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President held up a hand. “No, I appreciate the analogy.”
    Jeffrey suddenly felt like a fool. What nonsense had he been spouting? How dare he think his views warranted President Bishop’s time?
    The President straightened from the desk and slipped into his jacket. “I think you’re right, Mr. Hessmire. Neither country wants to finance a new Cold War.”
    â€œNo, sir,” Jeffrey mumbled softly.
    â€œThere may be hope to settle this matter before our relations sour further, but it’ll take a deft hand.” The President strode toward the door. “Finish your work here, Mr. Hessmire, and join us for the festivities in the atrium. You shouldn’t miss the first solar eclipse of this new millennium.”
    Jeffrey found his tongue too thick to reply as the President exited the room. He fumbled for his chair and sankinto it. President Bishop had listened to him…had agreed with him!
    Thanking the stars for such good fortune, Jeffrey sat up straighter and returned to his work with renewed vigor.
    This day promised to be one to remember.

ii
During
    4:44 P.M. Pacific Standard Time
San Francisco, California
    From the balcony of her office building, Doreen McCloud stared out over San Francisco Bay. The view extended all the way to the piers. She could even see the crowds gathered at Ghirardelli Square, where a party was under way. But the crowds below failed to hold her attention. Instead she gazed above the bay at a once-in-a-lifetime sight.
    A black sun hung over the blue waters—the corona flaming bright around the eclipsing moon.
    Wearing a sleek set of eclipse goggles purchased from Sharper Image, Doreen watched as jets of fire burst in long streams from the sun’s edge. Solar flares. The astronomy experts on CNN had predicted a spectacular eclipse due to the unusual sunspot activity coinciding with the lunar event. Their predictions had proven true.
    On either side of her gasps of delight and awe rose from the other lawyers and secretarial staff.
    Along flare blew forth from the sun’s surface. A radio playing in the background burst with a stream of static,proving true another of the astronomers’ predictions. CNN had warned that the sunspot activity would cause brief interference as the solar winds bombarded the upper atmosphere.
    Doreen marveled at the black sun and its reflection in the bay. What a wonderful time to be alive!
    â€œDid anyone feel that?” one of the secretaries asked with mild concern.
    Then Doreen sensed it—a trembling underfoot. Everyone grew deathly quiet. The radio squelched sharply with static. Clay flower pots began to rattle.
    â€œEarthquake!” someone yelled needlessly.
    After living for so many years in San Francisco, temblors were not a reason for panic. Still, at the back of all minds was the fear of “the Big One.”
    â€œEveryone inside,” the head of the firm ordered.
    In a mass, the crowd surged toward the open doorway. Doreen held back. She searched the skies above the bay. The black sun hung over the waters like some hole in the sky.
    She remembered, then, the one other prediction for this day. She pictured the old homeless woman dressed in rags—and her dog.
    We’re all going to die today.
    Doreen backed from the balcony rail toward the open door. Under her heels the balcony began to rock and buck violently. This was no minor quake.
    â€œHurry!” their boss commanded, taking charge. “Everyone get to safety!”
    Doreen fled toward the interior offices, but in her heart she knew no safety would be found there. They were all going to die .
4:44 P.M. PST (2:44 P.M. Local Time)
Aleutian Islands, Alaska
    From the cliffs of Glacial Point, Jimmy Pomautuk stared at the eclipsing sun. Nanook, paced restlessly at his side. Off to the left the trio from England shouted to one another in awe,the cold long forgotten in the excitement. The flash and whir of cameras peppered their exuberant