"Pardon me for sounding uninformed, but what is the president's position on science and technology that he would need a new cabinet post to implement it?"

"Actually, it's built into the party platform. The president feels that the federal government needs to take a more proactive position regarding control of scientific research and development—stem cells, cloning, nanotechnology, fuel alternatives, reproductive physiology, cyberspace utilization, and the like. The FDA is overwhelmed as it is, and no cabinet post is specifically set up to coordinate the research necessary to put together some legislation with teeth."

"I didn't realize that Drew had taken such a hard-line approach to government control of science and technology."

"First of all, it's neither hard-line nor control, and second of all, it's more Carol's concerns than Drew's. The administration is not opposed to research and development in any field of science, but they want the people to have the right to know what's going on, and to monitor if any particular product or line of research has the potential to do harm or to cost the taxpayer in some as yet unseen way."

"It sounds like they've picked the perfect person for the job."

"That's very kind of you to say. Oh, Dr. Singleton, I'm sorry to be monopolizing you so. As a guest of distinction, you must have many more important people to meet than me."

No, actually I have no one more important to meet than you.

"The truth is, I was grateful to you for protecting me from the masses. The last thing I remember clearly was riding one of my horses through the desert. Then the president showed up at my doorstep, and now this. I feel like Alice floating down the rabbit's hole."

He gestured to the room.

"That's right!" Lily exclaimed. "You're a high plains drifter. Wyoming, yes?" She took a thin silver case from her jacket pocket and removed a pale lavender business card. "I can do without a gown or even an evening bag, but a rule of survival in this town is never, ever go out without your business cards."

"Magnus had mine waiting in my desk drawer when I arrived. Now I know why. Alas, they're still there."

LILY PAD STABLES, the card read simply, along with an address in Virginia and an ornate LPS in one corner.

"I'm West Texas born and bred, " she said, "and where I come from, people say that the number-one reason for making piles of money is to have horses."

"In Wyoming we like to say that a horse is nothing more, or less, than a four-legged shrink."

"Same thing, really." Her laugh was unforced and totally appealing. "Well, at Lily Pad we have some of the finest saddle horses anyplace, unless you like to jump. We've got those, too."

"Jumping things on a horse makes no more sense to me than jumping things not on a horse. When in doubt, go around. That's my motto."