Quantum Touch (Book 3): Shadow Storm

by Michael R. Stern

  “That would be great. I told George I would try to get all the teachers lined up in the next week or so.”

  “What about a meeting for volunteers. Say next Wednesday after classes.”

  “That works for me. Thanks, Liz. We'll talk more during the week.”

  LINDA WAITED at the back door and hugged him when he walked in. “Hi honey, I'm home. What's up?” He read the look on her face to mean she had news.

  “Two things. Ash will be home Saturday. He wants you to call, but he didn't want to bother you at school.” Her smile expanded, and the hug tightened. “Also, today was the doctor's appointment that we couldn't schedule so both of us could make it. Everything's great.”

  “I wasn't worried, but I am relieved. And we need to talk about how much time I should take off. George wants to know.”

  “We can talk about it later. In the meantime, call Ash.”

  Ash said he and Jane would be flying back with the president, who wanted to see Fritz.

  “How are you?” Fritz asked. “Do you want me to do anything?”

  “Yeah, if you wouldn't mind. Would you take my dog for a walk?”

  Fritz's loud snort startled Linda. Ashley didn't have a dog. Ashley was okay, making Fritz happier than he had been in a while. Ashley said, “I know you guys will be very pregnant, but I'm coming for Thanksgiving.”

  “Maybe. I'm not sure we want a live turkey. Do you feel like teaching when you get back? Should I call George?”

  “Already did. I'm taking the week off. But there's no food in the fridge, so Jane and I will be guests at the Russell house for dinner all week.”

  “Hold on. Lin, did he tell you he and Jane were coming for dinner everyday? They seem to be incapable of shopping.”

  Linda grinned. “You didn't think he would cook, did you?” Raising her voice so Ashley could hear, she said “You know he's a freeloader. Tell him there's a service charge.”

  NOT LONG AFTER Fritz hung up, his phone rang. The president said he wanted to meet with him, just the two of them. Fritz looked at Linda. She said, “Tell him lasagna.”

  “Mr. President, how about dinner? We can talk alone in the family room. Lasagna.”

  “I was hoping. But I don't want to give Linda extra work.”

  “It seems she's had a heads up from Ash. The lasagna's already done. So I'll see you then.”

  “Thanks, Fritz.” That thanks contained a lot of different meanings.

  HIS CLASSES WERE STILL ahead of schedule, which was great if he were going to be gone for a while. Fritz read the seniors' script between classes. On lunch duty, Al told Fritz that the football game had been a struggle for him. “I had a hard time paying attention. But the kids were more aware of the game than any time I can remember. It was uncanny. Johnny had four touchdowns, but maybe that wasn't uncanny. He's amazing.” Al leaned in and whispered, “I wish we had more time to talk, Fritz. I'd really like to talk more about our adventure.” Fritz appreciated Al's discretion in his choice of words. “Did you really meet Robert E. Lee?”

  Fritz said, “We met him the day after he surrendered. I've been to see him a few times since. Yeah, it really happened.”

  “What's he like?” Al's question bordered on awe.

  “Not now, Al. Sorry. He's very smart about things other than military strategy and tactics. And curious about us. You and I can talk later. Okay?”

  “I have to say, this is the most exciting thing I've ever been part of.”

  “You should be in my shoes.”

  BEFORE He could get out the door, Liz Chambers gave Fritz an update. She'd sent email to the history department and expected everyone to take part. If he wanted to get home, she said, he had better leave quickly. A lot of teachers might stop by to ask about the tournament.

  Fritz thanked her and headed for the door. As Liz had predicted, three teachers were heading for his classroom. Waddling down the hall, hitching his pants to keep them up, Joe Rosenberg said, “Fritz, wait a minute.”

  “I'll take care of this,” said Liz.

  “Thanks, Liz.” He called down the hall. “Can't talk now, Joe. I'm going to set up a meeting about the tournament. George or I will send email. Sorry. See you tomorrow.” Liz walked to the teachers like a fullback so Fritz could escape.

