Jake spoke up. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think that creating thousands of jobs is an important thing to do. This is more than politics and more even than research. It’s helping people to find employment, to feed their kids, to raise their families.”

“Coal miners,” Sinclair rumbled.

“And the technicians who run the mining machines,” Jake countered. “And the accountants and bookkeepers and secretaries who work in the mining company’s offices. And the truck drivers.”

“Butchers and bakers,” Glynis added, with a grin.

“And supermarket workers,” Amy put in.

Sinclair appeared unmoved. “Do you know how many people are killed each year in coal mine disasters?”

“Not as many as the number employed by the mining companies,” Jake shot back.

“Won’t you at least meet with Tomlinson?” Glynis pleaded.

“Talk it over with him,” said Younger. “It won’t hurt to talk to him.”

Sinclair looked unmoved.

Then Amy said softly, “I would take it as a personal favor to me if you would meet Mr. Tomlinson and discuss the situation, Professor.”

Jake turned toward her. The tone of her voice was almost like a little girl’s. She had lowered her eyes demurely.

Sinclair squirmed in his chair for a moment, then replied, “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to talk to the man.”

Rogers broke into a big grin. Younger nodded as if they had just accomplished an important milestone. Jake saw Glynis turn her attention from Sinclair to Amy and back again.

“Good!” said Amy, suddenly bright and smiling. “Thank you, Professor Sinclair.”

Smiling back at her, Sinclair said, “It’s nothing.”

But Jake thought it was something indeed.

Tomlinson Residence

TOMLINSON RESIDENCE

“I’ll set up the meeting,” Amy said, once they had left Sinclair’s office and were walking down the hallway toward the building’s exit and the parking lot out in the summer sun.

Rogers walked along with Amy and Jake while Younger and Glynis Colwyn headed in the other direction, she toward her office, he for his car and the drive up to Lignite.

“How much does Tomlinson understand about MHD?” Rogers asked.

“Not a thing, yet,” Amy replied. “Jake’s going to brief him.”

“I am?” Jake said. “Wouldn’t it be better if Bob did? After all, he knows a lot more about this than I do.”

Amy shook her head. “No disrespect, Dr. Rogers, but I think you know too much about MHD. Franklin would be overwhelmed if you tried to tell him all the technical details.”

Rogers looked hurt. “I can give him a stripped-down explanation.”

“Let Jake do it,” Amy insisted. Turning toward Jake, she spelled it out. “Go easy on the technical details, Jake. Emphasize that MHD could revitalize the state’s coal industry. That’s the important point. Franklin will be more interested in votes than kilowatts.”

“And the fact that MHD will allow us to reduce our imports of foreign oil,” Rogers added.