Chapter 23: An Agreement

"Ambassador Jon'a-ren, and your gracious Excellency, Lyn'na-ra..."

"Please, Minister Keaton, no title, please!" Lyn'na-ra protested. I am simply Lyn'na-ra, if you would. Titles make us most uncomfortable. It is not part of our culture, and I beg you, do not inflict one upon me!"

"My apologies, Lyn'na-ra. It seems so insufficient and disrespectful, in our culture, to address someone of such remarkable stature, and one who comes bearing such an incredible offer..."

"Then you will please call me Lyn'na-ra, and that will please me greatly, kind sir," she smiled.

"Very well, Lyn'na-ra. We mean to express, both to you and your husband ... is that the correct term, madame? Husband?"

"Yes, that is correct. Masi'shen use the term 'mate' in our language, which is our word translated into English, but husband is sufficient. But Minister, let us agree to relax our concern for diplomatic etiquette and formality, lest we be here all night attempting to sort out our cultural and language differences. Please treat us as you would treat visitors from your own country. I assure you, Minister Keaton, there is little you could do to offend us. Already, your nation has been of immense kindness and assistance to us. We are grateful for that."

Minister Scott Keaton visibly relaxed, settled back into his chair at the conference table, and smiled at the Masi'shen delegation. "Thank you, for your kind words, and your gracious courtesy, my lady. I cannot begin to tell you how delighted we are, my nation and myself, with this incredible offer you make. It is simply ... overwhelming!"

The conference between representatives of the Canadian government and the Masi'shen people involved an agreement to begin placing healing chambers throughout all of the Canadian provinces, beginning with the university and hospital teaching centers. Additional devices would go to clinics at each of the "First Nation" indigenous peoples' centers in Canada. Masi'shen technicians would supervise the installations and train local paramedics to operate the devices. Attending physicians would evaluate and document each patient, before and after treatment. They would keep careful records for review and evaluation.

"Am I correct to understand that we have the singular honor of being the first nation on Earth to receive this gift?" Minister Keaton asked. "And if so, may I ask, how did you decide?"

"Yes," Jon'a-ren smiled. "With the exception of a unit still under our control in Geneva, which we demonstrated to UN Secretary-General Kusnadi, to his wife, Dr. Kusnadi, and to members of his staff, you will receive the first units on the planet.

"As for why? Need I remind you, sir, of the extraordinarily courageous and humane sanctuary that your government, your people, have offered to the Native American refugees, the Nez Percé people? Perhaps you are not aware, sir, but certain members of the Nez Percé nation are most precious friends of my son-in-law, Michael Hawthorne. If not for their courage and selfless actions, I and my mate, and all of our people on our ship, would have met a cruel fate in the Antarctic region. This mission to Earth, and our offer of this healing gift to your nation, would never have been possible. So you see, Minister Keaton, we are simply returning a favor for a favor. 'Kindness begats kindness, ' if you will.

"But on a more practical side, perhaps my wife could explain the reasoning. She and our daughter led a study group to evaluate the probable impact of unleashing this technology, to put it bluntly, on human society. Lyn'na-ra? Would you give us the summary report?"

Lyn'na-ra rose and beckoned to an assistant, who began passing out bound copies of the report to the Canadian representatives seated around the table. When they had been handed out, she began to speak.

"Gentlemen, ladies, members of the government. When it was our pleasure to demonstrate the Masi'shen healing chamber to Dr. Kusnadi and her husband, the Secretary-General, she warned us of a probable consequence that we had not considered. Perhaps it is because our culture is so different, in many ways, but still ... if we had proceeded as we originally intended, I fear we would have caused great dissension and possible upheaval and violence in many of Earth's nations.

"You see, we had not considered that our device would displace a major segment of the world's economy: the corporate and government interests that control health care, and the millions of people world-wide who make their livelihood in medicine. And that is why we chose Canada as the first nation," Lyn'na-ra explained.

The noise level in the conference room rose sharply as people turned to their neighbors in surprise and shock.

"Good Lord!" Minister Keaton protested. "We have been so overwhelmed by this thing, that we never considered... !"

"That's not at all surprising, sir," Lyn'na-ra nodded. "And we're quite certain that this will not be more than an... inconvenience, in your nation. Our consultations, our research and evaluations, found that of all but a few nations, Canada is least likely to be affected, and is most likely to adapt to the new reality. If I may explain our findings, sir?"

"Of course, dear lady. Take all the time you need."

"Thank you, sir. In brief, Canada has a national health delivery system. It functions quite effectively. Your people enjoy universal access to the best care your planet has to offer. No family is threatened with financial disaster should its provider become ill or injured. They enjoy a basic security. Likewise, no one is denied treatment for lack of financial means. Every citizen is entitled.

"Your people willingly bear the burden of taxation to support the system. Your professional health workers accept the limits on compensation inherent in such a system. Your institutions and support industries willingly participate in the system. All, it seems, are willing to participate in a national system, for the public good. To over-simplify, this system has an altruistic foundation. There is little or no room for profiteering or denial. Thus, Minister Keaton, we need not face the wrath of disenfranchised corporate or private interests.

"Now you might ask, 'what will we do with all of our health care workers and hospitals?' That is a serious concern, but one, we think, that may easily be solved. You continue to pay them, to become health 'maintenance and enhancement' workers. The hospitals could be converted to research and teaching centers for the promotion of health-enhancing practices. I might suggest another pleasant consequence: our gift means that your people could be relieved of the heavy burden of taxation required to support your present health care system. Perhaps that burden could be halved, and the remaining tax revenues used to support the new health enhancement programs?

"This is only one suggestion. I am sure that you are quite capable of innovative adaptation. A nation that can succeed so admirably in providing health care, can certainly succeed in a new age of health improvement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as my esteemed son-in-law, who is a son of Earth, would say, "No sweat!" Lyn'na-ra smiled and sat down beside her mate.

"Fascinating!" Minister Keaton responded. He faced the other government officials present: "Does anyone have a comment or question?"

Laughter filled the room. "Only enough to keep us here for the rest of the week," someone uttered in a flat voice. More laughter erupted. An older woman, gray-haired and wearing a women's styled business suit rose. Minister Keaton immediately responded.