Walters and Murray regrouped in Director Stiller's offices to report on the traffic camera recordings but there was nothing interesting to tell him. Both had their teams searching all the evidence they could find and had come up with disappointingly little information. While the absence of an answer is a type of answer in itself, this was not much consolation.
"Chief, there isn't any clear pattern to the movement of buses. There is no evidence of a group of them in any one place and there is no evidence of any with a particular paint job or anything of that nature. This one looks like it might be running dry but there is another possibility."
"Keep talking, Walters," said Stiller, impatient for the whole report.
"We can assume a maximum speed of fifty-five miles per hour for the buses as they wouldn't be wanting to attract any attention from police while the members of Congress are onboard. If we calculate the number of hours since Congress started burning and multiply that by fifty-five then we can establish a maximum radius from Washington for our search."
"OK so far. Continue," said Stiller.
"If we look within that radius for a place that could support almost six hundred people from Congress, the list shouldn't be too long. It can't be very public or they would be screaming like schoolgirls to anyone who would listen."
"It follows, yes. Murray, what have you got."
"Same thing, Chief. We have been talking this through and this was the conclusion we reached."
"Alright, let's see that list of possible destinations and we will take it from there. Good work."
"Chief, there is one more thing," said Walters. "I have a new man in my office, name of Kent Reed, and he has another theory."
"Tell me," said Stiller.
"What if Raggedy Andy has no intention of keeping Congress. They were of no value before the revolt and would not likely have been of any value after. They have no application as hostages as Raggedy Andy already holds the entire city without them," said Walters.
"Makes sense," said Stiller. "What does he propose?"
"If his theory is true, then finding the buses may not give us much as Congress probably won't be on them. Most likely Raggedy Andy would just drop them off somewhere to let them walk back. That keeps them quiet for a while and Raggedy Andy is rid of a large nuisance. For example, maybe they just drove them out to the Monongehela National Forest or the Shenandoah National Park, took away their mobile phones and left them to walk back."
"Keep him pursuing it. Sounds credible," said Stiller. "Does anyone see any potential for violence toward them?"
"No, Chief," said Walters. "We have some men circulating in the crowd on the Mall and from what we understand that burning the Capitol Building was an accident. Somehow the fire started and it ran away before it could be extinguished. Fire companies couldn't get near the building to respond. Injury does not appear to have been their intention."
Andrea came back into the Oval Office accompanied by some other aides who busied themselves with rearranging furniture as needed. After she was satisfied that was being handled, she walked over to the President.
"Mister President, the food and refreshments will be here shortly. There is also one more thing."
"Yes?"
"Carol McDonnell from the Tea Party is demanding she be allowed to talk to you, sir."
"Tell them to blow her off, Andrea. I don't have time to talk to Russia much less Alaska."
"We have tried that, Mister President. Even if they hang up on her she just calls back. She has been on hold for about thirty minutes now."
"Alright. There are some minutes before the food will arrive. If she wants a spotlight, I will give her one. This is a moment of being careful what you wish for. Patch the call to me and send it out on the live feed to CNN."
Andrea acknowledged the request and quickly left the room. In a few minutes a telephone rang and the President picked up the receiver. He looked to the camera crew for an acknowledgement that they were getting it too and then answered.
"Carol?"
Sputtering with rage, McDonnell shouted, "I demand to be included in negotiations with these flag-burning rebels. No-one has worked harder than I to preserve the Constitution."
"Ever since my first term, you have worked to undermine my administration, Congress, and any hint of a legislative process, Carol. Frankly, I'm amazed the Constitution survived."
Livid, McDonnell shouted, "Damn you!"
The President turned to Malcolm and asked, "Do you have any need to speak with Carol McDonnell?"
Malcolm smiled and shook his head.
"The Revolutionary Council does not wish to speak with you, Carol. Is there anything else?"
"I have a right to be heard and I demand to speak!"
She was absolutely furious and her voice was cracking from her rage.
"You have a right to speak but you do not have a right to be heard. It is the choice of the people whether anyone listens. Does anyone here have any wish to hear from Carol McDonnell," asked the President as he looked around the room. There was no affirmative sign from anyone.
