Atlantic Island (18 page)

Officer Dougherty raised his hand. "Mr. Mayor, if I may," he began.
 

"Yes, Officer Dougherty, please."

"Well, sir, our top concern for the town hall should be keeping the people from breaking out into a riot. The information we now know is confusing, improbable, scary, and seems to answer the question of 'when will we get home?' with 'never.' I can make sure the Security Force is well represented at the town hall, even beyond what we had initially discussed. Still, I encourage you to consider the psychological ramifications of what you're going to tell people."

"It is an opportunity to remind people of how much we have accomplished in such a short time," said the woman two seats down from Theo. "We have created a country out of the ashes of the old world and we need to keep the focus on that. Most people have fully accepted this life as the only one they have available to them. We need to encourage this in every way."

The mayor nodded and then looked at Theo. Theo wished a trap door would open under his chair. "Theo, what do you think? You, more than any of us, have knowledge of the concerns of the citizens. What do they want? What do they need?"

Theo's mind raced as he considered what to say. He could feel all eyes in the room on him. "Sir, I think the people want to know what's happened." He looked around the room. Nobody seemed ready to jump out of a chair and attack him. He took a breath and continued. "The people deserve to know what has been found. Sure there will be a lot of people upset and scared. I think we all feel that way about it. But with the right encouragement they can come through all that and be even more united."

"Mr. Essex," said Tiberius, "it's very…noble of you to speak for the people and to seek transparency for them. As I am a firm believer in educating our youth, allow me to teach you something about governing. The populace is a mass of sheep, and the government is the shepherd that guides them and protects them from the wolves. You give the people too much credit when you assume they can handle the kind of information you propose we give them. You think that they will only be angry if they are sheltered. That is nothing compared to the misplaced anger they will feel when confronted with the truth. They will seek to tear down this government in their furor and if they succeed only anarchy will remain. Anarchy is doom, Mr. Essex. A firm ruling hand is survival."

"But Deputy Mayor Tiberius, the people miss their loved ones. They worry about them. Maybe it will give them something positive to know that what happened in the Event happened to us… that there's a chance all their friends and families off the island are totally fine."

"Friends and families who they will, in all likelihood, never see again," said Tiberius. "To long for such things is a weakness that will eat at our young nation like a cancer. As far as we are concerned, those 'loved ones' are dead and gone. The past. We concern ourselves with the present and the future."

Theo couldn't help but glance at Mayor Lucas as the deputy mayor spoke. He saw the sadness in the man's eyes at the talk of loved ones being gone forever.

"Paul, I understand where you are coming from," said Lucas. "We've talked endlessly about the need to push the country ahead, whatever that implies. Still, Theo's point has value. If I don't give some answers on Halloween there will be rumors that we are hiding things. It's only natural for people to be suspicious of those who lead them. We can not allow suspicion to blossom into conspiracy."

There were mumbles of agreement around the room. Theo realized the dichotomy of loyalty. The advisors had a deep loyalty to and respect for Mayor Lucas, but had a fear of the deputy mayor that kept them from voicing full support. Lucas did not seem to be too upset about Tiberius's objections. Theo assumed the mayor was well used to maintaining the balance of power in these meetings, and probably in the course of running the government as well.
 

Tiberius was not satisfied with the mayor's explanation. "You are proposing to go before thousands of people and tell them what, exactly? Information that I myself am not even positive is true…that we've been transported to another universe? You're likely to be laughed out of the room before the riots begin, and they will begin. You give people far too much credit, Sam. We are the order they need. We need to guide them with an iron hand and that means telling them that while investigations have been underway for some time, the findings are strictly confidential and we are using that research to help us help all of them. Do you see?"

"Perhaps," said the mayor, "we should take a break from this line of discussion and talk instead about what we the 'iron hand' should be doing about Dr. Johnson's findings."

