按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Nearly everything Coop did irritated Chief Peters。 For example； the way Coop talked。 〃Fiscal underachievers〃 were poor people； 〃non…goal…oriented members of society〃 were street people； and 〃transients〃 referred to anyone who ran into trouble with the law but didn't live in the city。 Coop once sent a letter to the editor of the local newspaper plaining of 〃fiscal advanced downward adjustments〃 in the police department and 〃downsizing personnel。〃 Peters wondered how many readers knew he was talking about budget cuts and layoffs。 There was even an officer who swore on a Bible he heard Coop refer to a pencil as a 〃portable hand…held munications inscriber。〃 Peters doubted the story。 Still； with Coop you never knew for sure。
〃It is imperative； Chief； that we plan for such a contingent upsizing of personnel。 We don't want to make last…minute hasty decisions that might be regretted later。 We need to do some thinking now； establish a line of ascension； and stick to it when the time es。〃
〃Any ideas； Coop； on who should be on the hiring list？〃
〃Chief； you know I got more experience and know…how than any other reserve officer。 I've paid my own way through three special training schools； done extra duty； why I even learned how to type。 I'm not expecting anything in return for all this； you understand； I'm just pointing out my qualifications。〃
Coop's resume was interrupted with an ear…shattering noise that shook the restaurant； knocking the copper skillet on the wall behind the cashier's counter to the floor。 The windows rattled； and startled gasps came from the other two customers。
〃What the hell？〃 Coop said； with a half…grin on his face。 〃I do believe we just experienced an unauthorized sonic excess。〃
If it was a sonic boom； the jet must have broken the sound barrier right over the town。 Chief Peters walked outside to look around； with Coop following。 The sky was clear directly overhead and filled with stars。 Any jet would have already disappeared； so he didn't expect to see one。 He looked up and down the main street to find nothing unusual except house lights blinking on here and there。
〃Look at that； Chief；〃
Peters turned to follow Coop's pointing finger。 West of town； there was a boiling mass of clouds shooting thousands of feet up into the air； as if buffeted by strong winds。 Peters had never seen anything like it。。 Something had whipped the sky into a frothing madness。 As they watched； lightning flashes added to the show； quickly followed by the boom of thunder。 Soon they moved back into the restaurant。
〃What do you think caused that； Chief； a little ultimate high…intensity warfare？〃
Peters knew 〃ultimate high…intensity warfare〃 meant nuclear war to Coop。
〃I hope not；〃 Peters said。
Coop was clearly disappointed。
POSTQUILT
16。 THE PRESIDENT
！t is the ability to successfully draw on the experience of others； as well as their own； that distinguishes great leaders。 However； once faced with something outside human experience； they bee ordinary with surprising rapidity。
…Carl stock； Decision Makers
Washington； D。C。
POSTQUILT： SUNDAY； 4：37 A。M。 EST
President Scott McIntyre was shaken to consciousness by a secret service agent and his chief of staff。 McIntyre knew instantly that it was serious。 As chief of staff； Elizabeth Hawthorne had the authority to decide what needed the president's immediate attention and what could wait。 Elizabeth believed a rested President was the best kind to make important decisions； so for her no emergency required waking the President。 Even when two terrorist bombs went off in New York City and the terrorists demanded the release of political prisoners； she let the President sleep and wake to a fully briefed staff ready for a crisis meeting。 When a Russian bomber and an American chase plane collided off the coast of South Carolina； he again awoke to a meeting of an already summoned Security Council。 So； if Elizabeth Hawthorne was waking him； it must he serious。 He dressed quickly。
Elizabeth was in the Oval Office with Colonel Winfield； the President's special military advisor。 The President was amazed at how both of them looked well rested and well pressed。 Colonel Winfield's uniform was stiff and smooth； as if it had never been worn； his graying temples neatly bed； and his dark face shaved clean and smooth。 Elizabeth was just as well groomed。 How the two of them could wake in the middle of the night and pull themselves together so quickly the President couldn't understand。 Elizabeth at least had the advantage of age。 She was still in her thirties； but Colonel Winfield was well into his fifties and managed the same trick。 To look presidential； McIntyre pulled himself erect as he walked into the room。
All the lights were on； including the green shaded reading light on his desk。 Still the room looked dark to the President； perhaps because of the dark windows behind the desk。 Why is it； the President thought； that the dark of morning is different than the dark of night？
He sat behind his desk； picked up a paper clip and twisted it into a miniature crank； which he would fiddle with all through the meeting。 The paper clip signaled he was ready and Elizabeth began。
〃Something has happened 。 。 。 something strange。〃
That was all she said。 The President looked at her with surprise。 Elizabeth Hawthorne at a loss for words？ She and Colonel Winfield exchanged glances； but neither spoke。
〃What has happened？〃 he prompted。 〃Have the Russians invaded the Baltic states？ Did California shake into the sea？ Have I been impeached？〃
〃Parts of the country have 。。。 are 。。。 experiencing munication disruptions； blackouts； and there have been some disappearances；〃 Elizabeth said。
〃Disappearances？ Who has disappeared？〃
〃It's not a matter of who 。 。 。 well； I don't mean to overlook the human dimension but 。 。 。 Mr。 President； it appears that a large section of New York City has disappeared。〃
President McIntyre was baffled。
〃What do you mean 'disappeared'？ I can understand devastated； or vaporized； or flooded； but what the hell does disappeared mean？〃
〃It means； Mr。 President； that where there were buildings； streets； cars； and people； there is now nothing；〃
〃Nothing？ Nothing means an absence of anything 。 。 。 a void。〃
〃What Ms。 Hawthorne means； sir；〃 Colonel Winfield cut in； 〃is where there was a city； there is now countryside。〃
The President sat back in his desk chair； reclining。 He was considering the possibility of a practical joke； but Elizabeth was humorless。 President Mcintyre had never heard her utter anything more than a polite courtesy chuckle now and then。 But if this wasn't a joke； then what？ Cities don't disappear； at least they never had。
〃I'm still having trouble understanding this 。。。 a section of New York City is now devoid of buildings and streets 。 。 。 and people 。 。 。 and is now farmland； or something？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 Colonel Winfield said； 〃and the rest of the city is blacked out。 The reports are unofficial； but they do seem to he consistent。 Inbound mercial flights to Kennedy International have been rerouted 。 。 。 and at least one aircraft has been lost。 Kennedy International is gone…we've confirmed it with our own flyover。〃
The President was lost in thought； thinking about what Colonel Winfield was saying。 The paper clip in his hands slowed its twirl to a near stop。 From experience Elizabeth and the colonel knew not to interrupt； the President processed slowly but thoroughly。 Finally the paper clip picked up speed and the President looked up。
〃You said 'parts of the country' and 'disappearances。' You used the plural； didn't you？〃
Elizabeth stood and walked over to the President's desk。
〃Mr。 President； there are similar reports from other regions of the country。 Blackouts； tornadoes； sonic booms； and sudden disappearances of roads and even whole towns。 We don't know how widespread it is； but it is not an isolated incident。〃
〃Colonel Winfield； I want flyovers of as many areas as possible and satellite reconnaissance if you can get it； I've got to see this for myself。 If the military hasn't gone to full alert then it should immediately。 I want a full intelligence briefing at the staff meetin