jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第52章

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　War　would　kill　the　most　for　a　while；　but　without　facilities　for　exports；　medicines；　and　imported　food；　disease　and　famine　would　soon　displace　war。　Peoples　dependent　on　U。N。　feeding　stations　would　soon　find　them　empty；　and　regions　battling　famine　would　face　new　horrors。　A　new　order　would　eventually　displace　chaos…political　maps　would　be　drastically　rewritten。　But　the　new　order　would　be　different；　for　it　would　include　the　new　wildlife。
　
　Washington；　D。C。
　POSTQUILT：　TUESDAY；　10：35　EST　
　　
　　The　President　put　down　his　reading　and　leaned　back；　staring　at　the　ceiling。　So　many　bizarre　reports　had　left　him　numb　to　new　horrors。　The　report　on　his　lap　summarized　the　situation　in　South　America。　Elizabeth　kept　insisting　a　worldwide　catastrophe　opened　possibilities　a　President　couldn't　ignore；　but　his　interest　was　in　the　domestic　situation。　Agreeing　finally　to　read　the　summaries；　he　read　with　one　part　of　his　mind　while　the　rest　worried　about　Sandy。　The　Secret　Service　had　lost　touch　with　the　first　lady's　escorts；　and　although　he　knew　they　were　working　frantically　to　reestablish　contact；　every　second　without　word　turned　his　hope　to　despair。
　The　President　turned　back　to　the　report。　It　described　an　incident　in　Argentina　near　La　Plata　where　a　herd　of　cattle　was　attacked　by　an　〃unknown　carnivore。〃　A　rancher　and　his　son　were　killed　trying　to　drive　off　the　beast…killed　and　eaten。　The　locals　fled；　and　the　army　was　called　in　to　kill　the　animal；　which　so　far　had　eluded　them。
　There　were　dozens　of　detailed　stories　like　that　one；　as　well　as　general　descriptions　of　disappearing　dams；　avalanches；　and　missing　cities。　Power　outages　were　widespread　in　Argentina；　Chile；　and　Brazil；　and　virtually　no　news　was　ing　from　the　rest　of　the　continent。　The　reports　were　identical　to　what　had　happened　in　his　own　country　and　only　reinforced　his　feelings　of　helplessness。
　Arnie　Gogh　knocked　at　the　open　door。
　〃Hello；　Arnie。　e　on　in。　I　need　the　relief　from　these　reports。　It's　as　bad　everywhere　else　as　it　is　in　our　country。　None　of　our　allies　escaped。〃
　〃I　know；　Scotty。　I'm　afraid　I　didn't　e　to　make　things　easier　for　you。〃
　〃Sit　down。　Let's　get　it　over　with。〃
　〃First；　we　have　an　unusual　request。　Are　you　familiar　with　our　antarctic　research　station？　There　are　about　two　hundred　personnel　at　the　site。　When　the　。　。　。　it　happened；　they　found　their　camp　sitting　next　to　a　tropical　jungle。　It's　a　familiar　story；　but　it　had　to　be　particularly　stunning　in　a　barren　landscape　like　Antarctica。　They　went　exploring；　naturally；　and　soon　ran　into　something　pretty　nasty。　They　lost　a　couple　of　personnel。　They　retreated　to　camp　to　prepare　themselves　better；　but　it　turned　out　to　be　unnecessary。　The　dinosaurs…which　we　can　assume　they　are…were　sluggish　and　stuporous。　They　were　freezing　to　death　and　soon　most　of　them　slipped　into　a　state　like　hibernation。　Being　enterprising　scientists；　and　not　knowing　the　same　thing　had　happened　all　over　the　world；　they　began　capturing　the　dinosaurs　and　dragged　them　to　their　port。　They　want　to　ship　them　to　a　warmer　climate。〃
　The　President　was　exhausted　from　worry　over　his　wife；　and　the　survival　of　his　country；　and　had　little　patience　for　a　group　of　eggheads　trying　to　save　dinosaurs。
　〃Arnie；　we　don't　need　any　more　dinosaurs。　If　half　of　these　reports　are　true　。　。　。〃　the　President　said　without　finishing。
　〃I　know。　I　know。　But　it's　a　bit　more　plicated　than　it　seems。　There's　a　political　side　to　this。　What　if　things　turn　out　to　be　better　than　we　thought？　What　if　we　can　reverse　this？　Then　what　will　people　think　if　we　let　these　dinosaurs　die？〃
