jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第71章
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…Zorastrus； Prophet of Babylon
The developed countries； self…absorbed with their own suffering； offered little to the Third World。 With only basic transportation and munication networks； Third World countries were thought to have suffered less； but what they had was essential； and the loss of dams； power generators； phones； bridges； and population was devastating。 Life on the farms went on virtually； untouched； but the overcrowded and undercivilized cities that suffered from the effect were plunged into darkness and anarchy。 Separatists； liberation armies ； and the politically disaffected seized the opportunity； and war spread。 Ethnic cleansing quickly became a norm； as peace…keeping forces were withdrawn to see to the needs of their home countries。
Without the support and resources of their patrons in the developed world； governments fell and civil war spread like wildfire。 Soon； even the cities and regions untouched by the effect were infected with the spreading disorder。
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 terrifie
