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Gogh's last sentence was spoken as if from a pulpit。 The President's eyes looked glassy and he seemed to be uninterested in the discussion； as if he'd expected some disagreement and was letting it run its course。 Elizabeth looked encouragingly at Nick； so he took another approach。
〃It won't work。 You won't be able to identify enough identical time periods to drop the bombs into。 Besides； even if you could； the time displacement would end up taking place sometime in our future and past； depending on how far apart the detonations are at the various sites。〃
〃True。 That is why we intend to detonate all the bombs in the same displacement at the same time。 The simultaneous explosions will create the effect immediately。〃
〃Immediately in our past〃 Nick corrected。
〃Yes； but with immediate effects in our present。〃
〃On what do you base that conclusion？〃
〃On an improved version of a theory you endorsed just a short time ago。〃
The President's loud slap on the table broke the exchange。 〃Dr。 Paulson； there is no place for professional jealousy in my administration。 You will receive appropriate credit for your contribution to solving our problem； but don't attack Dr。 Gogh for taking your idea a step further than you were able to yourself。 I asked for solutions and I got nothing from anyone except Arnie。 You had your chance。 Now unless you have something constructive to contribute I suggest we move on。〃
〃Mr。 President； perhaps no one offered a solution because there is no solution。〃
〃That's defeatist。 Let's move on。〃
〃This won't bring your wife back； sir。〃
〃I said move on！〃
Tears filled the President's eyes and Nick regretted mentioning Sandy。 He knew if he pushed it any further now he would risk losing his seat at the Security Council and his chance to influence the oute。
The rest of the meeting was a discussion of possible detonation sites。 The one chosen could not have any evidence of human presence； or any signs of civilization。 They did not want to risk killing people from the past； since that might set off a chain of events that would alter the present。 Since munication across the country was disrupted； they had very little information to work with； and as a result the list of potential sites was small。 There was an Alaskan site southeast of Nome described as having sparse vegetation。 It was on the list because of unconfirmed reports that a pack of dinosaurs was attacking a herd of elk there。
The second site was in northeastern Washington； where a huge glacier now covered parts of Washington； Idaho； and Canada。 However； the detonation site was unfortably near the Canadian border。 The third site was what had been Portland； Oregon。 Gogh announced that they were expecting aerial photos any minute to confirm the eyewitness reports； but so far it appeared to be a displacement populated by dinosaurs。
The discussion moved on to the preparation efforts。 The military was using overflights of the potential sites to develop the bit maps that would guide the cruise missiles to their target area。 Since the missiles would be launched by both ships and B…l bombers and would have to travel different distances over a variety of terrain； timing would be tricky and need highly accurate maps。
Nick felt dazed。 His mind had not switched over to the practical side of the plan； he couldn't get the image of one hundred bombs going off at once out of his mind。
Nick paled at the thought of the impact on any site； but especially Portland。 Bombing uninhabited sections of Alaska or eastern Washington was horrifying； but the thought of its effect on a metropolitan area sickened him。 Abruptly； he decided to risk expulsion from the council and broke in at the first pause。
〃Since the sites are unstable； sometimes they are the present and sometimes the past。 How will you be sure to deliver the bombs to the past？〃
Gogh smiled at the question。 Clearly he had thought of this and prepared an answer。
〃The missiles are terrain guided。 They will be programmed with the terrain from the past。 If they do not identify the terrain as matching their program they will not arm their warheads。 Instead； the missiles will harmlessly pass over the site；〃 Gogh said； and then swept his audience with his eyes。 〃Thus guaranteeing the detonations will occur in the past。〃
Nick conceded to himself that it could work。 Still； from what he knew of the programming of cruise missiles Gogh wasn't telling the whole story。
〃Dr。 Gogh； isn't it true that under bat conditions cruise missiles often arrive at their target after previous attacks have significantly altered the terrain？〃
