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  “Those who live in the inner zone will be given priority.

  “Anyone who qualifies can apply through their local Red Cross Relocation Assistance Center. They will verify your eligibility and help you fill out the paperwork.

  “For those of you who have had trouble moving your belongings, help is on the way.

  “The governors of every state have activated their National Guard to assist with moving and security as we evacuate more and more people.

  “Unfortunately, they are limited in how much they can accomplish and have been overwhelmed.

  “The Department of Defense is forbidden by federal statute from devoting manpower and resources to perform non-defense related activities.

  “However, today I signed an executive order which gives the DOD temporary authority to ignore that statute.

  “I have left it up to the DOD and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to determine where they can pull manpower and vehicles from.

  “Each of the services will enlist volunteers from their ranks to go into the zones and to make themselves available to assist as they can.

  “In addition, we are delaying new contracts for military hardware for two years so that we can divert the monies for such items toward the relocation effort.

  “Let me make it clear that this hardware is needed and it is not being cancelled.

  “We are merely extending the date of the contract by two years.

  “Payments for these items will be extended for two additional years. In turn, the manufacturers will have two additional years to manufacture and field them.

  “There are other programs in the works as well.

  “The Congress of the United States is providing four hundred billion dollars in additional funding for the cause, and has created a new committee to oversee such funds.

  “The ‘Yellowstone Event Fund Control Committee’ is not another permanent government agency. The government is too bloated already.

  “Rather, it is a group of congressmen and women which will exist only as long as the funds haven’t been expended.

  “They will oversee how and where the monies are spent. Everything they do will be transparent and they will be not granted classification authority. What that means is that all their records will be subject to Freedom of Information Act Requests.

  “All their decisions and every dollar they spend will be subject to public scrutiny. They will be the most transparent government entity we’ve ever created.”

  Chapter 24

  The President then offered to answer questions for the news media.

  And there were an awful lot of them.

  “Mr. President, is the Alaska project essentially the idea of the motorcyclists from around the country who’ve been gathering in the Washington, D.C. area in recent weeks?”

  “Yes, and thank you for reminding me.

  “It would be a great oversight to ignore the role the bikers have played in this process.

  “Members of Congress have been patting themselves on the back congratulating themselves for speedy development and approval of the new bill.

  “But in reality, it wasn’t their idea.

  “The idea was the bikers’ from the beginning. They came up with the plan, the specifics of it, how it would work.

  “Motorcyclists in general have always gotten a bad rap in this country.

  “Some of them have embraced the dark side of motorcycle clubs. The so-called ‘one-percenters.’ They were the ‘bad boy’ bikers. The ones who enjoyed playing the role of delinquents.

  “But they really were a small minority. You may have heard the old adage that one percent of a group causes ninety-nine percent of the problems.

  “And that really was true of American bikers.

  “The reality is that the vast majority of motorcycle enthusiasts, including those who belong to motorcycle clubs, are decent people. Law abiding people. People you work with and go to church with.

  “The bikers who came up with this idea and then gathered in Washington insisting that Congress listen to their plan have done this nation an incredible service.”

  “Mr. President, there have been widely publicized reports that state legislators in Alaska, and even the Governor of Alaska herself, oppose this plan.

  “In fact, there is a widespread report that Governor Hastings, off the record and at a dinner party, told friends she was vehemently opposed to the plan.

  “It is alleged she said, 'If this plan goes through, there goes the neighborhood. Alaska will never be the same again.’ Do you have a comment about that?”

  “No, I have no comment about that. I spoke to Ms. Hastings a couple of days ago. She says she never said that, and that what she actually did say was taken out of context.

  “She also told me that it is true some in her state oppose the relocation of several million people into such a pristine environment. They believe it will cause irreparable damage to the state.

  “She said her opinion is ‘hogwash.’ She says the influx of new residents will only cause damage if the people let it. And that Alaskans are among the proudest people she’s ever met.

  “They simply won’t let it.”

  “Mr. President, another report says the influx of new people will kill the Alaska Permanent Fund, the fund which pays state residents a percentage of oil company profits each year. Do you care to comment about that?”

  “No, I don’t. That’s state business, and business the federal government doesn’t concern itself with.

  “I will say this: the State of Alaska had provided oversight and stewardship of the Permanent Fund since 1976 and by all accounts has done an outstanding job.

  “I would fully expect them to continue to do so.

  “For those who may have to accept a smaller annual payment from the Permanent Fund, due to a larger pool of people who share in it, I say this.

  “The sacrifice you might have to make to welcome your new neighbors is trivial compared to the sacrifices your new neighbors have made in leaving everything they owned and loved behind to seek a new home.

  “We in America have a very long history in welcoming others who are downtrodden and in trouble. It’s my belief we’ll do the same thing in this instance.”

