Read Revolution World for Free Online Page B

U.S. had been at war for so long that most people couldn't remember who we were fighting now and which war this was anymore.
    The environment couldn't take all the side effects of a world at war on top of everything else. The sea levels went up. The Sahara desert became a swamp and Europe hadn't seen rain in years. Most places couldn't support large cities anymore, so everyone spread out over the land, hunkered down and hoped the weather would stop acting so crazy. It made for interesting times.
    "I'm sure you've heard all about our little terrorist problem?" asked Clio. "I think the Texas government is trying to make it more difficult for them to target places by keeping things like satellite images off the globenet. Not that we've ever had a problem with terrorists out here! I really think the media is just over-hyping what must be a few crazies with too many matches. Anyway, we have detailed geological maps in town that I'll be happy to supply you with. Is there anything in particular you were looking for?"
    "Caves," Max abruptly joined the conversation from behind a large screen. "One of the attractions of this area is the limestone bedrock and it's high propensity to form caves. If we could find caves large enough, they would be ideal for storing the servers. Also we have some ideas for using caves to store compressed air from the wind farm we'd like to install."
    "Well peachy keen. That's something I can help you with," said Clio. "I know the county agriculture department did deep scans of this area when they were planning out local reservoirs sixty years ago, but probably nobody ever cared enough to put them on globenet. They'll be pretty old, but caves system aren't exactly a highly changeable thing. I'll call Beth." She'd already tapped it out on her handheld and was chatting away as she walked outside.
    *****
    Seth listened with amusement to about fifteen minutes of "How's your mama doing?" and "Well, have you tried giving him some hot peppers?" Eventually she wandered back in to tell them that Beth had located the needed maps and would upload and send them over as soon as she could.
    "Which could be a while. She says her computer seemed plumb tuckered out and she was giving it a rest," Clio cautioned.
    Max looked horrified. Clio shrugged, "The Ag Office isn't exactly high on the list for new equipment and you know the government, always ten years behind at least. I can tell you that there is an extensive cave system over to the north if you just want to take a look."
    "That is very kind, but I know that you are a very busy woman. You are the lead scientist of one of the foremost genetic engineering companies in the world. I must say your work is very impressive." Seth privately thought that her work was one of the many impressive things about this woman and wished he'd looked up her age when he'd researched Floracopia. Surely someone with such an extensive list of achievements must be older. Clio didn't look a day over twenty-five.
    "Besides these caves will probably be dirty," muttered Max. "If we have maps there is no need to actually go crawling through them."
    "Ah, well, Texas is a tricky place. The locals say that the land here laughs at maps. I've been elected to roll out Ambrosia Springs's welcome mat for you, so I'd be more than happy to feed you and take you to look at some caves," Clio offered amiably. "Besides, I'm stumped on a project at work and need a distraction."
    "Thank you, that would be lovely," Seth stammered. He liked the idea of distracting this woman. "We have much to do today so I think we will decline to look at these caves. But we'd love to join you for dinner this evening. Perhaps after dark?"
    She shot him a slow smile that sent shivers up his spine. "Hope you like it hot," she drawled as she swept out the door. She didn't see the handheld clatter to the floor, ignored in the wake of her exit.
    Seth stared after her for a full minute before his uncle laughed. "You are lucky the food is so