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message we want to hear._
"There are alternatives, Mr. President. We can take action against the bogeys,
both in Australia and Death Valley," Harry said.
"They're isolated," Schwartz said. "The political repercussions...almost nil.
Even if we fail."
"We can't simply do nothing," Arthur said.
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"We can do nothing effective, truly," Crockerman said. "I think it would be
cruel to raise false hopes."
"More cruel to dash all hope, Mr. President," Schwartz said. "Are you going to
close the banks and stock exchanges?"
"It's being seriously considered."
"Why? To preserve the economy? With the end of the world in sight?"
"To keep calm, to maintain dignity. To keep people at their jobs and in their
homes."
Hicks's face was flushed now. "This is insanity, Mr. President," he said. "I
am not a citizen of the United States, but I cannot imagine a man in your
office...with your power and responsibility..." He waved his hands helplessly
and stood. "I can assure you the British will not react so mildly."
_Ganging up on him,_ Arthur thought. _Still can't see her face._
Crockerman opened the folder marked DIRNSA. He pulled out a group of
photographs in Mylar envelopes and spread them on the table. "I don't think
you've seen the latest from the Puzzle Palace," he said. "Our NSA people have
been very busy. The National Reconnaissance Office has compared Earth
satellite photographs from the last eighteen months for almost all areas of
the globe. I believe you initiated this search, Arthur."
"Yes, sir."
"They've found an anomaly in the Mongolian People's Republic. Something that
wasn't there a year ago. It looks like a huge boulder." He gently pushed the
photographs at Schwartz, who examined them and passed them on to Arthur.
Arthur compared three key photographs, beautiful computer-enhanced
abstractions of blue-gray, brown, red, and ivory. A white circle about an inch
wide surrounded a bean-shaped black spot in one photograph. In two earlier,
otherwise practically identical photos, the black spot was absent.
"That makes a triad," Crockerman said. "All in remote areas."
"Have the aliens talked with the Mongolians, the Russians?" Arthur asked. The
Mongolian People's Republic, despite a fiction of autonomy, was controlled by
the Russians.
"Nobody knows yet," the President said. "If there are three, there could
easily be more."
"What sort of...mechanism do you envisage them using?" Harry asked. "You and
Mr. Ormandy."
"We have no idea. We do not second-guess the agents of supreme power. Do you?"
"I'm willing to try," Harry said.
"Will you disband the task force?" Arthur asked.
"No. I'd like you -to keep on studying, keep asking questions. I am still
capable of admitting we might be wrong. Neither Mr. Ormandy nor I are
fanatics. We must talk with the Russians, and the Australians, and urge
cooperation."
"Can we ask you to postpone your speech, Mr. President?" Schwartz asked.
"Until we are more sure of our position?"
"You already have almost two months. I do not know to the day when the speech
will be delivered, Irwin. But once it becomes clear to me when I must speak,
it will not be postponed. I must go with my convictions. Ultimately, that's
what this office is all about."
The four of them stood in the hallway outside, their half hour concluded,
clutching copies of the NSA report.
"Fat lot of good my being here did," Harry said.
"I'm sorry, gentlemen," Schwartz said.
"He's going to be very effective on television," Hicks said. "He almost
convinces me."
"You know the worst of it?" Arthur asked as they left through a rear door,
Schwartz following them out to their cars. "He's not crazy."
"Neither are we," Schwartz said
An hour after they left the White House, Hicks, Arthur, and Feinman ate lunch
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at Yugo's, a steak and rib restaurant favored by those in the know, despite
its location in one of Washington's less decorative neighborhoods. They ate in
silence, Hicks finishing his plate while Arthur and Harry barely picked at
theirs. Harry had ordered a salad, a wilted and blue-cheese-overloaded
mistake.
"We've done everything we can," Arthur said. Harry shrugged.
"What next, then?" Hicks asked. "Carry on scientists?"
"We haven't been shut down," Harry said.
"You've just been ignored by your Chief Executive," Hicks commented dryly.
"You've always been the odd man out here, haven't you?" Harry said. "Now you
know how we feel. But at least we had a definite niche to fill."
"A role to play in the grand comedy," Hicks said.
Harry began to bristle but Arthur touched his arm. "He's right." Harry nodded
reluctantly.
"So begins phase two," Arthur said. "I'd like for you to join us in a larger
effort." He stared at Hicks.
"Outside the White House?"
"Yes."
"You've made plans."
"My plans take me back to Los Angeles, and nowhere else," Harry said.
"Harry will consult," Arthur said. "Presidents' minds can be changed any
number of ways. If the direct approach doesn't work..." He smoothed his
fingers across the granite-patterned Formica tabletop with a squeak. "We work
at a grass-roots level."
"The President's a shoo-in, as you say..." Hicks reminded.
"There are ways of removing standing presidents. I think, once he makes his
speech "
Harry sighed. "Do you realize how long impeachment and a trial would take?"
"Once he makes his speech," Arthur continued, "all of us at this table are
going to be in big demand on the media circuit. Trevor, your book is going to
be the hottest thing in publishing...And we're all going to be on talk shows,
news interviews, around the world. We can do our best..."
"Against the President? He's a very popular figure," Hicks said.
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