Chaos Theory: A Feel Good Story About the End of the World by Robertson Colin

Author:Robertson, Colin [Robertson, Colin]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Gin & Tonic Press
Published: 2015-10-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

"I can't say, I told you so." – R. Dawkins

Donna Craig, the White House Press Secretary, stood in her customary spot behind the podium, trying to tame the middle-aged lions that were the White House press corp. She looked around the room of half-raised hands and pointed to NBC News correspondent, Chuck Todd. "Yes, Chuck?"

"Same question as yesterday, does the President have any plans to bring in the National Guard to help quell these riots?"

Donna put on her patient face. "Not at this time. The riots, as we all know, have been decreasing. The violence has reduced. Local police might have been initially caught off guard, but have been doing a first rate job in restoring order across the country. The President thanks them, and all first-responders, for their service."

"What about Cleveland?" someone shouted.

"The standoff in Cleveland is regrettable. The President is following it, and all events, very closely. Introducing the army at this point however, would not help alleviate the situation. In fact, he believes it could escalate it further." Donna looked about the room for another of her favourite reporters. This was the time-tested protocol of the press corp—you can ask pointed questions but, if you want to get called on again, make sure they're not barbed. She spotted Julie Conner from Fox News and gave her the nod, "Julie?"

"Is the White House still denying the existence, or at least authenticity of Weapon X?"

This was another question Donna had already answered many times before. She sometimes wondered if reporters learned their craft from her ten-year-old son, asking for something again and again in the hope of wearing her down. 'Weapon X' was the name the media had given to the alleged weapon held aloft by the terrorist Ali Madda. No one could accuse the media of originality. CNN's Wolfe Blitzer had been running 3D holograms of the device, opening it to show it containing glowing green isotopes which would then explode. CNN would then cut to a graphic of desolated cities. They even ran estimates, based on 'expert analysis assumptions', also known as 'complete fabrications', about the number of survivors. They advised their viewers to "go to their basements" and "duck and cover" in the event of detonation. Donna now assumed her motherly calm look, it was the same face she used when comforting her young son. "One of the reasons that the riots have been controlled is that the initial fear has subsided. People have realized how silly it is to panic the moment some terrorist claims to have a mythical 'doomsday device'. Remember, chaos is what the terrorists want. People who spread fear are helping the terrorists win." This was the tactic that had been decided on prior to the press conference. First, dismiss the danger. Next, make it clear that only fools and conspiracy theory nuts could take the existence of such a weapon seriously. The Vice-President himself had been on ABC News the night before joking about how the same people who believed

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