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of impending danger not of his doing or liking.”
    â€œCould you tell if it was long distance?”
    She shook her head. “Not really. But I got the impression it was.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œThe voice spoke with an accent not from the Northeast. Much softer than that.”
    â€œSouthern accent?”
    â€œProbably. But not deep south. Not syrupy. Mid-south.”
    â€œThis area would be called mid-south.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI wonder if it might have something to do with the Speaker’s visit next month.”
    â€œWhich is next week, by the way. I don’t know. Maybe.”
    Barry told her about the sheriffs visit, his suspicions, and of inviting Don and his wife over for supper. “If that’s all right with you.”
    â€œSure. It’ll be fun. Talking informally with the sheriff will also save me a lot of legwork.”
    Then he told her about his early morning visitors.
    She was silent for a moment, then cut her eyes to him. “Robert Roche?”
    â€œProbably.” He sighed and shook his head. “Perhaps it’s time for me to go public and put an end to this long run of mine. I have been giving it a lot of thought.” He held up a hand for silence. “But . . . there are others like me in the world, Stormy. A lot more than I suspected even a short time ago.” He smiled. “Well, a short time for me.”
    She ignored that, knowing that Barry’s sense of humor could be very weird at times. “How many more, Barry?”
    â€œSeveral hundred. Maybe a lot more than that. And they have to be considered in any decision I make. If I go public, what happens to them?”
    â€œNothing. If you don’t mention it.”
    â€œDon’t be too sure of that, Stormy. Many other governments around the world have suspected there are people like me. Many have married and produced offspring. Although that is something most of us try not to do.”
    â€œThe children, are they immortal?”
    â€œRarely. And both partners have to be the same.”
    â€œThen there might be ... ?”
    â€œA lot more of us? Yes. It’s certainly possible. I’ve had to revise my thinking as to why we are what we are several times.”
    â€œI see now why this is not an easy decision for you to make.”
    â€œWe’d be treated like freaks, Stormy. This government, all governments worldwide, might came up with some obscure law that would make it legal to imprison us indefinitely for study. And if they don’t have it on the books already, they’ll pass legislation. I know firsthand how governments work.”
    She studied his face for a moment, that handsome and ageless face that had witnessed so much during his long march through history. “You really despise big government, don’t you, Barry?” she asked softly.
    Barry picked up and rattled a couple of pebbles in his hand. “Yes, I do. Oh, most start out with good intentions. But that doesn’t last long, once the men and women in control realize that they have absolute power. You recall that line about absolute power and what it leads to?”
    â€œCorruption.”
    â€œYes. And once they taste the heady wine of absolute power, most are very reluctant to give it up. They think of themselves as gods, looking down on all the little people and thinking, ‘I know what is best for you. You might not like the legislation I’m introducing, but trust me, it’s for your own good.’ It doesn’t take long for the men and women in power to lose touch with the people, the masses, if you will. And it makes no difference what political party is in power. They still think they know what is best for everyone else. Bear this one small example in mind, Stormy: I helped build the first T-model automobiles to roll off the assembly line, the engine and the body. A simple, highly functional mode of transportation. And for years it remained basically