Episode 103.2 - Don't Need to be a Weatherman

“You realize, of course, that refugees are going to start moving north.” George Tomkins stood in front of the mayor and town council to offer his assessment of the situation. Mayor Greg Cutler had called an emergency town meeting, like mayors had or would across the country, to gauge his constituents’ moods on the situation and start to formulate a plan of action. Paul, watching his father speak to the council, figured you had to hand it to the Mayor: he may not like him or agree with him, but at least the guy took his responsibility seriously.

“Why not south?” The Mayor asked. “Or East or West for that matter?”

George nodded toward the state map on the wall. “Take a look. To the East, ocean. To the South and West, larger cities. It’s simple physics, Mr. Mayor. Matter takes the path of least resistance. We have space, and people in general know that to be true. If they’re fleeing danger, they’re going to head to where that danger is least likely to occur.”

“Well, sure.” Councilwoman Barbara Halliday said from the Mayor’s left. “That only makes sense. But the nearest Cryo facility is, what, 50 miles from here?”

George grabbed a pointer off the head table, his eyes asking for permission to use it. When the Mayor nodded his assent, George walked to the map he’d indicated and pointed to a city 200 miles south. “You live here,” he said, “when everything starts happening. Where do you go?”  

“North,” said the Councilwoman.

“Right. So these, say, 300,000 people head north. And you live...” he pointed to a spot a hundred miles north of the first. “Here. Now you have all those clones. All those Donors causing havoc, and 300,000 people starting to head your way. “Now what?”

“North.”

“Indeed. And here?” The nearest city to The Forks was indeed about 57 miles away. A short distance when it came down to it, Paul thought. Too short.

Councilwoman Halliday swallowed hard, as realization dawned. It was one thing to know something on a cerebral level. But to begin to fully understand it... for the first time since the President’s announcement the day before, she was really frightened.

“North,” she said.