wt.theyearofthequietsun-第8章
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aboard； the Pacific seaboard； the Gulf Coast from Tampa to Brownsville； the southern shores of all the Great Lakes； and the full lengths of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers。 But he knew serious misgivings about those Lakes belts。 The water levels in the Lakes had been rising steadily since the beginning of the twentieth century； and the ing flooding and erosion…bined with heavier populations…would create problems of catastrophic proportions in those areas。
Major Moresby broke the silence。 〃We will be expected to confirm all this； after all。〃
〃Yes； sir。 Careful observations are desired for each of the three target dates； but the greater amount of work will fall upon Mr。 Chaney。 His projections will need to be verthed or modified。〃
Chaney； with surprise： 〃Three？ Aren't we going up together？ Going to the same target？〃
〃No； sir； that would be wasteful。 The schedule calls for three individual surveys on carefully separated dates； each at least a year apart to obtain a better overall view。 You will each travel separately to your predetermined date。〃
〃The people up there will sneer at our clothes。〃
〃The people up there should be too preoccupied to notice you； unless you call attention to yourself。〃
〃Oh？ What will preoccupy them？〃
〃They will be preoccupied with themselves and their problems。 You haven't spent much time in American cities of late； have you； Mr。 Chaney？ Didn't you notice that the trains you rode into and out of Chicago were armored trains？〃
〃Yes； I noticed that。 The Israeli newspapers did publish some American news。 I read about the curfews。 The people of the future won't notice our cameras and recorders？〃
〃We sincerely hope not。 All would be undone if the present demand for privacy is projected into the turn of the century； if that present demand is intensified。〃
Chaney said： 〃I'm on their side； I enjoy privacy。〃
The woman continued。 〃And of course； we don't know what status your instruments may have at that future date； we don't know if cameras and recorders will be permissible in public； nor can we guess at the efficiency of the police。 You may be handicapped。〃 She glanced at Saltus。 〃The mander will teach you to work surreptitiously。〃
Saltus： 〃I will？〃
〃Yes； sir。 You must devise a technique for pleting that part of the assignment without discovery。 The cameras are very small； but you must find a way to conceal them and still operate them properly。〃
〃Katrina； do you really think it'll be illegal to take a picture of a pretty girl on a street corner？〃
〃We do not know the future； mander； the survey will inform us what is and is not legal。 But whatever the technique； you must photograph a number of objects and persons for a period of time without others being aware of what you are doing。〃
〃For how long a period of time？〃
〃For as long as possible； for as long as you are in the field and your supply of film lasts； The emphasis is on depth； mander。 A survey in depth； to determine the accuracy of the Indic projections。 Ideally； you would be in the field several days and expose every roll of film and every reel of tape you are carrying； you would record every object of major interest you might see； and as many lesser objects as time allowed。 You would penetrate the field safely； acplish all objectives； and withdraw without haste at a time of your choosing。〃 A shadow of a smile。 〃But more realistically； the ideal is seldom attained。 Therefore you will go in； record all you are able； and retreat when it bees necessary。 We will hope for the maximum and have to be content with the minimum。〃
Chaney turned in the chair。 〃You make this sound like a dangerous thing。〃
〃It could be dangerous； Mr。 Chaney。 What you will be doing has never before been done。 We can offer you no firm guidelines for procedure； field technique； or your own safety。 We will equip you as best we can； brief you to the fullest extent of our present knowledge； and send you in on your own。〃
〃We're to report everything we find up there？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃I only hope Seabrooke has anticipated public reaction。 He's headed for a rift within the lute。〃
〃Sir？〃
〃I suspect he's headed for trouble。 A large part of the public will raise unholy hell when they find out about the TDV…when they find out what lies twenty years ahead of them。 There's … something in that Indic report to scare everybody。〃
Kathryn van Hise shook her head。 〃The public will not be informed； Mr。 Chaney。 This project and our future programs are and will remain secret； the tapes and films will be restricted and the missions will not be publicized。 Please remember that all of you have security clearances and are under oath and penalty。 Keep silent。 President Meeks has ruled that knowledge of this operation is not in the public interest。〃
Chaney said： 〃Secret； and self…contained； and solitary as an oyster。〃
Saltus opened his mouth to laugh when the engineers pushed their rig into a vacuum。 The lights dimmed。
The massive rubber band snapped painfully against their eardrums； or it may have been a mallet； or a hammer； driven under cruel pressure into a block of pressed air。 The thing made a noise of impact； then sighed as if it rebounded in slow motion through thick liquid。 The sound hurt。 Three faces turned together to watch the clock。
Chaney contented himself with watching their faces rather than the clock。 He guessed another monkey was riding the vehicle into somewhere； somewhen。 Perhaps the animal bore a label： Restricted and was under orders not to talk。 The President had ruled his trip was not in the public interest。
FOUR
Brian Chaney awoke with the guilty feeling that he was tardy again。 The Major would never forgive him。
He sat on the side of the bed and listened carefully for tell…tale sounds within the building； but none were audible。 The station seemed unusually quiet。 His room was a small one； a single unit sparsely furnished； in a double row of identical rooms fitted into a former army barracks。 The partitions were thin and appeared to have been cheaply and hastily erected； the ceiling was less than three feet above his head…and he was a tall man。 Larger mon rooms at either end of the only corridor contained the showers and toilets； The place bore an unmistakable military stamp； as though troops had moved out the day before he moved in。
Perhaps they had done just that； perhaps troops were now riding those armored trains serving Chicago and Saint Louis。 Without armored siding； a passenger train seldom could traverse Chicago's south side without every window in every car being broken by stones or gunfire。
Chaney opened his door and peered into the corridor。 It was empty； but recognizable sounds from the two rooms opposite his brought a measure of relief。 In one of the rooms someone was opening and closing bureau drawers in frustrated search of something； in the other room the occupant was snoring。 Chaney picked up a towel and his shaving kit and went to the showers。 The snoring was audible all the way down the corridor。
The cold water was cold but the hot water was only a few degrees warmer…barely enough to feel a difference。 Chaney came out of the shower； wrapped a towel about his middle and began rubbing lather on his face。
〃Stop！〃 Arthur Saltus was in the doorway； pointing an accusatory finger。 〃Put down the razor； civilian。〃
Startled； Chaney dropped the razor into the bowl of tepid water。 〃Good morning； mander。〃 He recovered his wits and the razor to begin the shave。 〃Why？〃
〃Secret orders came in the middle of the night；〃 Saltus declared。 〃All the people of the future wear long beards； like old Abe Lincoln。 We must be in character。〃
〃Nudists with bushy beards；〃 Chaney mented。 〃That must be quite a sight。〃 He kept on shaving。
〃Well； you bit hard yesterday； civilian。〃 Saltus put an exploratory hand under the shower and turned on the water。 He had anticipated the result。 〃This hasn't changed since boot camp；〃 he told Chaney。 〃Every barracks is allotted ten gallons of hot water。 The first man in uses it all。〃
〃I thought this was a barracks。〃
〃This building？ It must have been at one t
