Chapter 17: Like a frog in hot water

Jeff knocks on Mike's office door nervously. He clutched the rolled-up paper data on his left hand tightly. He held a big bag on his right hand.

"Come in," Mike said lazily.

"Mike, I have all the data with me now. You can use this to convince the authorities to evacuate the people out from the fault area." Jeff looks at Mike with a high hope. He was hoping that with these data that he has collected, millions of lives can be saved.

Mike looked up to Jeff and he waved his hand. Jeff smiled brightly and he quickly puts down his bag and papers on Mike's table.

"Mike, last night there was another quake going off in the town of Anza. This time it was a massive 6.3 magnitude with almost 300 swarms. These swarms are not tiny either. Each of them recorded at least a magnitude 3. There were 2 consecutive quakes in a week only in Anza! This is insane Mike. At this rate, San Andreas Fault will be in danger. I can't imagine what kind of data that we have in another week. " Jeff said excitedly.

"The- the frequency of these quakes is progressing too fast. I don't think that we have 129 days. Looking at the data now... the Big One... it would hit us probably next week. I-I am not saying that it is confirmed to be next week, but it would be better safe than sorry don't you think? If the public were informed about this, they will flee away from California, and they will be safe. We can save them.."

Jeff stopped and he clapped his hand while looking at Jeff eagerly. He hopes that the data he brought to Mike now is convincing enough.

"Jeff... don't you think that the public can't predict that much if they experienced the 6.3 Magnitude quake last night? Also today's news, would be undoubtedly featuring about the quake. Well everyone, in this country knew that a quake higher than 7 in magnitude occur in San Andreas would trigger the Fault to collapse. The media will surely make coverage on this piece of exciting news and will be contacting our office for confirmation. So... I don't think the government has to evacuate the people..."

"Because the people, will soon pack their bags and fled if they knew that their life is in danger." Mike smiled meaningfully at Jeff.

From Mike's point of view, those people that live around the San Andreas Fault are responsible for their own life. It is not up to the government to extricate them from this oncoming disaster.

It is the law of survival. If you felt threatened, you should do everything you got to retaliate and survive.

"So, what are you suggesting Mike? When the news people contact us, do we tell the public the truth, ... or we divert their attention again by saying it is only a prediction?" Jeff knew that sometimes the officials purposely create a diversion of attention so that the public will be left in the dark. Their reason was always: To avoid chaos and there are not enough funds to do the evacuation.

Jeff scoffed loudly. Not enough fund? who are they kidding? All these political figures were using taxpayer's money to build their fortune, buying private jets, and villas.

"Well, there is no use hiding it anymore. The people are smart. If we lied to them now, that would only arouse their suspicions more. Let's just tell them the truth. They deserve to know. " Mike smiled. He is using reverse psychology tactics on the public.

Mike has decided that he is not hiding anything more now. No more playing hide and seek. If the public decided to stay, then it is up to them.

"Jeff, do you want to make a bet with me? I dare say, more than half of the population that stays near the Fault would ignore the warning and stays there." Mike smiled mockingly at Jeff.

"Do you know about the story of how a frog died in hot water?" Mike sits on his chair and played with his pen. "If you put a frog directly on a boiling water, it would jump out and escape. What if you put a frog inside a warm water, and slowly boiled them... the frog will stay inside, and when he noticed that the water is too hot, it would be too late. The frog will be too tired, and weak to jump out, and eventually it died."

Mike stands up and patted Jeff's back. " Cheer up Jeff. Do what you got to do... you can call your mom in California and ask her to move someplace safe."

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10 am, the CNN news contacted USGS regarding the quake in Anza. Jeff gave his interview online with all his data findings. He told the public truthfully and urged the people that were staying around the San Andreas Fault to moved out and fled to safety.

"...That is Jeff a senior Seismologist from the USGS, giving out a warning to the public that a much stronger quake is about to hit California. Well thanks Jeff, for letting the public aware of the danger. " Amelia smiled at the camera while raising her eyebrows. Her expressions portray like in shock and half-mocking.

"Well, Americans, you have been warned. Will this be another false alarm.. or will it be real this time? The choice is in your hand. "

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The next day, the internet was swarmed with mockings from the public regarding Jeff's warning. More than half were convinced that this is another false alarm, while others said this is a conspiracy from the government to make them leave their house.

None of the people take Jeff's warning seriously.

The next two days, another swarm was detected 10 miles away from Anza. This time the peak of the quake was mild at only 5.5 magnitude.

Jeff was wrong. His prediction was wrong. He had predicted that if another quake was to occur, it would be devastating and they might not survive from it. Thus the warning that they only have one week to move out from there was forgotten.

"NO... NO... NO! you guys are missing out on the point!" Jeff should not have said that the people would not survive if another quake attacks them. He should have highlighted the fact that the San Andreas Fault is going to have its Big One earliest next week.

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