Lethal Trajectories - Michael Conley [133]
“Thank you for your good work, my friend,” Clayton said softly, challenged by the magnitude of what needed to be done. It would be his job to sell this bitter pill to the American people. He was grateful to have his friend driving the development of the plan, but Peter was going to need substantial political air cover to succeed. He sat forward in his chair and looked Peter straight in the eyes.
“Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat anything when I address Congress,” Clayton said with determination. “It’s time to clean house and address the acute and chronic issues we’ve set aside for decades. There’s no question we’re caught in the vortex of a perfect storm, and there’s no way we can dodge the bullet by fancy two-stepping this time around.
“Thank you, Mr. President. It’s too bad it takes a crisis like this to galvanize the American people, but I have confidence they’ll respond magnificently once they understand what’s at stake. It’ll help even more if China joins us in our energy and climate efforts.”
“I’m hopeful they will, Peter. I talked to Jack this morning and he’ll be meeting with the Chinese delegation later today.” Clayton paused a moment before zapping his friend with yet another challenge.
“Peter, you have a vital role to play in our Safe Harbors implementation and its aftermath, and I’d like to ask you to become a permanent member of my NSC SWAT team. I really need you there.”
“I’d be honored to become a permanent member, Mr. President.”
As Peter Canton left the Oval Office, Clayton could not help but regret the wear and tear this new commitment was sure to take on his friend in the coming months.
48
Mankato, Minnesota
11 October 2017
Pastor Veronica Larson was perplexed as she left her Wednesday afternoon church council meeting. While church attendance had been up almost 20 percent at all services last Sunday—something that hadn’t happened since the 9/11 attack sixteen years ago—she knew it was a good barometer of the angst felt by the community.
Who wouldn’t be frightened? There had been no let-up in the barrage of bombshell news. The Chunxiao thing; the overthrow of the Saudi government and instability in the Middle East; the oil embargo and devastating effects of skyrocketing gas prices; and now the loss of President Burkmeister and the swearing in of a new president—it was all too much to take in. There were no worldly constants you could count on anymore, and she ached for the trauma it was causing her kids.
Relieved to have a mind-clearing drive between her and a visit with an ailing parishioner, she turned her car radio to the Wellington Crane show. What kind of hold does this man have on me? she mused.
“… and today’s show will focus on two momentous events taking place in the world,” decried the deep baritone voice of Wellington Crane. “The first item is the succession of the presidency to Clayton McCarty and his questionable nomination of Elizabeth Cartright to serve as his vice president. The second is the alarming destabilization in the Middle East and what it will mean for the United States, Israel, and the world. It’s a complicated situation, folks, and today I’ll walk you through it as only I can do. Helping me will be my good friend and a great American, Senator Tom Collingsworth, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“Let me make a few brief comments before we start, good people. First and foremost, I am a patriotic American, and I support my new president as I hope you will in this time of crisis. Having said that, I am not afraid to offer my constructive criticism when I think it will help Clayton McCarty to be a better president. In all humility, I doubt there is anyone in America who understands this country and its people better than I do. While I support the president, it would be criminal of me not to share the invaluable insights I always seem to bring to the table.”
Veronica’s cell phone rang. It was