Further Discussion. Mrs. Carmody. Fortifications. What Happened to the Flat- Earth Society.

           Thenextfourhourspassedinakindofdream.TherewasalongandsemihystericaldiscussionfollowingBrown’sconfirmation,ormaybethediscussionwasn’taslongasitseemed;maybeitwasjustthegrimnecessityofpeoplechewingoverthesameinformation,tryingtoseeiffromeverypossiblepointofview,workingitthewayadogworksabone,tryingtogetatthemarrow.Itwasaslowcomingtobelief.YoucanseethesamethingatanyNewEnglandtownmeetinginMarch.

           TherewastheFlat-EarthSociety,headedbyNorton.Theywereavocalminorityofabouttenwhobelievednoneofit.Nortonpointedoutoverandoveragainthattherewereonlyfourwitnessestothebag-boybeingcarriedoffbywhathecalledtheTentaclesfromPlanetX(itwasgoodforalaughthefirsttime,butitworethinquickly;Norton,inhisincreasingagitation,seemednottonotice).Headdedthathepersonallydidnottrustoneofthefour.Hefurtherpointedoutthatfiftypercentofthewitnesseswerenowhopelesslyinebriated.Thatwasunquestionablytrue.JimandMyronLaFleur,withtheentirebeercoolerandwinerackattheirdisposal,wereabysmallyshitfaced.ConsideringwhathadhappenedtoNorm,andtheirpartinit,Ididn’tblamethem.Theywouldsoberoffalltoosoon.

           Olliecontinuedtodrinksteadily,ignoringBrown’sprotests.AfterawhileBrowngaveup,contentinghimselfwithanoccasionalbalefulthreatabouttheCompany.Hedidn’tseemtorealizethatFederalFoods,Inc.,withitsstoresinBridgton,NorthWindham,andPortland,mightnotevenexistanymore.