by Larry LaVoie
“I don’t like this,” Trick whispered. “We’re all locked in here. We’re toast if there’s a fire.”
David tried to ignore him, but Trick persisted. “Did I hear him right? Are we all being held hostage?”
David elbowed him. “You screw this up, I swear, I’ll let you rot in the brig.”
Trick laughed. “How about these seats? Best in the house.”
The stage was set up with two long tables with a podium between them. At each of the tables five people sat facing the room. Some wore uniforms and others plain clothes. A woman got up from the table on the right. She looked to be in her late fifties, reddish hair, and a green dress-suit that would have been popular fashion in 1980. She tapped on the microphone with her fingers. “May I have your attention, please?” Her voice had an annoying shrill to it. She leaned over and picked up a water bottle from the table, took a drink, and cleared her throat. “I’m Margaret Ames, Director of Homeland Security, and, on behalf of President Merrill and my distinguished colleagues, I would like to thank you all for leaving your hectic lives to attend this briefing. Before we get started, I would like to introduce those who are with me on stage.” She went through the introductions, which took the better part of half an hour.
Trick leaned over and whispered to David, “By the introductions you would have thought each had won the Cold War single-handedly.”
David ignored him.
Trick leaned closer to David. “I guess we should feel honored, us peons invited to dine with royalty.”
“Okay,” Margaret continued, “enough of who we are. I’m now going to tell you why we are here. I’m sure some of you have seen the news reports concerning increased activity in the Yellowstone Caldera. It was first brought to my attention six months ago; however, those of you who live day-to-day with the inner-workings of the park have been monitoring increased activity for at least the past ten years. Six months ago, an alert from Director of National Park Service, William Getting, crossed my desk. In a nutshell, the one page brief brought up the possibility that Yellowstone, after remaining silent for 600,000 years, may be getting ready to erupt again. At first I wondered what that had to do with National Security. I had never seen a plan that mentioned an eruption of Yellowstone as a possibility, but the report, albeit lacking in data, made it clear that an eruption would not be anything like the modern world has ever seen. The President asked me to make an assessment on how we would respond in such an emergency. If you haven’t discovered it already, under each of your chairs is a copy of a document, The Yellowstone Brief. You’ll have an opportunity to review the report in detail later, but allow me to give you a brief synopsis. We believe Yellowstone is in danger of erupting in the near future. In addition to putting the entire nation on alert, over the coming weeks, the United States is diverting all available resources, both military and civilian to carrying out the directives in this document. In it you will see our plan to divert the impending eruption of the Yellowstone Super Volcano.”
The room erupted in an uproar. There was laughter as well as loud arguing and shouting.
“I see I got your attention,” the Director said, loud enough that the room quieted down. “At least I know you are listening.” She managed a nervous laugh and took another drink of water. “The President asked me to do a job. The result of that effort is The Yellowstone Brief.” She lifted up the 2 inch thick, paper bound book. “A few weeks ago we conducted our first trial of taming an active volcano. It wasn’t widely reported, in fact it was classified for national security reasons. Until that trial it was believed nothing could be done, other than evacuate the area around a volcano, to mitigate the damage it would cause to people and property. When we learned that Yellowstone would likely erupt, we were faced with an impossible situation, let it happen and lose our country, or come up with a plan. In the event of an eruption, there is nothing we can do to protect the citizens of the United States from the deadly ash cloud that would fall several feet thick over most of the country. Hundreds of millions of Americans are in the path of a likely eruption and all would perish. If Yellowstone erupts the government itself would be brought to its knees. This would be the greatest challenge our nation has ever faced. As stark as it seems, we likely would not survive the catastrophe as a nation.
“What did make the news a few weeks ago was a disruption by a small group of environmentalists. The news report wasn’t entirely accurate. There was a terrorist attack on our site in Mexico and nearly 100 people perished.”
Trick nudged David. “Nice to know our government is leveling with us.”
Margaret Ames continued, “In spite of the disruption by terrorists, the operation was a resounding success. The volcano was disabled with minimal damage to the surrounding area. The people, who would have normally had to be evacuated, were safe from the harm. Had we not redirected the eruption, many lives would have been lost and a town and an electrical facility would have been destroyed. This was the first time in history that man has demonstrated the ability to control a natural disaster of this magnitude. The ability to control volcanic activity in populated areas has wide-ranging humanitarian and economic ramifications, to both wealthy as well as Third World nations. The impact of diverting natural disasters cannot be understated. If we stand by, knowing a disaster is about to occur, and we do nothing, we are morally corrupt. To quote Ronald Reagan, one of my favorite presidents, not discounting my current boss,” she paused to laugh. “Reagan said this in speaking against communism, but I think it just as appropriate in this time of national crisis In Reagan’s words, ‘You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us, we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.’” She took a sip of water to let the statement soak in. “All of you, the best of the best scientists in the nation, are here so that we can save the world from a disaster greater than modern mankind has ever experienced. I hope you will think deeply on the task ahead. The entire Yellowstone Park is under an outside communication blackout for national security reasons. Tomorrow morning, each of you will be placed on a task force to work in an area that needs your expertise. I pray that you are worthy of the task ahead. God bless you all in your efforts.”
