jdavid.footprintsofthunder-µÚ27ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¨What¡¡if¡¡someone¡¡catches¡¡us¡¡in¡¡here£¿¡¨¡¡Terry¡¡worried¡¡out¡¡loud¡£
¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡worry£»¡¡I'm¡¡licensed¡¡to¡¡kill£»¡¨¡¡Bill¡¡said£»¡¡wiggling¡¡his¡¡eyebrows¡£
¡¡The¡¡room¡¡looked¡¡much¡¡like¡¡Terry's¡¡son's¡¡room¡£¡¡The¡¡bed¡¡was¡¡unmade£»¡¡and¡¡dirty¡¡clothes¡¡were¡¡piled¡¡all¡¡over¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡Piles¡¡of¡¡books¡¡and¡¡papers¡¡were¡¡scattered¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡around¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡A¡¡desk¡¡was¡¡buried¡¡under¡¡more¡¡books¡¡and¡¡papers£»¡¡a¡¡puter¡¡sitting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clutter¡£¡¡Terry¡¡felt¡¡skeptical£º¡¡This¡¡was¡¡like¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡other¡¡dorm¡¡rooms¡¡around¡¡the¡¡country¡£
¡¡Bill¡¡settled¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡puter¡¡and¡¡began¡¡sorting¡¡through¡¡the¡¡disks¡£¡¡Reluctantly£»¡¡Terry¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡snoop¡¡around£»¡¡not¡¡expecting¡¡to¡¡find¡¡anything¡£¡¡The¡¡closet¡¡was¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡books¡¡and¡¡more¡¡dirty¡¡clothes¡£¡¡Buried¡¡in¡¡the¡¡far¡¡corner¡¡Terry¡¡turned¡¡up¡¡a¡¡typewriter¡¡case¡£¡¡He¡¡found¡¡nothing¡¡in¡¡it¡¡but¡¡the¡¡expected¡¡typewriter¡¡and¡¡two¡¡extra¡¡ribbon¡¡cartridges¡£¡¡He¡¡sorted¡¡through¡¡the¡¡books¡mostly¡¡texts¡¡on¡¡organizational¡¡psychology£»¡¡systems¡¡theory£»¡¡personnel¡¡management£»¡¡history£»¡¡literature£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡surprising¡¡number¡¡of¡¡geography¡¡books¡¡with¡¡sections¡¡highlighted¡¡in¡¡yellow¡¡and¡¡pink¡£
¡¡Terry£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡marked¡¡up¡¡his¡¡textbooks¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡way£»¡¡reflected¡¡how¡¡some¡¡things¡¡don't¡¡change¡¡about¡¡college¡¡students¡£¡¡Other¡¡books¡¡dealt¡¡with¡¡science£»¡¡specifically¡¡physics£»¡¡with¡¡titles¡¡like¡¡Quantum¡¡Theory£»¡¡The¡¡New¡¡Physics£»¡¡Physics¡¡in¡¡the¡¡New¡¡Age£»¡¡and¡¡Whatever¡¡Happened¡¡to¡¡Newton's¡¡Universe£¿¡¡There¡¡were¡¡books¡¡on¡¡magnetism£»¡¡superconductivity£»¡¡and¡¡nuclear¡¡fusion¡¡and¡¡fission¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡topic¡¡Kenny¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡like¡¡best¡¡was¡¡¡¨time¡£¡¨¡¡There¡¡were¡¡at¡¡least¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡books¡¡with¡¡the¡¡word¡¡time¡¡in¡¡the¡¡title¡£¡¡So¡¡what£¿¡¡Terry¡¡wondered¡£¡¡Now¡¡we¡¡know¡¡Kenny¡¡Randall¡¡likes¡¡to¡¡read¡¡books¡¡on¡¡management£»¡¡physics£»¡¡and¡¡time¡£¡¡That¡¡does¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡why¡¡a¡¡twenty¡year¡old¡¡college¡¡student¡¡held¡¡a¡¡group¡¡of¡¡strangers¡¡hostage¡¡in¡¡a¡¡cave¡£¡¡Nor¡¡does¡¡it¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡how¡¡a¡¡mountain¡¡ended¡¡up¡¡sitting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡I¡5¡£
