~ 18 ~

Saturday, August 16th Dartmouth, NS

David was at home preparing full documentation of the soil samples he had brought back from Port Alberni. The television was on in the other room but he barely heard it. CBC and CTV had been providing continuous coverage about the impending collapse of the Saskatchewan Parliament. He glanced up as they switched to interviews with farmers. Many of the them thought they would be saved by the U.S. farm subsidy program. They talked about not having to win lotteries for eastern hay to feed their cattle. David returned to his work as the political pundits began to wail doomsday scenarios; the politicians had made themselves scarce, no one was speaking on behalf of the government.

When it switched to a local update from Halifax, he stopped typing and went in to listen. It was reported that indications were appearing that Nova Scotia was beginning negotiations to leave Canada and become a U.S. State. Local experts debated that becoming a State would improve the lot of the fishing industry. The premise put forward was that the U.S. would impose a 500 mile limit, or any limit it deemed necessary, to stop the European and Asian floating Fish Factories. Their dragnet fishing scooped everything in its path, preventing any possible recovery of the fish stocks in the whole of Atlantic Canada.

He was watching so intently, it took David a while to realise his phone was ringing. When he picked it up, a man named Ted Underwood was on the other end of the line. He introduced himself and said that he knew of David and knew of his findings in Port Alberni. This Ted fellow also said that he was working with the British Columbia government, gave his assurances as to the legitimacy of his need to speak with David at the earliest possible convenience. Finally, David agreed.

Ted suggested they meet anywhere and under any terms that were satisfactory to him. David decided they would meet the next morning at the Bedford Institute, believing he would hold the upper hand if he had to have this guy removed from the facility. Ted said he would fly east and would be there by noon. David hung up the phone: ‘What in the hell is this, now?’