(1976) The R Document Read Free Page B

on earth.
    Self-pity led to morbid self-fascination. Then why had he, Christopher Collins - thoughtful, self-effacing, withdrawn, sometimes selfish (he could be objective, too) - taken this impossible job as the nation’s number one law-enforcement officer and the head of the nation’s largest law firm?
    Had he come here, without passionate convictions (except, as Ishmael Young had suggested, that democratic society had to be restructured) or solutions, because of a desire for power? Or had it been for ego gratification? Or had it been to fulfill a patriotic duty? Or had it been from a chivalrous feeling that he could do some good? Or had it been that he was the victim of a masochistic, even suicidal, strain in his make-up?
    He did not know. At least, not tonight.
    An then he heard his telephone ringing. He spun to his left, facing the oak cabinet on which rested the bank of
    buttons, and saw that his personal button (for Karen, for friends, as distinct from other buttons for the President, the Director, his Deputy, Ed Schrader) was fighting up.
    He lifted the receiver. ‘Collins here.’
    ‘Darling. I hope I’m not interrupting something … ‘ It was Karen’s voice.
    ‘No, no. I was just going through some last-minute things. How are you, honey?’
    She didn’t answer directly. She said, I know we’re going to dinner tonight. I wanted to check on the time your driver is picking me up. Is it seven?’
    ‘A quarter to seven. You’ll be meeting me at seven. We’re due at the White House fifteen minutes after that. The President wants us to be on time. We’re all watching the TV specials from New York and Ohio. Are you dressed?’
    ‘I’m dressed underneath. And all made up. I just have to slip into something. What’s it going to be like? Can I wear the red knit?’
    ‘Wear whatever is casual. His secretary said this was going to be very informal.’
    ‘I guess the red knit will do. It’s almost the last time I can wear it before my stomach starts showing.’
    ‘Any action today?’
    “Where? Oh, you mean there. A few tentative kicks.’
    ‘Good. The Redskins need a punter. You still haven’t told me - how are you otherwise?’
    ‘I’m fine, I guess. All things considered.’
    ‘What things considered?’ He knew, but he had to ask anyway.
    ‘Well, you know how I feel about those big protocol affairs. I’ve been to the White House with you only once, that time in the State Dining Room when we went with the Baxters. That was bad enough. But this one - you said this one was a small affair, intimate - that’s doubly scary. I won’t know what to say.’
    ‘You won’t have to say a darn thing. We’ll all be watching television.’
    ‘Why do you have to be there? What’s so important about you being there?’
    ‘Don’t you remember? I told you this morning.’
    ‘I’m sorry -‘
    ‘Never mind. I’ll tell you again. First of all, the President wants me there. That’s reason enough. In the second place, I am the Attorney General - and the 35th Amendment is up for a crucial vote tonight, and that falls in my province. I’m supposed to be very interested. There are special late sessions of the New York and Ohio lower houses tonight, being televised live, and since two of the three states that haven’t voted yet are voting tonight - and only two more states are needed to pass the 35th and make it part of the Constitution - this is a big deal. Is that clear?’
    ‘Yes, I understand. Don’t be angry with me, Chris. I just didn’t realize so much was going on tonight.’ She paused. ‘Do you want it to pass? I’ve read some bad things about it’
    ‘So have I, honey. I don’t know. I really don’t know what’s right. The Amendment can be good if good people are running the country. It can be bad if there are bad people. I can only say, if it passes, it’ll make my job easier.’
    ‘Then I hope it passes.’ But her voice carried no conviction.
    ‘Well, as they say in the mysterious