  “Mr. President, Senator Talbot from the state of Kentucky has suggested the Alaska legislature simply exempt new residents from applying for a piece of the Alaska Permanent Fund for a period of ten years. Would that help ease some of the concern?”

  “Possibly. I haven’t heard that, but it sounds like a viable option. However, I would advise my esteemed colleague from the opposition party this is an Alaska issue, and should be determined by Alaska officials. He should mind his own business.”

  A few chuckles were heard here and there around the room.

  It was common knowledge Senator Talbot was a pain in the President’s backside and had already said he’d challenge him in the coming presidential election.

  “Mr. President, the Office of Housing and Urban development has seized all abandoned and closed military bases around the country. A seizure which represents over a million acres of land.

  “What, exactly, does HUD plan to do with that land?”

  “I’m glad you asked that.

  “Plans are still being worked out, but they’ll be building. Building and renovating.

  “Those bases used to be self-sustaining mini-cities. They had their own sewage plants. Water plants and electrical power stations. They had their own police and fire departments. Their own base administrators.

  “They can be that way again. It’s cheaper to renovate an old city than to build a new one. These bases will be brought back to life. The barbed wire fences and guard towers will be removed and when we’re done they’ll look like small towns.

  “Small towns that will each hold several thousands of people who have evacuated from the danger zones.

  “We will build apartments. Lots of them, on the land.

  “Evacuees will be given priority fo
r the construction jobs. They will, in essence, be building their own homes and those of their neighbors.

  “And once they’re finished, they’ll move in with a guaranteed zero to one percent mortgage rate.

  “Okay, I have to run. I’ll take one more question.”

  “Mr. President, this is going to be a very expensive undertaking. Who, exactly, is going to foot the bill for this?”

  “We will. The American taxpayer. And our children and their children and their children.

  “For generations we will be paying higher taxes because of the Yellowstone Event.

  “I don’t like it. You don’t like it. Our grandchildren won’t like it.

  “But it is what it is. We’re looking at a disaster that will affect a third of our citizens. We will not abandon them, nor will we refuse to help them.

  “We will reach out to them and offer them a hand up.

  “Because we are Americans. It’s what we do.”

  Chapter 25

  In Phoenix Gwen was watching the same news conference.

  She was hoping the President would say something about Hannah’s baby being found and returned to her.

  It was probably the second biggest news story in the country after the Yellowstone Event, and Gwen was concerned that one of the reporters didn’t ask about it during the news conference.

  “Oh, my,” she said to her husband Melvyn. “I hope this doesn’t mean the public is moving on. That they’re forgetting about it.”

  Melvyn asked, “When’s the last time you spoke to her? Hannah, I mean.”

  “Not in a few days. Do you think I should call her again?”

  “That’s what friends do when one of them is having a crisis, dear. They support each other.”

  “Oh, I know that. It’s just that… I think my calling takes her back to the whole kidnapping thing. I think it refreshes her memories of all the things she felt back then, all they put her through.

  “Every time I call she sounds okay when she answers the phone. But by the time we hang up she’s either crying or close to it.

  “She’s already going through enough, after nearly being murdered and having her baby taken from her.

  “I’m just not sure whether I want to add any more to her stress, that’s all.”

  “Oh, nonsense, Gwen. Sometimes it feels good to get emotional. To let your tears out with someone who you trust. Who can relate to what you’re going through.”

  “Says the man who never cries in public, who seldom shares his inner thoughts with me.”

  “I’m a man. I’m supposed to do neither.

  “Women are different.”

  “How so?”

  “Just trust me on this, Gwen. She misses you. She wants to hear your voice again. She wants to know you’re still in her corner.”

  “Even if I make her cry?”

  “You won’t make her cry. The situation will make her cry. She’ll feel better for letting the tears out, I promise.”

  The fact was, Gwen had been wanting to call Hannah.

  The fact was, she just needed a little encouragement.

  Melvyn was like most husbands, more than willing to give his wife a little nudge occasionally when she was on the fence about something.

  Gwen picked up the phone and dialed Hannah’s home number.

  Hannah wasn’t watching the news conference. She’d had her fill about the Caldera and all the chaos it was causing.

  She was watching The Wizard of Oz, of all things.

  It struck her she finally knew what it was about Bud Avery that was so familiar.

  He bore a striking resemblance to Frank Morgan, who played the wizard in the movie.

  He had many of the same mannerisms and almost the same voice too.

  She was amazed she hadn’t figured it out sooner.

  As the phone rang on the table beside her, she made a mental note to tell Tony of her discovery when he returned from the supermarket.

  Most times these days she ignored the house phone when it rang.

  They were usually reporters or somebody from one of the evacuation zones offering to pay “top dollar” for her home.

  She was tired of talking to reporters and answering the same tired questions over and over again.