"I believe we are done, Carol. Thank you for your call."
The President moved to put the receiver back on the cradle and her shouting could be heard all around the room until the call disconnected.
For the first time since this started, the President sat back in his seat and relaxed. He then held up his hand as if it were a six-gun and he pantomimed blowing smoke from the barrel.
"I have wanted to do that for years!"
At The Refuge, Roger said, "Speaking of food, I believe this would be a good time for all of us. Daniel, you and your team must be famished and I know I could use a bite."
"To anyone who can prepare a meal without losing a finger or starting a fire, please follow me," said Susan.
Goldberg and Margolis looked at each other then stood together and went after her. Some others looked like they wanted to go too but Roger waved them off, "The kitchen isn't big enough to send the whole platoon out there but your enthusiasm is appreciated."
"What do you think, Dad. It looks like people are relaxing all over," said Harrison.
"Don't get over-confident, son. This is a very large country and I expect a very long night. While they're cooking how about I show you to the sleeping rooms. I don't expect anyone will be sleeping any time soon but it would be good to know where they are and where to get your things stowed."
Everyone got up to gather their things and then followed Roger to see their rooms. As they walked, Roger said, "All of the rooms are essentially the same and this is nicely egalitarian but it also makes them tough to tell apart. There are labels on the doors and I suggest you use them until we're all clear on which is which."
"Is it better to be farther away from the common area and noise, etc, Dad?"
"It makes no difference at all. The doors are plenty for soundproofing as there is no way any sound will come through the cavern walls. Each room has a king-size pillow-top bed with down pillows but there are no televisions. I've always believed a bedroom has two purposes and one of them is not watching television."
"You're killin' me, Dad, and we may be bordering on too much information."
"Pillow-top," said Campbell. "There was no chance of affording anything like this on what I make as a graduate student. I don't think we will want to leave."
Roger laughed and then said, "OK, let's get your things squared away and then get back to the common area."
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Rachel Hawkins reporting from CNN Headquarters in Atlanta. Police in Texas have been tipped off to a group of heavily-armed men, apparently members of the NRA, who are driving in four-wheel drive vehicles toward Austin where they said they would go to liberate the city. The Texas Highway Patrol and Texas Rangers are moving into positions to head them off but are concerned they may go off-road to bypass them. We will keep updating this story as more information comes in to us."
Hawkins paused to catch her breath but didn't stop for much longer than that before continuing.
"In Washington, the military has been evacuating those wounded in the drone strike on the National Mall. Thus far they report about forty people were killed and double that number were hurt with injuries varying from critical to relatively-minor. We do not currently have any names but we do not expect any of that information until their families have been notified. At the same time, the military has been air-lifting supplies and such things as portable toilets into the area. Other than the drone strike we have no reports of violence there."
"Just a moment, please. There is news coming in from Texas now."
Hawkins turned her attention to the monitor to read what was coming in to her. In broken sentences, she read it to the camera.
"Three SUVs ran over spike strips."
"Tried to continue but road blocked."
"Texas Rangers fired tear gas and concussion grenades."
"Men wearing gas masks and body armour."
"Some small arms fire."
"Two Texas Rangers wounded. Extent unknown."
"Eighteen men in custody. Physical status unknown. Ages roughly twenty to fifty."
"Highway Patrol in pursuit of three other SUVs. Two police helicopters supporting."
"We will report in more detail as we learn more about this breaking news."
Hawkins stopped speaking and made a motion toward Abrams for a drink. In her earpiece, he asked, "Pepsi again?"
Hawkins nodded and then waited silently, acutely aware the red light on the camera was still lit but it was surprising her that she was getting accustomed to it.
Roger walked back into the room in time for the tail end of the report and Susan was already there. She had a pain look on her face but this time there were no tears.
"Cowboy vigilantes," she said. "This is not a surprise but it's hard to imagine what they really expected to accomplish."
"Too many guns and too few brains," said Roger disgustedly.
"We don't know if they're stupid but they didn't think this through very well," replied Susan. "Likely the Highway Patrol will round up the rest of them but it will be interesting to see what charges they face. They can hardly be charged with conspiracy to revolution when we're in the middle of one."
