The energy secretary nodded and walked immediately to the telephone to relay appropriate instructions.

Al Augustus addressed the science adviser. “Dr. Eisenblatt, have you been able to learn anything further about the physical circumstances at this hour?”

Eisenblatt stood. “Yes, Mr. Secretary, I have. We’ll be getting a satel lite feed momentarily, but in the meantime I can tell you that the worst disaster imaginable is now taking place all over the Western Seaboard. At this moment the tidal wave is devastating all of the coastal areas of California north of the point of impact. The surge is being contained on the east by the coastal mountain range. However, it is being channeled toward the north at tremendous speed. It will overflow Monterey Bay at approximately ten-thirty P.M., Pacific time. Then there is no doubt that it will hit San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco not later than eleven P.M., perhaps sooner.

“According to documents given to me just moments ago, it appears the waves will crest at something over three thousand feet in height, which means they will most certainly demolish all man-made structures in that region. Subsequently, it is reasonable to expect massive earthquake activity in the San Francisco Bay area as well. As I indicated earlier, we must still entertain the possibility that a significant portion of the state of California may very well separate from the mainland—or perhaps submerge completely.

“On a more pleasant note, I am able to report that several Corps of Engineers units have been able to deploy their sky hook helicopters along the main roads leading north and east from the San Francisco Bay area to lift stalled vehicles off the roads and, where possible, to higher ground. The emergency relief agencies have also ordered all available city buses and major transportation equipment commandeered to complement our military vehicles to get people out of there.

“We are working in the dark at this hour,” he continued, “and against impossible odds to evacuate as many people as possible in San Francisco before the wave hits. This will sound terribly grim and I apologize, but if we are lucky, we will lose only fifty percent of the population. Of course, the bridges, the airport, the elevated highways, the subways, the downtown office buildings, the houses, and even Candlestick Park will all be destroyed.”

The distinguished older man shook his head sadly. Fatigue lines were now etched in his face. “Whatever else we may know,” he said, “this part of America is gone forever, ladies and gentlemen. Gone forever”—his voice trailed off—“forever. . . .”

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had been called to the meeting. He arrived during the satellite display, but remained silent out of deference to the more senior officers. But, seeing the science adviser overcome by emotion, he stood to report on the next target—Seattle.

“If I may, ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “we expect the situation in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest to be very much like that in San Francisco. A wall of water between one thousand and fifteen hundred feet in height will flood Puget Sound at approximately two tomorrow morning. Bremerton will be destroyed. The Boeing Aircraft factory, which is in a low area between Seattle and Tacoma, will be destroyed, which means that all equipment, along with the jet transports currently in production, will also be destroyed.