  Chapter 17

  FRITZ GOT his regular Saturday errands done early and rushed home to help Linda. He found her at the kitchen table with Ashley and Jane. And the president.

  “Hi, Fritz. Want a soda?” the president asked, barely holding in a laugh.

  “Yeah, that would be great.” He chuckled. “Glad to see you all.” Pleased he hadn't dawdled at the book store, he asked if Linda needed help.

  “No, thanks. We have it all under control. The president knows his way around a kitchen. He made the salad.”

  “Cool.” Fritz said. “Mr. President, how's Tom?”

  “Doing much better. He's flying to Washington with me later. He'll be out of commission for a while, but at least he'll be home.”

  Fritz joined them at the table. “Fritz, I know I said I wanted to talk to you alone, but I think we can talk here. First, I want to thank you, and you, Ashley, and of course, Jane, for your quick thinking. Linda, you can't imagine my surprise when Fritz said, 'time to go' from inside his helmet.”

  “But your conference didn't end up too well,” Fritz said.

  “Actually, it may be that I can turn this to lemonade. Leaders everywhere are more eager to develop a serious plan to end these constant wars in the Middle East. I think we've reached a tipping point. Public opinion, worldwide, reflects that.”

  “It certainly can't happen soon enough,” Ashley said.

  Other than hello, Jane hadn't said anything. She sat holding Ash's hand. His smile looked glued on.

  “Are you going to try another meeting?” Fritz asked.

  “I vowed I would work to end this mess while I held office. We've tried the military approach. We've used diplomacy. We've tried multilateral action and sanctions. I can't help but think that we've consistently missed the mark. Still, the attack in Geneva may have given us a new opportunity.”

  Ashley looked dubious. “You're an optimist,” he said.

  “I really need Congress behind me if we're going to do this. Fritz, I need your help.”

  “I don't like the sound of that,” Linda said.

  “I'm not sure I do, either,” Fritz said. “What do you want me to do?”

  His gaze moved to the backyard, and he rubbed behind his left ear. “So far, I've kept Congress in the dark about the portal. What I'd like to do is tell them we have a new security system and then show them. But only the party leaders in the House and Senate.”

  “Do you think you can keep them quiet? It seems nothing stays secret for long.”

  “Fritz, you're wrong about that. The amount of confidential information that the public never hears is huge. Much of what's reported as news is guesswork.” Jane nodded. “But they, the leaders, and a couple of committee chairs, need to see something dramatic. I've considered inviting them to a meeting and have you just pop in.”

  Fritz put his chin on his hand and hesitated. “I'm not sure that will work. They might think I worked at the White House.”

  “Not if the meeting took place somewhere other than in my office. If necessary, we could take them into the school. If they see what we can do, they might be more cooperative.”

  “What is it you want them to do, Mr. President?” Linda asked. “You're already using the portal a lot.”

  “These are the primary issues: reaching an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, dealing with water needs in the region, and poverty. We need countries to commit resources to improving the conditions of their own people. I need Congress to focus on joint programs to create economic opportunity and self-sustaining growth. They need jobs, especially for the young men, but for women also. There might be other advantages to the whole world if our program can raise the standard of living across the re
gion. In other words, we need a strong foreign policy with a soft policy perspective.”

  “I'm not sure what that means. And why will Congress go along?” Fritz asked.

  “If Congress understands the need as well as the powerful mechanism we control, I think they'll support the aid and programs we can offer. The key is to convince them it's not just a handout, that there will be a mutual benefit, especially if we can create strong markets for American products. I think the Congressional leaders will support it. But they will have to accept the need for secrecy, at least for a while. I don't have much time left to make this work, and I don't want to blow it. It's only a year until the election.”

  The doorbell rang, startling all of them. “I'll get it,” the president said with a devilish grin. He and Fritz went to the front door.

  “You really shouldn't be seen, Mr. President.”

  “Fritz, they won't know it's me. I don't get to do this at the White House. I kind of miss it.”

