Still, duty called. He told her, "Enjoy your day shopping. Be sure to pick up some Trevor Stone remembrance mugs or scrapbooks or whatever it is they're selling in the market."
"I don't think I can afford any of that, my dear, not with the way prices are skyrocketing. You'd think those damn politicians would do something about that, wouldn't you."
"I intend to do plenty. Now you have a wonderful day."
Sharon grabbed Evan's power tie, pulled him close and kissed hard.
Five minutes later the Internal Security motorcade arrived outside the hotel on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. A short man with gray hair and a heavy bandage on his arm drove. Evan addressed him first, "How is the arm, Tucker?" "Getting better, Mister Godfrey, sir." Dr. Maple had fixed Tucker's dog bite and reported it as a glancing blow from a Centurian energy weapon. Ray Roos shared the back seat with Evan. "Big day for you, isn't it now, Senator?"
As the car pulled away Evan responded, "I like to think that it's a big day for our entire nation, Ray. Think about it, today we take our first steps toward democracy."
"Oh yeah, that's exactly what I mean, Senator. 'Course, sometimes people don't vote the way other folks are expecting. I seem to recall this Dewey fella…"
Despite how much he relied on him, Evan often found Roos rather grating. Probably because Roos saw through Evan at every turn, starting first with his maneuverings during the New Winnabow crisis then again during Trevor's absence three years ago.
"That's the wonderful thing about democracy, Ray, the results can be surprising sometimes. Of course, it can be easier to deal with those surprises when one stays in touch with the feelings of the people."
Ray nodded with a big grin.
"Well, Senator, you know I do my best to stay in touch with the people. Well, that's not exactly true. I stay in touch with the folks at the estate, as best I can. And since the only 'people' who'll be voting on the next Emperor are the 'people' on the council, well I've tried to keep my ear to the ground. You know, just to be sure everything is on the up and up."
"Of course. You know, Ray, I've come to trust your instincts. Tell me, what are your feelings on today's vote?"
The motorcade-led by two I.S. officers on hover bikes and trailed by a tactical response team in a black SUV-left downtown and traveled along the river bank. Warm weather had returned to Wilkes-Barre, bringing with it joggers and picnickers and street performers along the grassy dike.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Senator, but I'm thinking you may not even get one vote today. Unless, of course, you vote for yourself."
"Now Ray, that wouldn't seem like a gentlemanly thing to do. After all, my modesty…"
Roos snickered before saying, "Of course not, Senator. But I think one guy who might just punch his own number would be that Gordon Knox. If that's the case, I'm thinking he's going to make a real run at this thing."
The very mention of Knox's name brought a grimace to Evan's face. He could practically feel the cold barrel of the Intelligence Director's pistol against the back of his head. Evan felt Gordon Knox to be a man with whom he could not deal.
"That does not surprise me. Still, there are ten votes in all among the council."
"Well sure, I understand that. Like I was saying, Senator, I keep my ear to the ground; I hear things. There's been a lot of the council talking amongst themselves. See, most of them think there's really only two people in this race. People in one camp lean toward Knox. I guess part of that is because they might be a little afraid of him, isn't that something? In any case, folks in the other camp are leaning toward Jon Brewer, kind of a sentimental vote and seein' that he has all this experience and whatnot."
Evan told Ray, "Well, that's great. I think Jon should be the next leader. I'll tell you this much, Ray, he's got my vote. And I can think of a few others who are going to vote for him, too."
"Awe, now, that's terrific, Senator. But the way I see it-oh wait, the way I hear it-there might just be a few more people leaning toward Knox."
Ray's observation bothered Evan, but he had long since prepared for just this contingency. He turned and looked Roos straight in his brown eyes.
"Isn't that just the neatest thing about politics, Ray. You never know what's going to happen, do you? Especially when it seems there's only this two party system. Say, do you remember Clinton's Presidential runs?"
"Why yessir, I do. In fact, I remember watching one of his debates while I was marking time at Camp Hill. But I figure you've got something more to say on that, yes you do." "During his first Presidential election in '92, Clinton got less than half of the votes." "You don't say." "So you figure that the other guy had to have gotten more than half and won, right?" "Well, Senator, you know math has never been my strong point."
"But he didn't, Ray, because there was this third guy-Perot-and he took enough votes away from Bush that Clinton won with less than half the people voting for him."
Roos played along, "So let me see if I get this. Are you saying that some other fella could muck up the works for the guy that looks like he's going to win, even if this other fella doesn't get much support?"
"Oh, now, Ray, who knows what could happen in politics, right? I mean, there are probably a few people who think they can only choose between Knox and Brewer, so they'll pick Knox even though they'd rather have a third choice."
Roos' eyes grew wide and he scratched the thinning hair at the top of his head as he told Evan, "You know, it's funny you should say that, Senator. In fact, Eva Rheimmer and Brett Stanton were having a conversation last night about that very thing. Why, if I remember correctly they were saying something about not really wanting to vote for Knox but Brewer just screwed the pooch so much last time that they had no faith in him. Imagine that, huh?"
"You don't say."
"I hate to tell you, though, Senator, I don't think they would switch over to your side. Something about that being a slap in the face to Trevor and all. If you ask me-and I know you didn't but since we're talking anyway-that's very short sighted of them."
The motorcade climbed an on-ramp and merged onto the Cross Valley Expressway.
"I appreciate your sentiments, Ray, but I feel confident that Rheimmer and Stanton will sort things out. After all, it would be a shame if they had to vote for someone they did not think was right for the job. I bet they'll find someone else to support. Call it a hunch."
– Eva Rheimmer never wanted to be anything more than a farmer. She certainly never held any political ambitions. She had only joined Trevor Stone's council because people needed her. As the group of survivors grew into an Empire and Eva progressed into her seventies, she found less patience for the red tape and far more contempt for politicians.
Her husband told her to stick with it because she might be the only one in the whole darned works with half a head on her shoulders. However, that half-a-head could not sort out exactly what to do on this occasion.
She stood outside the sprawling fields surrounding what had started decades ago as a small family farm and waited for her ride to the estate, still undecided on whom to vote for.
Only two serious candidates were in the running. As much as that weasel Evan Godfrey might have the right credentials to do something with the position, he had caused so much trouble for the council over the years that even if she desired to vote for him she would be embarrassed to do so.
As for the rest of the council, most of them did not have either the desire or leadership skills to take the job. Eva could not imagine the nation governed by Omar, Lori Brewer, Dr. Maple, or even herself. Anita Nehru would have made a good choice a year ago, but that woman's work in the dungeon named Red Rock had taken her for a turn down some dark alleyway that might just end in a psychiatric ward.