"No, no one knew about what I just told you. But that's why I never owned a gun and never went hunting with Bob or anybody else. I was always able to make excuses to them so I wouldn't have to go."
"Poor Sam. You poor devil," said Theresa tenderly. "Well anyway, Sam, first things first. I have a whole house full of stuff to move out from Washington, if the house is still there, or collect an insurance settlement if it's gone. My daughter is going to meet me in Virginia next week and we're going to settle that little issue. I'll tell you the truth, I hope it's burned to the ground. There's nothing in that house that interests me right now. We had never moved any of our really sentimental things out there. All it represents to me is furniture and Washington life, which I can easily forget."
Theresa looked at Sam now with a bright smile on her face. She thought how difficult it must have been for Sam, old wooden face Sam, to open up to her and tell about his brother and father. Just another side to Sam nobody ever saw. But he had shared it with Theresa, his 'sis'.
"Theresa, I'll help you with the dishes."
"Naa, Sam, I'll just throw them into the dishwasher. Do you want a drink, Sam? You haven't had one since you got here this afternoon. That's not like you."
"Not really, Theresa. Seems like when I'm around you like this, I don't really have an urge to drink. It kinda reminds me of something an old Indian woman once said to me. I had gotten to know her after I helped her son out. He worked for us over in Nevada. She and I really hit it off. Any way, she said, 'Sam, I like me better when I'm with you'. I like me better when I'm around you, sis'."
Theresa could feel the tears well up in her eyes when Sam said that, "What a nice compliment, Sam. I hope we can always be friends. And I promise anything said here tonight will stay here. Ok, Sam?" She brushed back the tears.
"Ok, Theresa," said Sam. There was nothing more he could say. He felt tears in his own eyes and he turned quickly, pretending to do something in the kitchen.
"Sam, do you know much about Edgar Cayce and what he believed in?" asked Theresa.
"Just vaguely. I read a book about him once but it was long ago. He believed in reincarnation and did 'readings' of people. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I was just thinking about you and me. Cayce believed that people are reincarnated and in this life they share similar experiences to those in past lives. So you and I could have been brother and sister in a past life. In fact, according to Cayce, brothers then might be sisters now. People change genders from lifetime to lifetime. Whatya think of that, Sam?"
"Why not, who am I to argue with someone like Edgar Cayce. Hey, could we have been man and wife?" asked Sam with a little devil showing in his eye.
"No, Sam. We get along too well for that possibility."
At that, Sam roared his raucous laugh which even the elk heard two miles from the ranch. "Theresa, you are one special lady."
Sam left the next afternoon. He felt good about this visit. He was not sure if he helped Theresa or himself more, but if revealing a few warts from his own past could help Theresa, why not give her that help. They stood near the car which Sam had rented to drive from the airport to the ranch. "Theresa, call me if you need anything. Any time, any place," offered Sam.
"You know, I got a similar offer from Tom at the funeral. Between the two of you I just might get spoiled."
"Tom thinks an awful lot of you, Theresa. If his marriage to Susan goes bust he just might----" Sam stopped himself in mid sentence. He thought he had gone too far.
"Just might what, Sam?" asked Theresa, already guessing what Sam might have said.
"I said too much, sis'. I shouldn't put words in Tom's mouth."
"Sam, drive carefully and call me when you get home, so I'll know you made it safely. Ok?" She let Sam off the hook with that comment.
"Will do, sis'." With that he hugged Theresa and got in the car for the thirty minute drive to the airport.
Theresa felt a sinking feeling in her stomach as Sam drove away. "Another day, another night alone," she was thinking to herself. She already missed Sam and his car was still in sight. Then she decided to call her old family doctor, Doc Ratcliffe. If she could get in to see him today, maybe, just maybe she could start fighting this thing. Depending on what Doc Ratcliffe said, she thought Sam's offer to see the doctor in Denver might not be such a bad idea.
Chapter IX
The President Reacts
The President had called a meeting of his inner staff a mere hour before. They were in his office in the Situation Room located deep beneath the White House. Since the riots a week earlier, he was reluctant to use any part of the above ground structure. He had sent his family back home to Ohio the first day after the riots had begun and had talked to them only by phone since that sad day. Present at the meeting were Roger Crowder, the National Security Advisor, Bill Hadley, his Chief of Staff, General Longford, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from the Pentagon and Henry Zeile, his Press Secretary and closest personal advisor.
"Let's start with a quick briefing around the table," the President began brusquely. He had not been in a good mood since the riots began and his mood was not improving substantially even though the riot had been quelled for over a week.
"No change since yesterday, Mister President," began General Longford. We still have about three divisions of troops scattered throughout the city. There has been no report of violence, looting or gunfire in over five days."
"Roger, you got anything new?" asked the President.
"Nothing new, Mister President. We are fully convinced that the riots were completely spontaneous, were not driven by radical groups, in other words it started because of the killing of that drug dealer by the Hispanic police officer," answered Roger Crowder.
