Kade stared at the imagery of thousands flooding the streets. “I’m just concerned about how this happened. And for what purpose.” He turned towards Ananda. “Aren’t you?”

Ananda looked at him gravely. “The possibility of bloodshed is always of concern.”

Kade shook his head slightly. “I’m worried more that someone’s manipulating all this, doing it for a reason. I’m worried that someone’s trying to drive the whole world crazy with rage.”

Ananda kept looking at Kade, calmly, his mind giving off a deep tranquil patience.

“Kade,” the old eminent monk and neuroscientist said. “I’ve seen your plans in this area. But remember, anger cannot be fought with anger. Rage cannot be fought with rage. No amount of signal processing can cancel out suffering, or craving, or aversion. If you want to help a mind – or a world – find peace, do exactly that. Help it find peace.”

80
Crucial Conversations

Wednesday 2041.01.09

“What the hell were you doing out there?” Stockton yelled at her. “You were gone! China’s blown up! I’ve got a dozen calls from Jameson’s people! What the hell, Carolyn!”

Pryce held her ground. They were in the President’s private study, off the Oval Office. She was standing as he sat, gesturing angrily with his arms.

She’d seen John Stockton like this before. But never aimed at her.

“President Jameson knew,” she said quietly. “He recognized the names of the programs that created the PLF. That means they’re real. And that he knew.”

Stockton just grew more incensed. “You tried to trick me!” he yelled. “You ran a game on me, Pryce! You tried to trip me up into admitting to something I didn’t know!”

“I had to!” Pryce shot back. The only way to handle an angry Stockton was to show him your own anger. Show him you were invested.

“I assigned this to you,” Stockton yelled. “I wouldn’t have done that if I was behind it!”

“Yes, you would have!” Pryce said, cold and hard. She slapped the back of one hand into another. “That’s exactly what you’d do.”

Stockton stopped talking, just sat there, breathing hard. “Jesus, Carolyn.”

“He’s guilty,” Pryce said.

“You don’t know that!” Stockton replied.

“The car I rented was totaled, Mr President. Totaled.” She stared at him. “I’m only alive because I predicted that. Because I tricked them into thinking I was still in that vehicle.”

“And another thing,” Stockton said. “How did you even get that gear?”

“Please, Mr President.” Pryce let the absurdity of the question sound in her voice.

Stockton shook his head. “Car crashes happen. It was icy out there.”

“Cars crash when there’s a human involved,” Pryce said. “Not two software-driven vehicles, colliding on an empty stretch of road.”

Stockton leaned back in his chair, brought his hands to his face.