"Maybe it's better to issue them all amnesty," suggested Wallace, "and be done with it."

"I don't think you realize the seriousness of the situation for our grandchildren, Mr. President," said Monroe gravely. "By the year twenty fifty the American population will stand at over three hundred sixty million. Fifty years after that, with the present birth rate and flow of new immigrants, legal or illegal, the count will be half a billion. From there, the numbers become downright horrifying."

"Short of a devastating war or plague," argued Wallace, "nothing can stand in the way of the coming worldwide population explosion. As long as we have the capacity to feed ourselves, I fail to see the consequences."

"Have you seen the predictions by CIA analysts and geographers?" asked Sandecker.

Wallace shook his head. "I'm not sure what predictions you're talking about."

"The outlook for the future forecasts a breakup of the United States as we know it."

"Ridiculous."

"The Chinese in time will control the West Coast from San Francisco to Alaska and the Hispanics will govern the lands east from Los Angeles to Houston."

"It's happening before our eyes," said Harper. "Enough

Chinese have poured into British Columbia alone to take over its politics."

"I can't conceive of a divided America," said Wallace.

Sandecker stared at him for a moment. "No nation or civilization lasts forever."

The President's new chief of staff, who replaced Morton Laird, cleared his throat. "I'm sorry for interrupting, Mr. President, but you're late for the next appointment."

Wallace shrugged. "That's it, then. I'm sorry I can't carry this discussion further, gentlemen. However, since you do not agree with my positions on policy, I have no choice but to ask for your resignations."

Sandecker's eyes hardened. "You'll not get mine, Mr. President. I know where too many bodies are buried, literally. And if you fire me, I'll throw so much dirt on the White House your advisers will still be digging out by the next election."

"My sentiments go with the admiral's," said Monroe. "The INS and I have come too far together to hand it over to some bureaucratic stooge. My agents and I have worked closely together for the last six years to see light at the end of the tunnel. No, Mr. President, I'm sorry, but I won't resign without a fight either."

Strangely, in the light of such mutinous opposition, Wallace did not become angry. He looked at both men and recognized their grim determination. He realized they were no ordinary officials afraid of their jobs, but dedicated patriots. They were not men he wished to engage in what would prove a messy fight, certainly not now when he needed all the good press and TV coverage he could get to weather the storm. Then he smiled disarmingly.