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ree。 Go ahead； Coop； you're on Night Talk。〃
〃Gene； I got another improbable indecipherable for you。 There was a supersonic percussion a couple of hours ago from the direction of Portland。 I just got back from taking a little reconnaisance ride。 I could only make about ten clicks。〃
〃And what did you see on your reconnoiter？〃
〃It's what I didn't see。 Portland。〃
〃You didn't see Portland？ It's a good thing you got lost； Coop。 Once you've seen the big city you'd never be happy on your farm again。〃
〃I'm no agricultural entrepreneur； and I didn't get lost。 Portland did。 It's not there anymore and where it used to be there's a forest。〃
〃Coop； what do they drink out there in Carlton； or should I say how much？〃
Nick could not believe what he was hearing。 Someone was on the radio reporting a missing city and sounding serious。 The idea of a missing city was odd enough； but the caller made it seem even stranger。 It was something in the way he spoke about it。 For one thing the caller sounded excited； not depressed； not bewildered； not even sad。 Certainly if a city full of people had disappeared it would be a disorienting experience。 But the caller sounded downright enthused。
〃I don't imbibe while on duty； Gene； and I consider myself on duty until this emergency is over。 I'm a reserve police officer and proud of it。〃
〃I have reservations about police officers too。〃
'That's not all of it； Gene。 When I was looking through my optical assistance device I spotted a dinosaur。〃
〃A dinosaur？ You mean one of those extinct creatures that hasn't existed on earth for a few million years or so？〃
〃What else could it be？ It was either a dinosaur or the only ten…foot lizard I've ever seen。 I'm getting ready now to head back and see if I can apprehend the trespassing lizard。〃
〃You do that； Coop； and be sure to call back and let us know when you catch it。 Meanwhile I'll alert my listeners to be on the lookout for a missing city。〃 The line was cut and then Gene added； 〃Bob； let's start screening these calls。 Is there a full moon tonight or what？〃
Then Gene punched up line one from Sioux City； Iowa。
〃Gene； I should of taken your advice。〃 The caller had clearly been drinking。
〃What advice was that； Sioux City？〃
〃You told me to get rid of my wife。 We was having trouble 。 。 。 she was cheating on me。 You told me to take her stuff； throw it out of the house and her with it。〃
〃I remember； Sioux City。 So what happened？〃
〃She took the farm。〃
〃The farm equipment？〃
〃No； damn it； she took the whole…beeeeep…farm。〃
〃Watch your language； Sioux City。〃
〃We had a big fight and I stomped out and jumped into my pickup to go get a beer。 I got about halfway down the driveway when I got knocked off the road by a humpin' big noise。 I still can't hear so good。 When I looked back the place was gone。 I got no house； no barn； no stock； no nothing。 But I got plenty of nothing。〃
〃You wouldn't happen to have a relative living in Oregon would you？〃
〃I ain't got nothing no where。〃
〃Well； that brings us to the news on the hour 。 。 。 thank God。 I'm gonna turn it over to Jim Jenkins with all the latest on missing cities and farms； and when I e back let's talk about something normal like flying saucers； or abortion； but not dinosaurs。 I'm Gene Diamond and you're listening to America's nighttime favorite…Night Talk。〃
Nick kept turning the dial； but all the stations seemed to be getting their news from the same source and reported only on the New York blackout。
The security at the White House told Nick how serious the situation was。 The guard at the gate had been replaced by marines in uniform with secret service agents mixed in； and Nick was going through his third ID check when Elizabeth Hawthorne took his arm and expedited the process。 Nick couldn't help but notice that no one asked for Elizabeth's ID。
〃The reports are on my desk。 You can use my office。〃
〃Nice to see you too。 What is going on？〃
〃Read the reports。 I'm going to stay here and help the others through security。 Nick； I think you should know that Dr。 Gogh will be at the meeting。〃
Nick wasn't sure how to take that news。 Arnold Gogh was the President's first choice for Nick's job。 In fact he held the post for two years。 The President had been friends with Gogh when they were both faculty at the University of Michigan。 It was a strange friendship…Gogh the physicist and McIntyre the political scientist…a rapport based on patible political beliefs。 When McIntyre left academia for the state legislature Gogh stayed with the university； but he was never really out of touch or influence。