¡¡Terry¡¡thought¡¡about¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡he'd¡¡been¡¡right¡¡in¡¡assuming¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡natural¡¡event¡£¡¡He¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡a¡¡book¡¡titled¡¡Unified¡¡Time¡¡Theory¡¡and¡¡thumbed¡¡it¡£¡¡Uneasy¡¡now£»¡¡he¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡remember¡¡what¡¡Kenny¡¡and¡¡his¡¡sister¡¡had¡¡said¡¡about¡¡things¡¡falling¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sky¡£¡¡But¡¡why¡¡books¡¡on¡¡time£¿¡¡Wouldn't¡¡the¡¡mountain¡¡be¡¡better¡¡explained¡¡with¡¡books¡¡on¡¡geology£¿
¡¡Bill¡¡was¡¡still¡¡working¡¡with¡¡Kenny's¡¡puter£»¡¡running¡¡programs¡£¡¡So¡¡Terry¡¡started¡¡looking¡¡through¡¡the¡¡books¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shelf¡¡above¡¡Kenny's¡¡desk¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡titles¡¡like¡¡Stranger¡¡Than¡¡Fact£»¡¡The¡¡Unknown£»¡¡and¡¡Science¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Unexplained¡£¡¡They¡¡reminded¡¡him¡¡of¡¡tabloids¡¡in¡¡grocery¡¡store¡¡racks£»¡¡pulp¡¡journals¡¡that¡¡mixed¡¡fact¡¡and¡¡fiction¡£¡¡Terry¡¡thumbed¡¡through¡¡Stranger¡¡Than¡¡Fact¡¡and¡¡found¡¡a¡¡chapter¡¡on¡¡ghosts£»¡¡describing¡¡how¡¡a¡¡man¡¡bought¡¡a¡¡house£»¡¡against¡¡the¡¡advice¡¡of¡¡his¡¡friends£»¡¡which¡¡supposedly¡¡had¡¡a¡¡haunted¡¡room¡£¡¡One¡¡night¡¡the¡¡man¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room¡¡and¡¡woke¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡night¡¡feeling¡¡someone's¡¡breath¡¡on¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡neck¡£¡¡He¡¡rolled¡¡over¡¡to¡¡find¡¡himself¡¡inches¡¡from¡¡the¡¡decaying¡¡face¡¡of¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡woman£»¡¡her¡¡fetid¡¡breath¡¡blowing¡¡into¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡Terrified£»¡¡the¡¡man¡¡ran¡¡into¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡pulling¡¡his¡¡hair¡¡out¡£
¡¡Other¡¡stories¡¡were¡¡similar£»¡¡and¡¡Terry¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡the¡¡book¡¡back¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡shelf¡¡when¡¡he¡¡noticed¡¡some¡¡pages¡¡were¡¡highlighted¡¡in¡¡pink¡£
¡¡For¡¡instance£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡section¡¡called¡¡¡¨Human¡¡Torches¡¨¡¡one¡¡story¡¡detailed¡¡how¡¡an¡¡old¡¡woman¡¡was¡¡found¡¡burned¡¡to¡¡death¡¡sitting¡¡in¡¡a¡¡chair¡¡in¡¡her¡¡room¡¡on¡¡February¡¡5£»¡¡1905¡£¡¡She¡¡and¡¡the¡¡chair¡¡were¡¡burned¡¡to¡¡crispy¡¡charcoal¡£¡¡The¡¡floor¡¡was¡¡charred¡¡around¡¡the¡¡woman's¡¡chair¡¡eighteen¡¡inches¡¡in¡¡all¡¡directions£»¡¡but¡¡beyond¡¡that¡¡the¡¡room¡¡was¡¡untouched£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡were¡¡free¡¡of¡¡soot¡£¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡did¡¡not¡¡smoke¡¡and¡¡the¡¡book¡¡described¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡case¡¡of¡¡spontaneous¡¡human¡¡bustion¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡other¡¡similar¡¡cases£»¡¡ranging¡¡from¡¡1725¡¡to¡¡1977¡£¡¡The¡¡last¡¡case¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡identical¡¡to¡¡the¡¡1905¡¡one¡a¡¡woman¡¡found¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡her¡¡television£»¡¡her¡¡body¡¡pletely¡¡consumed¡¡by¡¡a¡¡fire¡¡that¡¡left¡¡only¡¡the¡¡head¡¡and¡¡one¡¡foot¡£¡¡Nothing¡¡else¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room¡¡was¡¡burned¡£