  “Well then, you probably shouldn't talk to them. That would be a dead giveaway. We're trying to keep our relationship a secret, aren't we?”

  “Before anyone could find out, I'll be on my way home. Relax. It'll be all right.”

  “Trick or treat,” a half-dozen costumed children called out. The president walked out with a bowl of candy. The kids made choices and said thank you, and the president waved at the three mothers who were walking with them. One of the moms said, “Nice costume,” and he waved. Another group of kids headed up the sidewalk, so the president waited for them. “Trick or treat.” A skeleton, asked, “Are you really the president? That doesn't look like a costume to me.” The president grinned and held out the bowl without a word.

  “I think tonight could be busy,” Fritz said. “When word gets around, everyone will want a treat from the guy who looks just like the president.”

  “Kind of like Congress,” said the president. “But I like to throw in some tricks.”

  LINDA SUGGESTED that they move to the dining room, closer to the front door. The few minutes without conversation gave Fritz a chance to consider the president's request. Ashley and Jane were in their own world.

  “Mr. President, if Congress goes along, then what?” asked Fritz.

  “Then I'll need to have a robust program to offer, and we can try another summit.”

  Jane said, “But next time, in Brussels, Mr. President.”

  “I think Washington, this time, Jane. No one will get close enough to do what they did in Switzerland.”

  “But will they come?” Linda asked.

  “I don't know. I can't force them, but I'm not going to do this piecemeal. We had a good start in Geneva.”

  In spite of continual interruptions by trick or treaters, the conversation remained low-key. Ashley was on the mend and cheered by the president's remark that Jane would remain in New Jersey. Fritz told them about his history baseball tournament and the Phillies. The tournament piqued the president's interest, and he asked if the Secretary of Education could help.

  “Mr. President, I've been thinking. Last week at dinner, Tony used an analogy that I think makes sense.” Fritz explained about waves and ripples. “I think our portal visits have caused ripples, and it's making the kids more interested in their school work.” Ashley added that his students and Fritz's were writing a play about American history.

  “If you put the play together, I'd like to see it. But you sure have a lot on your plate, Fritz.”

  “You should talk,” Ashley said.

  “You're right, Ashley. It won't be easy. We need worldwide involvement, a comprehensive, ongoing effort, and a universal commitment to make this work,” the president said. “I think Geneva may have provided an opportunity.”

  “We've had this conversation, Fritz, Linda and I, for a long time,” Ashley said.

  After mulling over the president's words and sort of listening, Fritz had an idea. “Mr. President, you've tried to keep the portal secret. But we both know that's not going to last. Go ahead and show the portal to the Congressional leadership. Then they'll see that the United States has a device that will allow an immediate response to any problem anywhere and that it can be used as a warning that we mean business. The next step would be to show it to world leaders. Why not use it in the Middle East? The Israelis already know about it. You could have a serious meeting, tell them what you want done, what you'll give in return, and get them to sign off. No staff, no months-long discussions. Just the leaders. And then go country by country. It still won't solve the problem of ISIS or other terrorist groups, but it would be a start.”

  “That means the portal won't be secret, Fritz,” said Ashley. “You could be in danger.”

  “No one knows how it works, Ash. If I just open the door and stay behind it, nobody would even need to see me. And in case they did, I could be in a uniform. I'd be invisible in plain sight. I could even wear a helmet with a shield that covers my face.”

  The president pondered for a minute. “I'd have to have specific plans they all need to agree on. Jane, what do you think?”

  Jane took a deep breath. She squinted, looking past him, her long distance stare. “Mr. President, off the top of my head, I think it could be a good idea. We'll need to spend some time thinking about how to orchestrate it.” She asked him to let her develop an outline. “We'll need to do it on a weekend. We'll need to convert a classroom into a meeting room. But, mostly, we need a comprehensive plan.”

  “I hate to put a damper on this, but I need to get dinner set up,” Linda said. “Mr. President, when can we expect James and Mel?” Fritz joined Linda in the kitchen and went to get the silverware.

