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lions of dollars in prop…erty； not to mention the cost of rebuilding。 This country already has more debt than most of the rest of the world bined。 How will we rebuild from this？ You see； Dr。 Paulson； I am thinking of the human factor。 The human factor on a worldwide scale。〃
〃Mr。 President…〃 Nick began； but found himself cut off by the President。
〃We've considered the risks； Dr。 Paulson； as well as safety and other issues。〃 The President motioned for Gogh to continue； then picked up a paper clip and began twisting it into a shape he could twirl。
Gogh returned to his presentation with a new air of confidence and self…importance。 〃As the President indicated we have considered the consequences of this action and have taken steps to reduce risk。 First； we must select a displaced segment suitable to our needs。 The potential detonation sites are limited by several factors。 They must be U。S。 territory and must not require an overflight of another country to reach the site。 We have too little time to pursue diplomatic channels for overflight permission。 Second； the site should be located as far west as possible。 The effect spread from the east to the west； so there will be more instability in a western site。〃
The east…to…west spread was a new idea to Nick。 He hadn't seen that on the PresNetr and Gomez had not mentioned it。 Did the idea originate with Gogh？
〃Third； since the detonation will take place in our past it must be in an era that will not disrupt our present。 So far all the confirmed data suggests the displaced segments are from the Cretaceous period； but we can't be sure of all。 Some could be from more recent time periods and possibly even the future。〃
〃Dr。 Gogh；〃 Nick interrupted； 〃what do you mean the detonations will take place in our past？〃
〃We will select a displaced segment that is clearly not from the future； or the near past。〃
〃But all these segments are in the present now。〃
〃When the bombs go off they will return to the past。〃
〃What do you base that prediction on？〃
〃I've been in consultation with colleagues who agree that a new ripple could return the time segments back to where they came from。 Therefore； the explosions will take place in the past and remain in the past； and not affect our present。〃
〃Isn't it more accurate to say that your colleagues agree that time displacement is likely to occur again； but they are not sure whether the displaced segments will return to their own time or whether new displacement will occur？〃
〃There is some disagreement； yes。 However； it is a course of action with little or no risk and the potential of great gain。〃
〃No risk to you 。 。 。 to us 。。。 only if you're right about the detonations taking place in the past。 But what about whoever is at ground zero？〃
〃No one will be at ground zero。 Perhaps some animals； yes； but unless you're a radical antivivisectionist I can't believe you would exchange the lives of a few animals for millions of people。〃
Gogh's last sentence was spoken as if from a pulpit。 The President's eyes looked glassy and he seemed to be uninterested in the discussion； as if he'd expected some disagreement and was letting it run its course。 Elizabeth looked encouragingly at Nick； so he took another approach。
〃It won't work。 You won't be able to identify enough identical time periods to drop the bombs into。 Besides； even if you could； the time displacement would end up taking place sometime in our future and past； depending on how far apart the detonations are at the various sites。〃
〃True。 That is why we intend to detonate all the bombs in the same displacement at the same time。 The simultaneous explosions will create the effect immediately。〃
〃Immediately in our past〃 Nick corrected。
〃Yes； but with immediate effects in our present。〃
〃On what do you base that conclusion？〃
〃On an improved version of a theory you endorsed just a short time ago。〃
The President's loud slap on the table broke the exchange。 〃Dr。 Paulson； there is no place for professional jealousy in my administration。 You will receive appropriate credit for your contribution to solving our problem； but don't attack Dr。 Gogh for taking your idea a step further than you were able to yourself。 I asked for solutions and I got nothing from anyone except Arnie。 You had your chance。 Now unless you have something constructive to contribute I suggest we move on。〃
〃Mr。 President； perhaps no one offered a solution because there is no solution。〃
〃That's defeatist。 Let's move on。〃
〃This won't bring your wife back； sir。〃
〃I said move on！〃
Tears filled the President's eyes and Nick regretted mentioning Sandy。 He knew if he pushed it any further now he would risk losing his seat at the Security Council and his chance to influence the oute。
The rest of the meeting was a discussion of possible detonation sites。 The one chosen could not have any evidence of human presence； or any signs of civilization。 They did not want to risk killing people from the past； since that might set off a chain of events that would alter the present。 Since munication across the country was disrupted； they had very little information to work with； and as a result the list of potential sites was small。 There was an Alaskan site southeast of Nome described as having sparse vegetation。 It was on the list because of unconfirmed reports that a pack of dinosaurs was attacking a herd of elk there。
The second site was in northeastern Washington； where a huge glacier now covered parts of Washington； Idaho； and Canada。 However； the detonation site was unfortably near the Canadian border。 The third site was what had been Portland； Oregon。 Gogh announced that they were expecting aerial photos any minute to confirm the eyewitness reports； but so far it appeared to be a displacement populated by dinosaurs。
The discussion moved on to the preparation efforts。 The military was using overflights of the potential sites to develop the bit maps that would guide the cruise missiles to their target area。 Since the missiles would be launched by both ships and B…l bombers and would have to travel different distances over a variety of terrain； timing would be tricky and need highly accurate maps。
Nick felt dazed。 His mind had not switched over to the practical side of the plan； he couldn't get the image of one hundred bombs going off at once out of his mind。
Nick paled at the thought of the impact on any site； but especially Portland。 Bombing uninhabited sections of Alaska or eastern Washington was horrifying； but the thought of its effect on a metropolitan area sickened him。 Abruptly； he decided to risk expulsion from the council and broke in at the first pause。
〃Since the sites are unstable； sometimes they are the present and sometimes the past。 How will you be sure to deliver the bombs to the past？〃
Gogh smiled at the question。 Clearly he had thought of this and prepared an answer。
〃The missiles are terrain guided。 They will be programmed with the terrain from the past。 If they do not identify the terrain as matching their program they will not arm their warheads。 Instead； the missiles will harmlessly pass over the site；〃 Gogh said； and then swept his audience with his eyes。 〃Thus guaranteeing the detonations will occur in the past。〃
Nick conceded to himself that it could work。 Still； from what he knew of the programming of cruise missiles Gogh wasn't telling the whole story。
〃Dr。 Gogh； isn't it true that under bat conditions cruise missiles often arrive at their target after previous attacks have significantly altered the terrain？〃
Gogh looked at Nick suspiciously； as if he knew where Nick was leading him。
〃Can you tell the council how the missile's programming handles that contingency？〃 Nick continued。
He glared at Nick； leaving unfortable silence in the room。 Finally； Dr。 Gogh answered in a monotone。 〃When the missile nears its termination point； and the terrain ceases to match the digitized map； the missile can exercise an option to use the last confirmed position to estimate distance and direction to target。〃
Many of those at the table began murmuring； but Nick wanted to make sure everyone knew full well what Gogh's missiles would do。
〃In other words