jdavid.footprintsofthunder-µÚ77ÕÂ
°´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£¡
dy¡¡like¡¡the¡¡moon¡¡could¡¡be¡¡passed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡future¡¡to¡¡the¡¡present¡£¡¡Changes¡¡from¡¡internal¡¡events£»¡¡like¡¡moonquakes¡£¡¡Changes¡¡from¡¡celestial¡¡events£»¡¡like¡¡meteorite¡¡impact¡£¡¡Or¡¡man¡made¡¡change¡£¡¡Puglisi¡¡and¡¡Chen¡Slater¡¡found¡¡only¡¡the¡¡third¡¡kind¡£
¡¡Nick¡¡leaned¡¡back¡¡over¡¡the¡¡photo¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡he¡¡hadn't¡¡imagined¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡crater¡£¡¡A¡¡rectangular¡¡structure£»¡¡so¡¡symmetrical¡¡and¡¡sharp¡edged¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡confusing¡¡it¡¡with¡¡natural¡¡phenomena¡£¡¡Something¡¡from¡¡the¡¡future¡¡was¡¡now¡¡on¡¡the¡¡moon¡£¡¡What¡¡could¡¡it¡¡be£¿¡¡Nick¡¡wondered£»¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡racing¡¡through¡¡endless¡¡possibilities¡£¡¡Most¡¡likely£»¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡it's¡¡part¡¡of¡¡a¡¡permanent¡¡moon¡¡base¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡the¡¡future¡¡we¡¡would¡¡know¡¡the¡¡time¡¡displacement¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡occur¡£¡¡Knowing¡¡that£»¡¡wouldn't¡¡we¡¡take¡¡steps¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡a¡¡base¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡constructed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡location¡¡to¡¡be¡¡displaced£¿¡¡Or¡¡at¡¡least¡¡built¡¡under¡¡the¡¡surface£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡doesn't¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡carry£¿¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡it¡¡could¡¡be¡¡from¡¡such¡¡a¡¡far¡¡future¡¡that¡¡civilization¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡its¡¡collective¡¡memory¡¡for¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡civilization¡¡collapses£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡again¡£¡¡Or¡¡perhaps¡¡the¡¡structure¡¡was¡¡placed¡¡there¡¡deliberately¡¡to¡¡travel¡¡to¡¡the¡¡past¡to¡¡Nick's¡¡present£¿¡¡Would¡¡future¡¡scientists¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡predict¡¡the¡¡time¡¡displacement¡¡that¡¡accurately£¿
¡¡A¡¡knock¡¡interrupted¡¡his¡¡thoughts£»¡¡irritating¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨e¡¡in£¡¡¨
¡¡Elizabeth¡¡came¡¡through¡¡again£»¡¡this¡¡time¡¡acpanied¡¡by¡¡Samuel¡¡Cannon¡£¡¡Nick¡¡had¡¡exchanged¡¡pleasantries¡¡with¡¡the¡¡CIA¡¡director¡¡on¡¡occasion£»¡¡but¡¡never¡¡had¡¡closer¡¡contact¡£¡¡He¡¡and¡¡Elizabeth¡¡pulled¡¡chairs¡¡up¡¡close¡¡to¡¡Nick's¡¡desk¡¡and¡¡leaned¡¡forward£»¡¡talking¡¡in¡¡low¡¡voices¡£¡¡As¡¡usual¡¡Elizabeth's¡¡face¡¡was¡¡impassive£»¡¡but¡¡Cannon's¡¡look¡¡told¡¡Nick¡¡this¡¡meeting¡¡would¡¡be¡¡all¡¡business¡£¡¡With¡¡her¡¡usual¡¡bluntness£»¡¡Elizabeth¡¡jumped¡¡right¡¡to¡¡the¡¡problem¡£
¡¡¡¨Nick£»¡¡the¡¡President¡¡is¡¡going¡¡ahead¡¡with¡¡Gogh's¡¡plan¡£¡¡The¡¡cruise¡¡missiles¡¡have¡¡been¡¡armed¡¡and¡¡the¡¡terrain¡¡mapped¡£¡¡They¡¡are¡¡going¡¡to¡¡launch¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡timing¡¡is¡¡right¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨What¡¡about¡¡the¡¡site¡¡selection£¿¡¡Aren't¡¡they¡¡going¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Security¡¡Council¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡sites£¿¡¨
