The Illuminati (9 page)

Even as far north as San Francisco, the ocean rose nearly twelve feet, causing massive damage to sensitive ecological systems. Buildings collapsed as their foundations were undercut by the rushing water. The bay area suffered an estimated $3 billion in damage. Some three thousand lives were lost.

Disaster relief teams were flown in from every part of the country, as well as from Canada and Europe. In an effort to control the marauding bands of looters drawn to the disaster area, civil defense armies were formed out of National Guard units from around the country. The fighting between civil defense troops and heavily armed gangs became so intense that units of the U.S. Army had to be flown in to reinforce the National Guard troops. The scene in Southern California took on the appearance of a war zone. President Kilborne authorized the troops to shoot on sight anyone found looting or molesting another citizen. Civil rights groups, led by the national Civil Liberties Union, screamed that such action was a violation of basic human rights. In the wake of the devastation, few Americans lent a sympathetic ear to the protesters.

As the marauders expanded their territory to neighboring states, it appeared that a civil war might break out for control of the area. Automatic weapons were in such demand by frightened citizens that they became the currency of the day. An M-19 automatic assault rifle sold for as much as ten thousand dollars on the black market.

Viewed from the air, the coast of California from just north of Los Angeles to south of San Luis Obispo, looked as if a nuclear blast had hit the area. All the structures that once had housed businesses and residences were swept into the sea or deposited along the coast for several hundred miles, creating navigational hazards to ships that were bringing in relief materials. Pirates, both American and Mexican, terrorized the coastline in power boats modified for use as assault crafts. Ships approaching the California coast were in constant danger of being boarded and pirated. The U.S. Navy had to provide heavily armed cutters to patrol the shoreline in support of the relief ships. Even so, small-scale naval battles were fought as the pirate boats often matched a cutter's firepower. Even the redirection of several larger naval vessels did not deter the pirates. Their smaller crafts were no match for the navy's bigger ships, but their speed and maneuverability made them difficult targets.

Full-time television coverage saturated American viewers with scenes of the ravaged west coast. The blame for the disaster was placed clearly upon President Kilborne and Governor Crow. The nightly news carried interviews with leading government officials who were demanding Kilborne's resignation. It was fruitless for Kilborne to even attempt to appear in public. Friends and families of the victims in California, gathered outside the White House, shouted and screamed obscenities at him whenever he was seen. The media refused to provide any time for the president; for all intents, he was a man without a country.

Seeing what had happened to Kilborne, Crow attempted to shift all the blame on to the president, even going so far as to insinuate that California officials had plotted to keep the disaster from the public at the president's orders. Both men's ratings plummeted in the polls.

Senator Mark Hunt addressed the nation regularly on the need for a strong president to lead the nation out of the economic crises caused by this natural disaster. In an interview on
The Nation's Leaders
, a program that achieved an unprecedented first place in the prime time ratings, he said: “Fellow Americans, we face a time of the gravest danger. The man who will lead this country in the coming years will either be a savior or a devil. As of today, the government has run out of funds to operate. Years, and even decades, of misusing public money has bankrupted the wealthiest country on earth. I would like to say here and now that I don't believe that President Kilborne, a long-time Democratic ally, purposely deceived the people of this nation. He simply lacks the leadership ability to handle the situation. His earlier indecision cost thousands of lives; further indecision may cost our freedoms.

“I have offered a bill in the Senate banning the possession of firearms. I acknowledge that the Constitution gives Americans the right to own and bear arms, but our founding fathers could not have foreseen armed gangs of criminals looting and raping their neighbors under the protection of our Constitution. I also realize that there are special-interest groups within this country that oppose my bill. To them I would say, ‘Go to California, and then tell me about your right to bear arms. What about the rights of honest citizens terrorized by armed criminals?'

“As president I will authorize the army to arrest and confine anyone found carrying a weapon that can be used against another person. I will restore law and order to this grand nation.”

Following Hunt's address on television, the media provided scenes of the new battle lines in California where armed bandits were assaulting a town. Women and children were being gunned down; horrifying scenes filled the screens of American homes. Skillfully sprinkled in between the graphic scenes were on-the-spot interviews with hysterical mothers carrying dead and wounded children. Screaming mothers cried,“Help us! We need to get rid of
all
guns!”

In another segment, Mark Hunt interviewed a well-known psychiatrist about the proposal to ban all firearms. “I believe the psychological advantage will swing to the public. The criminals will know that carrying firearms will result in their arrest and conviction. I would say it would be a definite plus for all Americans.”

The nightly Insta-pol showed an overwhelming 88 percent of all American viewers approved the senator's bill. Calls flooded the Senate and House, demanding its immediate passage. Within two weeks, the bill banning possession of all firearms became law. Kilborne vetoed the bill, stating that he believed it to be unconstitutional.

