Bowman.
“Are you familiar with the word ‘convention,’ Jake? As applied to a political gathering?”
Bowman shook his head.
Gilcrest snorted and gestured to the milling assembly. “You are now,” he said. “All that’s missing are the balloons and the dancing girls.”
Cassandra, standing just behind the old man, leaned in. “I beg your pardon, sir?”
Bowman watched the smile edging Cassandra’s lips. He wouldn’t have thought a Guardian susceptible to Gilcrest’s obvious bluster. Still, this one was—
Gilcrest was gesturing at Minister Weitzel, who’d just entered the room. His Guardian Lynch was right at his heels, his face even more stoic than usual.
Gilcrest called for attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please.” He drew the folds of his cloak about him. “I’m aware of your concern and confusion at this point, but it’s important that we begin reasonable and considered discussion as soon as possible.”
Minister Weitzel was the last to take his seat. He nodded at Gilcrest, the assembly; clasped his hands before him on the table.
“Thank you.” Gilcrest put his hand on Bowman’s shoulder. “I presume you all know Jake Bowman, at least by reputation. Now, in view of this present crisis, I have raised Captain Bowman’s rank to Colonel, and his position to that of Chief Tactics Coordinator. I’m sure you all recall his contribution in the latter days of the War and join me in—”
“Details of Captain—excuse me—
Colonel
Bowman’s flamboyant activities during the War are public knowledge,” said a voice from across the room.
Bowman and Hadrian took a moment to stare at each other across the table, the latter man smiling. Beside him, as though an extension of Hadrian himself, was his assistant Wilkins, head bent as he pored over a column of figures.
Gilcrest raised his brows.
“Mr. Hadrian, I’ll expect you to cooperate fully with Colonel Bowman in the days ahead.”
Cassandra had to smile at the old man’s suddenly officious tone. She became aware, perhaps for the first time, of how skillfully the Senior Minister played to his audience.
Hadrian’s manner was repentant. “My cooperation in the service of Chicago is assured, Minister.” He turned in his seat to address the other Government members. “Now I can only hope that the retaliation which I proposed before can be carried out without further delay.”
“What we all want,” Gilcrest said quickly, “is to ensure the safety of Chicago. At this very moment, defense measures are being taken in the event of another attack like the one at E Sector.”
“An attack that need never have occurred had we struck first, as I proposed.”
There was a low murmuring of agreement from those assembled at the table. Cassandra realized with a start that what had begun as a meeting of all important members of Government had, in a matter of minutes, been reduced to a dialogue between Gilcrest and Amos Hadrian. And, apparently, the ministers of Government were content for the moment to merely sit and judge the outcome of that dialogue. She could not even consider the disquieting ramifications of this.
Bowman broke into her reverie as he spoke for the first time. “We don’t know E Sector would not have been destroyed, Hadrian. Just as we’re not positive that any of these attacks have been launched from New York.”
“That’s right,” said Minister Weitzel. “We don’t know that.”
Bowman went on: “As soon as the analysis from E Sector is completed, we’ll have a clearer picture of whom—and what—we’re dealing with.”
“And until then, Colonel Bowman, we just sit back and watch our city reduced to rubble, sector by sector?”
Hadrian’s last remark was greeted by shouts of approval by more than a few Government members. TheMinister of Police, whose prior interests had always been assumed to be domestic, stood and made an emotional demand for action. This demand was echoed by others.
Cassandra noticed that
“Are you familiar with the word ‘convention,’ Jake? As applied to a political gathering?”
Bowman shook his head.
Gilcrest snorted and gestured to the milling assembly. “You are now,” he said. “All that’s missing are the balloons and the dancing girls.”
Cassandra, standing just behind the old man, leaned in. “I beg your pardon, sir?”
Bowman watched the smile edging Cassandra’s lips. He wouldn’t have thought a Guardian susceptible to Gilcrest’s obvious bluster. Still, this one was—
Gilcrest was gesturing at Minister Weitzel, who’d just entered the room. His Guardian Lynch was right at his heels, his face even more stoic than usual.
Gilcrest called for attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please.” He drew the folds of his cloak about him. “I’m aware of your concern and confusion at this point, but it’s important that we begin reasonable and considered discussion as soon as possible.”
Minister Weitzel was the last to take his seat. He nodded at Gilcrest, the assembly; clasped his hands before him on the table.
“Thank you.” Gilcrest put his hand on Bowman’s shoulder. “I presume you all know Jake Bowman, at least by reputation. Now, in view of this present crisis, I have raised Captain Bowman’s rank to Colonel, and his position to that of Chief Tactics Coordinator. I’m sure you all recall his contribution in the latter days of the War and join me in—”
“Details of Captain—excuse me—
Colonel
Bowman’s flamboyant activities during the War are public knowledge,” said a voice from across the room.
Bowman and Hadrian took a moment to stare at each other across the table, the latter man smiling. Beside him, as though an extension of Hadrian himself, was his assistant Wilkins, head bent as he pored over a column of figures.
Gilcrest raised his brows.
“Mr. Hadrian, I’ll expect you to cooperate fully with Colonel Bowman in the days ahead.”
Cassandra had to smile at the old man’s suddenly officious tone. She became aware, perhaps for the first time, of how skillfully the Senior Minister played to his audience.
Hadrian’s manner was repentant. “My cooperation in the service of Chicago is assured, Minister.” He turned in his seat to address the other Government members. “Now I can only hope that the retaliation which I proposed before can be carried out without further delay.”
“What we all want,” Gilcrest said quickly, “is to ensure the safety of Chicago. At this very moment, defense measures are being taken in the event of another attack like the one at E Sector.”
“An attack that need never have occurred had we struck first, as I proposed.”
There was a low murmuring of agreement from those assembled at the table. Cassandra realized with a start that what had begun as a meeting of all important members of Government had, in a matter of minutes, been reduced to a dialogue between Gilcrest and Amos Hadrian. And, apparently, the ministers of Government were content for the moment to merely sit and judge the outcome of that dialogue. She could not even consider the disquieting ramifications of this.
Bowman broke into her reverie as he spoke for the first time. “We don’t know E Sector would not have been destroyed, Hadrian. Just as we’re not positive that any of these attacks have been launched from New York.”
“That’s right,” said Minister Weitzel. “We don’t know that.”
Bowman went on: “As soon as the analysis from E Sector is completed, we’ll have a clearer picture of whom—and what—we’re dealing with.”
“And until then, Colonel Bowman, we just sit back and watch our city reduced to rubble, sector by sector?”
Hadrian’s last remark was greeted by shouts of approval by more than a few Government members. TheMinister of Police, whose prior interests had always been assumed to be domestic, stood and made an emotional demand for action. This demand was echoed by others.
Cassandra noticed that
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