Barb and Allan fell into a hushed but animated conversation as the three of them made their way down the hallway toward the main staircase. As the background noise swelled to a reasonable roar, Kip estimated that there had to be nearly two hundred people crammed into the reception area on the ground floor of Dearborn House. He'd long ago done away with a good deal of the formality that made these events so punishing, meaning he did not now have to endure that nearly unbearable moment when Allan announced their arrival as though he were stepping onto the bridge of an aircraft carrier or something. Even so, as they came down the stairs smiling and waving, it seemed as though everybody there turned as one toward them.

And then, just like stepping off the bank into a deep, fast-flowing river, he was pulled into the crowd.

Half of Seattle had somehow crammed itself into the music room and formal parlor of Dearborn House. He winced to see the Greens' leader, Sandra Harvey, bending the ear of his appointments secretary, Miss Hughes, and made a note to remind Annie that when Sandra came calling, he was always out. He had just enough time to register Jed Culver, his chief of staff, deep in conversation with Henry Cesky, the construction magnate. He wondered what dark schemes those two could be cooking up, and then Allan was suddenly at his side, gently directing him by the elbow toward the British and French ambassadors who appeared to be arguing over something to do with Guadeloupe.

He was pretty sure that was a country, not a tapas dish, but not sure enough that he wanted any part of the argument.

"Mister President," said Horbach, "we must greet the ambassadors, then the speaker of the House, the governor, the…"

Kipper zoned out. They were no more than a minute into this reception, and already he was screaming inside.