"Sir," began Dr. Johnson, "We are very close to finalizing the adjustments to the helicopter that should allow for a trip to the approximate coordinates of New York City. In addition we are making tremendous improvements to the deep-sea exploration vessels. We should be prepared by mid-November for another trip to Philadelphia, with a series of mini dives along the route through New Jersey."

"Very good," said the mayor, "but tell me, what is your gut feeling? Have we truly been dislodged from our own universe?" Theo saw the weariness in the mayor's face. He felt terrible for Mayor Lucas. Here was a genuinely good man facing unique and extraordinary circumstances. Not even the Founding Fathers had been forced to lead people through this much uncertainty.

"I'm afraid so," said Dr. Johnson. "All evidence points to-"

"Evidence?" yelled Tiberius. "Evidence? Doctor, your so-called evidence is based on finding Nazi flags. How can you say for certain that we aren't survivors of a great flood that occurred during the Event?"

Dr. Johnson tensed. Theo watched the man carefully, curious to see if anyone would truly challenge Tiberius. "Sir, I can't say for certain. Still, it is extremely unlikely that that would be the case. The island in the world we knew was at a much lower elevation than the inland areas. It is hard to imagine a scenario where we could remain above water that rose so far over the buildings of Philadelphia, unless we factor in what we know and theorize that our island sits on top of this universe's version of the island, thereby raising it to a much higher elevation. This would explain the gradual sloping of the island with higher elevation on the former bayside and low elevation along the beach."

Theo looked at Tiberius. The deputy mayor had not expected such a well-developed rebuttal. Theo felt a bizarre sense of pride for Dr. Johnson, as if the man was here standing in for Ryan.
You tell him Doc!

"And you expect," said Tiberius, "that the average man or woman on this island will buy that?" Theo heard the advisors shifting in their seats. Tiberius had just brought the conversation back to where nobody wanted it to be.

"You wish to tell them something else?" asked Dr. Johnson. He seemed genuinely confused.
 

"I wish to tell them nothing!" shouted Tiberius. "We will say nothing about any of this!"

"That is enough, Paul!" said Mayor Lucas. He looked genuinely furious. Theo had never seen him looking like that. "You wish to tell everyone his or her place and yet you seem in danger of forgetting yours. You are a valued part of my committee and I appreciate your concerns but nobody is here to give orders. I will listen to your opinions and make a decision as I have always done. Do you understand?"

"I understand..." said Tiberius slowly, "I understand that you have been overwhelmed by your responsibility and may not be suited to run this country any longer."

"Hold on just a minute-" started Officer Dougherty, rising from his chair.

Tiberius wheeled around to face him. "Don't you dare cross me, Dougherty! You serve at my pleasure and what I give I can take away!" He turned and addressed the group. "You are all fools blindly following a man who is operating far beyond his expertise. You deserve the fate that awaits you all." He turned and walked out of the room in long, purposeful strides.

"Well...that was uncomfortable," said Mayor Lucas with a smile. "Now then, I'd like to iron out some details for Halloween before we go into a discussion about the first quarter of our new school's operation. Theo, I take it you will have much to say about that."

Theo and his friends walked to Boardwalk Hall from Theo and Kylee's apartment. Living at the edge of the city made commutes much easier than they had been from the penthouse apartment where they had taken refuge after the Event. As Theo watched people stream toward the arena he was taken aback by his own emotions. Was it possible he felt sentimental thinking back to the tumult and chaos of those first few weeks? Theo would have laughed at the ridiculousness of human nature if he weren't sure that the others would give him a hard time for bursting into laughter.
 

Theo felt a strange sense of privilege and had discussed it with his friends earlier in the evening. They shared his feelings. The unusual circumstance of having one of them in the security offices, one on the science committee and, of course, Theo himself on Mayor Lucas's advisory committee led to the teens having a strong sense of what was really happening on the island. It was no small coincidence that Theo and Ryan in particular were as well positioned as they were due to their age. It seemed that Atlantic Island's leadership had made the uncommon choice to value the opinion of the younger members of the population.
 

