Read Online Powerless by Tim Washburn - Free Book Online

perturbed look on his face, “Nothing to do, Scott?”
    â€œNo, there’s plenty to do, I guess, but I don’t think strong-arming a senator over a piece of legislation is relevant now.”
    President Harris tosses his pen on the desk and leans back in his chair. “Listen, Scott, we don’t know what the hell is going to happen, but we need to continue working. There’s still going to be a government—even if we have to work by candlelight. Regardless of the doomsday prophets, this won’t be the end of the world. Will it be hard? Damn right. Will people suffer? Yes, they will, but we can overcome, Scott. We have to—it’s the only choice we have.”
    â€œI’m more concerned, sir, with the immediate effects of your address to the nation. How the hell are we going to control the reactions of the people? There will be looting, hoarding, and killing from the get-go.”
    â€œWhat are you suggesting, Scott? That we allow the people to remain blissfully unaware until the moment the storm hits? That’s goddamn irresponsible.”
    Scott doesn’t answer as the President stews over his statements. Then, in almost a whisper he says, “Maybe we should. What’s to be gained by telling them in advance? A few gallons of gasoline? A few containers of water, which will go to the first ten or fifteen people in the store? Then what? We might be better off waiting until the playing field is level and no one has electricity.”
    The President stands and walks to the large windows.
    Scott doesn’t press the issue. While the President stews, he reads, again, the inscription woven into the perimeter of the custom-made carpet: The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us, a quote from Teddy Roosevelt.
    President Harris turns from the windows and begins to pace, the limp more evident. The silent reflection is interrupted when Janice Baker enters.
    â€œI’m sorry for intruding, Mr. President, but I wanted to bring you the latest issue we’re facing.” She walks to the front of the desk as President Harris collapses onto his chair.
    â€œWhat is it, Janice?”
    â€œSir, we issued the order to ground all flights but some of the transcontinental flights, especially those flying longer routes, never received word.”
    The President leans forward in his chair. “Are you saying we still have planes in the air with no way to communicate? Or to navigate?”
    â€œYes, sir. The FAA is trying to establish contact via high-frequency radio, but no one knows if it will work. If so, they’ll try to land the planes at the closest available airport.”
    â€œChrist, I should have listened to Dr. Blake.”
    â€œSir, most of these pilots could fly their routes blindfolded, they do it so often.”
    â€œThey could when they had radios and navigation. Landing those planes could turn into a disaster in a heartbeat.” He points toward the television screen, where continuing coverage of the collision at the Seattle airport plays in silence. “Hell, those planes were flying short hops and look what happened.”
    â€œSir, they’ll just have to—”
    The intercom buzzes and the President punches the button. “Yes, Barbara?”
    â€œSir, Director Carter on line one.”
    The President puts the call on speakerphone. “Don, I’m with Janice and Scott. All right if I leave it on speaker?”
    â€œThat’s fine, Mr. President. They probably need to know what’s happening. And it’s not good, sir. The New Orleans area has had three days of heavy rain. Enough rain that Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River are near their flood stage.”
    President Harris leans closer to the phone, resting his elbows on the desk. “Don’t tell me all the new pumps the Corps of Engineers put in aren’t keeping up with all that water.”
    â€œWell,