When the new poll results came in, they showed that Senator Hunt's commanding lead virtually eliminated all other candidates from the upcoming presidential primaries. Clearly Mark Hunt was to become the next Democratic candidate for president of the United States. The more tightly the depression gripped the nation and the more violent the criminal element became, the more Americans were convinced the country needed a strong, dynamic leader who could restore order.

The only issue left to be answered in the Hunt campaign was that of his vice-presidential running mate. Cal Rutland had advised Hunt to delay selecting his running mate. He didn't need a strong candidate since he was miles ahead in all the polls, and a weak candidate might hurt him before Kilborne and Crow were eliminated in the primaries.

This issue was the subject of a meeting between Hunt, Rutland, and two members of a group of investors that had backed Hunt's political career for the past three years. The meeting was held at Hunt's expansive summer home in Boone, North Carolina.

“Senator, we're very pleased with the way you have handled yourself in the media. You will have the full confidence of the American public when you take over the White House,” commented industrialist Jason Franklin.

“Thank you,” Hunt said as he surveyed the older man, whom he knew by reputation only. He was chairman of the Franklin Foundation, which held assets of over $2 trillion in companies all over the globe. It had been rumored that Franklin himself was dead because so few people had actually seen him during the past ten years. In spite of himself, Hunt was awed. He knew that one word from this man could plunge nations into ruin, not to mention better-than-average politicians. Now he knew where his campaign funds had been coming from the past three years. Franklin was his benefactor.

“I have to say that I am both honored and somewhat amazed to see you, sir. I've heard it said that you had died.”

“As you can see, Senator, the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, to quote a famous writer.”

Hunt laughed with a gusto that betrayed his uneasiness in the presence of his newly discovered mentor.

“I would like to introduce you to someone who is a real fan of yours, Senator. In fact, she was the one who elicited my support for your campaign.”

Hunt looked up. He could barely restrain a gasp as the light illuminated the woman's beautiful features. She was obviously older than Hunt, but her skin was unwrinkled and her features still sharp and unblemished. He knew her immediately, but the pictures he had seen scarcely did her justice.

“Mrs. Alton, what a great pleasure to meet you,” Hunt said with his most charming smile. Even though her astronaut husband, Colonel Lee Alton, had died leading the joint U.S., Russian, and Japanese expedition to Mars in 2011, it was Kathy Alton who had actually saved the space program. Her open pleas to the world television public not to allow her husband's death to eliminate space exploration had turned the tide. In the last moments, as the Mars astronauts' air supply ran out, Kathy Alton was on television declaring that her husband's death was an acceptable sacrifice if future generations could explore the stars.

But that was before the greatest of all depressions struck the world. Now money was so tight in the U.S. and Russia that all space exploration had been canceled. It was all the U.S. could do to keep the wheels of government running on one-third less income and ever-compounding debts.

Even so, Americans had adopted Colonel Lee Alton's wife as a symbol of courage and character. In a generation that had little to cheer about, great crowds had come out to see her as she toured the country. Without question, Kathy Alton was the best-known and most-admired woman in America.

Hunt snapped out of his reverie when he heard Jason Franklin say, “Senator,Mrs. Alton is here at my request to discuss an important issue. As you realize, we have invested a great deal of time and funding into your campaign.”

“I do appreciate all you have done, Mr. Franklin. I knew there was a supporter behind the campaign, but I didn't know who it was.”

“When I say ‘we,' I refer to the Society, not myself.”

Suddenly Hunt was struck with a new realization. “The Society! Are you part of the Society?”

“Let's just say that I agree with their goals, Senator. But more importantly, I want to know if you do.”

I'm not sure what you mean,”Hunt said, now cautiously choosing his words. He had always assumed the Society was a group of philanthropists bent on having their influence felt in government, but Franklin needed no group through which to operate. He was the single most influential man in the world.

“The Society's goals include establishing a worldwide monetary system and a total world market.”

“I certainly do agree with that goal,” Hunt declared, perhaps too enthusiastically. “We need to reestablish the United States as a global economic power.”

“The days for this nation or any other nation to economically rule the world are over, Senator Hunt,” Franklin said. “It is time for the U.S. to accept the fact that we are a one-world system, not a self-first nation.”

“But I don't see how that will be possible,” Hunt argued. “Americans will never accept a minor role in . . .”

“They will accept it because they will have no choice!” Franklin snapped. “You will sell them on the idea, and we will provide the motivation.”

Hunt just stood there, stinging from the reproach in Franklin's voice. It had been a long time since he had been scolded like a school boy. Even if he had wanted to say something, he couldn't think of anything at that moment. And the look on Franklin's face was clear; he neither wanted, nor expected, any response.

“What I wanted to talk about, Senator, is your running mate—the vice-presidential candidate. I have a suggestion to make.”

Suddenly on his guard, Hunt realized that Franklin was not a man to make a casual suggestion about anything. He was accustomed to his suggestions becoming actions.

“I would like for Mrs. Alton to be considered as your running mate.”

“Mrs. Alton!”Hunt blurted out.“But she has no political experience.”