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"Probably that guy we heard last night," he said, doodling an Aht as well call himself a socialist That’s what he talked like"

In Richard’s way of thinking, the environment existed as an industrial resource, plain and siured That was nature’s way I thought for a second how out of place he must feel here and at Hillhouse, where the majority cared passionately about environ an outsider--in fact, he relished it He felt confident that he was superior to the rest of us

"That speech last night was a lesson in how to lie with statistics," he said

Someone shushed him, and the speaker turned toward us "But we’ll need the support of each and every one of you if our e is to reach the American people"

Richard said, "Fat chance"

Thenext to him said, "Why are you here?"

"Did you ever hear the expression ‘Know your enemy’?"

I pretended that I was somewhere else Usually, when I did that, my mind went to Jaht the words Montego Bay, and off I went: white sand, turquoise water, no Richard

We spent the rest of the day, apart fro in that hotel conference rooanizes and finds its place in the public eye The audience coes Our speakers were hardheaded, but their addresses were designed to be opti, the Fair Share Party would get its national reputation Cameron would appeal to more voters than the primary party candidates The media would be reluctant at first, but would buy in after the prih the afternoon, Richard said toThis is a waste of ti ht in smoke-filled rooms, same way they always did"

I wasn’t sure what he o I remembered my father’s words that politics were ephemera--transitory events that recurred in cyclical patterns, hardly worth one’s interest By the end of the day, I half agreed with hiht

Froht before visited ain in case Cameron had come in I ot back to roo on the sofa that opened into Bernadette’s bed, while Bernadette sat on my bed and Rhonda lay across the other one Their eyes looked glazed, and they all sain? I wondered

Walker patted the sofa seat next to his "Ari, Ari," he said "I hts broughtto the reception tonight?" That was the next thing on the agenda On the following day, we’d haveseminar sessions, then lunch, then head back to Hillhouse

"Love receptions," Rhonda said "Just love them"

"Okay," I said "What are you all on?"

They s?"

Bernadette took a shtstand and tossed it to ar pills? Looking around me, I didn’t think so

"Try one" Walker put his ared it off

"Thanks, but no," I said "It ht Walker, as planned, took me out to dinner This was a real "date"--I wore a blue silk dress, and Walker had put on a jacket and tie

As we cahton Street, I said to his"

"I don’t" He see in the sights "V is uys at the party last night had a bunch of it"

I felt disappointed and confused, cheated out of what I should have been feeling on the night of a date

"I don’t see what hars you that much, I won’t take any more"

"Don’t take any more" Whatever was in those pills made Walker so, affable, uncritical--rong with being that way? Hoe distinguish genuine feelings from ones induced by substances? And why do we value the "real" ones more?

I said, "There’s the Marshall House That’s the first hotel I stayed in by ht iron that supported and triundy-draped s, the hotel lobby looked the salass bowl-shaped ceiling fixtures The restaurant next door had its candles lit; theyat the bar, his back to us, was a tall blond lass

Malcol Walker sauntered on a few steps, then turned

"What’s the matter?"

I didn’t say a word

"Ari, you look like you saw a ghost"

But he wasn’t a ghost As I looked, he raised the glass as if toasting so reflection in the o in" My voice soundedThe last time I’d seen him was in Sarasota This ht This man made my father and my mother vampires He killedI wanted to have a drink But I wanted answers Why had he singled my family out? Was he somehow responsible for my father’s illness, too? No e

As alked in, Malcolm didn’t act surprised at all to seefro his hand