"Is there anything new that anyone can offer beyond what we discussed yesterday? Can we assume that the situation has stabilized and we can get on with the task of rebuilding the city and getting the government rolling again?" queried the President shortly.
"A new report from the Engineers shows the damage to the water filtration and distribution system is much worse than earlier estimated," said Bill Hadley. "They now think it will take a little over three months to get the system working again. You have to realize that the water system, in parts, is over 90 years old. Some of it was put in over a hundred years ago."
"Their original estimate was something like a month and a half, right?" asked the President, not really expecting an answer. "Army, could you move in enough portable water processing equipment to improve that by six weeks. We need water in this town now, not three months from now. It's the middle of summer, people. We're going to ask the citizenry not to take baths and then go to work!" He directed his question to the Joint Chiefs Chairman.
"We could move in a bit more than we already have, but we have little more in inventory. The equipment in place now is supplying most of the drinking and cooking water."
"What is the best estimate of when we can bring some of the furloughed civil servants back? We have got to get back in the business of government. The Treasury is shut down; we can't process tax revenues; we have to sell more bonds to pay interest payments. The banking system is being threatened with no guidelines from the Federal Reserve," said the President.
"Our best estimate is in two or three weeks. The city is safe enough but so many homes, apartments and government buildings were destroyed that it is almost impossible to assess that situation," answered Hadley. "We need more time to clean up streets just so people can drive to work."
"They don't need to drive to work," snapped the President. "We can get ten thousand Army truck and bus drivers and vehicles to drive them to work if need be. All right, all right, I know that isn't the answer. But gentlemen, we must face this situation squarely. We can't sit idly twiddling our thumbs while the nation watches. Get your people on it and come up with answers. I need answers, not more questions."
"Mister President, we need to talk about the newscast that aired on CNN last
night. With all our other problems someone uncovered the attempt to bust the convention out in Denver," said Zeile cautiously. He knew that this was the worst possible time to inject that into the conversation.
"Yes, I saw that, Henry. Who the hell leaked all those tidbits? The reporter knew more about it than I did. It was almost as though he had a microphone in our meeting room. But beyond the offer to Di'Agusto for a seat on the bench, who authorized the private survey of Winston and some of those other cowboys? I certainly did not. Didn't I make it clear that I did not want another Watergate? I want someone to get to the bottom of this and find out where the leak is."
"We'd have to talk to Justice about that. It came from the FBI," said Hadley referring to the report the President just asked about. "But another paper came from one of the national security agencies, Roger. Did you authorize it?"
"Absolutely not," answered Crowder indignantly. "I have no authority over the agencies other than the National Security Agency. As you know, there are five other security agencies in the government. They report to CIA, Pentagon and other offices."
"Great, just great," muttered the President. "Listen, people, the woes in Washington brought by the riots can be fixed in time. But a news report like the one aired last night by Mullenski can create a problem that will never be fixed. Do you all realize that the westerners are gathering their forces to have another go at separation? They timed their efforts to coincide with that news story last night. They're out there right now, drumming up support in every western state from Alaska to New Mexico and Texas. And if what my advisors tell me is true, the sentiment for separation is running over 60 percent in every one of those states. Canadian provinces in the west have thrown in with the cowboys. Hell, they're a month away from declaring themselves a separate nation. Now, what do we do about that?" the President stormed, emphasizing every word of his last sentence for maximum impact.
"Mister President, I could send three divisions of armor out there and stop it in a day," offered Longford.
"Christ, Army, this isn't Iraq we're talking about. It's the western United States. They haven't done anything yet. Even if they do declare separatism, is military force the only option you can put on the table?" The President spoke sternly.
"Mister President, what evidence do we have that the next convention won't fizzle just like the last one did?" asked Hadley. "Well, aside from the fact that the last one failed because of our sabotage, they're not going for a convention. They're working every legislature in the west plus four western provinces in Canada. They believe they have the legislatures and popular support this time. We may have underestimated them, gentlemen. And we are not in a good position right now to fight back. And I sure as hell will not approve any more 'inquiries' or detective work or bribery. They'll find out about it before the ink is dry. Besides that, I had very great admiration for Bob Winston. We were on opposite sides of the aisle in the Senate, but I admired him. Now he's the martyr they need to act as the rallying point," said the President, obviously introspective now when talking about Winston. They had come to the Senate on the
same day 17 years ago. They had shared a great deal more than seats in that great deliberative body; they had shared laughter, tears and ideas. And though they were on opposite sides of the political aisle, they had worked together for the passage of two of the most important pieces of legislation to come out of the Senate in the past thirty years, one was a modified universal health insurance plan and the other a redefinition of foreign aid.
"I want you people to start feeding me ideas on how we can counteract this movement out west. We had better start finding more reasons for them to stay than to go. If they secede, there is no sentiment in this country for military force to be used against them. I am not going to preside over the second Civil War. You've got to formulate a set of reasons for them to stay, compelling reasons that will take the fire out of their bellies. They're mad right now because Robert Winston was murdered in Washington. Find a way to explain to them that the government did not kill Robert, the mob did. We could start with a memorial and testimonial service for him in the Capitol, or somewhere else. We have got to move quickly, gentlemen. Time is not on our side." The President spoke more cautiously and with greater sentiment than he had earlier in the meeting. He knew that there were few options open to him, especially with all the problems rebuilding Washington and revitalizing government operations.
