“Chaos will be our friend. It will prepare the way for Gogstad's political takeover of weakened governments. Think of it as water Darwinism. The strong will survive.”

The icy blue eyes seemed to bore into Francesca's skull. “Don't think this is retribution for all the slights I have received because of my stature. I am a businesswoman who realizes the proper political climate is necessary to do business. This has required no small investment on my part. I have spent millions building up a fleet of water tankers that would transport water from places that have it, towing it behind them in huge ocean going bags. I have been waiting years for this moment. I have not dared to move because I feared your process. It could destroy my monopoly within weeks. Now that I have you and the anasazium, I can strike. Within days the entire western half of the country will run out of water.”

“That's impossible!”

“Is it? We will see. Once the Colorado River is finished as a supplier, the rest of the pieces will fall rapidly into place. My company controls most of the fresh water supplies in other parts of the world. We will simply turn the faucet off, so to speak. Gradually at first, then more forcefully. If there are any complaints, we will say that we are producing as much water as possible.”

“You know the results,” Francesca said levelly. “You're talking about turning much of the world into desert. The consequences would be terrible.”

“Terrible for some, but not those who control the world's water. We could get any price we ask.”

“From desperate people. You would soon be exposed as the monster you are.”

“To the contrary. Gogstad will say that we are ready to move water from Alaska, British Columbia, and the Great Lakes to other parts of the world in the tanker fleet I have been building. When Gogstad's beautiful tankers appear off the coast we will be hailed as heroes.”

“You're already apparently rich beyond the dreams of many. Why do you need more wealth?”

“This could benefit the world in the long run. I will prevent wars from being fought over water.”

“A pax Gogstad, imposed by force.”

“Force will not be necessary. I will reward those who bend to my will, punish those who don't.”

“By letting them wither and die.”

“If that's necessary, yes. You must wonder where your desalination process fits in.”

“I assume you would never allow it to spoil your mad plot.”

“To the contrary, your process is an important part of my scheme. I don't intend to keep my tankers at sea forever. They are only a stopgap measure while the world builds the fantastic infrastructure that will run water down from the polar ice cap. Vast agricultural areas that have gone to desert will have to be invigorated with huge-scale irrigation.”

“No country could afford that. Whole nations will go bankrupt.”

“All the better to snatch them up at a fire sale. Eventually I will build desalting plants using the Cabral process, but I alone will control their output.”