Chapter 41

Oliver Cutler immediately tried to make the whole thing about him, as Mac had known he would.

"Before I explain why I believe we need to blow holes in the side of this volcano of ours," Cutler began, "I have to tell you as a matter of full disclosure that the plan you're about to hear was coauthored by a friend of Leah's and mine."

"One he met online?" Rebecca whispered to Mac.

"Am I allowed to ask who the friend is?" Rivers said.

"J. P. Brett," Cutler said.

And there it is,Mac thought.

Rivers pushed his chair back slightly and turned to face Oliver Cutler, as if he were directing onto this TV personality the full force of his own personality.

"Let me see if I understand this," Rivers said, as if genuinely curious about what he'd just heard. "You have brought a grandstanding rich man like Brett into this top secret and potentially life-threatening situation? And done that on your own?"

"Leah and I have worked with him before in dangerous situations," Cutler said, "and found him to be more than useful and extraordinarily generous."

"This isn't one of your shows," Rivers said.

"I know that, sir," Cutler said. "I just assumed that since this is an all-hands-on-deck situation, the army would welcome the kind of support Mr. Brett can and is more than willing to provide."

"You assumed," Rivers said. "Much in the same way you assumed it was all right to reach out to Mr. Brett in the first place."

Cutler started to say something. Rivers held up a hand.

"You will learn very quickly, or perhaps you just have," Rivers said, "that you don't make assumptions with me. You make suggestions, ones that I either accept or reject." Rivers folded his arms across his chest without disturbing his multiple service medals. "Am I making myself clear?"

Cutler nodded. "Again, sir, I just assumed that with a man of Mr. Brett's wealth and ability to get things done in a hurry—"

"There we go, assuming again," Rivers said, shaking his head sadly. "Please continue."

Everybody in the room listened intently as Oliver Cutler explained the specifics of blowing holes in the sides of the volcano.

And doing that from the air.

"You're talking about targeted bombing?" Rivers asked.

"Yes, sir, we are," Cutler said, and he began to show the places on the map where he thought the bombs would be most effective.

"I have to admit," Rivers said, "you've done a lot of homework in very little time."

Cutler smiled. "I didn't want you to think Leah and I had fallen off a Learjet full of turnips," he said.

There was no reaction from Rivers, but Mac hadn't expected one. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs was a tough room.

"We feel this is the best way for us to do battle with nature," Cutler said. He made a sweeping gesture toward the map. "We firmly believe that with the air support that both the army and Mr. Brett can provide, we can effectively neutralize this volcano, and do it in a timely manner."

Cutler addressed Mac then. "Any comments, Dr. MacGregor?"

"I'll save them until you're finished."

"Almost there," Cutler said. "Obviously, we want to drop the bombs near where the lava is coming out, opening vents in the process, with the goal of making the lava exhaust itself faster. Then we come in with more planes to spray down the entire area with seawater, tag-teaming that effort with hoses extending from the tank trucks on the ground. And all of that will be supported by tankers in the bay pumping the seawater to the trucks."

"Whose tankers?" Rivers asked.

"J. P. Brett's tankers, sir."

"You're telling me they've already arrived in Hilo?" Rivers asked.

"On their way," Cutler said. "J.P.'s philosophy in just about any endeavor in which he's involved is to get out ahead of things."

"He can begin by having a conversation with me," Rivers said.

"I'll make that clear to him."

"You do that," Rivers said. "Now wrap this up, please. I want to hear Dr. MacGregor's plan."

"Our ultimate goal is to wage a two-front war—in the air and on the ground." Then Oliver Cutler added, "A war that we are here to help the United States Army win."

Should I applaud?Mac wondered.

Instead, he raised a hand.

"I don't want to be the one making assumptions," Mac said, "but I trust you're aware of the potential risk of aircraft-engine failure when there's ash and gas in the air."

"Naturally, we're aware of the risk," Cutler said. "But experienced pilots will know how and when and where to pick their spots. And I trust that you're aware, Dr. MacGregor, that you need to weigh risk against reward in an operation as complicated as this one is shaping up to be."

"I am."

"May I ask what you think of my plan?" Cutler said.

"As a matter of fact, I find it very sound," Mac said.

He could see the surprise on Cutler's face. He glanced across the table and saw the same looks of surprise from his team.

"You're saying you like it?" Cutler asked.

"I'd be crazy not to, wouldn't I?" Mac said. "After all, most of it is mine, Ollie."