Collapse by Richard Stephenson Page B

the state’s infrastructure.”
     
    “What’s so confusing about that, my friend?”
     
    “Governor Prince is lying, sir.”
     
    This quickly caught Howard’s attention.  He was always proud when Hal could examine raw data and extrapolate hypotheses on human behavior. A lying politician was nothing new, but Hal had peaked his interest. “Continue. I can’t wait to hear this.”
     
    Hal navigated the vehicle to another road that would lead them near the outskirts of Denver.  “Governor Prince has indicated that an aircraft carrier is just off the coast of Merritt Island, fifty-six miles from Orlando.”
     
    “No aircraft carrier?”
     
    “No sir, I have yet to track any naval vessels en route to the coast of Florida.  The closest ones are the USS Enterprise and USS George Washington ; both ships are now on station in the middle of the Atlantic.”
     
    “Anyone else in range that might be en route?”
     
    “No sir, the remaining naval assets that could respond are either in the Iranian Theater or in the Indian Ocean waiting to take their place in the Persian Gulf.”
     
    “Malcolm is an excellent chess player. The Fifth Fleet is his queen ready to swoop into the Persian Gulf for a checkmate.”
     
    Howard didn’t bother to ask about the Pacific.  The Panama Canal would be closed to all vessels for at least another two years, most likely three.  The Miraflores, one of the three locks used to transport ships in and out of the canal, had suffered massive damage due to gross negligence.  Once the damage had been surveyed, the canal was closed.  A complete retrofit of all three locks would be required.  This did not help the American economy or its military in any way.  Ships had no choice but to sail around Cape Horn at the tip of the South American continent.  The detour meant another eighteen thousand miles for American ships navigating the globe.
     
    “I will definitely be asking Malcolm about that the next time we speak.”
     
    “I look forward to hearing the president’s answer, sir,” Hal responded.
     
    Beck Enterprises had one of the few remaining global satellite systems.  Most working satellites still in orbit were communication and GPS satellites that kept the cars on the road and kept people talking.  Howard didn’t really care about recovery efforts for a hurricane that had nothing to do with him.  He was more pleased that Hal had caught a politician in a bold-faced lie that he could tease Malcolm about.  He was even more pleased that his A.I. was continuing to evolve at a rate faster than he had anticipated.
     
    “What else is going on in the world, Hal?”
     
    “Sir, I feel I should delay the morning news report to tell you that our trip to the Castle will be delayed.”
     
    “Why?”
     
    “Rioting in Denver will cause us to take another route.”
     
    Howard couldn’t understand this; Hal knew that they were not to enter the city limits of Denver.  “How does that affect our route?”
     
    “The National Guard has extended its western perimeter of Denver by seven point three miles.”
     
    “That bad, huh?”  Howard began to get very uncomfortable.
     
    “Yes, sir.  One of the roads on our route is now inside the perimeter.”
     
    “Can’t we just go off-road?”  Howard was not looking to add two hours to his round trip excursion to see Meredith.
     
    “I’m sorry to report, sir, that given the terrain, the delay would remain the same and the ride would not be comfortable for you.  Would you like me to take us off road?”
     
    “I would not, Old Man.  Do what you think is best.”
     
    “Of course, sir.  Would you like me to continue with the morning news report?”
     
    “Sure, why not.”  Howard was not planning on paying attention, but he did like to hear Hal’s voice.  It was the only thing that made him feel like he was still at home.
     
    The rest of the trip was uneventful. Hal completed his morning report, and