Fortunately the Morehead City inlet was wide, deep, and well marked. Immediate protection was available as soon as they got inside it and made for the turning basin. Neil had entered the channel on half a dozen occasions, and although he hated approaching land in storm conditions, he was not particularly worried under the circumstances, not with a boat and a crew he had confidence in.
As they neared the inlet it was Frank and Tony’s watch. Lisa and Jim, who had just come off duty, remained on deck more out of excitement than necessity. Still sailing under storm jib and double-reefed main, they had already picked up the white flashing sea buoy that marked the beginning of the big ship channel when Neil turned on the transistor radio. He wanted to try again to pick up local news about conditions in the Morehead City area. The best he could do was a station from Charleston, South Carolina. A voice announced that they were going to repeat the President’s address to the nation that had been broadcast at eleven o’clock that evening—four hours before.
With Frank handling the helm and the radio placed on the shelf to his left, the other three men and Lisa lined up along the front of the wheelhouse, peering through the Plexiglas windows with their half-dozen bullet holes out into the darkness and listening to the President’s voice.
“Good evening, my fellow Americans,” the voice began, slow, somber, and sincere. “It is my sad duty to speak to you on this fifth day of this horrible conflict. Our nation, a victim of an unprovoked attack by the Soviet Union, has suffered immense devastation. So many of our cities have been destroyed that, as you know, our ability to communicate with each other has been considerably reduced. The ability of your government to deal with the chaos and suffering, which have overtaken many parts of our land, is extremely limited. It is the task of our military forces to continue to wage war on the Soviet Union, not only to avenge the horror they have inflicted upon us, but also in order to try to destroy their nation before the freedom of all peoples has vanished from the earth.
“Those of us who have survived the initial Soviet onslaught must always keep in our hearts that we are fighting on now both for our individual survival and for the survival of the very idea of freedom. Mankind is at a terrifying crossroads: whether we shall all fall under the yoke of Communist dictatorship or live on with our cherished principles of individualism and freedom intact. I urge you all to do everything in your power to contribute to this struggle.
“I have unleashed the full power of all our military forces against the Soviet Union. I am happy to report to you this morning that though more than half of our great nation lies in ruins, even more of the Soviet Union has been destroyed. We have received no further reports of effective enemy action in the last twenty-four hours. The Russian people are also suffering for the crimes committed by their masters.
“However, despite our successes, I’m afraid that this morning I must issue a momentous warning that will take the form of an executive order. I have been advised by our best scientists working with the National Security Council that all Americans still living in certain areas in the northeastern part of our country must evacuate immediately. I am speaking now to the people of eastern Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. Within ten days to two weeks the radioactive fallout from the war will have accumulated to such a degree that its effects will make life in these areas almost impossible. Residents are to move as quickly as possible either to Canada or areas in the far north of the region, or south at least as far as North Carolina. United States military forces will provide all the assistance at their disposal, but airplanes and vehicles are in extremely short supply. In most cases you will have to provide your own transportation.
“Do not be deceived if your area has not yet received significant radioactive fallout. All indications are that radioactivity and its effects will spread and become worse, causing not only death to humans immediately, but contaminating water and food supplies, which will make these areas uninhabitable in the future. Thus, I hereby direct all citizens…”
The President’s voice went firmly on, reporting next on the greatly reduced level of fighting in Europe caused by the high casualties sustained on each side and indicating that he considered the stalemate to be a victory for the forces of freedom, although the destruction of most of Europe was, of course, a great historical tragedy.
He also indicated that he had sent a stern note to the governments of all thirteen nations of South America. He threatened grave consequences if they continued to profess strict neutrality in the world conflict. Although most of these governments were fascist dictatorships, they were still historically part of the free peoples of the American continent and their refusal to permit United States military forces to use certain ports, air bases, and fuel depots for repairs and resupply was hampering the war effort. In particular, the decision of Venezuela and Trinidad-Tobago to stop selling oil to the U.S. was tantamount to an act of war and would not be tolerated. He also condemned the governments of Mexico, the Bahamas, and several unnamed South American countries for their unjust, shortsighted, and sometimes cruel treatment of American refugees. He concluded his address with the announcement that with Congress unable to meet, he was using powers granted to him as Commander-in-Chief under martial law to order all Americans between the ages of eighteen and forty-five to report immediately for military service. His last words were an appeal to his fellow Americans to stand tall in this great crisis.
When the President had finished speaking and a commentator began summarizing his address, Neil turned off the radio. Jim and Tony went and sat down on a settee while Frank remained at the wheel; Neil sat down opposite them. They all became aware again of the sound of the wind and of Vagabond rushing down the seas in the darkness.
“It all seems so impossible,” Frank finally said, still staring forward. “The President talks about the depopulation of the whole northeast as if they were evacuating a small town because of a gas leak.”
“I wonder why the big cities got hit so bad,” Tony mused. “I thought I read someplace that Arizona and North Dakota were the places that were going to get clobbered. You know, our missile sites.”
No one answered.
“I wonder what ‘standing tall’ means?” Tony went on in a low voice.
“It means we’re all drafted,” Neil commented.
“Except for Frank,” Tony commented.
“I may not be drafted,” Frank said from the wheel, “but there’ll be things for me to do too. Our country needs us all now.”
Again no one spoke. Vagabond surged and roller-coastered forward in the darkness, rolled and surged again. The three men behind Frank sat silently staring at the deck between them, swaying with the ship’s swoops and swerves. Neil stood up for a moment to look forward and then sat back down.
“I’d like to fight,” Tony burst out after a while. “But where the fuck are the Russians? Are they supposed to invade?”
“I don’t imagine either side sees much of value left to invade,” Neil replied after a pause.
“What about Cuba?” Tony asked. “Are we going to take Cuba?”
Neil didn’t answer.
“I hope everyone just stops fighting,” Jim said.
“Not until we’ve won,” said Tony. “The Army needs us. They’ll find something for us to do.”
“I’m sure they will,” said Neil ironically.
“What’s that mean?” Tony shot back, sensing the cynicism.