Chapter 10: Space Race, Take Two. Part 10: A Friend of A Friend of A Friend...
[One Week Later]
It's been over a week since we came here. I haven't had a lot of leeway concerning foodstuff, but I made a few acquaintances with which I can discuss things concerning power generation, engineering and a few other theories. I haven't yet given them any hints or tips, but I did help them clear their ideas concerning stuff they were working on. I also gave them a hand in calculating a few results, which would have usually taken a long time because the computers were booked weeks in advance.
The night school project is ready to start soon, Dorothy is almost done with Fortran and I have a few documents ready to use to help the girls in their studies. We also talked to them about it, and they are really motivated and can't wait to start. Some actually didn't wait, refreshing their knowledge in mathematics before we even started. We heard whispers that some of the white gals were snickering at our futile efforts, but instead of saying anything we asked our girls to prove them wrong with their actions instead of their words. We also explained our goals to them, that our work was beyond color but to improve the condition of women in society. While most of them said they understood, only a few started really reflecting on it, which should be a good thing.
Today, I'm trying to pass up the Star Map to my superior. I also sent a copy to a few of the astronauts, without putting my name on it. There's supposed to be a meeting today, in which I hope they'll mention my work. They should talk about that, because it is quite a life saver for the astronauts, and they'll want to know who came up with it. Since I sent them a copy, even if my boss doesn't mention it, they probably will. He may come to resent me for passing over his head, but at this point, I don't really care about him since I know he'll be replaced soon enough.
While the meeting starts, I keep working, crunching numbers as usual, and about half an hour before lunch time, I'm called in the meeting room. This is it.
"Katherine Johnson is here."
"Thank you, Stephany. You can go now," says my current superior, Paul Bikle. Still as misogynist as usual, I see. I can see he's uncomfortable with my presence. He must have tried to avoid the subject, but ultimately was asked about it. I try really hard to hide my grin, and it seems I succeed. "Gentlemen, meet Katherine Johnson, who worked on the Star Map I sent you." Oh, wow, tring to make it seem as if he was responsible for it, nice play there, Bikle.
"Hello, Katherine. Is it true that you're the one we'll have to thank if we're ever lost in space?" Says one of the men on the table. Cassie informs me of all their names, and of the fact that they are all part of the Mercury Seven, but I don't think I'm supposed to know him.
"Hopefully it won't come to that, Mister...?"
"John Glenn."
"Mr. Glenn. But I thought it could be useful for you and your colleagues. I created it with the goal of a safety net in mind after all, a sort of last resort card if you will."
"I like it, and so does everyone who will ever leave our atmosphere. We don't want to use it, but we're glad to have it, you know?"
"Indeed," I say with a small smile, pushing on my glasses.
"So, what do you do other than designing maps to save our life here?"
"Well, for now I calculate all kind of things including the exit and entry points as well as trajectory of all unmanned missions. I hope to do so as well for the manned missions."
"And if you're that good with our safety, I hope you will. Paul, can we make that happen?"
"I mean, we have the computers working on it. While Katherine is good, there needs to be an absolute certainty."
"Katherine, what do you think about the computers?"
"Sir?"
"You're calculating things, a work also done by computers, so why haven't you been replaced?"
"Well, I'm sure a human factor is always appreciated when it comes to human things, and the accuracy I achieve in my calculations are almost as accurate as the computer's. And while the computer does calculation a bit faster, there isn't any kind of spirit in them, they just do what they're told instead of looking for issues that might be happening with those calculations." The part about being 'almost as accurate' is a complete lie, but if I told them the truth, computers won't be developed quite as fast. "I'm sure there's a need for them, and that we'll use them in a lot of ways, but for now, they are as useful as I am. I think we could be considered colleagues." I hear a few quiet laughs.
"There you go, Paul, she's as accurate as those computers you're so proud of, so, what's stopping her from being on the project?"
"We can't really spare her from her work on unmanned projects, they also need her input, and the manned rockets won't be leaving for a while, so if you really want that, we can wait to talk about it when the opportunity comes, alright?" That is bullshit, I wanted to say. But it was not my place to talk here, yet.
"That's bullshit and you know it, Paul," oh, I'm not the one with this kind of thoughts. "If she's useful, we should use her. And I don't think she might have done this starmap if she was buried by too much work on unmanned missions. I mean, are you?"
"No sir, I did that on my spare time, when the work for the day was over and the calculations required completed," I'm starting to really like this guy, his wording leaves a bit to desire, especially 'use her', but as I do the same, I think we can't just as well 'use him'.
"Paul, I know you have some problem with letting a woman work, but the Russian have no such thing, and they kicked our ass a few times already. It's time we kick back, and I believe Katherine can't be an asset. What do you think Katherine?"
"Sir, just give me the word, and I'll go to Russia to kick their asses myself. Pardon the French," a few more pronounced laughs.
