Other End by John Shirley

Author:John Shirley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2006-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Washington, DC

The President of the United States was at the window of his office, looking out at the White House lawn. Trees leaned in a breeze, straightened, then leaned again. A flock of pigeons circled. The President’s thoughts circled too.

“I just don’t know,” he said. He hated to admit he didn’t know. But there was no denying it today.

“This OBM Shield has national security ramifications, sir,” said his aide. “Some would say it’s a threat to national security—the OBM people say it’s protecting us from a threat to national security.”

“Suppose it’s protecting us from … Judgment? Suppose these things they’re worried about are some of the Signs? According to that report … well, they might be.”

“Kind of funny, that report, sir—like he’s losing his objectivity. Great deal of that going around.”

“But just suppose … suppose we’re trying to stop Judgment Day?”

“If it’s God’s work, sir, nothing can stop it.”

“True. We might be punished for trying, though.”

“Far as I understand it, OBM is simply trying to block a certain high energy particle phenomenon.”

“A what?”

“A transmission of some kind, sir. Now, if it’s God—does God ‘transmit’ in anything human beings can pick up on their instruments?”

“That’s a damned good point.” The President took a long breath. Made up his mind. “I guess we’ll let them go ahead. You read all these reports?”

“Yes sir.”

“I’m kind of shook up about all these soldiers refusing to take their orders. Anyhow it’s like they’re insanely particular about their orders. Some they’ll take, some they won’t. Six suspected insurgents released from detention in Yemens—with no authorization. Just, whoops, out they go.”

“They didn’t let them all go, sir.”

“No. It’s just—where do they get off making these unilateral decisions?”

The aide thought that the very question had been asked about the President more than once, but he kept his peace.

“We’ve got about a third of Congress suddenly absentee,” the President went on. “And the ones who are still there are saying crazy things. It’s getting into the television news, now. Media’s not taking directions anymore. Who the hell do they think they are?”

“I don’t know, sir. Chief of Staff says that if we want to regain control we’d better let OBM move ahead—and help them out if we can.”

The President nodded briskly. “That’s what we’re going to do. That’s just what we’re going to do, by God…”

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