"I imagine the wounded Texas Rangers can make some suggestions. I just hope they survive," said Roger.
"Chief, there isn't any clear pattern to the movement of buses. There is no evidence of a group of them in any one place and there is no evidence of any with a particular paint job or anything of that nature. This one looks like it might be running dry but there is another possibility."
"Keep talking, Walters," said Stiller, impatient for the whole report.
"We can assume a maximum speed of fifty-five miles per hour for the buses as they wouldn't be wanting to attract any attention from police while the members of Congress are onboard. If we calculate the number of hours since Congress started burning and multiply that by fifty-five then we can establish a maximum radius from Washington for our search."
"OK so far. Continue," said Stiller.
"If we look within that radius for a place that could support almost six hundred people from Congress, the list shouldn't be too long. It can't be very public or they would be screaming like schoolgirls to anyone who would listen."
"It follows, yes. Murray, what have you got."
"Same thing, Chief. We have been talking this through and this was the conclusion we reached."
"Alright, let's see that list of possible destinations and we will take it from there. Good work."
"Chief, there is one more thing," said Walters. "I have a new man in my office, name of Kent Reed, and he has another theory."
"Tell me," said Stiller.
"What if Raggedy Andy has no intention of keeping Congress. They were of no value before the revolt and would not likely have been of any value after. They have no application as hostages as Raggedy Andy already holds the entire city without them," said Walters.
"Makes sense," said Stiller. "What does he propose?"
"If his theory is true, then finding the buses may not give us much as Congress probably won't be on them. Most likely Raggedy Andy would just drop them off somewhere to let them walk back. That keeps them quiet for a while and Raggedy Andy is rid of a large nuisance. For example, maybe they just drove them out to the Monongehela National Forest or the Shenandoah National Park, took away their mobile phones and left them to walk back."
"Keep him pursuing it. Sounds credible," said Stiller. "Does anyone see any potential for violence toward them?"
"No, Chief," said Walters. "We have some men circulating in the crowd on the Mall and from what we understand that burning the Capitol Building was an accident. Somehow the fire started and it ran away before it could be extinguished. Fire companies couldn't get near the building to respond. Injury does not appear to have been their intention."
Andrea came back into the Oval Office accompanied by some other aides who busied themselves with rearranging furniture as needed. After she was satisfied that was being handled, she walked over to the President.
"Mister President, the food and refreshments will be here shortly. There is also one more thing."
"Yes?"
"Carol McDonnell from the Tea Party is demanding she be allowed to talk to you, sir."
"Tell them to blow her off, Andrea. I don't have time to talk to Russia much less Alaska."
"We have tried that, Mister President. Even if they hang up on her she just calls back. She has been on hold for about thirty minutes now."
"Alright. There are some minutes before the food will arrive. If she wants a spotlight, I will give her one. This is a moment of being careful what you wish for. Patch the call to me and send it out on the live feed to CNN."
Andrea acknowledged the request and quickly left the room. In a few minutes a telephone rang and the President picked up the receiver. He looked to the camera crew for an acknowledgement that they were getting it too and then answered.
"Carol?"
Sputtering with rage, McDonnell shouted, "I demand to be included in negotiations with these flag-burning rebels. No-one has worked harder than I to preserve the Constitution."
"Ever since my first term, you have worked to undermine my administration, Congress, and any hint of a legislative process, Carol. Frankly, I'm amazed the Constitution survived."
Livid, McDonnell shouted, "Damn you!"
The President turned to Malcolm and asked, "Do you have any need to speak with Carol McDonnell?"
Malcolm smiled and shook his head.
"The Revolutionary Council does not wish to speak with you, Carol. Is there anything else?"
"I have a right to be heard and I demand to speak!"
She was absolutely furious and her voice was cracking from her rage.
"You have a right to speak but you do not have a right to be heard. It is the choice of the people whether anyone listens. Does anyone here have any wish to hear from Carol McDonnell," asked the President as he looked around the room. There was no affirmative sign from anyone.
"I believe we are done, Carol. Thank you for your call."
The President moved to put the receiver back on the cradle and her shouting could be heard all around the room until the call disconnected.
