“He’s ordered Monroe to be arrested?”
Caden nodded. “The governor is the voice of the opposition.”
Weston looked down at his hands and sighed. “Durant is no puppet, but he is an arrogant fool and he is in over his head.”
“I always believed he was a self-centered egotist, who enjoyed power, but it doesn’t matter what we think, the press, at least those outlets not under Durant’s control, are showing your video over and over again. The silence of the New York networks on the issue just plays into the public doubts about Durant. You getting your nose broken by the butt of a Chinese rifle made it all the more dramatic.”
Weston moaned. “I didn’t plan on that. I just wanted the treaty stopped.”
“Well, I think you accomplished that. As of this morning, Senator Cole of Montana has spoken against the treaty and five states have appointed new senators and instructed them to reject the treaty. Those states have also adopted resolutions to hold elections in November. Another six states are discussing appointing new senators and holding fall elections.”
“Good.”
Caden sighed deeply. “But Durant’s not backing down. His arrest order for the governor still stands. He’s even threatening to arrest the new senators and he still says there will be no election. I don’t know what’s going to happen if he doesn’t back down.”
“War… that’s what will happen… civil war.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Governor Monroe will be arrested soon.” Becky pointed her finger at Caden’s nose. “You need to be smart or you’ll be in the next cell.” She threw up her arms and in an exasperated voice asked, “How could you point a pistol at a Chinese official?”
“I pulled it to stop the soldier, not Major Cheng. My friend, David Weston, had just been hit and….”
“They’re here to help us! And how could you be a part of that awful video?” In a mock male voice she repeated some of what he said, ‘America is stronger than you think.’”
“I believe that, and the rest of what I said about not sacrificing liberty or our natural resources to China.”
Becky laughed sarcastically. “Do you really think America is strong now? Millions are dead, injured or homeless.”
“People are returning. Look around, homes and businesses are….”
“Yeah, they’re going back in Olympia, Boise, and similar hick towns, but there was rioting in New York just last week and other large cities like Boston and Chicago are war zones. Gangs rule entire districts, looting is rampant…troops are still working their way through Baltimore to Fort Meade. Don’t you see? We’re on our knees and unless we get massive aid quickly millions will starve. We need help, not you brandishing a gun or Weston planting his finger in the chest of a Chinese official. You do realize they are the largest economy now?”
“China is using this tragedy to establish a sphere of influence on our west coast. Do you realize it’s a ninety-nine year treaty?”
“Do the math. How long will it take to pay back a trillion dollars?”
Caden shook his head. “Even so, will the Chinese troops just march back on the boats when the treaty expires?”
“Who knows, but whether they leave or not isn’t going to be my problem, or yours.”
“So you don’t care if they stay after this crisis is over?”
“I didn’t say that.”
He shook his head. “I can’t agree to the treaty and just leave it for my children or grandchildren to deal with the consequences.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Right now you don’t have any children and I’m beginning to think that you may never have any—at least not with me.”
Caden drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “No you and I never will. We moved in different directions and I don’t see a future for us. It’s not your fault, this month has changed me… probably changed everyone.”
Becky stared at him for several moments then spoke with slow deliberation. “You are a different man, that’s for sure, but you’re the one without a future. Change your allegiances or you’ll end up in jail.” She turned and marched from the room.
Caden walked slowly from the office. He had done the right thing, but wasn’t pleased with how it went. What he wanted to do was talk with Maria. The phones were available only for local calls during the day. He had tried last night, but didn’t connect. He longed to be back there, to hear Maria’s voice. Even the sound of Adam crying would be welcome right now. Becky was wrong, he did have a son and he was pretty sure there would be more children, but not with her.
He looked out a nearby window. The shadows that stretched across the plaza said he was late. A quick check of his watch confirmed it. He shook his head and hurried down the hall. By now the emergency session of the legislature had begun.
As he passed the grand staircase of the capitol he saw half-a-dozen Guardsman with M4s in the lobby. Evidently expecting trouble, their attention was focused on the entryway. Beyond them, just outside, he saw Becky through the glass doors as she hurried down the steps.
Caden continued to the House chamber gallery. Two state patrol officers stood watch at the entrance. No one would be foolish enough to try and arrest Governor Monroe here. He opened the door and stepped in.
The gallery was full of reporters, officials and apparently average citizens. Caden found a seat at the back. Ten or more people on the chamber floor were attempting to speak. After several moments the Speaker pounded his gavel.
Governor Monroe raised his arm, asking for silence. When the room was somewhat quiet he began. “By getting the video, David, my chief of staff, has accomplished what I have been trying to do. He showed the people that President Durant is moving the nation in the wrong direction. Durant has sacrificed freedom for security and sovereignty for food.
“However, just pointing that out is not enough. We need to show the country the right direction—that we can have both security and freedom. While it may be hard, we can recover with our sovereignty intact.
“We can restart the economy here in the Northwest and across the nation with just short term aid and no foreign troops. However, if we can’t do that, then I will end my campaign and, if Durant still wants it, I’ll surrender for arrest.”
The gallery and chamber floor erupted in shouts of “No,” and “Never.”
Monroe scanned the crowd. “Thank you, but the fact remains that either my vision for the future is right, and America follows me, or it is wrong and I must face the consequences.”
A delegate asked to speak and was recognized. “President Durant wants to arrest our governor because he is the voice, the personification, of the opposition, but it is not because he opposes Durant, that I support Governor Monroe. I back him because he believes in the founding principles of our nation.”
Another representative jumped to his feet. “Yes. Exactly. This is about what kind of nation we are going to be.” He turned and looked at Monroe. “This isn’t just about you Governor, but only you can be the voice of it.”
Caden had studied Locke, Jefferson, Tocqueville and others while in college, but the role of government had always remained a philosophical question, something discussed late in the evening over drinks with friends. This was not such a casual discussion. This was a turning point, a precursor to civil war. Some would go down the winning road; others would, as Reagan once said, ‘end up on the ash heap of history.’
Even with the delegates from metro Seattle dead, injured or scattered, the debate was contentious and went on for hours, but before it was gaveled to a close, two-thirds of the legislature backed Governor Monroe. Washington State would appoint new senators to congress, hold elections as scheduled in November and the state would not endorse the Sino-American Treaty of Friendship or the new Most Favored Nation trade agreement.