Part 4 (1/2)
”What you saw doesn't change what you see now. Does it?”
The question was far more important than he realized, because in that instant, his mind had to make a decision on whether to accept or reject the impossible. And once made, that decision was binding.
Tears formed in the corners of his eyes.
”You're here. My G.o.d, you're really here.”
She smiled and kissed his hand again.
”Yes, lover, I'm here.”
Pike rubbed his fingers gently across her soft lips, struggling to make sense of what was happening.
”You're in my head, aren't you?”
Yumi stepped closer and slipped her hand down between his legs.
”Does it feel like I'm in your head?”
”No,” he managed in a husky voice. ”But how can this be possible?”
She squeezed gently. ”You needed me, so I came.”
”Am I going mad?”
She shrugged. ”Does it matter?”
Pike shook his head. ”Just don't leave me. Not ever.”
”I'm not going to leave you,” she said softly. ”I'm going to help you.”
”Mr. President, did you hear me, sir?” The voice was that of Tom Pinker, the Secretary of Homeland Security. Pinker was a small, serious man with a powerful voice and a stare that kept people talking long past the point when they should have stopped.
In addition to Pinker and President Pike, Jack Fry, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, General Kent Carr, the Secretary of Defense, and the newly appointed vice president, Andrew Stinson, were at the table.
Pike brought himself back, leaning away from Yumi's strong hands as she kneaded his shoulders.
”Of course I heard you.”
”Yes, sir. As I was saying, progress continues to be made in establis.h.i.+ng the New Colonies.”
President Pike found the term ”New Colonies” to be particularly fitting, given that the cities would act in a way much like the nation's founding colonies. Not only would they provide people with functional cities in which to live, they would also give the government a population to govern. The first three cities being readied for habitation were Olympia, Was.h.i.+ngton; Norfolk, Virginia; and Denver, Colorado. They were chosen not only because of their geographical diversity but also because together they would allow for s.h.i.+p and rail traffic.
”And when will they be ready?”
”Our best estimates are six weeks for Olympia, two months for Norfolk, and a full four months for Denver. The good news is that everything's ahead of schedule.”
”There's no good news to be found here,” said Pike. ”The country is a cesspool of crime and violence. All we're doing is offering a few safe havens in a nation that used to be the most prosperous place on earth.”
”Yes, sir, I only meant-”
”I know what you meant,” Pike said, holding up a hand. ”Let's move on. I've asked Vice President Stinson to work with the Treasury Department to reestablish the country's monetary system.” He turned to Stinson, a pudgy little man whom he found to be not only weak but so thoroughly enamored with his meteoric rise to office that he lived in constant fear of making a mistake. In short, he was the perfect vice president. ”Andrew, tell us what's being proposed.”
”Yes, Mr. President,” Stinson said, clearing his throat. ”It should be no surprise to anyone that the dollar is no longer considered a viable currency.”
”Explain no longer viable.'”
”Simply put, no one wants to conduct trade using dollars.”
”I thought it was the strongest, most respected currency in the world.”
”The dollar was certainly admired for its stability, but the strength of any nation's currency is tied to its financial health.”
”Which is currently in the toilet.”
”Uh, yes sir, that's one way of putting it.”
”Where does that leave us? We're sure as h.e.l.l not converting to the yen or ruble.”
”No sir. Those currencies have also been completely devalued. Rather than adopting an existing currency, a consensus has been reached to use a gold-backed currency.”
”Gold-backed meaning what exactly?”
”It means that a nation's currency supply must have direct traceability to verifiable gold reserves.”
”I suppose I should know this,” said Pike, ”but how much gold does the US hold in reserve?”
”Roughly eight thousand metric tons.”
”Is that a lot? Put it into perspective for me.”
”Before the pandemic, each metric ton would have corresponded to about forty million dollars, for a total of roughly three-hundred-and-twenty billion dollars.”
”That's a fraction of what our national budget was for any given year.”
”Yes, sir, that's correct. We had moved away from the gold standard back in 1973.”
”In other words, we bookkept trillions of dollars that weren't backed by anything other than our good name.”
”Correct again.”
President Pike shook his head with obvious disgust.
”Go on.”
”By returning to the gold standard, we could initiate fair trade with other countries.”
”And would every country have its own currency?”
”They could, I suppose, but it appears that most governments wish to establish and adopt a universal currency.”