increased whale population. We are at an impasse Josh, it's the whales or our fishing industry. We have no choice! Do you realize, Josh, that there are men whose families for generations have made their living from the sea. Norway is a country tied to the sea. Without a secure, stable, fishing industry we will not have a stable economy, we will not be self sufficient. We are a proud people, we do not want handouts from the world community. No! Leave us to our heritage, let us harvest the sea as we have from the time of our Viking ancestors. As you have seen, the sea will replenish itself. You yourself, just moments ago, admitted the whale population has and is still increasing."
"Yes, Lars, I did admit the whale population has increased. But Lars, it is only because man has for the last twenty years finally stopped slaughtering them. Lars did you know that in a twenty year period, from the early sixties through the early eighties, we killed more whales than in all prior history. That's right, all prior history! The only reason the slaughter stopped was because the whalers couldn't make a living hunting the helpless creatures anymore. There just were not enough of them. Lars, it was a miracle that the world conservation community was able to get together just in the nick of time to stop the slaughter! Do you realize some species were really on the brink of extinction. Some of them still are. Whales do not reproduce like fish, they are mammals like us and only give birth to one, sometimes, but rarely, two calves. But only after a gestation period of 12 to 15 months." He paused.....then added, "Yes, Lars, the seas do replenish themselves but over what period of time?"
"Josh I understand your arguments, but I truly believe that you conservationists are causing undo alarm. The whale population has rebounded quickly and with proper quotas and controls we can protect the whales from extinction, while at the same time keeping our fisheries healthy."
"Lars, it is not just a matter of a healthy fishery. We are killing a helpless mammal, a mammal like us, and for no sensible reason."
"Oh, come Josh," said Lars, "you and I went to school together. I can't believe the Madman From Maine is talking like this." He paused. "We are talking about a lower order of animal. We are the top of the food chain and all we are doing is merely acting as such."
Josh looked at Lars in disbelief. He wasn't sure how to address his last statement. He wanted to get up and walk out, but he had a mission and dammed if he wasn't going to finish it. Josh took another swallow of beer, a big swallow, then looking at Lars he said, "Let me tell you a story. A very brief story. Lars these are reasonably intelligent animals. Animals with a brain and a complex communication system. More complex than even ours." But before he could begin Lars interrupted.
"Come now Josh, scientists have been studying the sounds of marine mammals since I was a kid. I can only imagine the millions of dollars spent. For what? They haven't been able to prove they truly communicate. Oh sure they make noise the same as birds or monkeys, but true communications? Come now, Josh, you are letting your imagination run wild. Don't you realize, we want to believe they communicate like us. It's, it's well it's sort of a human trait. Ever since we were kids our parents have told us animal-based nursery rhymes. Walt Disney built a business empire on a talking mouse. For the last twenty years we have even allowed our children to be taught to read by a big yellow bird on television. Sure, why can't animals talk? We have been told all our lives that they can. I see nothing strange in that. But Josh, there is a difference between expressing danger, fear or aggression using sound as animals do, versus true communication and reasoning like you and I are doing now. You can't believe whales do that, I know you better than that. You are an educated man."
Josh looked at Lars. Realizing he wasn't getting through he decided on another tack. "I know that you are aware that our minds are convoluted and segmented. The left side controls the right side of the body and vice versa. Other functions are divided between the two sides. Are you aware that the whales' brains are also convoluted but in addition they are divided into four and in some cases six sections. The whale is clearly capable of processing a lot more information than we are. That is why we cannot understand their communication, it is far more complex than our own. Not only that, but we believe the whale can rest or sleep sections of its brain while it continues functioning."
"That's all well and good," said Lars, "but we are not dealing with an intelligent, tool-wielding animal. And that, my friend, makes all the difference. All we are dealing with are mammals that evolved into leviathans of the ocean. True they may possess some intelligence, but on the evolutionary ladder they were surpassed by homo-sapiens. Josh you must remember that it is man's ability to reason and employ tools that has made us the superior animal on this planet. Just because the whale has a bigger brain and more complex communication system doesn't afford him special status."
"Lars, I can't believe you," exclaimed Josh. "You talk like we have a right to decide the fate of a whole species of animals. Mankind has already fucked up the evolutionary process of a countless number of plants and animals. But are you advocating that it should give me consolation to know that it was all in the best interest of the needs of mankind, no matter how self centered they were? Do you realize how many whole species have been wiped out for their feathers, fur, or ivory. Do you know that today, at the end of the twentieth century, we are eliminating whole species at an even more alarming rate. In the Amazon alone we may well be eliminating plants that could hold the cure to our most dreaded diseases, but we won't slow progress down long enough to think. But enough philosophy, let me tell you one short story.
It occurred off the coast of Argentina. I was an observer. I was standing on the bottom in about 30 feet of water next to our camera man. We were attempting to photograph the Right Whales that frequent this area each year at that particular time. Carlos, the leader of our expedition, had been there a number of times and was quite interested to see if he could identify particular animals from previous visits. Much to all of our amazement, quite the opposite occurred.
