Smatterings of applause while the mayor spoke grew into deafening revelry. The mayor hadn’t mentioned this big news at the advisory meeting. Theo assumed it was because Lucas didn’t need any advice about it. The crowd roared in delight and celebration. Theo guessed most people had been like him- too caught up in surviving to worry or even think about whether the population could grow. This made him think about Kylee, and as he began to feel creeping panic he put those thoughts away.
Mayor Lucas allowed the crowd to celebrate for what seemed a long time. Theo knew this was a carefully constructed strategy to energize the audience with positivity. They would need it.
“I share your enthusiasm,” said the mayor. “It is my greatest hope that young Adam’s birth can symbolize a new beginning for all of us. Our nation has been full of beginnings as of late. Our school system is operational and we are making sure that the fundamentals of human knowledge are being transmitted to the next generation. The Margate fields are prepared and the first region has been planted. With this beautiful weather we’ve been having it is very likely we will see ample growth of our crops. Our construction crew has nearly completed repairs on the buildings damaged in the Event, in addition to clearing the debris of buildings that did not withstand the Event or the storms that followed.
“They also made some necessary modifications to the Caesars’s Palace casino and resort which, I’m sure most of you know, has become the center of government operations and the site of the Atlantic Island Academy.” Mayor Lucas gave a sheepish grin. “Though I’m admittedly a little embarrassed by this next part, there has been a significant amount of interest in maintaining the ‘glory’ of the building’s previous identity.” He chuckled. “I hereby announce that the casino shall henceforth be known as the Atlantic Island Capital Palace. The other casinos, which we have kept empty since the Event, will be converted to living spaces for elected officials and additional office space as needed. I can assure you that plans are in place for the restoration of a currency, but we have no interest right now in restoring gambling to our nation. Money, when it returns, will be earned through good old-fashioned hard work. The kind of work you have all shown each and every day as we have progressed together.
“Now…” Mayor Lucas drew in a deep breath and Theo felt his heart race. This was the moment. “I know that many of you in the audience tonight came for one reason. It wasn’t to hear about crops or Palaces or to see my handsome face.” This got some laughs from the crowd. “Many of you came here for answers to the questions that have faced all of us since the time of the Event. Certainly you want more answers than I was able to provide to you when last we met.”
The room was utterly silent. Theo worked up the courage to look in Deputy Mayor Tiberius’s direction. The man was expressionless. If he shared any of Theo’s concerns about what Mayor Lucas had decided to share with the nation, he didn’t show it at all.
Mayor Lucas continued, “It is my responsibility as leader of this land to make sure you are informed, but also to make certain that the information I share with you is correct and complete. I preface what I am about to tell you by saying that there is much more we are working on. Unfortunately all of that consists of far too many guesses and so much speculation that I simply cannot justify bringing it to your attention until we have more information. You deserve that much.
“When I last addressed you, I said that a helicopter mission had found no sign of land. Since that time there have been more missions both above and below the water. Our amazing science committee, the same brilliant men and women who turned the power back on and restored a communications system so that our government could get back to work, have committed tireless, endless hours to investigating our circumstances.” The mayor paused, and then in a slow, careful voice got to the heart of the matter. “There is reason to believe that at least a significant portion of the northeastern United States is now underwater.” He paused again, allowing for the gasps, groans and sobs from the audience.
Theo looked around nervously. To his astonishment, nobody had started a riot yet. It seemed everyone wanted to make sure the mayor told everything. Mayor Lucas seemed to notice the same thing as Theo. Theo saw the man’s shoulders relax a little and he continued. “We have results from one expedition, and only one, which after a long trip over what should be New Jersey and seeing only water found evidence of the city of Philadelphia beneath the ocean.” Again, the mayor paused.
My God, thought Theo, he’s really going all the way with this.
“In the course of that brief undersea investigation,” said the mayor, “the science team discovered—”
“Lies!” Yelled out a voice from the crowd. “You lying bastard!”
Here we go again, thought Theo.
Pushing his way to the front of the stage was a skinny man wearing a t-shirt and jeans that were far too loose to belong to him. The man’s hair was long and unkempt. He wobbled as he worked through the crowd. Theo wondered if the man was drunk. Wasn’t all alcohol under lock and key?
Mayor Lucas presented the man with his best and brightest smile. “My friend, I assure you that I speak based on evidence and only after substantial deliberation. Please, if you would just let me finish—”
“You’re finished alright ‘Mr. Mayor,’” said the man mockingly. “You and the rest of your so-called leadership. It’s time for the conspiracy to be revealed!” The man passed Theo’s row several feet to his left. Theo caught a glimpse of the man’s face and recognition hit him. This was the same man Theo and his friends had seen protest the ration stations. Theo recalled the officers yelling at him and knocking him unconscious. They called him Bob, Theo remembered.
The audience continued to part for Bob as he moved past. Nobody wanted any part of this. Theo looked at Officer Dougherty. The officer was on his walkie-talkie. Theo assumed he was communicating with the snipers up in the catwalk area. Theo remembered the last time someone had interrupted the mayor and attempted to take the stage. Tiberius had quickly removed the woman from the arena. For some reason, the deputy mayor remained motionless and expressionless at the back of the stage.
Mayor Lucas’s smile had faltered. He looked seriously concerned. Bob reached the stage and with a surprising amount of strength for one so frail he launched himself up and onto the surface. Now, thought Theo, grab him now! Somebody!
“Sir,” said the mayor, “I would be happy to meet with you at a later time and discuss any of your grievances.”
“No,” said Bob. “No later. No more.” He reached into the waistband of his baggy jeans and drew out a small gun.
As Bob’s hand came up, Dougherty yelled into his walkie-talkie. “Now! Take him now!”
A bright light flashed and a series of gunshots boomed in the silent hall. Theo’s eyes were helplessly drawn to Bob, whom he expected to see falling to the ground. Bob was still standing, the muzzle of his gun smoking. As Theo’s eyes panned the scene, he quickly realized it was Mayor Lucas who was falling to the ground. Theo was shoved aside as Officer Dougherty raced to the stage. Everything became a blur. Government workers swarmed over the mayor as Officer Dougherty reached the stage. In the darkness at the back of the stage, Theo caught a glimpse of Tiberius, still looking calm, flicking his thumb up. At that exact instant Bob was struck in the head by a sniper’s bullet and he collapsed on the stage floor.
Theo couldn’t breathe. He strained to see the mayor but the mass of people on stage had blocked his view. Security Forces emerged from everywhere ushering the terrified audience out of the arena.