　〃Arnie；　do　we　need　dinosaurs？〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　〃No。　There's　no　niche　for　them　in　the　ecosystem。　I　can't　imagine　any　of　the　developing　countries　will　want　to　deal　with　them；　and　I　have　no　idea　where　they　could　be　kept　in　our　country。　But　that's　not　the　point。　If　we　let　the　dinosaurs　in　Antarctica　die；　and　they　could　have　been　mating　pairs　for　dinosaurs　elsewhere；　then　the　environmental　lobby　will　blame　us。　Better　to　let　the　antarctic　scientists　risk　their　lives　trying　to　save　them。　We　can　always　shoot　them　later。〃
　The　President　hated　politics　and　political　thinking；　but　Arnie　Gogh　was　good　at　it；　and　he　always　found　his　judgment　reliable。
　〃What's　the　downside　of　this　decision；　Arnie？〃
　〃When　those　dinosaurs　warm　up　on　that　ship　they　could　be　uncontrollable。　There　could　be　personnel　losses；　Scotty。　But　given　the　losses　nationwide　the　losses　on　the　ship　would　be　insignificant。〃
　Amie's　cold　analysis　was　disturbing；　but　correct。　The　President　had　little　to　lose　by　letting　them　try　to　save　the　dinosaurs；　and　there　was　some　potential　for　political　gain。　〃These　dinosaurs　could　be　vegetarians；　right？〃
　〃They　could　be。　They　didn't　specify。　That's　quite　useful；　now　that　I　think　about　it。　If　something　does　go　wrong　then　we　can　always　claim　we　didn't　know　they　were　going　to　move　carnivores。〃
　〃All　right。　Give　them　permission；　but　don't　bring　them　here。〃
　〃I　already　have　a　port　in　Panama　picked　out。　It's　a　good　climate　for　dinosaurs。〃
　The　President　watched　Gogh　as　he　made　a　notation　on　the　outside　of　the　folder　he　was　carrying。　When　he　was　done　he　sat　silently。　The　President　appreciated　his　old　friend's　pany。　The　two　of　them　had　been　friends　since　their　first　university　days；　and　even　when　Arnie　had　been　forced　to　resign　the　President　had　retained　his　respect　for　him。　But　Arnie　wasn't　sitting　there　for　the　pany；　there　was　something　else　on　his　mind。
　〃What　is　it；　Arnie？　News　about　Sandy。〃
　Amie　averted　his　eyes　when　he　spoke；　〃Atlanta　is　gone；　and　Sandy　with　it。　We　haven't　given　up　yet；　but　there's　no　place　to　look　for　her…the　city　isn't　there。〃
　The　President　turned　and　looked　out　the　window；　and　twirled　a　paper　clip　crank。　After　a　minute　he　turned　back　and　said；　〃What　did　you　think　of　Dr。　Paulson's　theory？〃
　〃Highly　improbable…no　foundation。〃
　〃What　else　do　we　have；　Arnie？　I　want　Sandy　back…I　need　Sandy　back。　Will　you　look　at　his　idea；　for　my　sake？〃
　〃I've　looked　at　it。〃
　〃I　mean　really　look　at　it。〃　The　President　leaned　forward　and　put　the　paper　clip　down。　〃Arnie；　I　know　how　badly　it　hurt　to　lose　your　position　here。　You　and　I…we　worked　half　our　lives　to　get　here。　It　wasn't　fair　to　you　to　lose　it　all　just　because　of　one　mistake。〃　The　President　paused　as　Arnie　shifted　in　his　chair　unfortably。　〃Arnie；　look　at　the　theory。　See　if　you　can　find　some　way　to　get　Sandy　back。　If　you'll　do　this；　I'll　name　you　science　advisor　again…or　any　job　you　want。〃
　Arnie's　face　was　impassive；　but　his　pupils　dilated。
　〃I　can't　promise…〃　he　began。
　〃Just　do　your　best。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　The　President　picked　up　his　report　and　then　dropped　it　and　reached　for　a　new　paper　clip。　Quickly　absorbed；　he　never　saw　his　friend　leave。
　
　43。　　　UNFINISHED　BUSINESS
　
　This　is　what　the　sovereign　Lord　says：　When　I　make　you　a　desolate　city；　like　cities　no　longer　inhabited；　and　when　I　bring　the　ocean　depths　over　you　and　its　vast　waters　cover　you；　then　I　will　bring　you　down　with　those　who　go　down　to　the　pit；　to　the　people　of　long　ago　。　。　。　You　will　be　sought；　but　you　will　never　again　be　found。
　…Ezekial　26：19…21
　
　Washington；　D。C。
　POSTQUILT：　TUESDAY；　11：15　A。M。　　EST
　
　　Speaking　to　the　Security　Council　had　terrified　Terry。　He　considered　himself　a　good　counselor　on　a　one…to…one　basis；　and　good　with　small　groups　of　parents　or　teachers；　but　he　was　never　fortable　as　a　public　speaker。　And　nothing　in　his　experience　had　prepared　him　to　speak　to　the　movers　and　the　shakers　of　government。　Now　he　realized　he'd　made　the　last　meaningful　contribution　he　could　make　in　Washington；　It　was　time　to　call　in　Bill's　promise　and　get　to　his　son。
