Conference

           Ifancyallofushadexpectedthemeetingtobesimplyakindofbriefingtalk.Justthetimetable,courseinstructions,theday’sobjective—thatkindofthing.CertainlyIhadnoexpectationofthefoodforthoughtthatwereceived.

           Itwasheldinasmalllecturetheater,litfortheoccasionbyanarrangementofcarheadlampsandbatteries.Whenwewentin,somehalfdozenmenandtwowomen,whoappearedtohaveconstitutedthemselvesacommittee,wereconferringbehindthelecturer’sdesk.Tooursurprisewefoundnearlyahundredpeopleseatedinthebodyofthehail.Youngwomenpredominatedataratioofaboutfourtoone.IhadnotrealizeduntilJosellapointeditouttomehowfewofthemwereabletosee.

           MichaelBeadleydominatedtheconsultinggroupbyhisheight.IrecognizedtheColonelbesidehintTheotherfaceswerenewtome,savethatofElspethCary,whohadnowexchangedhercameraforanotebook,presumablyforthebenefitofposterity.Mostoftheirinterestwascenteredroundanelderlymanofuglybutbenignaspectwhoworegold-rimmedspectaclesandhadfinewhitehairtrimmedtoaratherpoliticallength.Theyallhadanairofbeingalittleworriedabouthim.

           Theotherwomaninthepartywasnotmuchmorethanagirl—perhapstwenty-twoor-three.Shedidnotappearhappyatfindingherselfwhereshewas.Shecastoccasionallooksofnervousuncertaintyattheaudience.

           SandraTelmontcamein,carryingasheetoffoolscap.Shestudieditamoment,thenbrisklybrokethegroupupandsorteditintochairs.