"Hahaha, Paul, come on. We're all for it and we just need you to say yes. I don't know, give her something to see if she's capable or something," someone whispers something to him. "And this time without traps, I hear you've tried to get rid of her before," oh, wow, I have no idea how that got out, and the surprise shows on my face. A good thing because Bikle looks at me with a frown. Oh, don't look at her, Paul, she hasn't said anything. She didn't need to. You know, we're not just monkeys being sent to space. And we care about the people who don't want to see us crash and burn. Paul, the new board meeting is reconvening in a short while. If Katherine is not at NASA anymore at that time, I will make your life a living hell," what is going on here? I know the starmap is important, but it's not a that level. I start to ponder about it and Cassie gives me the answer.
<Apparently, James's friends have some friends in the active Marine Corps, and must have had someone talk about you in their circle. While hearing about you might have helped them have a good opinion about you, the starmap and your capabilities must have made you a valuable asset in their eyes.> Ah, I see. I have to give James some credit there. He told me he was talking to active military, I didn't think it would bear fruit so fast.
"You can't be serious, you'd put her above me?" Paul seems to have lost his cool. "She's a woman— no, she's a black woman for fuck's sake!"
"Paul Bikle you better take it back right now or help me God!" John Glenn rises up, his fists clenched. And he's not the only one, as slowly, all the astronauts on the table follow him and rise, and the other men at the table do the same. Soon enough, Paul is the only one still sitting, surrounded by people looking down on him, both literally and figuratively. Shit, it seems my emotions took over for a second, and a few tears drop from my eyes.
In this silence, Paul seems scared, and says "I'm sorry."
Glenn looks at him, and replies "I don't care about your apology, give it to Katherine."
He hesitates, looks at me in defeat.
"That's not necessary," I say. "I appreciate it, but—"
"Katherine, it's not the first time he said those kinds of thing to women around here, but I want it to be the last. If you say that apologies are not necessary, he'll keep doing it. He needs to understand how humiliating it feels and the best way is to be forced to receive the kind of humiliation he gave out. Paul, apologise to the lady."
Paul, straining, looks at me, and says through clenched teeth: "I apologise."
Before I even get to say thank you, John Glenn says "Louder, Paul, and what do you apologise for?"
Bikle looks at me again and says louder: "Mrs Johnson, I apologise for my bigoted, misogynist words and conduct."
"I accept your apologies, sir. And thank you, Mr. Glenn I appreciate what you did for me."
"Just John, Katherine. I took the liberty of calling you by your first name, I urge you to do the same, please. Everyone, I think this meeting went on for long enough, what do you say we end it here?" and the people, already standing, nod and start to pack up their papers and leave the room. "Katherine, do you mind walking with me for a moment?"
Leaving the room, we walk towards the cafeteria, and I initiate the conversation.
"Sir, I have to ask. Why?"
"Why go that far? Why did I do that for you?"
"Yes, both."
"Well, forst, Paul needed to be put back in place, we've all heard of his treatment of women and black people. The Jim Crow Law might still be up, but it won't last for long. And the US need every people to win against Russia, I wholly believed everything I said in that room. As for why you, let's just say a friend of a friend knows your husband, and put in a nice word about you a couple of days ago. When I looked you up, I've only heard good things, except for that bullshit test made you pass."
"How did you heard about that? I haven't said anything and made it look as if I didn't notice."
"This guy was too conceited and talked about it before you came back. He said he was going to trap someone and get rid of a black girl pretty soon to a friend of his. No offense."
"None taken. This is amazing, I can't thank you enough…"
"Katherine, this starmap can't save our lives, and the work you could do help us tremendously. Working here is enough of a thank you and if standing up for you is all it takes, than I'm glad to pay the price. I hope I'll see you around, I have to go now."
"I understand, thank you very much, Sir."
"Katherine," he sighs. "I told you to call me by name, next time you'd better do that." And he walks away. This was amazing, but I didn't think it would happen so soon and so hard. At this point, I'm starting to think that I'm not married to James but to John.
At least now I can't focus on my work and I don't have to be careful around Paul. I mean I have to be careful outside of NASA, but that's good enough. As I walk into the cafeteria, I see a lot of people looking at me. A few angry stares from a lot of women and a couple of guys. Most of the looks I receive are curious, and a few of the girls around Dorothy are proud and smiling. I don't know if it helped me or not. We'll probably see soon enough, I suppose...
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Theoescrime
Theoescrime I would just like to remind the readers that this is a work of fiction, and while real life names are used, they reflect in no way shape or form the real life people of said names. I am in no way an expert in any of the subjects talked about in the novel, especially politics, culture and psychology. Concerning the people that diverge from their real life counterparts, I apologise once again if I offend anyone, which is not the goal or point of my work.
Thank you for reading and sticking with me.
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