  She was also tired of telling people she wasn’t interested in selling her home. That she was quite comfortable in it and wasn’t planning on going anywhere.

  This time she saw a familiar number on the caller ID.

  She squealed like a school girl.

  “Gwen!”

  She answered on the second ring.

  “Gwen! I’ve been missing you so much. I’m so glad you called.”

  “Me too. I’ve missed your voice. How are you?”

  “Oh, you know. I have my good days when I’m full of hope. And my bad days when I’m full of despair.

  “The worst part is I don’t know when I get up in the morning which day I’m going to have.”

  “Anything I can do?”

  “Not really. Just think positive thoughts for me.”

  “Well, I’ll certainly do that.

  “What’s the latest from Rebecca?”

  “She’s been calling me every day to update me on their investigation and their search for Marilyn. On the days she has nothing new, she calls just to let me know she hasn’t forgotten about me.”

  “And you still trust her?”

  “Well, right now I don’t have much choice. She’s the only link I have to the woman who took my baby.

  “And yes, I trust her. Maybe not totally, but to a certain extent. I mean, every time I start to doubt her I remember she didn’t have to come forward. But she did. And I’m usually a pretty good judge of character. I get the impression she’s being honest with me.”

  Tony walked into the living room at that exact time and injected himself into the conversation.

  “Hi honey. Who you talking to?”

  “Gwen. She asked me how come I settled for someone like you and I said I was fond of weird characters.”

  Gwen objected, “Hey! I did not say that!”

  Tony wasn’t buying it anyway.

  “Not true. I heard you say you’re a good judge of character. Who were you referring to?”

  “Rebecca.”

  “Oh. Tell Gwen I said hello.”

  Into the phone she said, “Tony says hello.”

  “Hello back to Tony.”

  “Gwen says hello back. What did you get?”

  “Lasagna stuff. You relax, I’ll cook.”

  “That’s why I love you, Tony. I forgot until just now.”

  Chapter 26

  Hannah went back to her conversation with Gwen. The conversation Tony and his groceries interrupted.

  “So,” Gwen said. “What did she say when she called this morning?”

  “She said Marilyn got away from her operatives in Orlando. They think someone in her personnel office tipped her off, or she saw something she didn’t like.

  “Apparently she’s been wanted by the police several times in the past and has done a good job of avoiding them.”

  “Where did she go?”

  “They don’t know, I’m afraid. They assume she headed north again, but nobody saw her leave so they’re not even sure which direction she headed.”

  “Oh my…”

  “Rebecca said this isn’t unusual. She said when someone like Marilyn knows they’re looking for her she’ll lay low. But that it never lasts for long. She’ll use her credit card somewhere or make a cell phone call that can be traced to a particular cell tower.

  “She said not to lose hope. That they should have an update in a couple of days.”

  “And tell me again why they can’t just plaster Marilyn’s photograph all over every TV station and newspaper in the country?”

  “Same thing I asked.

  “Rebecca said that would just cause her to go to ground. She’d hole up in a house somewhere with friends and never leave the house, never use he
r phone, never use her credit or debit cards.

  “And according to Rebecca, that would make her a hundred times harder to find.”

  “I hope she finds out something soon.

  “Besides a frequent fugitive, what kind of woman is Marilyn?”

  “Rebecca says she’s had a very troubled past including several run-ins with the law. She’s used drugs in the past and she’s been an alcoholic.

  “The agent who did her background check said she’s off the drugs but still has a lot of friends who still use. And she still drinks, but only occasionally.

  “Oh, my. It worries me that that’s the kind of woman who has little Samson.”

  “Me too. But Rebecca says the only really good thing about Marilyn is that she seems to be very devoted as a mother. She still mourns her own son who died in his crib several years ago. The nuns who babysat Samson in Toledo said she called him Jacob, after the baby she lost, and that she doted on him.

  “Rebecca considers that a good thing, because she’ll treat him well no matter where they go. Rebecca says if they run low on cash she’ll skip meals herself so the baby can eat instead.”

  “Well, that’s something, I suppose.”

  “Yes. At this point it’s the little things that keep me going.”

  “Well listen, honey, my cell phone is starting to beep in my ear. It needs to be charged. Can I call you again in a couple of days?”

  “You can call me anytime, Gwen. I love hearing your voice. Tony said to remind you we’re coming to Phoenix to see you as soon as we get our baby back.”

  “I can’t wait to see you again. Let me know when Rebecca finally calls with good news.”

  “I will. Bye now.”

  Hannah sat there for a minute, all alone and lost in her thoughts.

  Then she unwrapped herself and stood, almost falling over because sitting on her feet caused one of them to fall asleep and she didn’t know it.

  She sat back down and massaged it, then tried again.

  She was still listing to starboard when she walked into the kitchen.

  Tony asked, “You okay?”

  “Darned foot fell asleep.”