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he governor's palace； to which he hod been posted that morning。 We were later to confirm he was telling the truth。 In what manner he was so instantly transported no one has yet to explain。
…Mexico Gty； October 1593
Washington； D。C。
POSTQUILT： SUNDAY； 1：40 P。M。 EST
Elizabeth's organizational instincts expanded well beyond the President's needs； and it was no surprise to Nick when she presented him with a schedule of activities。 He was only mildly irritated by Elizabeth's intrusion。 Nick admitted to himself he was stumbling blindly。
He had accessed the PresNet； the puter network of presidential science advisors。 PresNet was Dr。 Gogh's achievement。 One of his strengths was in organization。 He'd managed to negotiate an appropriation out of Congress to fund his dream。 Using the prestige of the White House； and the money from Congress； he'd recruited a far…flung group of scientists from all disciplines to serve as the 〃President's Science Advisor Associates。〃 The networked scientists received the prestige of being part of an elite group； state…of…the…art puter equipment； and perceived access to the White House。 More practically they received unlimited database access； on…line superputer time； and the means to municate with colleagues across the country through the sophisticated puter network。
Nick guessed that Gogh never imagined the network would be used in the way Nick was using it。 Unfortunately； big chunks of the network were down； and those ing on…line were seeking as much information as they were providing。
The few on the network reported that physical changes had been wrought； apparently instantly； in widespread parts of the country； with no obvious connection。 Nick had two assistants working on assessing the amount of affected acreage； and once he had enough data； patterns might present themselves； and theories could be generated。 At least that was the idea。 But the only pattern Nick could discern was no pattern。
There were now 〃confirmed〃 reports of changes in other parts of the world； including Russia。 Cannon had sent over these new reports with a note emphasizing that 〃only confirmed reports were reliable and only these reports should be shared with the President。〃 Nick wondered what criteria the CIA used to decide if a report was 〃confirmed〃？ Three reliable witnesses ？ Ten ？ Did one of them have to be a CIA agent ？ N ick also had a copy of the administration's policy on leaking information and an admonition to keep the Security Council discussions to himself。 The note ended with Cannon's scrawled signature and a handwritten note stating； 〃we still have no confirmed reports of dinosaurs。〃
The schedule Elizabeth imposed on Nick was grueling。 She checked with Nick on the hour to see if he had a solution to the problem yet； and at the same time scheduled a series of interviews for him with people who claimed to know what was going on。 The list included three psychics who had predicted cataclysmic events； two religious fanatics from cults that preached the end of the world； and a man who had been arrested in front of the Capitol Building for taking off his clothes and masturbating。 He later explained that the masturbation symbolized what was soon to happen to the world。 Nick thought about it but could see no connection between a public orgasm and time displacement。 The last person on the list was a college kid who had been arrested for holding tourists hostage in a cave put in Oregon。 He too had anticipated the end of the world。
Each of Elizabeth's rogues' gallery had an individual file。 Nick thumbed through them and whistled silently through his teeth。 The psychics each had a thick bundle of papers； including faxed air force reports。 〃Why would the air force keep files on psychics？〃 Nick wondered。 The religious fanatics had FBI files and the masturbator a thick police record。 The college kid's file was empty except for a note saying an air force colonel and a psychologist were bringing him out from Oregon。 Now that was curious； Nick thought。 A psychologist and a colonel； not a lieutenant； or a sergeant； but a colonel！ Nick put the kid's file to the bottom and prepared himself to meet 〃Madame Sylvia。〃
Madame Sylvia was large but not fat…instead； what Nick's mother liked to call 〃big boned。〃 Her hair was a mass of dyed brown ringlets。 Fond of makeup； Madame Sylvia used it generously。 She was also delighted at being called to the White House。 Madame Sylvia's file noted she had a contract with a supermarket tabloid。 Nick could only guess what a White House summons would do for its circulation。
〃I understand you predicted the world would end？〃 Nick probed gently。
〃I predicted catastrophe； not an end。〃
〃An end to the world as we know it。〃
〃The world as you know it。 I am part of a greater world；〃 Madame Sylvia announced loftily。
〃A different world than this？〃 Nick inquired。
〃This world is part of a greater world。 The essence of my being is part of the greater consciousness that is the spiritual fabric of the universe。〃
〃Is that what allows you to see the future？〃
〃It is an explanation your mind can grasp？〃
〃But not all of your predictions have e true； have they？〃
〃True。 My physical self clouds my vision。 Once I am released from my body I will see with perfect clarity。〃
Nick thumbed through the file and pulled out a three…month'old tabloid clipping listing Madame Sylvia's predictions for the next six months。 Elizabeth； or someone； had circled one in red： 〃Earthquakes； floods； and storms will wreak unprecedented havoc。〃
〃Can you tell me more about this？〃 Nick asked politely。
〃New York is gone。 There are floods； landslides； hurricanes； tornadoes。 These are the catastrophes I predicted and they have e true。〃
Nick was surprised to hear her say New York was gone。 The last Nick had heard the media people were still calling it a blackout。 He made a mental note to check Cable Network News。
〃What is the source of these catastrophes？ Why did they happen all at once and why now？〃
〃It is part of a larger plan。 A plan I cannot explain in terms you could understand。〃
Nick dug deeper into the pile。
〃I see you predicted cataclysms six 。 。 。 no； seven times in the past three years。 In the last five years you also predicted contact with aliens three times； two presidential assassinations； that California would slide into the sea； and that cancer would be cured 。 。 。 you predicted that four times。〃
〃As I told you； my vision is sometimes clouded。〃
〃That physical…self problem？〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃Thank you for ing。〃
The religious fanatic was next； painfully thin with a pinched； lined face and dark emotionless eyes。
〃Mr。 Love？ Is that your real name？〃
〃That is the name I received upon sanctification。 Jesus gave it to me；〃 Mr。 Love intoned。
〃It's a good name。 Why did you think the world was going to end？〃
〃Jesus told me。 In a vision。〃
〃Something has happened； but the world did not end；〃 Nick countered。
〃God has only begun。〃
〃What will happen next？〃
〃I see hellfire and brimstone。 I see the wrath of God poured out from the heavens。 Not a stone will be left standing。 Not a being left living。〃 Mr。 Love stood up； eyes burning。
〃Th