Free Apocalyptic Visions Super Boxset by James Hunt

boy, he was always very sick, so he spent most of his time by himself in his room, reading books. His favorites had been those of the political figures of the past. He admired the way they could sway people with their words.
     
    Throughout high school, he had developed his talents for speech on the debate team. He channeled all of the pain from the jokes people made at his expense into the ordered forum in which people were forced to listen to him.
     
    Now, years later, he had the ear of the most powerful man in the world. He was the one who helped the president gain favor with both the House and the Senate. He pulled the strings in this administration, and he delighted in the knowledge that he could end it all with the snap of his fingers.
     
    People feared him, but that was the way he liked it. He had no need for friendships or likeability, at least not within the walls of government. The only face of gratitude he was forced to keep was for the public.
     
    That was the one moment he detested more than all the rest. If it were up to him, he would take the people out of the decision-making process. This bill would be the first step toward that. The public didn't care about the matters in Congress. They were all too worried about making sure their own tiny wants and desires were satisfied. Soon their worlds wouldn't matter anyway.
     
    “Congressman Jones, the president will see you now,” the office aide said.
     
    “Thank you.”

 
     
    *** 
     
    The president flipped through the congressman's bill. He made it to the last page and looked to his advisers.
     
    “Do you really think this is the best course of action?” the president said.
     
    Joining Jones with the president were his chiefs of staff and the vice president.
     
    “It's radical, Mr. President, but this will save the rest of the country,” one of the generals said.
     
    “The army has already been mobilized to the new border, and we've begun removing what resources we had on the west coast,” another general echoed.
     
    “Congressman Jones has already spoken to the local police commissioners and sheriffs. He's secured their cooperation with agreements for their extraction and a new position in the Northeast,” Vice President Johnson said.
     
    “Is this true, Raymond?” the president asked.
     
    “Yes, Mr. President. The process started weeks ago,” Jones answered.
     
    “That's not exactly legal, Congressman,” the president said.
     
    “What's best for the country is always legal, sir,” Jones replied.
     
    The president gave a weary nod. He rose from the chair, and the rest of the room followed suit. He walked to the window.
     
    “You’re confident the bill will pass in both the House and Senate?” the president asked.
     
    “It will,” Jones answered.
     
    “And Colorado will remain with us.”
     
    “Yes, Mr. President.”
     
    “The martial law sanctions in Colorado were just for show, Mr. President,” one of the joint chiefs said. “NORAD will still be within our borders.
     
    The president turned around and leaned forward on the desk. He pointed his index finger into the pages of the bill resting on top of it.
     
    “If this fails, we won't just have a water crisis on our hands, we'll have another civil war to worry about. Make sure that doesn't happen,” the president said.
     
    “I won't let you down, sir.”

 
     
    ***
     
    When Jones made it back to his office, his chief of staff followed him to his chambers and closed the door behind them.
     
    “We may have a problem,” Ken said.
     
    “What is it now?” Jones asked. “The vote is in less than thirty minutes.”
     
    Ken only had thin wisps of hair left on his head. Jones didn't know why he kept them. They made him look far beyond his age, which was already old.
     
    “Smith met with a large number of congressmen earlier this afternoon, trying to sway their decision,” Ken said.
     
    “With whom?”
     
    “I heard he was able to get Congressman