"Mister President, it would take several weeks before Washington would be in the right shape to hold such a memorial. Could we stage it in a western state?" asked Zeile.
"Good idea. Work on that and get back to me tomorrow on it, Henry. Gentlemen, I think that's all for now. I want you to know how proud I am for everything you've done the past week. These are difficult times. Let's not forget who we are and why we're here. We'll survive this, I can assure you of that," the President concluded. "Henry, would you stay for a minute. I need to talk to you."
After the other men left, Henry Zeile and the President were left alone. Neither man said a word for five minutes, Henry Zeile waiting for the President to speak. Zeile knew that the President had a tremendous burden to contend with. He was a victim of circumstances. The President did not cause the riots which devastated Washington and killed Senator Winston. Nor had he caused the western states to form a movement for separatism. But he was sitting in the Oval Office and history might not be so kind to him as his closest advisors were being.
"Henry, I believe the west is lost," started the President slowly. "As much as I would like to believe otherwise, I don't think there is a damn thing we can do to stop them. Privately, I tell you this, but publicly I have to take the position that what the west is doing is wrong. I intend to do everything in my power to stop them, Henry. Everything that is legal and everything that is illegal, if that's what it takes. If you have any ideas, now is the time to speak them."
Henry Zeile misread the President and was about to speak, but stopped abruptly when the President held out his arm to signal that he had more to say. "Henry, I want you to formulate a plan to stop this movement. Just you and I know about this. If you do enlist help, Henry, for Christ sake make sure it is someone you would trust with your life. If the west separates from us, it will not be without a fight. First thing I want you to do is to line up every western Senator and Congressman that you think we can get to. Explain that they will lose their jobs if the west secedes and may well lose their retirement as well. Tell them that all those trips they have enjoyed will be gone. Explain it to them, Henry. Next I want you to get to those companies out west that have been enjoying fat government contracts for the past 50 years. Explain what happens when the west is a foreign country. Get to those damn universities and research centers out there in California and explain simple economics to them. Do you get my drift, Henry?" finished the President.
"I certainly do." I think I can find some friends and allies out there. Do you realize that the west is not wooing California for separatism?" queried Zeile.
"Not after California? They can never make it without them. They need the population and resources of that state."
"That's what I think, but there is no evidence that anyone is approaching California. They didn't even invite them to the dance in Denver last month," explained Zeile.
"Well, that just might be the Achilles heel, Henry," said the President, as much to himself as to Zeile. "Oh, Henry, contact the Russians, every western European country and China, Japan and Korea. Explain to them that I do not want them to extend diplomatic recognition to the west if they do go ahead and secede. Make sure they explain that to the cowboys BEFORE they secede. Without diplomatic recognition, they will go nowhere. Explain to Kurikov that if he supports us on this, we will support their central government in their attempt to keep the Soviet Republics in line. Everything on the QT, Henry. Do NOT use diplomatic channels. You're going to have to fly to Europe and Asia soon to do this. I want no written record of anything you do. This is to be completely verb
al. Incidentally, extend my apology to Longford. I came down a little hard on him a few minutes ago. He's a good man and I respect him, but sometimes I wish he weren't a military man. Tell him that I have thought of moving tanks into Denver, too. Maybe that will take the sting out of my remarks."
"I understand, sir, and I will say something to the General. He's a military type; they don't offend as easily as you or I. I don't think he was overly offended," answered Zeile. He began to think of the enormity of swaying that many nations to decline recognition to them. What could he offer them? What if they refused? Did he have a carrot, a stick? The Russians would be easy to sway. They had hemorrhaged into a dozen different countries themselves, but is it too late? I'll think of something, thought Zeile.
What the President and Zeile could not know was that Tom Adams and the committee had already approached all the western senators and representatives and had assured them that they would be 'grandfathered' into the new government, no matter what form it took. They had been elected in good faith by the people and they would retain their jobs. As to the threat of loss of retirement, that was not a real factor in the equation. Most of them were wealthy enough in private life to live comfortably without their retirement, but Tom assured them there would be a carryover of the retirement, perhaps not in such full measure, but adequate.
As to the threat of a loss of foreign recognition, Hal Browning and Robert Jeffries had already contacted several diplomats in Europe and Asia and had assurances that Europe was sitting this one out. Their conversation with French ambassador Henri Lavin was typical of the other European countries.
"Monsieur Lavin," said Robert Jeffries in French, "How are you today? How is the weather there?"
"Oh, it is quite hot. Very humid. And how are you, Mister Jeffries?"
"Very well indeed. Monsieur Lavin, I called to see if you could tell us the French position on our attempt to separate from Canada and the United States and form a new country."
The Second Declaration Page 13