Return to Meeting
A dazed and confused Ranell returned to the meeting. His teammates noticed his agitation but politely refused to comment on it. The financial projections resumed, but the group dynamic was in shambles.
Larbonne spoke first, “Josef, perhaps we’ve done enough for today…”
“Yeah, I’m done.” Ranell crossed his hands in his lap. He wore a pensive look, and his head nodded almost imperceptibly as if he were reaching some major decision. “Yeah, I think I’m done with all of this.”
“What do you mean, Josef?” Anderson asked. “Working on these projections? Trying to find solutions for our airship problem?” Anderson never let anyone forget that the decision to purchase the airships had put GML in this position.
“To hell with the airships!” Ranell used to be known as the type of person who rarely lost his temper, but it happened so frequently now no one found it shocking anymore.
“Dr. Ranell?” It was Ken Stass, his Director of Planning.
“What?”
“If your serious about giving up on the airships, I’ve got an idea.” During the divestment, Stass had been forced to lay off most of his planning department. He’d nearly had his own position cut too. The whole process had been terribly difficult for him, so rather than cut him off, Ranell mustered his last ounce of compassion and forced himself to listen to this new idea.
“What is it, Ken?”
Stass came straight to the point. “If they don’t restart the contracts, why don’t we donate the airships we have left to a non-profit charity?”
“Come again?” Despite the unrelieved ache threatening to break his heart, Ranell found himself intensely curious. “Give them to what charity?”
“Any charity. Or we could even start our own 501(c)(3) and donate the airships to that. It doesn’t matter so long as we can show a loss to GML. We should be able to depreciate them at the current market value.”
Ranell was speechless. He shook his head for a minute, digesting the thoughts. “What? Where did this come from? We’ve got contracts to fulfill with the government. They’d sue us into oblivion.”
“I… I’ve been giving this a lot of thought.” Stass reached down, and Ranell could hear his keyboard clicking. “As far as the government contracts are concerned, the writing is on the wall. The move to restore the gold standard is one of the President’s major campaign planks. He’s never going to give up on it. We’re looking at a minimum of four years like this.” Stass looked nervously at Anderson, seeking confirmation.
“I think he’s right about that, Josef.” Anderson nodded.
Stass picked up the thread, “The Airlander corporation is coming online with one of its new 50-ton cargo capacity airships right now. The British government already subsidizes their program. I’m confident the US would want to work with her allies on a project like this.”
“The great race for the kingdom of the sky is real after all,” Larbonne stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Anderson jumped on the idea. “It just might work. Think about it. We donate the birds, and with the dollar pegged to the new gold standard, the government will be forced to stop its irresponsible spending habits. They’ll be looking for ways to save money, like working with Airlander for the HORAS platform. I say it’s a win-win!”
Ranell’s head was swimming. “Ok, ok. Let’s flesh this idea out. But not today.” He was so tired. “I’m done. Let’s hit it again tomorrow.”
Ranell stood up and left the office without even the usual obligatory goodbyes.
As he left the office that night, Ranell thought, I guess I need to get a hotel. He worked the steering wheel of his sedan with numb hands. He felt detached somehow, as though he was watching himself in a movie, just going through the motions.
This isn’t good. Ranell knew intellectually that he was experiencing intense emotions. The fact that he couldn’t feel anything was a warning sign. I better call my priest.
Ranell knew that Monsignor Raphael Mendoza disapproved of divorce. But he also knew that Mendoza would never condemn him for it. So, the priest’s inevitable question didn’t surprise him.