State of Fear

In the third and fourth parts of State of Fear, the tables turn as the protagonists pursue members of ELF. With yet another combination of Kenner’s intelligence and Sarah’s bravery, they track “Brewster” to an isolated site in Arizona. When it turns out to be a testing lab for artificial lightning, threads between both earlier parts of the novel (like Nat’s death by lightning) and coming sections (like the storm ELF generates in the fifth part) connect. The same could be said for their discovery that ELF has purchased rockets, foreshadowed in the brief mention in the London scene of “Akamai” that the wire Richard passes off is used in connection with missiles. The importance of the recurring motif of lightning is emphasized, however, by the brief cliffhanger at the close of “Angel” and start of “Flash,” when it momentarily appears like Kenner and Sarah are going to be struck dead. Their inventive escape both adds to the thrilling mood of the novel and underscores how capable the two characters are.

In “Flash,” Evans is evolving into a more capable character. This is clear from his ability to read the situation surrounding the private investigator, for instance. He willingly allows the stranger to enter his apartment unattended, trusting that he has a legitimate reason for doing so. Then afterwards, even though the investigator is paralyzed and unable to speak, Evans correctly perceives that something has been left behind for him (the DVD). Most significantly, even when the DVD proves to contain incriminating evidence that clearly shows NERF intends to spin media reporting about climate science and global warming to support its agenda, Evans is calm and says nothing when he meets with Drake shortly afterwards. Initially, he tells himself this is because he sympathizes with Drake’s dilemma, and “because everything Kenner had told him to say was a lie” (297). Almost in spite of himself, however, Evans quickly begins to question Drake’s motivations and methods.