¡¡Terry¡¡flipped¡¡through¡¡the¡¡book¡¡again¡¡to¡¡a¡¡chapter¡¡called¡¡¡¨Extinct£¿¡¨¡¡A¡¡highlighted¡¡section¡¡described¡¡a¡¡fish¡¡called¡¡a¡¡¡¨coelacanth¡¨¡¡caught¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fisherman's¡¡net¡¡off¡¡the¡¡coast¡¡of¡¡South¡¡America¡£¡¡The¡¡120¡pound¡¡armored¡¡fish¡¡was¡¡half¡fish¡¡and¡¡half¡land¡¡animal£»¡¡and¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡extinct¡¡for¡¡seventy¡five¡¡million¡¡years¡£
¡¡Terry¡¡flipped¡¡through¡¡the¡¡pages¡¡to¡¡other¡¡highlighted¡¡sections¡¡on¡¡Sasquatch¡¡sightings¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Pacific¡¡Northwest£»¡¡yeti¡¡sightings¡¡in¡¡Tibet£»¡¡and¡¡dinosaur¡¡sightings¡¡in¡¡Africa¡£¡¡A¡¡big¡¡section¡¡was¡¡devoted¡¡to¡¡things¡¡falling¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sky¡£¡¡Fish£»¡¡frogs£»¡¡seeds£»¡¡ice£»¡¡and¡¡rocks¡¡have¡¡fallen¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡blue¡¡sky¡¡and¡¡pelted¡¡people¡¡and¡¡homes¡£¡¡In¡¡Singapore¡¡on¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡of¡¡February¡¡16£»¡¡1861£»¡¡fish¡¡had¡¡poured¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Chinese¡¡and¡¡Malays¡¡had¡¡collected¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡pounds¡¡in¡¡baskets¡£¡¡Terry¡¡jumped¡¡over¡¡reports¡¡of¡¡fish¡¡falls¡¡in¡¡1920£»¡¡1941£»¡¡and¡¡1968¡¡to¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡report¡¡from¡¡Kamilla£»¡¡India£»¡¡in¡¡1975£»¡¡when¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡sardine¡size¡¡fish¡¡poured¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sky¡£¡¡In¡¡this¡¡report¡¡the¡¡fish¡¡were¡¡dried¡£
¡¡Probably¡¡the¡¡strangest¡¡story¡¡told¡¡of¡¡a¡¡group¡¡of¡¡archaeologists¡¡working¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Egyptian¡¡desert¡¡who¡¡were¡¡found¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shambles¡¡of¡¡their¡¡camp£»¡¡dead¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡been¡¡drowned¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡could¡¡explain¡¡how¡¡the¡¡archaeologists¡¡and¡¡their¡¡workers¡¡had¡¡drowned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡desert¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡no¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡foul¡¡play£»¡¡and¡¡obviously¡¡there¡¡wasn't¡¡enough¡¡water¡¡to¡¡drown¡¡in¡£
¡¡Terry¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡peculiarly¡¡attracted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stories¡¡in¡¡the¡¡book¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡the¡¡same¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡appeal¡¡that¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡people¡¡into¡¡freak¡¡shows¡¡for¡¡centuries£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡them¡¡to¡¡slasher¡¡movies¡¡today¡£¡¡The¡¡excitement¡¡wasn't¡¡in¡¡seeing¡¡someone¡¡merely¡¡killed£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡seeing¡¡someone¡¡killed¡¡in¡¡an¡¡unusual¡¡way¡£
¡¡Despite¡¡his¡¡affinity¡¡for¡¡the¡¡book¡¡and¡¡its¡¡stories£»¡¡Terry¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡the¡¡mon¡¡thread¡¡that¡¡tied¡¡the¡¡stories¡¡together¡£¡¡Spontaneous¡¡bustion£»¡¡Big¡¡Foot£»¡¡and¡¡prehistoric¡¡fish¡¡added¡¡up¡¡to¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡a¡¡waste¡¡of¡¡time¡£
