2030_ The Real Story of What Happens to America - Albert Brooks [52]
The jet made the final turn onto Runway Two Five and stopped for one minute. The face of the captain monitoring the plane back in Denver came on the screen. “Are you all set for takeoff, Dr. Mueller?”
“All set,” Sam said.
“We should have an uneventful flight. If you need anything, Elaine will get it for you. Have a nice trip.”
“Thanks.”
Mark turned around and smiled at Elaine. She smiled back. Jesus, she’s hot. She looks like a model. How cool to have a beautiful woman like that bring you crackers. And then Mark wondered if people had sex with her on the plane. After all, no one else was here. An empty cockpit. Who would ever know? He then asked his dad, “Can the pilots hear you or see you?”
“Only if you want them to. Why?”
“I was just wondering if it was two-way.”
“That’s the passenger’s choice. I like when they can see, but some people don’t.”
“They can’t see in the bathroom, can they?”
“Only if you wanted it.”
“Who would want to be watched going to the bathroom?”
“Probably nobody, but if you had a problem in there they could see it and help.”
At that moment the jet roared down the runway. This new generation of Gulfstream was ninety-nine percent soundproof. The jets at full power sounded like the hum of air-conditioning. Mark watched his screen in front of him, which he set to “cockpit controls.” He could see everything the remote pilot saw. It was awesome. He couldn’t help but pretend he was flying the plane, although he didn’t want the gorgeous Elaine to think he was a child. “How long have they been flying without pilots?”
“Almost two years,” his dad said.
“Were you scared the first time?”
“It was a little disconcerting, but the systems are so reliable and so redundant that you don’t really think about it. Remember, this plane can do everything itself from its own computers. It doesn’t even need contact with the ground, so having the guys in Denver, you just don’t think about it.”
“Really? But if I wasn’t here you would be all alone with Elaine. Wouldn’t you think about that?”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing,” Mark said, and grinned a little.
Sam was torn. He was a man who did not screw around on his wife, and yet he felt a small male bond with his son over this remark. He was tempted to tell Mark that he didn’t think about other women, but they had so few moments like this, he didn’t want to ruin it. He made a decision to simply answer as if he were Mark’s buddy, instead of his dad. He looked at Elaine and then back at his son. “I guess I would think about it. A lot.”
Mark smiled. A private moment between two guys. For that instant his dad became accessible. He knew it wouldn’t last long, but he loved it.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Betsy Bernstein was livid. She had just read the Morton Spiller resignation letter prepared by John Van Dyke for the President’s approval. She thought it sounded far too condescending toward her husband. It said that Spiller admired what the President was trying to achieve but, due to policy differences, he thought it was best to allow the President to bring on someone more in sync with his line of thinking. She got John on the phone. “This is bullshit.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“What’s wrong with it? He makes the President sound like a child that didn’t understand the workings of the economy. And it sounds like it was Morton’s decision.”
“We had it thoroughly tested and people seemed to think there was just a disagreement and the President wanted someone else.”
“Well, it doesn’t read that way. I think he should be honest and say that he didn’t want to come to town and get messed up in politics, that he liked staying on the farm.”
“We can’t say that.”
“Why not?”
“Because people will criticize the President for even making that deal. They will perceive him as weak for agreeing to Spiller’s demands.”
Betsy hadn’t thought of that.
“Well, why can’t he at least say he wants to spend more time with his family, like they