Video Production Section Administration Complex, The National Ark 6:35 PM CST Monday, November 6, 2000 Time Since Impact: 11 weeks 5 days Time until polls open in Missouri: 13 hours 25 minutes LEO NOTICED THAT Mr. Vennekor, the cameraman who usually did the big events in the Administration Complex, was taking a long time to dry his hands, and caught him looking, twice. Leo was changing the dressing on his knee—souvenir of an encounter with a gas-tight hatch-way before he was really awake in the morning; the old dressing had become loose and new bleeding had put a small stain on his pants. When there was no one else but Eric in the washroom, he asked, “Do you want to ask me something?” “No. Except—how is your wife?” “They want to keep her another night. She’s still spotting.” “Do you want to stop this and go to her now?” “So much it hurts. But I need to do this. I promised.” “No, you don’t. What does it matter which of these gentlemen get elected?” “I gave my word. That matters. I’m not stupid; they’re getting a lot for what I asked for in Kentucky. But the Governor kept his promises. So now I’m keeping mine.” Finished, he got up and went to wash his hands again. “Can I ask a question?” “Yes. You can ask me anything.” “Why do you keep looking at me?” “I’m a cameraman. I have to.” “No, why like you were doing in here?” Vennekor paused. “I don’t know. Maybe I want to see what’s different about you.” “What? I found the comet? That was luck. I found Sarah? That was more luck, or because God wanted her to live. Sarah and Charlie.” “You went back. I wouldn’t have.” “I came all the way here before I got the guts to do it. I could have got off the next time the bus stopped. I should have, Sarah almost—” “Almost what?” Leo waited a moment. “Coming here, my Mom and Dad kept telling they’d straighten it out here. I made myself believe that. But when I saw the people charging the gates and the soldiers keeping them out, I knew that no one was going to listen. I had to try. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t. But I shouldn’t have come at all . . . what is this about? Is it about you getting on that helicopter out of Washington?” “Yes. I suppose it is. How did you hear of that?” “Sarah asked around after we met on the first day. . .I got on a helicopter so I’d live.” “You got on because of your wife.” “That was part of it. I don’t think I would have done it if Sarah hadn’t been looking at me the way she was . . . but I wanted to live. I guess I’m important to Sarah, maybe to Charlie now. To my Mom and Dad and Janey, maybe even Wanda now. But everyone we left behind was important to someone. We left nine women and twelve men on that mountain, and Corporal Henderson, the soldier who stayed so I could go. I wrote to his family again last night. Do you know that only four people got picked up later?” “I know that.” Leo pointed at himself. “Stop thinking I’m any better than you, because I’m not.” Leo ran some cool water in his cupped hands, splashed it on his face, and dried it off. Eric Vennekor was still staring at him when he finished. He shrugged, and said, “I’m not. Now, let’s go out there and help some more candidates be seen with the famous Leo Beiderman.” Eric Vennekor looked at Leo going out the door, and stood shaking his head for a moment before following Leo out. 11:38 PM CST Leo thought Sarah was asleep when he began unfolding the chair, but she sat up and leaned over to hold him. “Careful!” he said, somehow keeping the chair from falling down and making noise. He kissed her, but then said, “You need to stay down.” “I haven’t been sleeping, really.” “Well, now you can go to sleep. I’m here now.” He pulled away slowly, and finished unfolding the chair. “How’s Charlie?” “He was asleep when I left. It was too late to bring him, and we couldn’t keep him here all night, anyway.” “You’re staying all night?” “You did for me.” “That was different. You were really, really sick at first. Then I was afraid we would get put in different camps if I didn’t stay with you. You go back to your family after I fall asleep.” “No, I’m staying.” “You need to—” “I need to be with you. I didn’t sleep much last night; I won’t sleep any worse here. And what if you have another dream?” “They told you about last night?” “Yes.” “I’m sorry.” “For what?” “I’m sorry I’m falling to pieces now.” Leo bent over to kiss Sarah and hold her around the shoulders. “You’re not falling to pieces. You just hate it because you don’t get to boss me around tonight. Don’t worry; you’ll be up and bossing in a few days.” Sarah twisted his ear. He started tickling her in retaliation, but thought better of it, and kissed her instead. “We can’t make noise.” “We can’t make love. Maybe not until after the baby comes.” “That’s not what I meant. Besides, we haven’t since . . . I can hold out.” “I’m not sure I can.” Some unpleasant images flashed through Leo’s mind. “You really want to? After what happened in the camp?” Sarah didn’t answer for awhile. “Yes. I really want to. Everything we did together was wonderful. Maybe there’s some stuff that will bother me for awhile, but . . . we never just had sex, Leo. We made love.” She smiled ironically in the red night-light. “I signed us up for one of the conjugal rooms the day after we got here. We were supposed to be together tonight.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “I wanted to surprise you . . . Did you see the President today?” “No. Two Senators, three Congressmen, another Governor—from Arkansas. Even someone running for Mayor in Springfield. But not the President. I guess he figures he doesn’t need me to win.” “I guess so . . . Can I have another kiss? I don’t think some tongue would kill me.” A nurse came to caution them moments later, but thought again, and went away, unnoticed, before the kiss ended.
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