¡¡Terry¡¡put¡¡the¡¡book¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shelf¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡through¡¡the¡¡stacks¡¡of¡¡papers¡¡and¡¡other¡¡books¡£¡¡An¡¡overstuffed¡¡file¡¡of¡¡newspaper¡¡clippings¡¡next¡¡to¡¡the¡¡puter¡¡told¡¡stories¡¡similar¡¡to¡¡those¡¡in¡¡the¡¡books¡¡on¡¡the¡¡shelf¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡was¡¡only¡¡two¡¡paragraphs¡¡long£»¡¡describing¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡walking¡¡down¡¡a¡¡street¡¡in¡¡Seattle¡£¡¡A¡¡man¡¡passed¡¡her¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other¡¡direction¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡¡¨whoosh¡¨¡¡and¡¡a¡¡¡¨pop¡¨¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡turned¡¡around¡¡the¡¡man¡¡was¡¡on¡¡fire¡£¡¡Not¡¡just¡¡flickering¡¡with¡¡flames£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡human¡¡torch¡¡that¡¡burned¡¡so¡¡hot¡¡the¡¡body¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡consumed¡£¡¡Terry¡¡immediately¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡old¡¡woman¡¡burned¡¡in¡¡her¡¡room£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡could¡¡not¡¡see¡¡the¡¡significance¡¡of¡¡these¡¡events¡£¡¡The¡¡next¡¡clipping¡¡was¡¡of¡¡an¡¡event¡¡in¡¡Hiroshima£»¡¡Japan¡£¡¡Several¡¡people¡¡in¡¡a¡¡park¡¡repotted¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡shower¡¡of¡¡flowers¡£¡¡Not¡¡just¡¡a¡¡few£»¡¡but¡¡thousands£»¡¡they¡¡fell¡¡in¡¡torrents£»¡¡burying¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡and¡¡a¡¡child¡£¡¡Something¡¡about¡¡the¡¡event¡¡suddenly¡¡tickled¡¡Terry's¡¡mind£»¡¡but¡¡Bill¡¡interrupted¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡can't¡¡make¡¡heads¡¡or¡¡tails¡¡out¡¡of¡¡this¡£¡¡Let's¡¡go¡£¡¨¡¡Terry¡¡started¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡door¡¡but¡¡Bill¡¡began¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡puter¡¡apart¡¡and¡¡putting¡¡the¡¡pieces¡¡into¡¡a¡¡puter¡¡pack¡the¡¡monitor£»¡¡the¡¡keyboard£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mouse¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡place¡¡for¡¡the¡¡hard¡¡drive£»¡¡so¡¡Bill¡¡stacked¡¡it¡¡on¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pack¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡noticed¡¡Terry¡¡watching¡£
¡¡¡¨Don't¡¡stand¡¡there£»¡¡Terry¡£¡¡Gather¡¡up¡¡anything¡¡and¡¡everything¡£¡¨
¡¡Not¡¡certain¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡resist¡¡Bill£»¡¡Terry¡¡gathered¡¡up¡¡the¡¡file¡¡folder¡¡with¡¡the¡¡clippings£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡books£»¡¡using¡¡Kenny's¡¡bedspread¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡sack¡£¡¡Bill¡¡followed¡¡his¡¡example£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡filled¡¡a¡¡bedspread£»¡¡a¡¡blanket£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡sheet¡£¡¡When¡¡Terry¡¡reached¡¡up¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡the¡¡books£»¡¡he¡¡noticed¡¡a¡¡jar¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shelf¡£¡¡He¡¡picked¡¡it¡¡up¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡full¡¡of¡¡dried¡¡corn¡£
