The phone call came at 4:23 AM, eighteen hours after Seraphina's BBC broadcast had divided the world.
She was reviewing polling data that showed humanity split almost exactly down the middle when an encrypted line began ringing with the distinctive tone reserved for government communications. But the voice on the other end wasn't Sir Reginald Whitmore or any other British contact she recognized.
"Ms. Silverstone, this is Christine Laurent, Senior Advisor to President Dubois of France." The woman's English carried just enough accent to sound authentically Parisian. "The President watched your broadcast last night. He'd like to arrange a private conversation."
"About what?"
"About finding alternatives to the legislation currently racing through European parliaments. The President believes there may be more constructive approaches to managing this... transition."
