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“We are? Warned? About FEDS?” Prime Minister Woodford looked confused. “In those files you found?”
Gamache chose not to tell him the FEDS references came from both General Whitehead and Marcus Lauzon. Instead, he waited for the PM to continue.
“I can’t think why a detection system could be important, but you seem to think it is.”
“Can you put me in touch with the Chief Meteorologist?”
“Absolutely. Make sure you have plenty of time. She loves to talk. Apparently she has a new dog. A golden retriever. How do I know that? She sends me photos. Every day. Is there anything else? I’m sorry, but I have a meeting to chair.”
He got up, as did Lacoste and Gamache. At the door, Gamache chose to stand right in front of the handle, so the PM couldn’t reach it.
“What happens, sir, when the water runs out?”
“I beg your pardon.”
“Water. What happens to a country if it runs out?”
“Come on, Chief Inspector, that’s a ridiculous question. Something else from those dark web sites? Now our water’s drying up? Is that why we need to invade the States?”
He was trying to get at the door handle, but Gamache stood still, refusing to move out of the way, or answer.
Woodford finally gave up. “Common sense will answer that question. Without water there’s drought, then famine, then war, then death. The UN just issued a warning about imminent wars for resources in drought-stricken areas of the world. You haven’t been watching those disaster movies, Chief Inspector? Spaceships going to distant planets because Earth is dying? Jeez, maybe my home world can welcome the earthlings.” It was said without humor. “Why’re you asking this?”
Still the Chief Inspector refused to answer, or budge.
“Listen,” the Prime Minister exhaled in exasperation. “Canada will never run out of fresh water, if that’s what you’re worried about. We’re one of the lucky ones. What used to be laughed at, our vast forests and waterways, what was considered wilderness and dismissed as less important than manufacturing, has now become precious. Envied. Can we do a better job of protecting our resources? Absolutely. I campaigned on that platform and got huge pushback from corporations. But the fact is, unlike most of the world, we’re blessed with more natural resources than we can possibly screw up. So that’s one worry you can put out of your mind. We will never have to find out what happens when the water runs out.”
Gamache nodded, then put out his hand. “Thank you for your time. I wish we could have brought good news.”
“That’s okay. No one ever does. But please, next time be more specific.”
Woodford shook both their hands and finally managed to open the door. “I’m sorry about lecturing you about my stand on the environment. I’m afraid I’m never far from my soapbox. I think people have stopped inviting me to parties.” Now he smiled. “So that’s one good thing.”
Gamache also smiled. “Thank you for seeing us. Please don’t say anything to your colleagues about this just yet.”
“About what? I’m more in the dark now than ever. I just hope you get that bastard Moretti.”
“And please, be vigilant. Watch yourself.”
“Merci.” As the door closed, Prime Minister Woodford leaned against it.
“Oh, shit,” he whispered.
CHAPTER 20
“Do you believe him?” Lacoste asked as they drove back.
The roads were even worse now. The sleet had turned to snow that wanted only one thing: to tug vehicles into a ditch, or a tree, or each other.
Sûreté SUVs were patrolling, and tow trucks were assisting cars that had slid off the road. Flares marked accidents up and down the highway. It was no use stopping to help. The highway cops had it under control. Besides, in trying to stop, they’d almost certainly make it worse.
Lacoste’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel, and her lips were compressed as she silently cursed Nichol and her father for the bald tires. And herself for suggesting they take this car and not Clara’s. Or Myrna’s or—
“Do you?” Gamache asked.
“Believe the Prime Minister? I want to. Does it seem strange to you, patron, that the Prime Minister of Canada knows about FEDS? An obscure technology to track ash? A technology he admits is interesting but essentially useless.”
“That did occur to me. It also seems odd that he’s in daily contact with the Chief Meteorologist.”
