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calling him back after hearing her good news from Buck. And then he just
brushed me off because he's waiting for a call from his daughter.
I can understand that, Buck tried, rolling his eyes. How did he get into
this lonely hearts club? Didn't she have any girlfriends to unload on?
I can, too, she said. That's just it. And I know he's grieving because it's
like his wife and son are dead, but he knew I was on pins and needles about my
family, and he never even asked.
Well, I'm sure it is all just part of the tension of the moment, the grief,
like you say, and
Oh, I know it. I just wanted to talk to somebody, and I thought of you.
Well, hey, anytime, Buck lied. Oh, boy, he thought. My home number is
definitely going to come off that next batch of business cards. Listen, I'd
better let you go. I've got an evening meeting tonight myself, and
Well, thanks for listening.
I understand, he said, though he doubted he ever would. Maybe Hattie showed
more depth and sense when she wasn't under stress. He hoped so.
Rayford was glad Hattie's line was busy, because he could tell her he had
tried to call her right back, but he didn't have to tie up his phone any
longer. A minute later, his phone rang again.
Captain, it's me again. I'm sorry, I won't keep you long, but I thought you
might have tried to call me, and I've been on the phone, so
As a matter of fact, I did, Hattie. What have you found out about your
family?
They're fine. She was crying.
Oh, thank God, he said.
Rayford wondered what had gotten into him. He said he was happy for her, but
he had come to the conclusion that those who had not disappeared had missed
out on the greatest event of cosmic history. But what was he supposed to
say Oh, I'm sorry your family was, too ?
When he hung up, Rayford sat next to the phone with a nagging feeling that he
had for sure missed Chloe's call this time. It made him mad. His stomach was
growling and he knew he should eat, but he had decided he would hold off as
long as possible, hoping to eat with Chloe when she arrived. Knowing her, she
wouldn't have eaten a thing.
CHAPTER NINE
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BUCK'S subconscious waking system failed him that evening, but by 8:45 Pm. he
was back in Steve Plank's office, disheveled and apologetic. And he had been
right.
He felt the resentment from veteran department editors. Juan Ortiz, chief of
the international politics section, was incensed that Buck should have
anything to do
with the summit conference Juan planned to cover in two weeks.
The Jewish Nationalists are discussing an issue I have been following for
years.
Who would have believed they would consider warming to one world government?
That they would even entertain the discussion is monumental. They're meeting
here, rather than in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, because their idea is so
revolutionary. Most
Israeli Nationalists think the Holy Land has gone too far with its bounty
already.
This is historic.
Then what's your problem, Plank said, with my adding our top guy to the
coverage?
Because I am your top guy on this.
I'm trying to make sense of all these meetings, Plank said.
Jimmy Borland, the religion editor, weighed in. I understand Juan's
objections, but
I've got two meetings at the same time. I welcome the help.
Now we're getting somewhere, Plank said.
But I'll be frank, Buck, Borland added. I want a say in the final piece.
Of course, Plank said.
Not so fast, Buck said. I don't want to be treated like a pool reporter
here. I'm going to have my own take on these meetings, and I'm not trying to
horn in on your expert territories. I wouldn't want to do the coverages of the
individual meetings themselves. I want to bring some coordination, find the
meaning, the common denominators. Jimmy, your two groups the religious Jews
who want to rebuild the temple and the ecumenicalists who want some sort of
one-world religious order are they going to be at odds with each other? Will
there be religious
Jews
Orthodox.
OK, Orthodox Jews at the ecumenical meeting? Because that seems at cross
purposes with rebuilding the temple.
Well, at least you're thinking like a religion editor, Jimmy said. That's
encouraging.
But what's your thought?
I don't know. That's what makes this so interesting. That they should meet at
the same time in the same city is too good to be true.
Financial editor Barbara Donahue brought closure to the discussion. I've
dealt with you before on these kinds of efforts, Steve, she said. And I
appreciate the way you let everybody vent without threat. But we all know your
mind is made up about
Buck's involvement, so let's lick our wounds and get on with it. If we each
get to put our own spin on the coverage in our departments and have some input
on the overall piece that I assume goes in the main well, let's get on with
it.
Even Ortiz nodded, though to Buck he seemed reluctant.
Buck's the quarterback, Plank said, so keep in touch with him. He'll report
to me.
You want to say anything, Buck?
Just thanks a lot, he said ruefully, causing everyone to chuckle. Barbara,
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your monetarists are meeting right at the U.N., like they did when they went
to the three currency thing?
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