For the first time since this started, the President sat back in his seat and relaxed. He then held up his hand as if it were a six-gun and he pantomimed blowing smoke from the barrel.
"I have wanted to do that for years!"
At The Refuge, Roger said, "Speaking of food, I believe this would be a good time for all of us. Daniel, you and your team must be famished and I know I could use a bite."
"To anyone who can prepare a meal without losing a finger or starting a fire, please follow me," said Susan.
Goldberg and Margolis looked at each other then stood together and went after her. Some others looked like they wanted to go too but Roger waved them off, "The kitchen isn't big enough to send the whole platoon out there but your enthusiasm is appreciated."
"What do you think, Dad. It looks like people are relaxing all over," said Harrison.
"Don't get over-confident, son. This is a very large country and I expect a very long night. While they're cooking how about I show you to the sleeping rooms. I don't expect anyone will be sleeping any time soon but it would be good to know where they are and where to get your things stowed."
Everyone got up to gather their things and then followed Roger to see their rooms. As they walked, Roger said, "All of the rooms are essentially the same and this is nicely egalitarian but it also makes them tough to tell apart. There are labels on the doors and I suggest you use them until we're all clear on which is which."
"Is it better to be farther away from the common area and noise, etc, Dad?"
"It makes no difference at all. The doors are plenty for soundproofing as there is no way any sound will come through the cavern walls. Each room has a king-size pillow-top bed with down pillows but there are no televisions. I've always believed a bedroom has two purposes and one of them is not watching television."
"You're killin' me, Dad, and we may be bordering on too much information."
"Pillow-top," said Campbell. "There was no chance of affording anything like this on what I make as a graduate student. I don't think we will want to leave."
Roger laughed and then said, "OK, let's get your things squared away and then get back to the common area."
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Rachel Hawkins reporting from CNN Headquarters in Atlanta. Police in Texas have been tipped off to a group of heavily-armed men, apparently members of the NRA, who are driving in four-wheel drive vehicles toward Austin where they said they would go to liberate the city. The Texas Highway Patrol and Texas Rangers are moving into positions to head them off but are concerned they may go off-road to bypass them. We will keep updating this story as more information comes in to us."
Hawkins paused to catch her breath but didn't stop for much longer than that before continuing.
"In Washington, the military has been evacuating those wounded in the drone strike on the National Mall. Thus far they report about forty people were killed and double that number were hurt with injuries varying from critical to relatively-minor. We do not currently have any names but we do not expect any of that information until their families have been notified. At the same time, the military has been air-lifting supplies and such things as portable toilets into the area. Other than the drone strike we have no reports of violence there."
"Just a moment, please. There is news coming in from Texas now."
Hawkins turned her attention to the monitor to read what was coming in to her. In broken sentences, she read it to the camera.
"Three SUVs ran over spike strips."
"Tried to continue but road blocked."
"Texas Rangers fired tear gas and concussion grenades."
"Men wearing gas masks and body armour."
"Some small arms fire."
"Two Texas Rangers wounded. Extent unknown."
"Eighteen men in custody. Physical status unknown. Ages roughly twenty to fifty."
"Highway Patrol in pursuit of three other SUVs. Two police helicopters supporting."
"We will report in more detail as we learn more about this breaking news."
Hawkins stopped speaking and made a motion toward Abrams for a drink. In her earpiece, he asked, "Pepsi again?"
Hawkins nodded and then waited silently, acutely aware the red light on the camera was still lit but it was surprising her that she was getting accustomed to it.
Roger walked back into the room in time for the tail end of the report and Susan was already there. She had a pain look on her face but this time there were no tears.
"Cowboy vigilantes," she said. "This is not a surprise but it's hard to imagine what they really expected to accomplish."
"Too many guns and too few brains," said Roger disgustedly.
"We don't know if they're stupid but they didn't think this through very well," replied Susan. "Likely the Highway Patrol will round up the rest of them but it will be interesting to see what charges they face. They can hardly be charged with conspiracy to revolution when we're in the middle of one."
"I imagine the wounded Texas Rangers can make some suggestions. I just hope they survive," said Roger.
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