[Serialized Novel] "Lute of the North Wind" Episode 42

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Episode 42: Countermeasures Headquarters for the Red Tide in the Sky (4)
The mayor stood up and poked a hole in Lute's proposal.
"You said that the use of private vehicles would be prohibited during the evacuation. However, if we prioritize patient transport and broadcast footage of their recovery, I believe many citizens will attempt to escape before the mass evacuation begins. No, they will swarm out."
Ah, Lute clicked his tongue at his own carelessness.
"The mayor's concern is valid. The question is whether or not to allow voluntary evacuation by private vehicle."
Lute simulated the possible outcomes in his mind.
"Currently, the main arterial roads leading from Kagamihara to other cities are blocked by the traffic police. Even if we prohibit voluntary evacuation, cars will line up as soon as the lockdown is lifted. If we prohibit passage, riots will occur. On the other hand, if we allow passage, self-proclaimed police might harm cars with Kagamihara license plates to prevent them from escaping."
Both are worst-case scenarios.
"I asked for an immediate lifting of the lockdown, but it might be better to maintain it until the full evacuation of all residents on the 25th. What is the police's view?"
"This is Murakami from the National Police Agency. There is nothing more difficult to deal with than a riot. It would be best to lift it at the very last minute. However, if we don't lift the lockdown, we cannot deny the possibility of a riot where people ask if we intend to kill them."
"I see. Mayor, is it possible to shorten the resident sorting process?"
Lute asked the mayor.
"Honestly, even six days is tight. I will have the staff work through their days off, but any more than that..."
"I understand. To avoid confusion, thorough preparation is paramount. We will also have to ask for the Self-Defense Forces to be deployed to handle riots. What are General Sagiike's thoughts?"
"Lifting it on the 25th would be safe. We cannot afford to have casualties in an operation meant to save lives."
Sagiike replied immediately.
"There is also the option of delaying it by just a few days."
Sakakibara, the chairman, stared at Lute with sharp eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"We could say that the procedures for lifting it are underway, and lift it once the individual notifications are ready. Even if we can't wait a week, couldn't we wait about two days?"
Indeed, for a moment, he thought he saw a glimmer of light. No, but, however.
"That is a very attractive proposal. However, patient transport would also be delayed by that much, and there is a possibility we won't make it in time. Besides..."
Lute glanced at the mayor.
"We would be deceiving the residents with a trick. Once we lose their trust, it is impossible to recover it."
"Then what do you suggest?" Sakakibara looked displeased.
"It is a compromise. We will cancel today's press conference. Tomorrow morning, we will transport several patients with respiratory distress to Komaki Base by doctor helicopter and film footage of their recovery. We will hold a press conference in the afternoon and release the footage. We will announce the full resident evacuation and the Red Scab Cleanup Operation. At the same time, we will announce the lifting of the lockdown."
"That doesn't resolve the mayor's concerns, does it?"
"It is a shift in priorities."
"What do you mean?"
"What we are trying to do is empty Kagamihara and execute the Red Scab Cleanup Operation."
"So?" Irritation mixed into Sakakibara's voice.
"The top priority is the lives and safety of the residents. If they know it is dangerous to stay in Kagamihara, it is natural that they would want to escape as soon as possible. If a tsunami occurs, we call on people to flee to high ground to protect their lives. Originally, we should have been warning them that Kagamihara is dangerous and they should flee as soon as possible."
Lute caught his breath. He did not take his eyes off Sakakibara.
"Why, then, are we creating such an elaborate evacuation plan? It is because the false rumor of an infectious disease has spread. If not for that, we only needed to announce that it is dangerous and they should flee as soon as possible."
Sakakibara also kept staring at Lute.
"First, we correct the root cause."
"Is that what the transport footage by doctor helicopter is for?"
"Yes. Showing the facts is the most powerful thing. We will prove to the world the fact that it is not an infectious disease."
Lute swallowed his saliva.
"Voluntary evacuation should not be prohibited, and if it is not prohibited, ensuring the safety of those who are escaping should be prioritized. On top of that, we will execute the full resident evacuation plan and the Scab Cleanup Operation."
"Do you think the rumors will disappear easily with one video?"
Sakakibara did not ease his interrogation.
"That would be impossible. But the self-proclaimed police will lose their 'justice.' Their actions will become mere property damage or assault."
"We don't know where cars that have escaped Kagamihara will be victimized."
"After they escape, it is not our role, but the role of the local police, within the scope of their normal duties."
"Let's notify the surrounding police to strengthen the crackdown on self-proclaimed police."
Murakami of the National Police Agency responded immediately.
"If we don't prohibit voluntary evacuation, wouldn't the evacuation plan itself become unnecessary?"
A voice of doubt flew in.
"It depends on how many people have prospects for evacuation outside the city. It is difficult to grasp that in advance. If we carefully explain that the government will take responsibility for providing transport and shelters during the mass evacuation, and that sufficient oxygen tanks will be distributed until the evacuation, I think many people might choose the mass evacuation after all."
"How do you reflect the escapees in the evacuation plan? The work will become complicated and it will be difficult to complete in six days."
The mayor screamed.
"Please formulate the evacuation plan ignoring the escapees. We will set up checkpoints at the four locations currently blocked by the lockdown and confirm the names and addresses of all passengers. That data can be used to verify that no one is left behind during the mass evacuation."
"Even if the number of people drops from 100,000 to 50,000 and the evacuation can be shortened to two days?"
"Yes. If we reflect changes each time, the work will become complicated and mistakes will occur. It will also cause confusion if N-Rail and airline flights are changed repeatedly at the last minute."
Sakakibara crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He did so for about a minute, then opened his eyes wide.
"We will cancel today's press conference and postpone it until tomorrow."
The governor instructed the staff to inform them of the cancellation of the press conference.
"Tomorrow morning, we will transport patients from Kagamihara Central Hospital to Komaki by doctor helicopter. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency should arrange the helicopter. I will talk to the base. How about 17:00 for the press conference to coincide with the evening news broadcast?"
"Thank you very much."
Lute bowed his head so deeply while standing that it almost touched the desk.
"That is all for today. Everyone, please proceed with the arrangements for the work starting tomorrow. The survival of Kagamihara, and by extension the survival of Japan, depends on your work. I am counting on you."
Chairman Sakakibara also bowed his head.

Lute placed both hands on the desk and let out a big sigh.
It was a long day.
He ruminated on the final battle. His reading was naive. Similar things will likely come up one after another. After all, everything is just a theory on paper. He has no choice but to keep making adjustments so that it doesn't remain just a theory.
A prefectural office staff member raised the blinds.
Looking back, the piercing summer sun had weakened its power, and there was a transparent sky before sunset. Cumulus clouds were lined up in a row, creating a cloud street. A beautiful sky before sunset. He would return this sky to Kagamihara.
"That's a beautifully lined-up cloud street."
Takatsuka, the director of the Meteorological Research Institute, stood next to him. Come to think of it, this was the first time he had heard the director's voice today. He hadn't spoken in support like Ikegami and the others. Even so, just having the small director sitting next to him allowed Lute to maintain his usual self.
Sagiike placed a hand on Lute's shoulder. "You endured Sakakibara's fierce attack well." Ikegami was grinning. "You were holding back, weren't you?" Sakakibara was smiling bitterly.
Lute gave a clumsy salute to the three fierce generals.
It starts now. From tomorrow, he can finally save Kagamihara.
He felt his core trembling.

To be continued