¡¡Elizabeth¡¡and¡¡Samuel¡¡Cannon¡¡exchanged¡¡glances£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡Cannon¡¡answered¡¡in¡¡a¡¡subdued¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨There¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡considered¡£¡¡The¡¡site¡¡has¡¡been¡¡selected¡£¡¡It's¡¡the¡¡Portland¡¡site¡£¡¡They¡¡can't¡¡confirm¡¡the¡¡dinosaur¡¡report¡¡in¡¡Alaska£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡glacier¡¡site¡¡is¡¡too¡¡near¡¡the¡¡Canadian¡¡border¡£¡¡Besides£»¡¡the¡¡glacier¡¡might¡¡be¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Ice¡¡Age¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡no¡¡way¡¡of¡¡knowing¡£¡¨
¡¡Nick¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡he¡¡meant¡£¡¡Everything¡¡suggested¡¡the¡¡time¡¡displacements¡¡were¡¡all¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Cretaceous¡¡period£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡the¡¡glacier¡¡was¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Ice¡¡Age¡¡there¡¡might¡¡be¡¡people¡¡somewhere¡¡there¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡unlikely¡¡that¡¡killing¡¡them¡¡would¡¡alter¡¡the¡¡present£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡it¡¡did¡¡who¡¡would¡¡know£¿¡¡Nick¡¡understood¡¡the¡¡danger£»¡¡however¡£¡¡Severing¡¡a¡¡lifeline¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡past¡¡would¡¡kill¡¡all¡¡succeeding¡¡generations¡£¡¡Who¡¡might¡¡be¡¡eliminated¡¡from¡¡history¡¡by¡¡such¡¡an¡¡act£¿¡¡While¡¡you¡¡might¡¡want¡¡to¡¡eliminate¡¡Hitler¡¡or¡¡Stalin£»¡¡you¡¡would¡¡also¡¡risk¡¡Jesus£»¡¡Gandhi£»¡¡and¡¡Einstein¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡you¡¡killed¡¡Einstein£»¡¡would¡¡we¡¡have¡¡nuclear¡¡weapons¡¡at¡¡all£¿¡¡Perhaps¡¡Hitler¡¡would¡¡have¡¡developed¡¡them¡¡first¡¡and¡¡won¡¡World¡¡War¡¡II¡£¡¡And¡¡if¡¡we¡¡didn't¡¡have¡¡the¡¡bomb£»¡¡how¡¡could¡¡we¡¡drop¡¡it¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡Einstein¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£¿¡¡Nick's¡¡mind¡¡reeled¡¡for¡¡the¡¡second¡¡time¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡£¡¡He¡¡understood¡¡why¡¡they¡¡were¡¡avoiding¡¡the¡¡Alaskan¡¡site¡still£»¡¡risking¡¡the¡¡population¡¡of¡¡Portland¡¡for¡¡an¡¡untested¡¡theory¡¡was¡¡immoral¡£
¡¡¡¨But¡¡Portland¡¡is¡¡a¡¡city¡£¡¡Can't¡¡you¡¡convince¡¡the¡¡President¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡confirmation¡¡on¡¡the¡¡glacier¡¡site£¿¡¨¡¡Nick¡¡argued¡£
¡¡¡¨Nick£»¡¡the¡¡President¡¡is¡¡only¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡Gogh¡£¡¡Gogh¡¡is¡¡telling¡¡him¡¡what¡¡he¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡hear£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡he¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡is¡¡that¡¡he¡¡can¡¡get¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡back¡£¡¡Nick£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡this¡¡will¡¡work¡this¡¡bomb¡¡theory£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨I've¡¡been¡¡monitoring¡¡the¡¡debate¡¡over¡¡Gomez's¡Gogh's¡¡theory£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡one¡¡in¡¡ten¡¡physicists¡¡support¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡are¡¡suggesting¡¡modifications¡¡or¡¡outright¡¡doubt¡¡about¡¡its¡¡validity¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡is¡¡supporting¡¡Gogh's¡¡idea¡¡that¡¡simultaneous¡¡nuclear¡¡detonations¡¡will¡¡return¡¡things¡¡to¡¡normal¡£¡¡It's¡¡also¡¡not¡¡clear¡¡that¡¡the¡¡explosions¡¡will¡¡actually¡¡take¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past¡£¡¡Those¡¡bombs¡¡could¡¡be¡¡delivered¡¡to¡¡our¡¡present¡£¡¨
