Overload

Nim had also telephoned a Washington, D.C., lawyer-lobbyist who represented GSP & L on Capitol Hill. His report was: No breakthrough, or any sign of one, in the United States-OPEC deadlock. The lawyer added, “There’s talk around here of plans to issue a new currency-an external, gold-backed dollar to satisfy OPEC. But it’s talk, no more, and not enough to get the oil moving."

Nim had passed on the Washington report to the chairman and the others.

"I agree with Tess," Oscar O’Brien said, "that we ought to give as much advance warning about blackouts as we can."

Eric Humphrey queried, "Suppose we hold off until next Wednesday and start the blackouts then? That’s five days from now, which should give people time to prepare."

After more discussion they agreed on Wednesday.

"I’ll call a press conference immediately," Van Buren said. She addressed Nun. "Can you be available in an hour?"

He nodded. "Yes."

The remainder of the day proceeded at the same frenetic pace.

* * *

Amid the rush of decision-making and conferences, Nim postponed his intended call to Karen, and it was not until late Friday afternoon that lie found time to phone her.

Josie answered first, then Karen came on the line. He knew she would be wearing the special lightweight headband, earpiece and microphone which, with a micro-switch close to her head, enabled her to use the telephone without assistance if she wished. By arrangement with the phone company, Karen was able to reach an operator directly and have any number dialed for her.

"Karen," Nim said, "I’m calling about your father. I made some inquiries to see if there was anything I could do, but I have to tell you that there isn’t. What’s happening has gone too far." He added, hoping it would not sound banal, "I’m sorry."

"So am I," Karen said, and be sensed her dejection. "But I’m grateful to you for trying, Nimrod."

“The only advice I can give," be told her, "is that your father get himself a good lawyer."

There was a silence, then she asked, "Is it really that bad?"

There seemed no point in lying. "Yes, I’m afraid it is." Nim decided not to pass along Harry London’s statement that a criminal charge would be laid within the next few days, or London’s estimate of a two-hundred-and-thirty-thousand-dollar loss to GSP & L. Both items of news would be known soon enough.

“The strange thing is," Karen said, "I’ve always thought of Daddy as the most honest person I know."

"Well," Nim acknowledged, "I’m not making excuses for your father. I can’t. But I guess, sometimes, there are pressures which do strange things to people. Anyway, I’m sure that whatever was behind what he did will be considered in court."

"But he didn’t need to; that’s the tragic thing. Oh, I’ve enjoyed the extra things my parents have made possible with money, including Humperdinck. But I could have managed without."

Nim didn’t feel like telling Karen that obviously her father had seen a way to expiate some of his guilt feelings, and had taken it. That was something a psychologist or the courts, or maybe both, would have to unravel and pass judgment on. Instead, Nim asked, "You still have Humperdinck?"

"Yes. Whatever else is happening, Humperdinck hasn’t been repossessed yet."

"I’m glad," he said, "because you’ll need the van next week."

He went on to tell her about the new schedule of rolling blackouts beginning Wednesday. "In your area, power will go off at 3 pm Wednesday and stay off for at least three hours. So, to be safe, you should go to Redwood Grove Hospital sometime during the morning."

"Josie will take me," Karen said.

"If there’s any change," Nim told her, "I’ll call you. Also we’ll talk about other blackouts later. Oh, by the way, I checked on the Redwood Grove emergency generator. It’s in good shape and the fuel tank is full."

"It’s truly wonderful," Karen said, with a flash of her normal brightness, "to be cared about so much."

15

"I really do believe," Ruth Goldman observed, turning pages of the Chronicle-West Sunday edition, "that people are beginning to face reality about an electrical crisis."

"If they’d listened to Dad," Benjy asserted, "they would have done it sooner."

The other three-Ruth, Nim and Leah-all laughed.

"Thank you," Nim said. "I appreciate the loyalty."

Leah added, "Especially now it means you’re vindicated."

"Hey!" Ruth told her, "that vocabulary class of yours is paying off."

Leah flushed with pleasure.

It was Sunday morning and the family had gathered in Nim’s and Ruth’s bedroom. Ruth was still in bed, having recently finished breakfast, brought to her on a tray. Nim had got up early to cook poached eggs on corned beef hash, a family favorite, for everyone.

Two days ago Ruth had flown back from New York following her second visit there for treatments at the Sloan-Kettering Institute. She had appeared pale on her return, and still did, and there were dark circles under her eyes. She admitted to having experienced some pain as a side effect, as had happened on the previous occasion, and was obviously tired.

It was still too early to know the effect of the treatments, and she would go back to New York in another three weeks. Ruth reported cheerfully, though, that the doctors she had talked with were "very hopeful."

Nim informed her about the impending "rolling blackouts" and that their own home would be affected, beginning Wednesday.

Characteristically, Ruth had said, "No problem. We’ll plan ahead, and manage."

For a while, Ruth’s mother, Rachel, would be coming in several days a week to help with the house and allow Ruth to rest.

"Listen to this." Ruth had turned to the Chronicle-West editorial page and began reading aloud.

THE POWER STRUGGLE

This newspaper, which tries to be honest and forthright in its opinions, admits to having second thoughts about some stands we have taken in the past.

We have, like many others, opposed increased development of nuclear electric power. We have, because of concern about pollution, aligned ourselves with opposition to coal-burning electric generating plants. We have supported wildlife preservation groups who opposed building additional dams for hydroelectric projects on the grounds that wildlife, especially fish populations, might be diminished. We expressed doubt about permitting more geothermal electric plants, fearing they would upset the economies of established tourist areas.

We do not apologize for any of these stands . They represented, and still do, our convictions in specific areas.

But, viewed as a whole, we are forced-in fairness-to agree with the electric power companies of California which argue that their hands have been tied while we have demanded of them what they cannot now deliver.

Instead of compromising here and there, as a give-and-take society should, we have said "no" to almost everything.

Let us remember that when the lights go out next Wednesday.

Perhaps we deserve what we are getting. Whether we do or not, the time has come for serious reappraisal of some long held views-our own and others’.

“There!" Ruth declared, putting down the newspaper. "What do you all think of that?"

Benjy said, "I think they should have mentioned Dad."

Ruth reached out and mussed his hair affectionately.

"It’s a smooth piece of writing," Nim said. "Unfortunately, that’s all it is. Oh yes, and it’s five years late."

"I don’t care," Ruth said. "I suppose I should care, but I don’t. All I care about right now is being home, and loving you all."

In the afternoon, despite it being Sunday, Nim went to GSP&L headquarters and his office. There was plenty of activity, and decisions needing to be made. In a way, with regular blackouts only three days away, the utility was entering new and uncharted territory. As the chief dispatcher put it when Nim dropped into the Energy Control Center, "We assume everything will go smoothly and, as much as we can, we’ve all made sure it will. But there’s always factor ‘u’-for the unexpected, Mr. Goldman.

* * *

I’ve seen that devil bollix things too many times to believe it won’t happen anywhere at any moment."

"We’ve had quite a few unexpected things already," Nim pointed out.

"Always room for one more, sir; sometimes two," the dispatcher said cheerfully. "Anyhow, that’s the way I see it."