For a moment the room fell completely silent. People didn’t know whether to clap or cry. Trick was at a loss for words as he rose from his seat. “You noticed how she slipped in the communication blackout. Can it really be that bad?” he finally asked.
David was stunned. He obviously had access to more information than 90% of the people in the audience, and he still knew very little. What kind of a task force are they going to assign me to? he wondered.
“Dr. Wayne,” a voice called to David as he got up from the chair. “I’m Margaret Ames. I had Dr. Clayton Brown point you out. I would like you to meet Colonel Mathews. He’ll be in charge of the tunneling operation. I want to personally thank you for your work in Mexico.” She looked down at his walking cast, “and the sacrifice you made.”
David reached out his hand to Director Ames. “Nice to meet you, Director.” He shook hands with her and then with Colonel Mathews, “ and you, Colonel.”
Colonel Mathews was in his late thirties, dressed in fatigues and field boots. His grip was strong. “Good to meet you Dr. Wayne. We’re going to be working closely together.”
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about you,” Ames said to David. “Colonel Mathews led the geological team that investigated the aftermath of the drilling site at Three Virgins.”
“First I’ve heard of it,” David said.
“My report is classified,” Mathews said, “but you did a remarkable job of identifying the tunneling route. Even with the tragic outcome of our team of scientists, the operation was a complete success. My team and I look forward to working with you.”
&
nbsp; As promised, David and Trick were kept together. The building that was being used as temporary quarters had once been used to house unmarried cavalry officers when the park was in its infancy. David and Trick had upper and lower bunks in the barracks. They shared the room with several non-military engineers and a nuclear physicist.
After they settled in, David tried his cell phone. There was no service. “I can’t get a signal,” he said to Trick.
Trick put his finger over his mouth and pointed toward the footlocker at the base of the bunk. He raised the lid for David to see the satellite phone he’d brought with him from his assignment in Alaska.
“Now, all we have to do is figure out a way to keep it charged without anyone finding out,” Trick said.
Chapter 23
August 23rd, Cody, Wyoming
The small private jet, with Heather and Joshua aboard, touched down at Yellowstone Regional Airport located 2 miles outside of Cody, Wyoming. After coming to an abrupt stop at the end of the runway, the plane turned around and taxied back to a hanger close to the terminal.
“Welcome to the Wild West,” Joshua said, unfastening his seat belt.
From her window, Heather was surprised to see the modern terminal. There were three commercial jets and half a dozen turboprops parked near the terminal. “Looks more civilized than I imagined,” she said. Maybe I can get a burner phone in the terminal, she thought, still angry at Green for not fulfilling his promise. She had to get a message to Agent Renfro.
She pointed to Andy standing in the baggage claim area. “I thought you and Andy were on the outs,” she said to Joshua, as they were ushered into the terminal.
“I said I was worried about the money he was spending. Andy’s all right once you get to know him.”
“You mean if you don’t cross him?”
“Whatever,” Joshua said, shutting down the conversation.
This can’t be good, Heather thought, hearing the alarm bells going off in her head. Why all the information and then the sudden turnaround? She tried to piece together the last two days. Joshua had confided in her after the house blew up. He had even blamed Andy for the act. Had he talked to Andy and been convinced it was someone else? Was the trip to Yellowstone an attempt to escape the FBI in Washington before they arrested him? Had they found out about her and were now isolating her from her base, so they can dispose of her? Too much imagination, she thought. She would have to keep her eyes open and be on guard. Being this close to Andy made the hair on the back of her neck bristle.
As they walked toward the terminal, they were met by Andy Rhane and a driver. He escorted them and their luggage toward the door. Heather looked around for a gift shop. “Excuse me, I have to use the little girl’s room,” she said, leaving her luggage and walking toward the restroom sign. The restroom was down a hall just past the gift shop. She was hoping she could duck in and get a burner phone. She glanced back and saw the driver was following her. She turned around. “I don’t know your name, but I can handle this by myself.”
The driver didn’t say anything. He kept following her and waited outside the Ladies room door. Heather walked through the swinging door and stopped inside. This is not good. She flushed the toilet, washed her hands, and used the hot air hand dryer, stalling for time. She cautiously opened the door and peeked out. Good, the driver is gone. She started walking down the hall toward the gift shop and was about to go in when she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind her. She turned to see the driver. He must have been in the Men’s room. She saw Andy and Joshua, still standing where she had left them. They were watching her. She went in the gift shop and the driver followed her in. Better make this good, she thought.
“I just need a few personal things,” she said, to the driver. “It’ll only take a minute.” She grabbed some mints and a prepaid cell phone and took them to the counter, hoping the driver wouldn’t object. She paid for the items, smiled at the driver, and walked out with a small plastic bag. “Thanks for waiting,” she said to Joshua, approaching him.
Andy took the plastic bag from her, took out the cell phone, and handed the bag back to her. “You won’t have any reception where we’re going.”