¡¡Elizabeth¡¡exchanged¡¡glances¡¡with¡¡Cannon¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡she¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡an¡¡encouraging¡¡look£»¡¡he¡¡nodded¡¡reluctantly¡£¡¡¡¨There's¡¡something¡¡else¡¡you¡¡should¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡Cannon¡¡continued¡£¡¡¡¨This¡¡is¡¡classified£»¡¡you¡¡understand£¿¡¡We¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡team¡¡into¡¡Atlanta¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡locate¡¡and¡¡recover¡¡the¡¡first¡¡lady¡£¡¡They¡¡never¡¡came¡¡back¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨What£¿¡¡How¡¡did¡¡you¡¡do¡¡it£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨The¡¡first¡¡attempt¡¡was¡¡an¡¡air¡¡drop¡£¡¡We¡¡sent¡¡up¡¡an¡¡aircraft¡¡that¡¡orbited¡¡the¡¡Atlanta¡¡site¡¡until¡¡they¡¡got¡¡a¡¡good¡¡solid¡¡image¡¡of¡¡the¡¡city¡¡below¡¡them¡£¡¡Then¡¡they¡¡parachuted¡¡in¡£¡¡We¡¡monitored¡¡the¡¡descent¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡and¡¡from¡¡the¡¡aircraft¡£¡¡Everything¡¡went¡¡normal£»¡¡their¡¡chutes¡¡opened¡¡and¡¡they¡¡descended¡¡into¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡city¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡again¡¡and¡¡we¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡from¡¡them¡£¡¡We've¡¡been¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡contact¡¡them¡¡ever¡¡since¡£¡¨
¡¡Nick's¡¡concern¡¡made¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡quaver¡£¡¡¡¨Sorry¡¡about¡¡your¡¡men£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡could¡¡partially¡¡support¡¡Gogh's¡¡theory¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡deliver¡¡the¡¡warheads¡¡when¡¡the¡¡past¡¡is¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡present¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡then¡¡the¡¡warheads¡¡may¡¡go¡¡off¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡but¡¡of¡¡course¡¡that¡¡would¡¡be¡¡in¡¡this¡¡present¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡or¡¡would¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡He¡¡berated¡¡himself¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡only¡¡confused¡¡them¡¡and¡¡embarrassed¡¡himself¡£¡¡Changing¡¡the¡¡subject£»¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡about¡¡the¡¡other¡¡incident¡£
¡¡¡¨The¡¡ground¡¡team¡¡monitoring¡¡the¡¡drop¡¡had¡¡a¡¡good¡¡vantage¡¡point¡¡and¡¡reported¡¡that¡¡as¡¡the¡¡parachutists¡¡dropped¡¡into¡¡the¡¡city¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡fuzzy¡¡transparent¡¡look¡¡the¡¡city¡¡has¡£¡¡The¡¡crazy¡¡thing¡¡is¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡team¡¡reported¡¡that¡¡from¡¡their¡¡vantage¡¡point¡¡the¡¡city¡¡appeared¡¡off¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡aerial¡¡shots¡¡showed¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡team's¡¡position¡¡as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡Since¡¡we¡¡had¡¡radio¡¡contact¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡team£»¡¡we¡¡sent¡¡them¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡the¡¡effect¡Atlanta¡and¡¡told¡¡them¡¡to¡¡maintain¡¡radio¡¡contact¡£¡¡We¡¡had¡¡positive¡¡contact¡¡until£»¡¡suddenly£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡gone¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨We¡¡get¡¡nothing¡¡now£»¡¨¡¡Elizabeth¡¡added£»¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡uncharacteristically¡¡tremulous¡£
