Deluge (The Best Thrillers Book 2) James Best (best e book reader .TXT) đ
- Author: James Best
Book online «Deluge (The Best Thrillers Book 2) James Best (best e book reader .TXT) đ». Author James Best
âItâs not a good plan,â Baldwin said. âIt doesnât bring out the sun. But itâs a damn sight better than doing nothing.â
âOkay,â Mandel said, âMy control panel is blazing like Christmas. I have dozens of callers on the line. Willing to field a few questions?â
âAbsolutely,â Smith answered for them all.
âFirst caller, what question do you have for this carload of overeducated kibitzers?â
âThis is Sam in Antioch. Clown car would be more like it. Are you people nuts? The San Joaquin has already overflowed its banks, and you want to send a gazillion more gallons our way. Forget it. The Delta is far too valuable and fragile to wash it out to sea. Besides, you canât do this without an environmental impact study.â
Smith laughed. âGood one, you had me going for a minute.â
âIâm serious, bozo. If you do this, there will be lawsuits. Big time. This is nature. You canât mess with it. Itâs sacrosanct. Donât interfere. Donât, or youâll feel the wrath of Mother Nature ⊠and our lawyers. Youâll rue the day you when you receive an envelope from Californians for Sane Water Policy.â
âI think you misunderstood,â Smith said. âWe donât want to harness Mother Nature, we want to set her free. Our suggestion is to remove manmade obstacles.â
âBull. Anytime you mess with the status quo, you risk causing more harm ⊠and mark my words, you will be held accountable. An LLD beats a PhD any day of the week, so go back to Southern California where you belong.â
Mandel jumped in. âUnfortunately, itâs time for a hard break. Weâll be back in a few moments for another call.â
The phone went to elevator music.
âThat went well,â Smith said sarcastically.
Wilson said, âWe thought mentioning improving the flow before suggesting we drain the dams would sound better, but it didnât make any difference.â
âNo, it didnât,â Baldwin said. âEither way, people just visualize tons of water barreling right at them. I have to admit, the image is scary.â
Mandel came back. âOkay, to mix it up a bit, weâre going to Brenda in Clear Lake. She has a different perspective. Brenda, go ahead.â
âThank you, Bob. Itâs a pleasure to be on your show again. I disagree with one of your guests. When you said weâve been really bad, your guest called Santa Claus for the defense. Iâm not going to talk ill about that jolly olâ man, but remember, St. Nicholas was only a saint. He didnât have the power to call down the wrath of God, and the wrath of God is what weâre seeing. God is cleansing our sins. We are morally corrupt and despicable. We have veered away from the path of God. Right here in our own state, the film industry produces filth thatâs only exceeded by the porn of the San Fernando Valley. Silicon Valley seduces our youth with games filled with sex, killing, and who knows what all. San Francisco is literally an open cesspool. And Sacramento ⊠Sacramento is filled with politicians ⊠and thatâs all that needs saying there. Bob, mark my words, California is the American Babylon, and now weâre being punished by God Almighty.â
âBrenda, thatâs why I love you. You never equivocate. So God is throwing us under the bus. Any proof?â
âBob, you always ask for proof, and itâs right before your eyes. All you need to do is see. You should let me help you.â
âNooo ⊠Iâm a goner, Brenda, a reprobate for life.â He laughed heartily. âNo hope for me, Iâm afraid. But you really believe this is Godâs doing?â
âFlooding? Bob, think about it. Thatâs his favorite retribution. Your guests said that the last time God cleansed California was in 1862âright after the Gold Rush debased the morals of an earlier generation. Coincidence? I donât think so.â
âWell, Brenda, as always, an interesting perspective. Any questions for our guests?â
âYes,â Brenda said. âWhy do you feel entitled to interfere with Godâs will?â
âWe donât believe we are,â Smith said. âIf what we suggest works, then we believe thatâs Godâs will, as well.â
âOh, thatâs cute. Now youâre the hand of God. Pretty arrogant, if you ask me. The previous caller told you that an LLD beats a PhD. Well, God beats them both. Sorry, guys, heâs omnipotent.â
She rung off.
Mandel laughed. âBrenda always gets the last word.â
âBrenda has a point,â Smith said, âThe book of Isaiah says, âI am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness. I bring prosperity and create disaster.â That said, I also like good olâ Ben Franklinâs take in Poor Richardâs Almanac: âGod helps those who help themselves.â We need to save humankind and animals. If we do nothing, both die.â
âBut it sounds like both Mother Nature and God disapprove of your ideas. And others, it appears. I have one more call, if you have the time.â
âOf course,â Smith said.
He looked at Baldwin and shrugged.
âOkay, this is Candice Sherman, spokesperson for the governor. Go ahead, Candice.â
âFirst, I want to emphasize in the strongest terms possible that these people do not speak in any official capacity for the state, nor does the state endorse their views. Furthermoreââ
Mandel broke in. âExcuse me, Candice, sorry to interrupt, but why would my audience assume my guests spoke in any official capacity?â
âThey shouldnât. The governorâs Seismic Safety Commission is only a citizen advisory council that has no authority to make government policy. In fact, the commission discarded the views of these people. Two of them are not even members of the commission, and only one is an actual climatologist. They should not be proposing policy, especially not in this crisis. They are not experts in climate, flooding, or emergency response. To tell the truth, Iâm not even sure what supposed expertise they possess. Bob, hereâs the bottom line, they got on your show under false pretenses. Lastly, because their conduct has been highly unprofessional, I have been instructed by the governor to rescind their council appointments here and now.â
âMy.â Mandel stayed quiet for a long moment. âNeither I, nor
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