While we were photographing a single animal, Carlos separated from the group and swam out to deeper water. Soon I recognized that Carlos was gone and turned, searching for him. I spotted him a short distance away looking directly at a whale. There he was, standing erect on the bottom, petting the whale on the nose, while the animal hovered inches off the bottom. Quickly I attracted the camera man's attention and together we swam to within 15 feet of Carlos. The whale by this time had settled to the bottom and Carlos slowly made his way around the right, no pun intended here, side of the animal. Before we knew what was happening, two other whales appeared and you could hear and feel through your body the communication between the animals. The two new arrivals sort of just drifted above the first, which was practically lying on the bottom, with Carlos now rubbing the animal along his flank just forward of the pectoral fin.
Slowly the animal began to move and drifted to the surface, with the other two following. After what appeared to have been a long breath, the three animals returned, again the first practically lying on the bottom directly in front of Carlos, and the petting continued. This process was repeated two more times. Clearly this animal was encouraging this interaction, and communicating to his companions the whole time. Soon Carlos gave us the sign that he was low on air and he began his ascent. The whales, ever so slowly, followed him to the surface never getting more than a few feet from him. At the surface the animal which he had been petting very slowly got under Carlos and, using the upper part of his head, lifted Carlos almost entirely out of the water. Mind you not in a rough manner, but very meticulously and extremely carefully. The most extraordinary thing happened next. With Carlos still perched on his head, the whale proceeded to swim toward the boat depositing Carlos back in the water an arm's length from the transom."
As Carlos grabbed the boarding ladder, he turned and with his free hand gave the animal one last rub. The whale slowly sank under the boat, joined his two companions and the three of them swam toward deeper water. By the time we got to the boat, Carlos was trying to calm the Argentine crew who were yelling and screaming at each other, not understanding what they had just witnessed. Once aboard we learned from Carlos that he had accomplished his mission of identifying animals he had encountered in previous years. When we asked him what he meant, he went into his knapsack and pulled out a notebook full of pictures. "Did you notice the whale I was petting, his right pectoral fin had two large white circles which met and made sort of a figure eight?" he asked. At the time, both of us answered no but a later review of our film clearly showed the highly unusual marking. "Well," Carlos explained, "that whale and I have met before, last year to be exact. You see, he was caught in a fisherman's net." At that point Carlos opened his book and pointed to a series of pictures. Sure enough there was our whale with the unusual and distinctive figure eight marking. Carlos then went on to explain how he worked for almost a hour to free the whale from what was a certain death. We all looked at each other in amazement.
As we viewed the video tape that night, Carlos went over the events of the day. He explained that when the whale first approached he did not see the figure eight marking on the right fin. But he could feel the whale was sensing him with sound pulses. He decided that the best thing to do was stay in place and wait it out. When the whale settled on the bottom he realized that it meant him no harm, so he decided to pet it. It was shortly after he began petting the animal that he first thought about the previous year's encounter. That's when he made his way around to the animal's side to view the fin.
Lars, there was no way that animal could visually recognize Carlos. We all had on non-descript scuba equipment, including full wet suits, that covered just about all of our bodies. These animals have to a have a sonic sensing system that clearly surpasses any human capabilities."
"Fine, so the animals have a capability different than ours," Lars responded. "Big deal! What are we supposed to do, not eat tuna fish because they can swim faster than us. Or maybe you're proposing that we not eat chicken because they grow feathers and lay eggs." He paused. "You ecologists just don't realize that all we are doing is harvesting the resources of the planet. After all, Josh, we wouldn't be here; we wouldn't have evolved if God had not provided us with these resources and then, well......., and then given us the ability to use them."
"God Dammit Lars, what's happened to you?" exclaimed Josh. "The Lars I knew at Yale was a compassionate reasonable person. You act as though the resources of this planet are yours for the taking without regard for the consequences. I'm not a crying conservationist that wants to stop all progress. I'm not an advocate of human deprivation for a save the planet movement. Lars, all I am attempting to do here is explain to you that we are slaughtering an animal that has an intelligence level much higher than we ever thought possible. Who are we to needlessly take this life form, that in some respects may be as intelligent as us? And kill them? For what? Oil, unhealthy meat, or just because we are the superior being!"
The discussion between Lars and Josh continued. Finally, the waiter came over and presented the bill. With that, Lars looked around and seeing that the restaurant was empty, glanced at his watch and then looked at Josh and said, "I think we have overstayed our welcome. It's almost 2:00 AM."
Both men reached for their wallets, but Lars insisted that since they were in his country, he would pay. Lars paid the waiter, leaving an exceptionally big tip, and together they left the restaurant.
Standing outside in the cool air, Josh turned to Lars and said "you know that tomorrow we are going to demonstrate against any attempt to reopen commercial whaling."
Lars nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"Lars, we were once good friends, I would like to let you know that although we are on different sides on this issue, and I will work to defeat your position, I truly value your friendship and no matter what happens, will always consider you to be my friend."
Surprised by his sudden sincerity, Lars looked directly into Josh's eyes, and for the first time that night was shaken by the intensity that he saw. He waited for a minute and then replied, "I too, will always value our friendship,.... my friend!"
The two shook hands and deliberately turned away, each slowly going their separate way,………. in the morning light,........... in the land of the midnight sun.
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Drizzle - The Book