When the Democrats had splintered； McIntyre had coined the name Neodemocrat for the new party。 When he ran for the Senate； Gogh took a leave of absence and managed his campaign。 When McIntyre ran for the presidency as the Neodemocratic nominee； Gogh was an integral part of the successful campaign。 To everyone's surprise he turned down chief of staff； that position went to Elizabeth Hawthorne。 Instead； Gogh sought the position of science advisor and then reshaped it in his own image。
He would still be science advisor if it hadn't been for Gogh's penchant for young girls； recorded on video。 Gogh had to plea…bargain himself out of jail； and the position of science advisor fell to Nick。
Nick had a reputation as a popularizer of science。 His award…winning public television productions brought the mysteries of the galaxy； the seas； and the animal world to everyday people in a way they could understand。 Nick's success made him popular with the public； and with politicians； but his reputation as a scientist had suffered。 He was no longer a purist。 He no longer published in obscure journals that even the specialists ignored。 He'd dropped out of the great grant race。
But now he could pursue his first love…all sciences…and it was a trade he rarely regretted。 So he produced the television specials； delivered the talks； and served as a liaison between the President and the sciences。
Nick knew that Gogh's presence did not mean McIntyre's lack of trust in Nick。 Gogh was part of the President's emotional support network； and with the first lady out of town； Nick assumed President McIntyre might be using Gogh as a surrogate partner。 However； Gogh would diminish Nick's influence。
Nick watched Elizabeth walk back to the door and take up an observation post。 She was an unusual woman。 Not that she wasn't a fine…looking woman。 Her hair was silky。 Her skin was flawless。 Her rarely used smile dazzled； and her figure was made for snuggling up to。 But she never posted signs that she was willing or even interested。 Elizabeth was carbon monoxide； odorless and colorless。 Nick had no doubt she was just as deadly。
Nick found the files on the desk just where Elizabeth had said they would be。 They were easy to find； since the desk was bare except for one folder。
The first report； about the New York situation； gave Nick a sick feeling of deja vu。 It wasn't a report about a blackout。 The report clearly stated that part of New York City had disappeared。 Nick had trouble reading because he kept thinking about the talk show。 Three of the callers had said something about things missing。 Portland； Oregon； a farm in Iowa； and what had that first caller said？ Something about a candle factory buried in snow？ What was going on？ Nick flipped through the reports。 None of them mentioned Portland or anything in Iowa； but there were reports of blackouts； landslides； and bridge collapses。 They were mostly from the East Coast and Midwest。
As he read Nick felt as if he had been jangled by an old…fashioned phone。 The pounding in his chest built and his breathing quickened。 He recognized the feeling fight away this time。 It was fear again。
18。 THE MEADOW
The wonders of this age cannot pare to the wonders of the age of no time。 In that age we will surely know from whence we came。
…Zorastrus； Prophet of Babylon
New York City
POSTQUILT： SUNDAY； 7：07 A。M。 EST
It was ing across the meadow slowly； pausing frequently to get down on all fours with its head in the grass。 Then it stood； rising on its two bigger back legs until it towered above the meadow； looking around defensively。 It was eating the grasses at a leisurely pace； more interested in food than speed。 Mariel was both afraid and excited when she realized it was eating its way toward her window。 She watched the huge beast e closer； and with each giant step； the beast loomed larger。 First she thought it was the size of an elephant； but now she could see it was bigger。 Much bigger。
Filled with new excitement； Mariel knew it was a dinosaur。 She was excited and scared at the same time。 Her old eyes could finally see it clearly。 Grass hung from both sides of its mouth； and it stared at Mariel's building and the other buildings bordering its meadow。 From the curiosity she saw in those eyes； she knew this was an intelligent animal。 You could tell intelligence by the eyes。 In people； too。
Mariel was watching it stuff its mouth with grass again when someone started pounding on the door。 She shouted for whoever it was to go away； but the pounding only sounded louder。
Luis was at the door； and she open