MacMillan Wharf

MacMillan Wharf: Chapter Thirty-Two: the Final Chapter

MacMillan Wharf: Chapter Thirty-Two

by Richard Gifford

Annie found it hard to believe that six months had passed since that horrible summer weekend. As she fidgeted with her jewelry, she reviewed in her mind all that had happened since. Shane was found guilty of first degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole. Angus Black was being held indefinitely under the Patriot Act at an undisclosed location. His shooting at a United States Coast Guard helicopter qualified him as an enemy combatant.

“How do I look?” Annie asked Mary Ellen.

“Beautiful, but here, wear this, it was Linda’s and I want you to have it.” Mary Ellen pulled a silver pin of a mother and calf humpback whale out of her pocket. She fastened it carefully to the black pinstripe suit jacket that Annie wore. “You’re doing this in her name.  I know she’d be proud of you.” Mary Ellen gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Thanks. I think I’m ready now.” After Linda’s funeral, Bruce Waters asked her to present the report to the Senate Subcommittee on Ocean Affairs on behalf of the Whale Center. She was honored to be asked, and accepted without hesitation. He also offered her the position of Associate Director upon her graduation, provided that she enroll in a Ph.D. program in Marine Biology.

Billy Souza held the door for her as she entered the U.S. Senate Chamber. She wore with pride the diamond engagement ring that he gave her on New Year's Eve with pride. Billy leaned in to give her a kiss.

“I love you.” he said.

“I love you too.” Billy had been kind to her throughout Shane’s trial and conviction. He supported her unconditionally. She admired his gentle strength and his integrity. By early September, they were both smitten with each other.

“Now go give ‘em hell. Just like Linda would have.”

Annie walked through the door and entered the enormous hall. She sat at a table draped with blue fabric facing the panel of seven Senators.

“Ms. Macalister,” Senator Carl Bowen, the subcommittee chair and a Republican from South Carolina, began. “On behalf of the Senate Subcommittee on Ocean Affairs, we welcome you to this hearing. Before us is a very serious issue, that being the matter of oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Maine. We have heard from representatives of the oil industry who are of the opinion that oil and gas extraction would be of tremendous social, economic, and strategic benefit for the New England States, and indeed the entire nation. I understand that you have a different opinion, and we invite you to tell us about it.”

Annie shifted in her seat. She could feel the support of Mary Ellen, Billy, Bruce, Chief Souza, and her parents, behind her. She cleared her throat and began to read her opening statement which suddenly sounded too much like a term paper to her. She glanced up from her notes, looked directly into the eyes of the panel of white haired men, and spoke into the microphone.

“Thank you Senator, and thanks to all of you for being willing to hear another side to this story. I do, in fact, have a different opinion regarding this issue. For over two hundred years the migratory whales which feed in the Gulf of Maine have been threatened by human activity. All of the species of great whales, humpbacks, finbacks, sperm whales, and right whales, were hunted nearly to extinction. Some have recovered their populations, some have not. The North Atlantic Right Whale has a total population of around 300 individuals. That’s fewer people than are in this room. Imagine, if you will, that there were only that many human beings left in the world, and someone from another planet wanted to build an industrial complex in the middle of the only place where they can eat and nurse their young.”

“Are you saying that this is the only place in the world that they feed?” Senator Doherty from Maine asked.

“Yes Senator, I am. They go to the Caribbean in the fall and winter months to give birth to their calves, but there is virtually no food in those warmer waters. The Right Whales migrate up the coast in the early spring and arrive in the Gulf of Maine in April or May. The cold water holds lots of plankton that they need to eat. As the summer goes on, they migrate further north up into Canadian waters.”

Senator Bowen drawled, “Frankly, I don’t see how drilling platforms and ships are going to do any harm. The oil companies told us yesterday that they’ll take every precaution to ensure that no whales are injured. Whales are supposed to be pretty smart after all, they’ll just swim around them.”

“With all due respect, Senator, I have some personal experience with the oil companies. I really don’t think that they have the interests of anyone or anything other than their own profits in mind.”

“Would you please share with us your experience?” Senator Flynn from Massachusetts urged.

Annie launched into the story about Angus Black, and how Scotia Gas was under investigation for corruption and fraud in both U.S. and Canadian courts. She told how Angus arranged for the break-in that led to Linda’s death. The entire panel sat back in their seats and listened carefully as she recounted how she nearly became a victim as well.

“So, to conclude. Allowing for oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Maine is a clear violation of the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It poses a tremendous threat to the most endangered species of whale in the world, all for the extraction of an unknown amount of petroleum. I urge this committee to consider the survival of a species over the profits of a corporation. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to address you.”

“Thank you very much, Ms. Macalister,” Senator Bowen said.  “We’ve heard both sides now. The subcommittee will take a short recess, and when we return, we will have a vote on whether or not to extend the current moratorium on petroleum exploration in the Gulf of Maine.” He banged the gavel on the table to signify the recess.

“Great job, Annie. Linda would be proud.” Bruce Waters patted her on the back.

“Now, I understand just what this is all about. I’m so proud of you,” Annie’s stepfather whispered in her ear.

She smiled and said, “Thanks.”

“Well, what do you think?” Annie asked Billy.

“You did a great job, but they’re a tough bunch. Two of those senators are from oil states. There’s no way they’ll give in. The rest, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Senator Bowen banged the gavel again to bring the room back to order. It was obvious that he enjoyed the power this gave him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re back in session now. I would like to thank all of those who participated for their testimony. This is certainly not an easy issue to resolve. I believe we’re ready for a vote, who would like to call the motion?”

“I will,” Senator Flynn from Massachusetts spoke. “I move to re-authorize and extend the moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Maine for another twenty-five years, as in the provisions of the current law.”

“Second.” Senator Doherty from Maine said.

“All in favor?” Senator Bowen asked. Senators Flynn, Doherty, Capistrano and Johnston raised their hands in unison and voted, “Aye!”

“All opposed?” Senators Bowen, Anderson and Floyd raised their hands and groaned, “Nay.”

The room erupted in applause. Annie watched with her mouth open as a line of dark suited lawyers and oil industry lobbyists slinked down the aisle to the exit door.

Senator Bowen banged his gavel one last time and announced, “this hearing is hereby adjourned.”

“What does that mean? Did we win?” Annie excitedly asked Bruce.

“Yes, we won. You won!” He hugged her shoulders. “And you even won over Johnston, a Republican from Georgia.”

Annie put her hands over her mouth. She wanted to cheer, but instead all she was able to do was cry. Billy wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear, “I knew you could do it. I always did.”

“It wasn’t me. It was Linda.”

- The End -