¡¡Nick¡¡was¡¡puzzled¡£¡¡Dinosaurs£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡ankylosaur¡¡in¡¡Montreal£»¡¡were¡¡ing¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡displaced¡¡segments¡¡into¡¡Nick's¡¡present£»¡¡but¡¡apparently¡¡the¡¡people¡¡from¡¡the¡¡present¡¡made¡¡only¡¡a¡¡one¡way¡¡trip¡£¡¡Nick¡¡wondered¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡dinosaurs¡¡could¡¡go¡¡back¡£¡¡Could¡¡movement¡¡be¡¡only¡¡from¡¡past¡¡to¡¡the¡¡future£¿¡¡That¡¡would¡¡be¡¡consistent¡¡with¡¡time's¡¡arrow¡£¡¡If¡¡so£»¡¡then¡¡was¡¡Atlanta¡¡displaced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡future£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡that¡¡why¡¡Cannon's¡¡people¡¡could¡¡not¡¡e¡¡back£¿¡¡But¡¡what¡¡of¡¡inanimate¡¡objects£¿¡¡Would¡¡they¡¡have¡¡the¡¡same¡¡restrictions£¿¡¡Probably£»¡¡Nick¡¡realized¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡in¡¡terms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡human¡¡disruption¡¡that¡¡could¡¡occur¡¡if¡¡one¡¡traveled¡¡to¡¡his¡¡or¡¡her¡¡own¡¡past¡£
¡¡Like¡¡most¡¡people£»¡¡Nick¡¡was¡¡psychologically¡¡unwilling¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡one¡¡sense¡¡people¡¡were¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡organized¡¡chemicals¡£¡¡Would¡¡chemicals¡¡from¡¡the¡¡future¡¡meeting¡¡themselves¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past¡¡cause¡¡disruption£¿¡¡Not¡¡likely£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡the¡¡disruption¡¡occurred¡¡in¡¡a¡¡forward¡¡direction£»¡¡then¡¡Gogh's¡¡bombs¡¡could¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡into¡¡the¡¡future¡£¡¡That¡¡is£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡was¡¡not¡¡disrupted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡blast¡£¡¡He¡¡resisted¡¡speculating¡¡out¡¡loud¡¡again¡£¡¡Elizabeth¡¡and¡¡Cannon¡¡came¡¡to¡¡him¡¡for¡¡his¡¡expertise¡£¡¡It's¡¡disquieting¡¡to¡¡people¡¡when¡¡experts¡¡act¡¡human¡£
¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡put¡¡this¡¡information¡¡on¡¡PresNet¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡someone¡¡can¡¡make¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡When¡¡Elizabeth¡¡and¡¡Cannon¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡wanted¡¡more£»¡¡Nick¡¡wasn't¡¡sure¡¡what¡¡to¡¡give¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¨This¡¡means¡¡the¡¡timing¡¡is¡¡crucial£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡the¡¡bombs¡¡are¡¡delivered¡¡when¡¡the¡¡present¡¡is¡present£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡bombs¡¡will¡¡go¡¡off¡¡over¡¡Portland¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡past¡¡is¡¡present£»¡¡then¡¡everything¡¡in¡¡the¡¡present¡¡will¡¡be¡¡intact¡£¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡the¡¡past¡¡will¡¡be¡¡incinerated¡£¡¨
¡¡Nick¡¡meant¡¡it¡¡to¡¡be¡¡reassuring¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡he¡¡could¡¡do¡£¡¡And¡¡apparently¡¡Cannon¡¡and¡¡Elizabeth¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡their¡¡influence¡£¡¡What¡¡Nick¡¡needed¡¡was¡¡sweet¡¡lemon¡¡rationalization¡£¡¡No¡¡matter¡¡how¡¡sour¡¡things¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡he¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡him¡¡the¡¡rest£»¡¡Sam¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨The¡¡timing¡¡is¡¡the¡¡problem¡£¡¡Gogh¡¡thinks¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡will¡¡be¡¡disrupted£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡isn't¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡the¡¡oute¡£¡¡He¡¡thinks¡¡each¡¡segment¡¡will¡¡return¡¡to¡¡its¡¡own¡¡time£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡admits¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡the¡¡explosions¡¡will¡¡freeze¡¡the¡¡displaced¡¡sections¡¡in¡¡whatever¡¡time¡¡they¡¡are¡¡in¡£¡¡The¡¡problem¡¡is¡¡the¡¡oscillations¡¡for¡¡various¡¡locations¡¡are¡¡different¡£¡¨
