168 The Art of Governing (1/2)
Kirk stopped the car exactly in front of the entrance and killed the engine. He glanced at Adam, raised a surprised eyebrow, and said:
”What's the matter, son?”
”I recognize some of those people,” Adam said. He sounded very unhappy about the fact.
”Yes?”
”Didn't you recognize that fat bearded guy in the blue windcheater? He's the mayor of Napa. He had his heart set on becoming the district governor. And I'm sure at least a couple of the others have been to my office. I've seen them around.”
”So? You make a little speech, and everyone goes home happy.”
”I'm not sure I can pull it off, Dad.”
Kirk snorted with disbelief. He said:
”Christ, Adam. Imagine you're talking to a bunch of investors pissed off about some fuckup. It's pretty much the same thing.”
”I don't think so,” said Adam. ”Investors wear suits and ties and I usually dealt with just a few at a time.”
”They won't hurt you.”
”I just don't know what to say.”
Kirk sighed.
”All right,” he said. ”I'll deal with it. Follow my lead. Now let's get the hell out of this car. It's beginning to look funny.”
They climbed out of their seats, with Kirk smiling and nodding to the assembled people. He seemed pleased to see them, and supremely confident. People who had opened their mouths to shout questions and accusations made no sound. Everyone silently watched Kirk stride confidently around the front of the car, and lead Adam up the front steps.
Kirk stopped abruptly one step short of the top and turned around, signaling Adam to do the same with a discreet flick of his fingers. He glanced over his shoulder at one of the guards and recognized Wayne, Wayne from Maine, lance corporal in the US Marines. Wayne was a competent guy. Kirk liked Wayne.
Kirk said:
”How is it going, Wayne?”
”Pretty good, sir,” said Wayne. ”I'd have called for backup otherwise.”
Kirk nodded. The Lander home was guarded by a squad of Marines. They had been herded into the guest apartment and a couple of bedrooms, with three soldiers to each double bed. Every double bed in the Lander mansion was big enough to accommodate a family of four, and all were very comfortable. No one complained, not even the token female soldier that even the smallest military units were obliged to have, in the interest of sexual equality. The soldiers were on round-the-clock duty and worked shifts, so each bed usually contained a solitary sleeper anyway.
It had been done by a talented artist; it was a good likeness, it really was Adam. Kirk had to fight to stifle a laugh. He glanced at Adam, and said:
”What's this vampire stuff?”
”I asked people to donate blood,” Adam said guiltily. ”You know how badly hospitals need blood. They can't store as much as they used to, and they keep running out.”
”You asked?”
”Well, it wasn't mandatory. But naturally anyone who signed a declaration to donate blood was expected to donate. That's the way it works.”
”Nice,” Kirk said. He turned to face the crowd: he had no need to ask Adam about the parachute in the picture. Kirk Lander was the one who had arranged the parachuting.
The Lander estate was located in the Napa district, or Napa County in the Old World. The mayor of Napa had been enthusiastically looking forward to being appointed Napa district governor, thus ruling Napa in both worlds. He was disabused of this notion by Adam Lander, who appointed himself instead. He had the authority to do so as the governor of the entire Northern California Region.
The Napa district included the Lander estate in the Old World, and most of the Lander-owned settlements in the New World. Only a Lander qualified as a governor of this particular district. Anyone who thought otherwise was insane.
”Let me deal with this,” Kirk said to Adam in an undertone, without turning his head. He could see some of the people in the crowd were getting restless. It was time to end this nonsense.
Kirk suddenly grinned from ear to ear, then actually bent and raised his hand to his mouth, as if he was trying really hard to keep himself from laughing out loud. This little pantomime immediately silenced the murmurs that had begun to rise here and there. Everyone's attention was focused on Kirk; most likely, some of the watchers thought that he required medical help.
Kirk straightened up smiling widely, pointed at the placard with the parachuting Dracula, and said:
”I think that picture is just great. Is it for sale? I'd like to have it in my office.”
He was rewarded by titters and stunned stares. He said:
”I understand some of you don't like my son being appointed the governor. But what could I do? I was already district governor in Fort Baker.”
There were more titters and more stunned stares. Good! Kirk continued: