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"Thank you," Peter said

"What for?"

"All of it"

Frorin "You’re welcome The letter’s on your desk, by the way"

After Chase had gone, Peter lingered in the kitchen; he eed a few oodbye to Meredith and stepped onto the porch, where Apgar aiting with his hands in his pockets

"Chase bowed out"

An eyebroent up "Did he now?"

"You wouldn’t by any chance feel like running for president?"

"Ha!"

A young officer jogged up the path He was out of breath and sweating hard, evidently having run a great distance

"What is it, son?" Peter said

"Sirs," he said between gulps of air, "you need to see so"

--

The truck was parked in front of the capitol Four soldiers were standing guard Peter unlatched the tailgate and drew the canvas aside Military crates filled the space, packed to the ceiling Two of the soldiers extricated a crate froround

"I haven’t seen one of these in years," Apgar said