As others in the room shook his hand before leading him to the situation room, the Science Advisor’s comment stuck with him. This crisis was like fighting a war.
Well, in war, the Commander-in-Chief needed to be obeyed. Mayeaux couldn’t afford to have his staff second-guess him. The first thing he would do was fire these throwbacks from Holback’s administration and surround himself with people he trusted. Finding a good Vice President was high on the list.
“Mr. Speaker—I mean, Mr. President,” the Chief of Staff corrected himself, “we need to get to the Situation Room.” He moved to the door.
“In a minute,” Mayeaux said. “I have a few things I want to discuss first. A few changes.”
Chapter 44
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM: ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR SCIENCE, SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY
SUBJECT: PETROPLAGUE-AFFECTED MATERIAL
ADDENDUM 3, CONTINUED
We have again revised our list to include the following items:
Toys
Sixpack beverage can rings
Photocopy machine bodies
Tupperware
Polyethylene food wrap
Handles/knobs/buttons
Toothbrushes
Hair dryers
Garment buttons
Hair brushes
Coffee makers
Watch faces
Most clocks
Videotapes
Movie film
Photographs
Floppy diskettes
Adhesives
Faucet gaskets
Electrical switchplates
Laminate films
Orange highway cones
Plastic buckets
Shower curtains
Plastic tarpaulins
Varnish coatings
Marquee lettering
Driver’s licenses, laminated IDs
Petroleum jelly
Credit cards
Lighting fixtures
Athletic balls
Wastebaskets
Disposable diapers
Adhesive tape
Plastic utensils
Garment buttons
Chapter 45
On horseback, Todd led Iris quickly away from Stanford, out of the city of Palo Alto, and across the South Bay flatlands. Although he wasn’t certain where he wanted to end up, he knew they had to head east, away from the Bay area cities.
The mud flats smelled rancid in the low tide, with spoiled garbage and iridescent scum drying under the sunlight. Gnats buzzed around his face, and the horses’ tails whisked like scratchy brooms to drive the pests away. When they finally rode north, reaching solid ground, the tall grass whispered and shushed beneath the horses’ legs, the only sound except for the wind and a few circling birds over the empty network of highways.
Iris rode beside him, jarring him into conversation. Although he felt confident on the horse, he didn’t know what to say—he had spent so much time riding down to Stanford to pick her up, he couldn’t for the life of him think up any small talk. He had much bigger things to think about—like their survival. But he was content just to be with her, and she seemed not unwilling to stay with him a while.
The sun beat down on his cowboy hat and his calloused, tanned hands gripping the reins. He could smell the horses and his own sweat, which made him wonder if Iris liked cologne. Probably not.
“So,” Iris said, jet black hair blowing around her face, “you haven’t actually agreed yet. Do you think it’s a good idea to make our way to the Altamont and the community up there?”
Todd nodded, but he had been avoiding the question. He was still surprised that Iris had come along with him. “Sounds like a good idea, especially if they’ve got access to food from the Central Valley, even better if they’ve managed to rig power from the windmills.” He tugged his hat down tighter as a Bay breeze gusted past him. “I’m just a little uncomfortable about living with a bunch of hippies.”
“What’s the problem? They’ve been living off the land there for years.”
Todd was quiet for a moment. “What if they’re growing drugs or something?”
Iris laughed at him. “I’m sure they’d let you have some, if you asked nicely.”
Todd felt his skin prickle. “That’s not what I meant—”
“I know, I know. I’m sure they’ll be a lot more concerned now with planting vegetables. Don’t worry about it, Tex.”
“Stop calling me that,” he growled. “I’m from Wyoming.”
“Would you rather I called you Wye?”
Todd kept looking ahead, squinting into the sunlight. “I’d rather you just called me Todd.” Then he added defensively, “Okay, Professor? Or should I say, Little Miss Rock Star?”
She started to retort, but chuckled instead. “Okay, you made your point.”
They left the water behind as they headed between grassy hills crowned with dark green live oaks. Iris urged Ren ahead a few steps to parallel Todd. “We should avoid Hayward, Newark, and Fremont as much as possible,” she said, pointing to the wrinkled, flapping map spread on the saddle in front of her. “No telling how bad those cities have gotten. If we keep away from the Interstate, there are plenty of hills, ranches, and grazing land between here and the Altamont. Think we can make it there by nightfall?”
Todd laughed. “We didn’t leave Stanford until after lunch. Maybe by tomorrow afternoon.”
Iris looked down at the map again. Her dark eyes flicked back and forth, as if checking directions and distances. “I can drive it in an hour.”
“You really are an academic type, aren’t you? Horses don’t go quite as fast as cars. And they’re not nearly as comfortable.” Todd finally felt reassured to be talking about a subject he knew. “Anyway, after about twenty miles or so, your butt is going to feel sore enough to fall off. I’d just as soon keep that from happening.” Todd suddenly realized what he had said and he clamped his lips down hard together. His ears burned.
“Gee, thanks,” Iris said. “Are you willing to give me a massage if I ache too much?”
It was Todd’s turn to snort; but inwardly, he wondered if she really meant it.
That night they sat around a small campfire. The only thing missing was a pair of wailing coyotes in the hills. He heard a few distant gunshots after dusk, but that wasn’t quite the same.
Iris removed a can of peaches “in their own natural juice” she had taken from her pantry and opened it with a hand can opener. “Too bad we don’t have any beans for dinner,” she said, scooping the mess into their traveling bowls. “Then we could recreate that scene from Blazing Saddles.”
Todd laughed. “You think all cowboys are like that?”
“Aren’t they?”
“Right. Just like all professors are rock & roll addicts.” Todd ducked when Iris threw a clod of dirt at him. Afterwards, they managed to have a decent conversation over dinner.
Todd finally began to relax with the fact that he was riding alone across country with a beautiful woman who confused and excited him. It had taken him hours, but he could finally start talking to her without being so self-conscious.
Darkness spread across the sky. Iris stood up and went to the pile of saddles and blankets they had removed from the horses. Ren and Stimpy blew and whickered from where they were tied under the trees. Todd poked around, securing the campsite.
Iris returned to the level ground near the dying fire and tossed down both sleeping bags. Todd picked up his bedroll. “You can sleep by the fire. I’ll stand watch over here.”
“Wait. You want to help me zip these together?” she asked. “You promised me a massage, remember?”