  “I can't believe you came up with that,” she said. “You just can't avoid temptation. You just get deeper and deeper.”

  Fritz went to hug her, but she pushed him away. “Lin, all I need to do is hold the door. We could stop the conflict completely, maybe forever. I think it's a fair trade.”

  “Set the table.” Ashley and Jane came in, and Fritz handed Ashley the silverware and gave plates to Jane.

  “Lin, we need to agree on this. You know it's important, and I'll be safe. I'm not going in this time.”

  “THIS TIME!” Linda yelled. “What about the next time, or the time after that. Fritz, this scares me and you know it. But you keep doing it. You don't need to find out how it works. Only how to stop it.” Her words flew out so fast that Fritz started to duck. “Lin, this isn't the time…” The doorbell rang.

  “I'll get it,” a voice sounded from the dining room. The trick or treaters were very quiet. The door closed, and the president came into the kitchen.

  Speaking softly, he said, “I should probably not step in here, Linda. I understand how you feel. And I won't try to change that. You've been a gracious companion through all this, in spite of your feelings. But right now, I promise you that I will do all I can to keep Fritz safe. Even if I didn't like you folks, hadn't come to think of you as friends, I wouldn't want him hurt. Even if I were purely using him, I would know that he is the only one who can do this, and it all ends if anything happens to him.”

  Linda replied, still angry. “And how are you going to stop him from using it himself, on his own? He's having too much fun with his new toy.”

  “Hold on, Fritz,” said the president, before Fritz could answer. “Linda, he saved my life. He didn't have to do anything. Do you really think I would put him in jeopardy needlessly? And it certainly wasn't fun.”

  “I just don't want anything to happen to you,” Linda said, looking into Fritz's eyes.

  Wrapping his arms around her, Fritz said, “I love you. You have to believe I will not take chances.” She didn't push him away. “Lin, we'll figure this out. I promise.” He kissed her forehead.

  After Linda left with another load for the dining room, the president whispered, “I'll try to stay out of your life for a while, Fritz.”

  “Give me a chance to talk with her. She knows how important it is. She's concerned
about my side trips, not my holding the door for you. And the baby is so close, the holidays coming. I need to be here, and that's really what she wants, I think. Let's put this on hold for a day or two, but you'll need a plan anyway, so there's time.”

  When the doorbell rang again, Ashley opened the door. James and Mel stood behind a group of children, all costumed alike. Before giving them the candy, he asked, “What are you all supposed to be?” A tall boy said, “We're all Klingons, looking for Captain Kirk.” The president chuckled and went to the door.

  “I'm Captain Kirk. What can I do for you?”

  The tall boy said, “Mr. President, I mean, Captain Kirk, the Klingon Empire wants a peace treaty with the Federation.”

  “I wonder if offering candy would make all my treaties successful.”

  Linda stood behind the president and laughed. James and Mel came in. Linda gave the president a hug. And she hugged Fritz. “I love you, too.”

  Jane and Ashley helped serve dinner. Fritz poured the wine that James had brought. Mel and James drank soda.

  “Wow, this is really good,” said Mel. “Thank you for inviting us.”

  “I told you,” James said. “And it's better the next day. Linda, this is just super.”

  “So you got the name right, finally!” She grinned. “And you're welcome, Agent Zack.”

  “Call me Mel.”

  “Only if you call me Linda. Deal?”

  Mel glanced at the president, whose unobtrusive head nod gave the okay. “That's a deal, ma'am.” Mel flushed. “Sorry … Linda.”

  As they ate, conversation stayed far away from the portal. Fritz and Ashley barbed back and forth, and Fritz told the president more about the tournament. “I used to teach,” the president said, “and maybe I'll do some more when my term ends. But high school! What a challenge.”

  Ashley said, “Mr. President, great challenges give great rewards. That's why all teachers are wealthy.” He grinned. “But I'll bet you'd have no trouble keeping their attention.”