So now what? he asked himself. You’ve got the whole day to yourself. Tomlinson’s campaign is running smoothly enough, Jake thought. Some right-wing group had put up a candidate to challenge him in April’s primary, but Amy didn’t think that was going to be a problem. Tomlinson had both the coal industry people and the state’s environmental movement in his camp. Leeds was ten points ahead in the opinion polls, although the professionals predicted that the gap would close significantly once the campaign heated up, after the primaries.

Jake realized he hadn’t done a damned thing about his proposal for the sensor on the next Mars lander for the past several weeks. This meeting today was supposed to get the proposal back on track. But the kids weren’t going to show. Leaning back in his spindly little chair, he told himself that there was still plenty of time for the proposal. After all this political stuff is finished, he thought. Once I get Tomlinson out of my hair I’ll dive into the proposal full time.

Sinclair. Jake steepled his fingers and sunk his chin to his chest. Sinclair hasn’t uttered a peep all this time. According to Glynis, the newspeople have been after him for a statement about the MHD work, but Sinclair’s avoided them all. Younger and Rogers have kept quiet, too. As far as the news media is concerned, Jake told himself, I’m the expert on MHD.

Some expert. All I know is what Bob and Tim have told me.

On an impulse, he picked up his desk phone and called Rogers. The physicist answered before the phone could ring three times.

“Don’t tell me you want to go down to the gym,” Rogers said, chuckling. Caller ID, Jake realized.

“Hi, Bob. I thought I was the only one crazy enough to come in on a day like this.”

“I slept on campus. Decided not to drive all the way back to Lignite in the snow.”

“You live in Lignite?”

“All my life,” said Rogers.

Jake hadn’t realized that. “Are you busy? Got time for a chat?”

Rogers answered, “I’m talking things over with a few of my grad students. You want to come up here? Might be interesting for you.”

“Sure,” Jake said.

“Better walk,” said Rogers. “Our parking area hasn’t been plowed out yet.”

Nodding, Jake said, “Right. I’ll be there in ten, fifteen minutes.”

“I’ll have some hot coffee waiting for you.”

*   *   *

Most of the campus walkways hadn’t been cleared yet, either. Jake’s boots were soaked through by the time he struggled across the final snowdrift in front of the electrical engineering building’s main entrance. From off in the distance he could hear a snow shovel scraping on pavement. Maybe they’ll get all the walkways cleared off before the spring thaw, Jake thought sourly.