“Great!” she said, waving a fork in the air. “With you in the middle, bringing them together in common cause. Terrific photo op!”

Jake said, “You’ll have to meet with Professor Sinclair first.”

“Professor Sinclair?” Tomlinson asked. “Who’s he?”

Reaching for his wineglass, Jake said, “He’s the man in charge of the university’s MHD research. And, uh, I’m afraid he doesn’t think much of using MHD as a plank in your political platform.”

“Really?” Tomlinson looked more intrigued than alarmed. “Why on earth would he feel that way?”

With a shrug, Jake replied, “I’m not sure. He’s an academic—”

“We can’t have him standing in our way,” Amy said.

“I’ll persuade him,” Tomlinson said easily.

“He’s agreed to meet with you,” said Amy.

“Good,” Tomlinson said. “Fine.” He took a forkful of rare roast beef and chewed thoughtfully for a few moments. Then he said, “Jake, could you set up the meeting for me? I’d like to talk to him one on one.” With a grin he added, “Give him a dose of my charm.”

“Right,” said Jake. “Will do.”

The conversation moved on to other subjects, other problems, other opportunities: extending the state’s old-age benefits, genetically engineered corn, climate change. Amy wondered aloud how the United Mine Workers would react to the promise of MHD.

“They’re not as important here as in West Virginia,” Tomlinson said. “This is a right-to-work state, remember. No union-closed shops.”

Amy countered, “Still, the union’s endorsement could be a nice feather in your cap. It could get you national recognition.”

Tomlinson nodded. Then he said, “We’ve got to bring the electric utilities on board.”

“That might not be so easy. They’ve been in Leeds’s camp for years.”

“Then we’ll have to pry them loose from Leeds.”

Amy nodded. “We can try.”

By the time they had finished the sherbet and fruit cups of dessert, Jake could see that Tomlinson was eager to make MHD not merely a part of his campaign, but the central plank in a platform that stressed change.

Well, he thought to himself, every outsider candidate talks about change. The tough trick is to make the changes real once you get elected.

As they got up from the dining room table Tomlinson excused himself. “I’ve got a couple of dozen phone calls to make. Get the ball rolling. No time to waste.”

“Then you’re going to announce that you’ll run?” Amy asked.

“In due time. And I’m not just going to run,” Tomlinson said, smiling warmly at her, “I’m going to win.”

She looked like a true believer staring at the object of her worship.

Tomlinson headed for his office while Amy led Jake to the front door with the butler hovering a discreet few steps behind them.