¡¡When¡¡Terry¡¡and¡¡Bill¡¡left£»¡¡dragging¡¡their¡¡improvised¡¡bags¡¡behind¡¡them£»¡¡Terry£»¡¡guilt¡ridden£»¡¡knew¡¡Bill¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡they¡¡had¡¡acplished¡¡something£»¡¡but¡¡Terry¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡only¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡just¡¡burgled¡¡Kenny¡¡Randall's¡¡room¡£
¡¡As¡¡planned£»¡¡Angie¡¡and¡¡Ellen¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the¡¡coffee¡¡shop¡£¡¡Ellen's¡¡face¡¡told¡¡Terry¡¡something¡¡was¡¡wrong¡¡before¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡blurted¡¡it¡¡out¡£
¡¡¡¨We've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡get¡¡home£»¡¡Terry¡£¡¡We've¡¡got¡¡to¡¡find¡¡John¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨What¡¡is¡¡it£»¡¡Ellen£¿¡¡What's¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡John£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨Maybe¡¡nothing¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know£»¡¡but¡¡Portland¡¡is¡¡gone¡£¡¨
¡¡
¡¡24¡£¡¡¡¡ROGUES'¡¡GALLERY
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡was¡¡found¡¡on¡¡the¡¡piaza¡¡in¡¡Mexico¡¡City£»¡¡dressed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡resplendent¡¡uniform¡¡and¡¡carrying¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡gun¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡very¡¡confused¡¡and¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡Manila£»¡¡Philippines¡£¡¡He¡¡said¡¡he¡¡was¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡the¡¡governor's¡¡palace£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡he¡¡hod¡¡been¡¡posted¡¡that¡¡morning¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡later¡¡to¡¡confirm¡¡he¡¡was¡¡telling¡¡the¡¡truth¡£¡¡In¡¡what¡¡manner¡¡he¡¡was¡¡so¡¡instantly¡¡transported¡¡no¡¡one¡¡has¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡explain¡£
¡¡¡Mexico¡¡Gty£»¡¡October¡¡1593
¡¡
¡¡Washington£»¡¡D¡£C¡£
¡¡POSTQUILT£º¡¡SUNDAY£»¡¡1£º40¡¡P¡£M¡£¡¡¡¡EST
¡¡
¡¡¡¡Elizabeth's¡¡organizational¡¡instincts¡¡expanded¡¡well¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡President's¡¡needs£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no¡¡surprise¡¡to¡¡Nick¡¡when¡¡she¡¡presented¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡schedule¡¡of¡¡activities¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡only¡¡mildly¡¡irritated¡¡by¡¡Elizabeth's¡¡intrusion¡£¡¡Nick¡¡admitted¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡he¡¡was¡¡stumbling¡¡blindly¡£
¡¡He¡¡had¡¡accessed¡¡the¡¡PresNet£»¡¡the¡¡puter¡¡network¡¡of¡¡presidential¡¡science¡¡advisors¡£¡¡PresNet¡¡was¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Gogh's¡¡achievement¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡his¡¡strengths¡¡was¡¡in¡¡organization¡£¡¡He'd¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡negotiate¡¡an¡¡appropriation¡¡out¡¡of¡¡Congress¡¡to¡¡fund¡¡his¡¡dream¡£¡¡Using¡¡the¡¡prestige¡¡of¡¡the¡¡White¡¡House£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡money¡¡from¡¡Congress£»¡¡he'd¡¡recruited¡¡a¡¡far¡flung¡¡group¡¡of¡¡scientists¡¡from¡¡all¡¡disciplines¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡as¡¡the¡¡¡¨President's¡¡Science¡¡Advisor¡¡Associates¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡networked¡¡scientists¡¡received¡¡the¡¡prestige¡¡of¡¡being¡¡part¡¡of¡¡an¡¡elite¡¡group£»¡¡state¡of¡the¡art¡¡puter¡¡equipment£»¡¡and¡¡perceived¡¡access¡¡to¡¡the¡¡White¡¡House¡£¡¡More¡¡practically¡¡they¡¡received¡¡unlimited¡¡database¡¡access£»¡¡on¡line¡¡superputer¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡means¡¡to¡¡municate¡¡with¡¡colleagues¡¡across¡¡the¡¡country¡¡through¡¡the¡¡sophisticated¡¡puter¡¡network¡£