Of course, not everyone felt that the teenagers should be allowed a voice of any sort. Paul Tiberius had made his opinion crystal clear at the advisory meeting. Theo felt responsible in some way for being the straw that broke the camel's back. He was not foolish enough to think that rapport between the mayor and his deputy had always been perfectly civil. No, they probably argued frequently. Mayor Lucas had basically told Theo as much. Still, he knew that his presence had tipped the balance beyond a point of recovery. He had disrupted a tenuous relationship at the core of the fledgling "leadership." He couldn't feel good about that no matter how Mayor Lucas tried to assure him it wasn't his fault.

Most of the meeting after Tiberius stormed out had gone well. The group had dissenters to be sure, but Lucas made a point of hearing them out and they treated the mayor, and Theo for that matter, with a great amount of respect.
 

Theo had strongly advised the mayor to give the students a reason to be in school and a reason to strive to achieve. He explained that many of those he spoke with were lost and confused without the possibility of college. Too often, he said, he had heard the words "what's the point?" and he himself wondered the same. When he finished he looked around expecting the others to laugh or to attack him as Tiberius had done. Instead he saw serious consideration and heads nodding up and down.
 

The mayor had asked Theo to stay behind when the others left. "Well Theo, what did you think of our little club?"

"I'm sorry it didn't go more smoothly for you, Mayor."

"Nonsense," said Lucas, "I was thrilled with the amount we accomplished. You spoke wisely and with passion, just as I had hoped."

"But sir, the deputy mayor—"

"I've told you before not to worry about him," said Lucas. He looked angry. Theo thought, but also tired. "I'm serious, Theo. The deputy mayor forgets that he is an elected official, as am I. We serve the people, not the other way around. We've had to be a little unfair because of the Event. We gave ourselves some temporary powers, and we left the questions of terms and elections for another day. I do think that that day is drawing near. The people have a right to be heard, just as they have a right to be informed within reason, as we have discussed at length. I have done my best to lead the best way I know how, and I want to give the people of Atlantic Island the chance to tell me how I've done. The deputy mayor is not my running mate. He stands on his own two feet and he will face the judgment of the people as will I."

"I agree with all of that sir, but I still didn't want to be the reason for him to...spit in the face of your authority."

Mayor Lucas laughed, suddenly and uncontrollably. He pulled out a handkerchief and blotted his eyes. "I'm... I'm sorry Theo! It's just... all this stress really has me on edge and that just really tickled something." He took a moment to compose himself. "You should know that Paul has questioned me from day one. He wanted to be mayor, you know. Tonight's display may have been a little angrier than usual but it's essentially the normal order of things. I dare say if Paul Tiberius agreed with me I'd truly believe we'd found ourselves in a different world."

His face turned serious again. "I want you to remember something, Theo. The United States was founded with the understanding that the citizens could question and disagree with the government. It's a concept I happen to like and would like to see continue here. The deputy mayor has a right to disagree with me. So does anyone. The day that I or anyone in the leadership decides that he or she is the only one with the right answers... that will be a dark day indeed."

 
As Theo was about to leave the room, the mayor called to him one last time. "I'm proud of you Theo. You have reassured me that my faith in you is well placed. You have a bright future ahead of you."

Theo struggled for the proper words. "Thank you, sir. I look forward to learning much more from you."

Now, as Theo and his friends passed the security checkpoint and entered the promenade around the arena, his thoughts were with the mayor. Lucas had the unfortunate and unbelievable responsibility of keeping the public motivated and positive as they moved toward an uncertain future.
 

"So tell me, Kylee," said Bill, "what's the Security Force got planned for when the people start screaming, 'Nazis!' and rioting through the streets?"
 

She laughed. "I was thinking of screaming and running with them. Did you have another suggestion?"

Bill smiled. He was still significantly bruised from Bertier's attack but he didn't show any sign of discomfort. He hadn't mentioned the attack since he left the hospital. Kylee was trying hard to get some information on the investigation. She was deeply concerned that the investigation was being brushed aside. Theo wondered if it had something to do with Tiberius.