She let the litany of disasters sink in, then went on. “Westerners would become the new 'Okies,' straight out of The Grapes of Wrath. Only instead of moving west to the Promised Land, they would pile their families into their Lexus and Mercedes SUVs and head east.” With irony in her rich voice, she said, “Ask yourself how the crowded eastern seaboard would react to thousands, millions of jobless westerners moving into their neighborhood.” She paused for dramatic effect. “Wouldn't it be interesting if the people in Oklahoma refused to take us under their wing?”

“I wouldn't blame them,” said a developer from Southern California. “They'd greet us the same way the Californians did my grandparents, with guns and goon squads and road blocks.”

A rancher from Arizona grinned ruefully. “If you Californians weren't so damned greedy, there would be enough water for everybody.”

Within minutes everyone was talking at once. Brynhild let the argument go on before rapping the table with her knuckle.

“This fruitless discussion is an example of the squabbling over water that has gone on for decades. In the old days ranchers shot each other over water rights. Today your weapons are lawsuits. Privatization will end this squabbling. We must end the fighting among ourselves.”

The sound of clapping echoed in the hall. “Bravo,” said Kinkaid. “I applaud your eloquent performance, but you're wasting your time. I intend to ask Congress to reopen the whole issue.”

“That might be a mistake.”

Kinkaid was too agitated to detect the veiled threat. “I don't think so. I have it on good authority that the companies that have taken over the Colorado River system spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to influence this awful legislation.”

“Your information is inaccurate. We spent millions.”

“Millions. You-?”

“Not personally. My corporation, which is the umbrella organization for those companies you mentioned.”

“I'm stunned. The Colorado River is under your control?”

“Actually, under the control of an entity set up for that express purpose.”

“Outrageous! I can't believe you're telling me this.”

“Nothing that has been done is illegal.”

“That's what they said in Los Angeles when the city water department stole the Owens Valley river.”

“You make my point for me. This is nothing new. L.A. became the biggest, richest, and most powerful desert city in the world by sending forth an army of water surveyors, lawyers, and land speculators to take control of water from its neighbors.”

Professor Dearborn spoke up. “Pardon me, but I'm afraid I agree with the congressman. The Los Angeles case was a classic case of water imperialism. If what you're saying is true, you're laying the groundwork for a water monopoly.”

“Let me pose a scenario, Dr. Dearborn. The drought persists. The Colorado River is unable to meet demand. The cities are dying of thirst. You wouldn't have lawyers debating water allocation, you'd have gunfights at the water hole as in the old days. Think about it. Thirst-crazed mobs in the street, attacking all authority. The complete breakdown of order. The Watts riots would be a schoolyard fight by comparison.”