¡¡Nick¡¡guessed¡¡that¡¡Gogh¡¡never¡¡imagined¡¡the¡¡network¡¡would¡¡be¡¡used¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡Nick¡¡was¡¡using¡¡it¡£¡¡Unfortunately£»¡¡big¡¡chunks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡network¡¡were¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡those¡¡ing¡¡on¡line¡¡were¡¡seeking¡¡as¡¡much¡¡information¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡providing¡£
¡¡The¡¡few¡¡on¡¡the¡¡network¡¡reported¡¡that¡¡physical¡¡changes¡¡had¡¡been¡¡wrought£»¡¡apparently¡¡instantly£»¡¡in¡¡widespread¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡obvious¡¡connection¡£¡¡Nick¡¡had¡¡two¡¡assistants¡¡working¡¡on¡¡assessing¡¡the¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡affected¡¡acreage£»¡¡and¡¡once¡¡he¡¡had¡¡enough¡¡data£»¡¡patterns¡¡might¡¡present¡¡themselves£»¡¡and¡¡theories¡¡could¡¡be¡¡generated¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡idea¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡only¡¡pattern¡¡Nick¡¡could¡¡discern¡¡was¡¡no¡¡pattern¡£
¡¡There¡¡were¡¡now¡¡¡¨confirmed¡¨¡¡reports¡¡of¡¡changes¡¡in¡¡other¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡including¡¡Russia¡£¡¡Cannon¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡over¡¡these¡¡new¡¡reports¡¡with¡¡a¡¡note¡¡emphasizing¡¡that¡¡¡¨only¡¡confirmed¡¡reports¡¡were¡¡reliable¡¡and¡¡only¡¡these¡¡reports¡¡should¡¡be¡¡shared¡¡with¡¡the¡¡President¡£¡¨¡¡Nick¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡criteria¡¡the¡¡CIA¡¡used¡¡to¡¡decide¡¡if¡¡a¡¡report¡¡was¡¡¡¨confirmed¡¨£¿¡¡Three¡¡reliable¡¡witnesses¡¡£¿¡¡Ten¡¡£¿¡¡Did¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡CIA¡¡agent¡¡£¿¡¡N¡¡ick¡¡also¡¡had¡¡a¡¡copy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡administration's¡¡policy¡¡on¡¡leaking¡¡information¡¡and¡¡an¡¡admonition¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡Security¡¡Council¡¡discussions¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡The¡¡note¡¡ended¡¡with¡¡Cannon's¡¡scrawled¡¡signature¡¡and¡¡a¡¡handwritten¡¡note¡¡stating£»¡¡¡¨we¡¡still¡¡have¡¡no¡¡confirmed¡¡reports¡¡of¡¡dinosaurs¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡schedule¡¡Elizabeth¡¡imposed¡¡on¡¡Nick¡¡was¡¡grueling¡£¡¡She¡¡checked¡¡with¡¡Nick¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a¡¡solution¡¡to¡¡the¡¡problem¡¡yet£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡scheduled¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡interviews¡¡for¡¡him¡¡with¡¡people¡¡who¡¡claimed¡¡to¡¡know¡¡what¡¡was¡¡going¡¡on¡£¡¡The¡¡list¡¡included¡¡three¡¡psychics¡¡who¡¡had¡¡predicted¡¡cataclysmic¡¡events£»¡¡two¡¡religious¡¡fanatics¡¡from¡¡cults¡¡that¡¡preached¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡arrested¡¡in¡¡fro