Heather was startled that he would do something so brazen. “I’m sure they have reception here. I want to call my mom and see how she’s doing.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Andy said, slipping the phone in his jacket pocket.
Heather looked at Joshua, looking for support.
“He’s right,” Joshua said. “No phones until the mission is over.”
Heather gave him a disgusted look. This is not going well. Again, she cussed out Green under her breath. I hope Green has a plan, because I just ran out of options.
They walked to the front of the airport and loaded their bags in a black SUV. Heather got in the back seat and Joshua climbed in beside her. It seemed like she could see forever out the window of the SUV. They drove for an hour. “Now I see what you mean about this being the Wild West,” she said, as they turned off the highway and headed down a long gravel road. Snowcapped mountains were visible in every direction. The drive on the gravel road was nearly another hour. A small herd of buffalo were gathered in the grasslands along the road. Occasionally, cattle shared the plains, gathered in their own small herd, but there were no houses or any indication that anyone lived in the area. The car slowed and turned off the gravel road and continued another five minutes, blazing a trail through pastureland. As they crested a rise, she saw the camp. It was made up of a dozen tents on raised platforms. Each tent was the size of a small house. This is indeed the Wild West and I’m pretty certain there isn’t any cell service either. All she could do now was watch and listen.
The camp was laid out in a square. Four rows of tents, each row consisting of 4 tents, sixteen in all. A motorhome, looking like a rock star’s tour bus, was parked behind the last row of tents. The driver pulled the SUV up to the bus.
“Not bad, huh,” Joshua said as he got out of the car. “We get to live in comfort while the troops rough it.” He turned to Heather with a smirk on his face.
“Troops?” Heather asked.
“Figure of speech,” he lied.
“Why all the way out here?” Heather asked. “I hoped we would be staying at Yellowstone Lodge.”
Joshua laughed. “You really have led a sheltered life.”
“Be honest with me. Why am I really here?” Heather asked.
“Let’s have dinner and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Dinner consisted of canned meat, potatoes and gravy, and green beans, also from a can. It was served cafeteria-style in the mess tent. Heather tried to assess what was going on as she let a man with a short black beard plop mashed potatoes on her paper plate. She dare not ask too many questions for fear they would become suspicious. That is if they weren’t already aware she was an FBI agent. She felt like a captive, isolated and alone. She still had no idea of how she was going to connect with Agent Green, her handler Matt Renfro, or how they were going to contact her. She wondered if they even knew where she was. She carried her plate back to the motor home and scooted onto a bench seat at the kitchenette.
A few minutes later, Joshua slid in beside her. “Sorry for the inconvenience. I couldn’t get a five star restaurant to cater way out here.”
Heather gave him a weak smile. “You said you were going to tell me what is going on out here. This doesn’t look like a normal protest.”
“I don’t blame you for being curious. This is the first time I’ve been involved in something this big. Andy convinced me it would be in the best interest of all of us to take on this job.”
Heather looked even more confused. “Josh, I don’t mean to pry, but you brought me halfway across the country to do a job and I don’t have the slightest idea what’s going on. I can’t imagine how I can help you out here in the middle of God knows where. You can’t blame me for being curious.”
Joshua took a bite of potatoes and gravy. �
�Check this out. The hamburger gravy isn’t half bad.” He took another bite and picked up a bottle of wine and poured some in Heather’s glass, before filling his own. “I guess I can fill you in. It’s not like you will be talking to anyone way out here.”
He’s right about that, Heather thought. What does he know?
Joshua set down his plastic fork and took a gulp of wine. “When Andy first told me about The Yellowstone Brief, I was against having anything to do with the protest he was organizing, especially after the fiasco in Mexico. I thought he had gone off the deep end. Frankly when he gassed those Mexican soldiers, I thought it was the end of our organization, but as luck would have it, the area they were digging into in the Mexican volcano exploded and wiped out all the evidence. I knew then, it was divine providence. I’ve never been a religious man, but at that moment the message Andy was preaching started making sense. We were home free. We were doing what was best for the world. For the past 200 years the modern world has raped the resources of our planet. The United States has done more damage to the planet than all the superpowers in the past. Do you realize what will happen to the environment if they are able to succeed in Yellowstone?”
“I’m still not following you. I thought they were trying to prevent an eruption in Mexico. Isn’t that a good thing?””
“The Yellowstone Brief is a government document that lays out a plan to tunnel into the active magma pool beneath Yellowstone Park. Until now, of all the things that threaten to destroy the planet, volcanoes are the only danger worse than man. Think about it, throughout the ages, volcanic eruptions have thrown the earth into mini ice ages, because they play havoc with the upper atmosphere, spewing out sulfur dioxide that reflects the sun rays back into space. But man has recovered, even thrived after surviving these cataclysms. All the global warming man has caused throughout the ages will be reversed in an instant if Yellowstone erupts. That’s a good thing, don’t you see? If we let them prevent an eruption, the world will not be able to correct all the wrong we have done and it will continue to die a slow death.”