Gogh looked at Nick suspiciously； as if he knew where Nick was leading him。
〃Can you tell the council how the missile's programming handles that contingency？〃 Nick continued。
He glared at Nick； leaving unfortable silence in the room。 Finally； Dr。 Gogh answered in a monotone。 〃When the missile nears its termination point； and the terrain ceases to match the digitized map； the missile can exercise an option to use the last confirmed position to estimate distance and direction to target。〃
Many of those at the table began murmuring； but Nick wanted to make sure everyone knew full well what Gogh's missiles would do。
〃In other words； Dr。 Gogh； if the missiles get lost； they will guess。〃
This time everyone murmured。
47。 DEATH FOR DINNER
Our decoys were bringing the flock down and we were ready to fire； when there was a flash。 Suddenly； we were pelted by roosted ducks…burned； feathers and all。
…Reuben Black； Winston； Maine； 1972
Warm Springs Indian Reservation； Oregon
POSTQUILT： TUESDAY； 2：25 P。M。 PST
The sounds of the feeding were horrifying； but the thought of who was being eaten was worse。 Dr。 Piltcher sat in a crumpled heap； broken by the thought of the fate of his friend。 Petra kept her arm around his shoulder while he stared at his hands in his lap。 Her words were no fort to him； but Petra〃 continued speaking softly； as if to soothe herself。 Colter stood nearby； holding his spear like a talisman； but soon he returned to the others and squatted。
〃That's not Dr。 Coombs。 I mean what we're listening to。〃
Dr。 Piltcher continued to stare at his hands； but Petra looked up。
〃What？ How would you know？〃
〃Well。 。 。 there's just too much eating going on。 Don't take this wrong 。 。 。 but if that was Dr。 Coombs he would have been gone a long time ago。 Know what I mean？〃
Petra was sickened by the logic； but it made sense。 The dinosaur that terrorized them was so big； Dr。 Coombs would have provided just a snack； and the gruesome sounds ahead indicated several feeding dinosaurs。 Dr。 Piltcher remained oblivious to Colter's suggestion until Petra took his hands in hers。 He looked up then； his eyes puffy and red。 Petra was going to speak but Colter cut her off。
〃Doc； Dr。 Coombs would be an appetizer； and whatever's up there is eating a six…course dinner。〃
That brought Dr。 Piltcher to his feet； his cheeks reddening； but he turned to Petra； not Colter。 When he spoke his voice trembled。
〃Monoclonius was a herbivore。 It wouldn't eat my friend； it would only kill him。〃 Dr。 Piltcher paused to control his grief。 When he spoke again it was with anger。 〃If you want my opinion； somewhere in there；〃 he said； pointing toward the noises； 〃is a pack of small scavengers making a meal of my best friend。〃
〃Uh…uh。〃 Colter argued。 〃Whatever is up there is big； and they're having a feast； not a snack。 Let me make it plain for you。 If that was Dr。 Coombs； those mono…monsters would be picking their teeth with his bones by now。〃
Petra watched as Dr。 Piltcher's face flushed again。 This time he turned to face Colter； staring him in the eye。 When he found his voice it came in a near shout。
〃What do you know； Colter？ In all the time I've known you； you've shown an interest in only one thing。〃 He turned and pointed at Petra； opened his mouth to speak； but then turned back to Colter。 〃Colter； you are what you are； an ignorant young man who's biggest acplishment will be seducing a young woman I admire 。 。 。 and love。 Why she chose you 。 。 。 chose to carry you； I'll never know。 But I'm telling you； George 。 。 。 Dr。 Coombs； is dead。〃
Colter flushed this time； but when he spoke it was in a whisper。
〃He may be； Dr。 Piltcher。 I never said he wasn't dead。 I'm just telling you what they're eating up there isn't him。〃 Colter paused； collecting his thoughts。 He wasn't angry； but he was hurt。 〃As for being ignorant； I guess I am when I'm back in the city。 Sitting around discussing all that crap you guys think is so important； I probably looked pretty dumb。 I admit it； I wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for Petra。 But you tell me； Dr。 Piltcher； who's the ignorant one out here？ Who wouldn't let me go get a gun？ And who is whispering and who was shouting when there's a pack of dinosaurs about a hundred yards away？〃
Dr。 Piltcher stared back defiantly； but had no answer。 In the city his vast storehouse of the arcane had given him cult status and a circle of followers who marveled at his knowledge and wisdom。 But here in this strange world； book learning meant nothing。 It didn't matter whether it was monoclonius or triceratops that had impale