When he finished, four other voices whispered, “Amen,” and four other hands followed him in making the sign of the cross. Tears flowed down all five faces as they hugged and kissed one another—perhaps for the last time. Now all they could do was wait.

Manuel walked quickly over to the shed and pulled out a long water hose connected by a pump to an underground storage tank. He dragged it over to the edge of the clearing and filled the survival trenches to a point less than a foot below the surface. He took each of the boys by the arms and lowered them down into their trenches. First Juan, then Miguel, then Ricardo. Finally, he came over and held Cathy’s arms as she stepped down into the water.

“Thanks, Dad,” said Miguel. “Thanks, Dad,” the others echoed.

Then Manuel put his hands down on the side of the last trench and lowered himself into the water. He could hear the others dipping their heads under the water every few minutes to cool off. Then they all waited silently, and they prayed.

CHAPTER FIVE

VICE PRESIDENT TED RUST was an imposing figure. He was a former movie actor who had been cast as a political hero in several of his films. He had done such a good job of acting, speaking his lines with such conviction, that the voters of his home state felt he had the makings of a real politician. In yet another case of life imitating art, they elected him governor by a landslide.

Approaching middle age had only accentuated Rust’s image as a leader. His hair was brown but going salt-and-pepper. His voice had become even richer and more distinguished. Millions would gladly have followed him anywhere. In reality, nothing could have been more absurd. Ted Rust was emotionally unstable, insecure, and in need of constant affirmation.

Yet, despite many flaws, he had the good sense to surround himself with capable supporters—including a brilliant chief of staff and two equally brilliant young speechwriters. The chief ran the office while Rust delivered prepared television speeches flawlessly. So flawlessly, in fact, that his approval rating as governor hit 80 percent. He was nominated by acclamation for second place on his party’s winning national ticket.

The vice president learned of the president’s suicide through his encrypted satellite telephone aboard Air Force Two. They were over the Caribbean at the time, en route to Chile for the state funeral of General Pinochet. His first inclination was to keep on going, but after a moment’s thought, and the prompting of his flight crew, the vice president realized they had no alternative but to turn around and return to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington.

Vice President Rust left his stateroom in the forward part of the airplane and signaled for Vince D’Agostino, his chief of staff; the air force brigadier general assigned as his military aide; and his speechwriter to come with him. He appeared to be in control, but, in truth, he was on a short fuse. As they gathered hurriedly around the table in the conference room near the center of the plane, a fax was coming through that contained the text of the president’s message to the nation.