　As　they　left　the　White　House　in　the　vanv　Terry　turned　to　Bill　and　said　simply；　〃It's　time。〃　Bill　turned　his　face　to　the　window　and　watched　the　buildings　race　by；　then　leaned　forward　to　whisper　in　the　driver's　ear。
　Terry　sank　back　into　his　seat　and　reexamined　his　decisions。　He　had　been　only　minimally　helpful　with　Kenny　Randall。　Of　course　he　couldn't　have　known　that　when　he　decided　to　e；　but　in　retrospect；　Ellen　had　been　right。
　
　Nick　was　exchanging　information　on　the　PresNet　when　Elizabeth　Hawthorne　appeared　at　his　door。　It　wasn't　like　Elizabeth　to　show　up　without　an　appointment。　She　was　carrying　a　bright　blue　file　folder　filled　to　overflowing　and　leaned　against　the　doorway　trying　to　act　casual。　Unfortunately；　〃casual〃　was　not　in　her　vocabulary　of　body　language。　However；　she　spoke　with　characteristic　bluntness。
　〃They're　going　to　blame　the　Russians　for　this。〃
　〃Excuse　me？〃
　〃You　said　that　it　takes　bombs　of　a　certain　megatonnage　to　produce　the　effect。　They're　putting　together　a　press　release　claiming　only　the　old　Soviet　Union　detonated　enough　of　these　bombs　often　enough　to　produce　the　effect。〃
　Nick　didn't　know　how　to　respond。　Politicians　specialized　in　covering　their　asses；　so　why　should　this　case　be　any　different；　and　why　would　Elizabeth　bring　this　piece　of　news　to　him？　Did　Elizabeth　care　who　got　blamed　for　the　disaster？　Did　she　think　Nick　could　do　something　about　it？
　〃It's　not　true；　Elizabeth。　Either　everyone　involved　in　nuclear　testing　is　to　blame；　or　no　one　is。〃
　Elizabeth　nodded　and　finally　entered　the　room；　walking　closer　to　Nick　and　watching　the　messages　scrolling　across　his　puter　screen。
　After　another　full　minute　she　stopped　reading　the　messages　and　turned　to　leave。
　〃Oh；　is　that　psychologist　still　around？〃
　〃Dr。　Roberts？　No；　he　left　with　Colonel　Conrad　after　the　meeting。〃
　Elizabeth's　face　showed　just　a　hint　of　disappointment。　Then　she　took　the　blue　folder　out　from　under　her　arm　and　handed　it　to　Nick。
　〃These　are　the　satellite　photos　you　wanted。〃
　As　she　walked　out　the　door　Nick　began　to　understand　what　had　happened。　The　satellite　photos　normally　would　have　been　delivered　by　a　staff　member。　Elizabeth；　Nick　realized；　had　actually　e　to　ask　about　Dr。　Roberts。　Why　would　Elizabeth　Hawthorne　want　a　psychologist？　It　seemed　so　unlikely。　Elizabeth　Hawthorne's　life　had　focused　on　getting　and　exercising　power。　She　thrived　on　crisis　management。　But　if　Elizabeth　did　not　want　to　see　the　psychologist　for　herself；　then　who？　The　President？　Nick　thought　back　to　the　Security　Council　meeting。　He　had　noted　a　change　in　the　President。　He　still　functioned；　he　ran　the　meeting；　with　Elizabeth's　whispered　help；　but　he　seemed　uncharacteristically　single…minded。　He　wanted　to　know　what　had　happened　and　what　could　be　done　about　it。　Still；　wouldn't　any　President　respond　the　same　way？
　Nick　pushed　his　concerns　about　the　President　to　the　back　of　his　mind　and　opened　the　folder。　The　top　photo　was　from　Landsat　of　the　North　American　continent；　zoomed　in　on　the　United　States。　The　continent　looked　like　a　quilt。　Contrasting　topological　colors　were　sprinkled　from　the　East　Coast　to　the　West　Coast；　and　the　sprinkling　continued　into　the　sections　of　both　Canada　and　Mexico　that　were　visible　on　the　photo。　Other　photos　showed　similar　effects　in　both　eastern　and　western　Europe。　There　were　no　photos　of　the　Southern　Hemisphere；　but　Nick　had　no　doubt　the　effect　was　worldwide。
　Deeper　into　the　pile　of　photos　and　analysis　reports；　he　found　a　photo　taken　off　the　Florida　coast。　An　attached　report　noted　that　a　tidal　wave　had　washed　over　part　of　Florida's　gulf　coast。　The　photo　of　the　ocean　showed　mass