¡¡Nick¡¡saw¡¡where¡¡Cannon¡¡was¡¡going£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡horrible¡¡thought¡¡formed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡Cannon¡¡had¡¡been¡¡looking¡¡Nick¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eye¡but¡¡now¡¡Nick's¡¡expression¡¡made¡¡the¡¡CIA¡¡director¡¡drop¡¡his¡¡head¡¡to¡¡study¡¡his¡¡shoes¡£
¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡Cannon£»¡¡have¡¡they¡¡timed¡¡the¡¡oscillations¡¡in¡¡Portland£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨They're¡¡working¡¡on¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡data¡¡from¡¡out¡¡west¡¡is¡¡ing¡¡in¡¡slow¡£¡¡It¡¡won't¡¡matter¡¡though¡£¡¡They're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡use¡¡the¡¡Atlanta¡¡oscillations¡¡for¡¡the¡¡timing¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨They¡¡can't¡¡do¡¡that¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨The¡¡President¡¡can£»¡¡and¡¡he's¡¡ordered¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨They¡¡could¡¡kill¡¡everyone¡¡in¡¡Portland¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Elizabeth¡¡and¡¡I¡¡argued¡¡that¡£¡¡The¡¡President¡¡sees¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡lesser¡¡of¡¡two¡¡evils¡£¡¡Lose¡¡everyone¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡affected¡¡locations£»¡¡or¡¡risk¡¡the¡¡residents¡¡of¡¡Portland¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨He¡¡could¡¡minimize¡¡the¡¡risk¡¡by¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡the¡¡oscillation¡¡analysis¡£¡¨
¡¡Cannon¡¡had¡¡no¡¡heart¡¡for¡¡arguing¡¡the¡¡President's¡¡position¡¡and¡¡slumped¡¡back¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chair£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡Elizabeth¡¡leaned¡¡forward¡£
¡¡¡¨This¡¡isn't¡¡about¡¡saving¡¡anyone¡¡but¡¡the¡¡President's¡¡wife£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡¡urgently¡£¡¡¡¨He's¡¡going¡¡to¡¡time¡¡the¡¡blast¡¡to¡¡freeze¡¡Atlanta¡¡in¡¡the¡¡present¡£¡¡We¡¡think¡¡it's¡¡a¡¡mistake¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨It¡¡is£»¡¡it's¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡mistake¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨We¡¡want¡¡you¡¡to¡¡e¡¡with¡¡us¡£¡¡We're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡the¡¡President¡¡one¡¡more¡¡time¡£¡¡We¡¡need¡¡you¡¡to¡¡handle¡¡Gogh¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡President¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Oval¡¡office£»¡¡his¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡desk£»¡¡staring¡¡out¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡his¡¡fingers¡¡involuntarily¡¡twirling¡¡a¡¡paper¡¡clip¡£¡¡Gogh¡¡and¡¡Natalie¡¡Matsuda¡¡were¡¡there¡¡too¡£¡¡As¡¡usual£»¡¡Elizabeth¡¡ignored¡¡them¡¡and¡¡took¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡meeting¡£
