cope with high-pressure finds like that.
“Well, I guess I’ve seen all I need. We can head south now.”
As the captain lined up for the final approach to the Polar Gas base, the President said, “Are you going to land on the ice?”
The captain nodded, “Yes, sir. I checked it out when we were on our way across from Fairbanks earlier today. The strip is serviceable, the ice moves and opens up a bit here and there in August and September, but with freeze-up on it’s real solid and no problem.”
When they had landed and had taxied up to the cluster of four shacks which served the airstrip, the captain said, “You could probably communicate directly with Air Force One using the base camp radio, sir, but we should really be the master ground net because of the extra communications we have on board. They give us more flexibility.”
“Fine,” said the President. “Bear in mind that I may want to get the hell out of here fast if something big comes up.” He unstrapped his seat-belt and with the help of the navigator, put on his army parka. He hoisted himself down a ladder to the cargo deck and moved quickly toward the passenger door on the port side of the aircraft. The crew chief had put down the steps by the time he reached the door.
As the President stepped out of the aircraft he was hit by a blast of freezing air whipped up by the propellers, which were still turning. He ran quickly to get out of the propwash toward a tall figure, dressed in muskrat parka and mitts, caribou mukluks and heavy dark trousers, waiting to meet him.
“Welcome to Polar Gas, Mr. President,” the man said. “I’m Harold Magnusson. I’m with Tenneco out of Houston, assigned to Polar Gas Study as Chief Engineer, trying to pick up the pieces here.”
“Mighty proud to meet you, son. Glad to find a fellow Texan, even in these parts.”
They walked toward the Polar Gas helicopter, which started up as they approached. When they had climbed in, Magnusson said, “What I’d like to do, sir, is take you to the base camp, show you a model of the under-water pipeline we’ve been working on, explain the system, and brief you on the test we’re running tomorrow morning.”
The President said, “That sounds fine, Harold. I’d like to hear and see as much as I can while Fm here.” He turned to look at Magnusson and smiled. “I bet you could even find a big Texas steak in the freezer if you looked.”
“I wouldn’t be at all surprised, Mr. President. We’re real proud to have you here as our guest. This is a big event for us at Polar Gas. We have a visit from the President, and we’ve finally got the line installed under the ice in a new system that I’ve put together in the last year and a half. We were going to run the first test this morning, but when we got word that you were coming, we put it off until early tomorrow morning so you could see it.”
The President turned to Magnusson and said, “Son, let me tell you something. For the last four years I’ve been watching the work at this station with an eagle eye. I’ve heard about every failure and every disaster. I’ve also heard a lot about you since you got here, and they tell me if anybody can make this thing work you can. I knew you were going to be running the experiment, and that’s what helped me make the decision to come up here. The success or failure of this test is of tremendous importance to us. If it fails, I don’t think we’ve a hope in hell of licking this energy crisis. If it succeeds, we’ve got a real fighting chance. So I’m mighty pleased, Harold, that you waited until I got here.”
Ottawa / 6:50 p.m., EOT
The Prime Minister glanced at his watch. He would have to wind up his meeting with the premiers soon, and they certainly weren’t making much progress.
From the moment Porter had finished his report on the emergency, the discussion had been hot and heavy, and the premiers were still arguing, pounding the table and shouting at each other when their local interests clashed.
As never before, the Prime Minister could see the weakness of Canada’s constitution, created in 1867. Regional differences had been strong then, too, and the provinces which had joined together to form Canada had seen to it that under the terms of Confederation they would retain much of the legislative authority, particularly over the natural resources within their own boundaries.
Under the American federal system, the powers of the states had been made secondary to the power of the Congress in all areas of national interest. Thus the President could deal from strength in this war of intimidation, while the Prime Minister had the difficult job of bringing the premiers to a consensus in support of his position.
Robert Porter was tired. Time was running out. He had to rally his strength and bring the meeting to a conclusion. In a firm voice he broke into the heated discussion. “Miss Cameron, gentlemen! I wonder if I might attempt to sum up where we stand. It’s nearly seven o’clock. Most of you have travelled a long way today under trying circumstances. I’m sure you’d like to have dinner, talk with your people back home, and get ready for the briefing tomorrow morning.
“I’ve given you the wording of the resolution to be presented in the House formally tomorrow. Listening to your remarks, it seems, at the moment at least, that five of you will likely favour accepting the ultimatum and five will be for rejecting it.
“May I suggest that each of you let me have your decision before I rise to conclude the debate in the House tomorrow afternoon so that I will have your viewpoint before me. Arrangements will be made to have your opinions delivered to me. A special section in the Spectators’ Gallery opposite my seat will be reserved for you and a page will be assigned to carry your messages.”
The Premier of Manitoba, Boris Wegeruk, broke in. “If I give you my opinion on what should be done with the ultimatum, Prime Minister, I’m not sure I want it made public or referred to in the House.”
That drew a retort from Stewart Andrews, Premier of Alberta. “Look, if you’re going to take a position, take it so that the members of the House and the people of your province know what you’re thinking. This is the time to stand up and be counted, Boris!”
The Prime Minister said, “Why don’t we leave it this way — if you don’t want me to refer to your position in the House, let me know.”
Margaret Cameron put it right on the line. She looked at the Prime Minister with animosity, her dark eyes flashing. She was a vital and dynamic woman, intellectually far superior to most in the room. Robert Porter found her stimulating as an adversary as well as tremendously attractive physically.
She said heatedly, “So far as I am concerned, Prime Minister, and so far as Nova Scotia is concerned, we’ll take a stand on this issue and you can let anybody in the world know what our position is. These people”—she waved her hands in a sweeping gesture at Boris Wegeruk —“from the West who are too frightened to tell it like it is are not living up to their responsibilities as Canadians and as leaders in their own provinces.
“For that matter, Prime Minister, you’ve been hedging on this issue too. Where do you stand?”
The Prime Minister laughed. “You may not agree with me, Margaret, but I’ve decided to keep an open mind for the moment. I want to hear what you people have to say and what the Cabinet wants to do, and what the people of the country think, before I give my opinion publicly. Obviously I have very strong feelings myself, and I’ve been under a great deal of pressure from the Cabinet to make my position known even before the debate. But I’m sorry, I simply will not take that approach.”
He waited for a biting response,
