There was a pause here while Nick wrote out a response.
Nick (read by Ralph): "The things Fran has, brought up have affected me pretty deeply, but I stand by my nomination. No, I don't feel good about standing Tom on his head, and I don't feel good about sending him into a situation where he might be tortured and then killed. I'll only point out again that he would be doing it for Mother Abagail, and her ideas, and her God, not for us. I also truly believe that we have to use any means at our disposal to end the threat this being poses. He's crucifying people over there. I'm sure of that from my dreams, and I know some of you others have had that dream, too. Mother Abagail has had it herself. And I know that Flagg is evil. If anyone works up a new strain of Captain Trips, Frannie, it will be him, to use on us. I'd like to stop him while we still can."
Fran: "Those things are all true, Nick. I can't argue them. I know he's bad. For all I know, he may be Satan's Imp, as Mother Abagail says. But we're putting our hand to the same switch in order to stop him. Remember Animal Farm? 'They looked from the pigs to the men, and could not tell the difference.' I guess what I really want to hear you say - even if it's Ralph who reads it - is that if we do have to pull that switch in order to stop him... if we do ... that we'll be able to let go once it's over. Can you say that?"
Nick: "Not for sure, I guess. Not for sure."
Fran: "Then I vote no. If we must send people into the West, let's at least send people who know what they are in for."
Stu: "Anyone else?"
Sue: "I'm against it, too, but for more practical reasons. If we go on the way we're headed, we're going to end up with an old man and a feeb. Pardon the expression, I like him too, but that's what he is. I'm against it, and now I'll shut up."
Glen: "Call the question, Stu."
Stu: "Okay. Let's go around the table. I vote aye. Frannie?"
Fran: "Nay."
Stu: "Glen?"
Glen: "Aye."
Stu: "Suze?"
Sue: "Nay."
Stu: "Nick?"
Nick: "Aye."
Stu: "Ralph?"
Ralph: "Well - I don't like it that much either, but if Nick's for it, I got to go along. Aye."
Stu: "Larry?"
Larry: "Want me to be frank? I think the idea sucks so bad I feel like a pay toilet. This is the kind of stuff you get when you're at the top, I guess. Neat f**king place to be. I vote aye."
Stu: "Motion's carried, 5-2."
Fran: "Stu?"
Stu: "Yes?"
Fran: "I'd like to change my vote. If we're really going to put Tom into it, we better do it together. I'm sorry I made such a fuss, Nick. I know it hurts you - I can see it on your face. It's so crazy! Why did any of this have to happen? It sure isn't like being on the sorority prom committee, I'll tell you that. Frannie votes aye."
Sue: "Me too, then. United front. Nixon Stands Firm, Says I Am Not a Crook. Aye."
Stu: "Amended vote is 7-0. Here's a hanky, Fran. And I'd like the record to show that I love you."
Larry: "On that note, I think we should adjourn."
Sue: "I second that emotion."
Stu: "It has been moved and seconded by Zippy and Zippy's mom that we adjourn. Those in favor, raise your hands. Those opposed, be prepared to get a can of beer dumped on your head."
The vote to adjourn was 7-0.
"Coming to bed, Stu?"
"Yeah. Is it late?"
"Almost midnight. Late enough."
Stu came in from the balcony. He was wearing jockey shorts and nothing else; their whiteness was nearly dazzling against his tanned skin. Frannie, propped up in bed with a Coleman gas lantern on the night table next to her, found herself amazed again by the confident depth of her love for him.
"Thinking about the meeting?"
"Yes. I was." He poured himself a glass of water from the pitcher on the night table and grimaced at the flat, boiled taste.
"I thought you made a wonderful moderator. Glen asked you if you'd do it at the public meeting, didn't he? Is it bothering you? Did you decline?"
"No, I said I would. I guess I can do that. I was thinking about sending those three across the mountains. It's a dirty business, sending out spies. You were right, Frannie. Only trouble is, Nick was right, too. In a case like that, what you gonna do?"
"Vote your conscience and then get the best night's sleep you can, I guess." She reached out to touch the Coleman lamp switch. "Ready for the light?"
"Yeah." She put it out and he swung into bed beside her. "Good night, Frannie," he said. "I love you."
She lay looking at the ceiling. She had made her peace with Tom Cullen... but that smudged chocolate thumbprint stayed on her mind.
Every dog has its day, Fran.
Maybe I ought to tell Stu right now, she thought. But if there was a problem, it was her problem. She would just have to wait... watch... and see if anything happened.
It was a long time before she slept.
BOOK II ON THE BOARDER Chapter 52