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The President sat in thoughtful silence.
"We banked on endless reserves that do not exist," Mercier continued. "And while our country consumed itself into a corner, the neighbors to the north went ahead and did something about it. We had no option but to tap their source."
"Are their prices in line?"
Mercier nodded. "The Canadians, bless their souls, have kept rates on a par with our own power companies."
"A glimmer of sunshine after all."
"There's a catch."
The President sighed.
"We have to face the unpleasant fact," Mercier went on, "that Quebec expects to pass a referendum for full independence by summer."
"Prime Minister Sarveux has slammed the door on the Quebec separatists before. You don't think he can do it again?"
"No, sir, I don't. Our intelligence sources claim that Premier Guerrier of the Parti quebecois has the votes to make it stick next time around."
"They'll pay a high price to break away from Canada," the President said. "Their economy is alre+dy in chaos."
"Their strategy is to rely on the United States to prop up their government."
"And if we don't?"
"They can either raise electrical rates to an outrageous level or pull the plug," Mercier answered.
"Guerrier would be a fool to shut off our power. He knows we'd retaliate with massive economic sanctions."
Mercier stared bleakly at the President. "Might take weeks, even months before the Quebeckers felt the pinch. In the meantime our industrial heartland would be paralyzed."
"You paint a bleak picture."
"That's only the background scene. You're familiar, of course, with the FQS."
The President winced. The so-called Free Quebec Society was an underground terrorist movement that had assassinated several Canadian officials. "What about them?"
"A recent CIA report claims they're Moscow-oriented. if they somehow gained control of the government, we'd have another Cuba on our hands."
"Another Cuba," the President repeated in an expressionless tone.
"One with the capacity to force America to its knees."
The President rose from his chair and walked to the window, staring at the sleet building on the White House grounds. He was silent for nearly half a minute. Finally he said, "We cannot afford a power play by Quebec. Especially in the months ahead." He turned and faced Mercier, his eyes grieved. "This country is broke and up to its ears in hock, Alan, and just between you and me and these walls, it's only a matter of a few years before we have no choice but to cut the stalling and declare national bankruptcy."
Mercier sagged into his chair. For a heavy man he appeared curiously hunched and shrunken. "I'd hate to see that occur during your administration, Mr. President."
The President shrugged resignedly. "From Franklin Roosevelt on, every chief executive has played a game of tag, pinning a multiplying financial burden on the office of his successor. Well the game is about to be called, and I'm it. If we lost electrical power to our northeastern states for twenty days or longer, the repercussions would be tragic. My deadline for the announcement of a new deflated currency would have to be drastically reduced. I need time, Alan, time to prepare the public and the business community for the ax. Time to make the transition to a new money standar
d as painless as possible. Time for our shale refineries to halt our dependence on foreign oil.
"How can we restrain Quebec from doing anything foolish?"
"I don't know. Our choices are limited."
"There are two options when all else fails," Mercier said, a thin line of tension forming around his mouth.
"Two options as old as time to save an economy from sinking down the drain. One is to pray for a miracle."