¡¡¡¨Mr¡£¡¡President£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡need¡¡to¡¡reconsider¡¡this¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡bomb¡¡Portland¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡President¡¡whirled¡¡around¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡the¡¡paper¡¡clip¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡desktop£»¡¡it¡¡bounced¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡at¡¡Elizabeth's¡¡feet¡£
¡¡¡¨Elizabeth£»¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you¡¡before£»¡¡we're¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡bomb¡¡Portland£¡¡¡We're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡detonate¡¡nuclear¡¡explosions¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡past¡¡to¡¡return¡¡things¡¡to¡¡normal¡£¡¡If¡¡it¡¡works£»¡¡and¡¡I'm¡¡confident¡¡that¡¡it¡¡will£»¡¡Portland£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡other¡¡city¡¡in¡¡this¡¡country¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡and¡¡everywhere¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡will¡¡return¡¡to¡¡normal¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡President¡¡spoke¡¡with¡¡venom¡£
¡¡¡¨A¡¡decision¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡made£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡made¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡longer¡¡we¡¡wait¡¡the¡¡less¡¡chance¡¡there¡¡will¡¡be¡¡of¡¡it¡¡working¡£¡¡Isn't¡¡that¡¡right£»¡¡Arnie£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¨The¡¡effect¡¡is¡¡stabilizing£»¡¨¡¡Gogh¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡we¡¡don't¡¡act¡¡soon£»¡¡we¡¡may¡¡lose¡¡our¡¡only¡¡opportunity¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨What¡¡about¡¡the¡¡timing£¿¡¨¡¡Nick¡¡cut¡¡in¡£¡¡¡¨How¡¡will¡¡you¡¡time¡¡the¡¡blast£¿¡¨¡¡The¡¡question¡¡reduced¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡President's¡¡selfrighteousness£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡deferred¡¡to¡¡Gogh¡£
¡¡¡¨We¡¡are¡¡timing¡¡the¡¡explosions¡¡with¡¡the¡¡most¡¡accurate¡¡data¡¡available£»¡¨¡¡Gogh¡¡said¡¡crisply¡£
¡¡¡¨Portland¡¡data£»¡¨¡¡Nick¡¡offered¡£
¡¡¡¨That¡¡is¡¡not¡¡available¡£¡¡The¡¡best¡¡available¡¡data¡¡is¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Southeast¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨From¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡£¿¡¨¡¡Nick¡¡prodded¡£
¡¡¡¨From¡¡Atlanta£¡¡¨¡¡the¡¡President¡¡roared¡£¡¡¡¨Is¡¡that¡¡what¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡hear£¿¡¡I¡¡ordered¡¡it£»¡¡I'll¡¡live¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨People¡¡may¡¡die¡¡with¡¡it£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡I've¡¡been¡¡monitoring¡¡the¡¡debate¡¡over¡¡Gogh's¡¡plan¡¡on¡¡the¡¡PresNet¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡support¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡President¡¡sank¡¡back¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chair¡¡and¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡another¡¡paper¡¡clip¡£
¡¡¡¨There¡¡is¡¡debate£»¡¡I¡¡know¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡else¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨We're¡¡only¡¡asking¡¡you¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡a¡¡little¡¡longer¡£¡¡Data¡¡are¡¡ing¡¡in¡¡rapidly¡¡now¡£¡¡We¡¡might¡¡get¡¡the¡¡timing¡¡information¡¡you¡¡need¡£¡¨
¡¡The¡¡President¡¡didn't¡¡answer¡¡and¡¡wouldn't¡¡look¡¡Nick¡¡in¡¡the¡¡eye¡£¡¡Nick¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡Gog