?This is just a story, Shaun, and everywhere we?ve gone, horrible things have happened.? She raised her head, expression miserable. ?Those poor people in Eakly. The thing at the ranch. Senator Ryman, I think you?re a wonderful man, but this is just a story, and we shouldn?t be in it. We?re going to get hurt.?
?That?s exactly why we have to stay,? I said. My disappointment didn?t show in my voice; I found that astonishing. I wanted to slap Buffy. I wanted to shake her and demand to know how she could be so blind to the importance of telling the truth after everything we?d been through together. Instead, I faced the room, and my voice stayed calm as I said, ?Everything is ?just a story.? Tragedy, comedy, end of the world, whatever, it?s just a story. What matters is making sure it?s heard.?
?That attitude, young lady, is why it?s time for you to go,? said Governor Tate. ?We can?t trust you to keep your mouth shut when you decide it?s time for the story to be told. Your judgment isn?t the yardstick here. National security is. And I don?t think you fully understand the dangers you could place us in.?
?Now, David?? said the senator.
?Nice stand for freedom there, Governor,? I snapped.
?Can you believe this bullshit?? demanded Shaun.
?On the plus side, ?Faithful Reporters Fired from Campaign as Veil of Censorship Descends? has a nice ring to it,? said Rick. ?I figure that?s a rating spike, right there.?
?Ratings! All you concern yourself with??
?Be quiet,? said Emily.
??is your precious by God ratings!? Governor Tate was getting into it now, his face flushing with religious fire. He?d found his latest opponents, now that Senator Ryman was off the menu. Us. ?A little girl dies, a family is shattered, a man?s run to the presidency may not recover, and what do you care about? Your damn ratings! Well, you can take those ratings, and??
We never found out what we could do with our ratings. The sound of Emily?s palm striking Governor Tate?s cheek rang through the room like a branch breaking; the only thing that could have been louder was the silence that came after it. Governor Tate raised his hand to his cheek, staring at her like he couldn?t believe what he was seeing. I couldn?t blame him. I couldn?t believe what I was seeing either, and I wasn?t the one who?d been slapped.
?Emily, what?? began Senator Ryman. She raised her hand for silence, and then slowly, deliberately, removed her sunglasses, eyes on Governor Tate the whole time. The unforgiving light flooding the room had caused her pupils to expand until her irises were entirely gone, drowning in blackness. I winced. I knew how much that had to be hurting her, but she didn?t flinch. She kept staring at Tate.
?For the sake of my husband?s political career, I will be pleasant to you; I will smile at you at public functions, and I will, whenever a camera or member of the undiscriminating press is present, endeavor to treat you as if you were a human being,? she said, in a calm, almost reasonable tone. ?But understand this: If you ever speak to these people in that sort of manner in my presence again? If you ever behave as if they have no judgment, no compassion, and no common sense? I?ll make you wish you?d never joined this ticket. And if I come to believe that your attitude is in any way changing my husband?not damaging his oh-so-precious career, but changing who he is as a man?I will repudiate you, and I will end you. Do we have an understanding, Governor??
?Yes, ma?am,? said Governor Tate, sounding about as stunned as I felt. A glance to Shaun showed that he was probably feeling much the same. ?I think you?ve made yourself clear.?
?Good.? Emily turned toward us. ?Shaun, Georgia, Buffy, Rick, I hope you won?t let this unpleasant little scene sour you against my husband?s campaign. I speak for both of us when I say that I very much hope you?ll continue doing exactly what you?ve been doing for us.?
?We signed on for the good and the bad alike, Mrs. Ryman,? said Rick. ?I don?t believe any of us are planning on going anywhere.?
Looking at Buffy, I wasn?t sure. ?He?s right, Emily,? I said. ?We?re staying. Assuming, of course, the senator wants us to??? I looked his way, and waited.
Senator Ryman looked uncertain. Then, slowly, he nodded and rose, moving to put his arm around his wife?s shoulders. ?David, I?m afraid I?m going to have to vote with Emily on this one. I very much want them all to stay.?
?Well, Senator,? I said, ?I think our partnership is still good.?
?Good,? he replied. Reaching out, he took my hand and shook it.
* * *
The trouble with the news is simple: People, especially ones on the ends of the power spectrum, like it when you?re afraid. The people who have the power want you scared. They want you walking around paralyzed by the notion that you could die at any moment. There?s always something to be afraid of. It used to be terrorists. Now it?s zombies.