Free Sidney Sheldon by Are You Afraid of the Dark? Page B

Jamaica has just collapsed because of global warming. The ozone hole over the South Pole has reached the record size of ten million square miles.” He paused for effect and repeated slowly, “Ten million square miles.
    “We’re witnessing a record number of hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons, and storms that are ravaging parts of Europe. Due to the radical changes in the weather, millions of people in countries around the world are facing starvation and extinction. But those are just words: starvation and extinction. Stop thinking of them as words. Think of their meaning—men, women, and children, hungry and homeless and facing death.
    “This past summer, more than twenty thousand people died in a heat wave in Europe.” Tanner’s voice rose. “And what have we done about it? Our government has refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol drawn up at the global environmental summit. The message is that we don’t give a damn what happens to the rest of the world. We’ll just go ahead and do what suits us. Are we so dense, so self-absorbed that we can’t see what we’re doing to—?”
    Senator Van Luven interrupted. “Mr. Kingsley, this is not a debate. I will ask you to adopt a more moderate tone.”
    Tanner took a deep breath and nodded. In a less impassioned tone, he continued. “As all of us are aware, the greenhouse effect is caused by the burning of fossil fuels and other related factors completely under our control, and yet those emissions have reached their highest point in half a million years. They’re polluting the air that our children and grandchildren breathe. The pollution can be stopped. And why isn’t it? Because it would cost big business money.” His voice rose again. “Money! How much is a breath of fresh air worth compared to the life of a human being? A gallon of gas? Two gallons of gas?” His voice became even more fervent. “As far as we know, this Earth is the only place that’s habitable for us, yet we’re poisoning the land and the oceans and the air we breathe as fast as we can. If we don’t stop—”
    Senator Van Luven interrupted again. “Mr. Kingsley—”
    “I apologize, Senator. I’m angry. I can’t watch the destruction of our universe without protesting.”
    Kingsley spoke for another thirty minutes. When he was finished, Senator Van Luven said, “Mr. Kingsley, I would like to see you in my office, please. This hearing is adjourned.”
     
    S ENATOR VAN LUVEN’S office had been originally furnished in typical sterile, bureaucratic fashion: a desk, a table, six chairs, androws of filing cabinets, but the senator had added her own feminine touches, with colorful fabrics, paintings, and photographs.
    When Tanner entered, there were two people in the office besides Senator Van Luven.
    “These are my assistants, Corinne Murphy and Karolee Trost.”
    Corinne Murphy, an attractive young redhead, and Karolee Trost, a petite blonde, both in their twenties, took seats next to the senator. They were obviously fascinated by Tanner.
    “Sit down, Mr. Kingsley,” Senator Van Luven said.
    Tanner took a seat. The senator studied him for a moment. “Frankly, I don’t understand you.”
    “Oh, really? I’m surprised, Senator. I thought I made myself perfectly clear. I feel—”
    “I know how you feel. But your company, Kingsley International Group, has contracts for many projects with our government, and yet you’re challenging the government on the environment issue. Isn’t that bad for business?”
    Tanner said coldly, “This isn’t about business, Senator Van Luven. This is about humanity. We’re seeing the beginning of a disastrous global destabilization. I’m trying to get the Senate to allocate funds to correct it.”
    Senator Van Luven said skeptically, “Some of those funds could go to your company, couldn’t they?”
    “I don’t give a damn who gets the money. I just want to see action taken before it’s too late.”
    Corinne Murphy said warmly, “That’s