

	``/`` Good/jj old/jj A-Z/nn ''/'' ,/, Cap/np said/vbd ./.
``/`` You/ppss know/vb ,/, I've/ppss+hv got/vbn one/cd of/in your/pp$ cars/nns at/in home/nr ./.
As/cs a/at prominent/jj industrialist/nn ,/, you/ppss ought/md to/to be/be interested/vbn in/in his/pp$ nibs'/nn$ support/nn group/nn ./.
Isn't/bez* his/pp$ racket/nn down/in your/pp$ alley/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Once/cs it/pps was/bedz ,/, William/np thought/vbd ./.
But/cc not/* any/dti more/rbr ./.


	A/at rush/nn of/in memory/nn swept/vbd him/ppo back/rb ,/, and/cc he/pps forgot/vbd Cap/np ./.
How/wrb did/dod he/pps start/vb on/in such/abl a/at ride/nn to/in brief/jj glory/nn ?/. ?/.
Simply/rb enough/qlp ,/, through/in the/at inadvertent/jj agency/nn of/in his/pp$ brother-in-law/nn ./.
General/nn-tl Hershey's/np$ draft/nn and/cc Doc/np Eddyman/np and/cc Cap/np were/bed responsible/jj for/in his/pp$ first/od eminence/nn ,/, but/cc Fearless/jj-tl Freddy/np Bryan/np could/md take/vb credit/nn ,/, if/cs he/pps cared/vbd to/in (/( and/cc he/pps did/dod )/) ,/, for/in the/at second/od time/nn ./.
Freddy/np needed/vbd a/at job/nn ,/, having/hvg been/ben detached/vbn from/in a/at rather/ql dangerous/jj career/nn in/in real/jj estate/nn and/cc skyscraper/nn financing/vbg by/in Gerry/np ,/, and/cc it/pps was/bedz up/in to/in Arthur/np Willis/np to/to provide/vb him/ppo with/in one/pn ./.


	Mr./np Willis/np bought/vbd Zenith/nn-tl Plastic/nn-tl Products/nns-tl ,/, a/at skeleton/nn corporation/nn of/in sorts/nns which/wdt had/hvd undergone/vbn many/ap vicissitudes/nns and/cc whose/wp$ principal/jjs assets/nns were/bed a/at couple/nn of/in electronics/nn plants/nns on/in Long/jj-tl Island/nn-tl engaged/vbd in/in working/vbg out/rp government/nn contracts/nns ,/, and/cc installed/vbd Freddy/np in/in an/at executive/nn position/nn ./.
Shortly/rb after/rb ,/, Freddy/np had/hvd his/pp$ usual/jj proliferation/nn of/in bold/jj ideas/nns ./.
Willis/np listened/vbd patiently/rb ,/, and/cc once/rb in/in a/at while/nn William/np was/bedz exposed/vbn to/in them/ppo at/in a/at family/nn gathering/nn ;/. ;/.
he/pps generally/rb heard/vbd Freddy's/np$ suggestions/nns without/in interest/nn ,/, being/beg absorbed/vbn by/in his/pp$ own/jj prospering/vbg concerns/nns ./.


	Probably/rb Mr./np Willis/np was/bedz influenced/vbn toward/in deeper/jjr involvement/nn by/in familial/jj loyalty/nn and/cc a/at concern/nn for/in his/pp$ grandchildren/nns ./.
Gerry/np began/vbd to/to aid/vb Freddy/np with/in her/pp$ father/nn ,/, prodded/vbn ,/, no/at doubt/nn ,/, by/in Joan's/np$ open/jj contempt/nn for/in Freddy/np and/cc William's/np$ irritating/jj competency/nn ./.
Another/dt factor/nn must/md have/hv been/ben the/at eventual/jj disposal/nn of/in Willis'/np$ fortune/nn ;/. ;/.
she/pps unquestionably/rb assumed/vbd that/cs the/at more/rbr he/pps was/bedz entwined/vbn with/in Freddy/np ,/, the/at more/ql likely/rb he/pps was/bedz to/to reward/vb Freddy/np richly/rb upon/in his/pp$ death/nn ./.


	Whatever/wdt the/at reasons/nns ,/, Willis/np and/cc Bryan/np started/vbd expanding/vbg Zenith/nn-tl ./.
They/ppss acquired/vbd another/dt electronics/nn factory/nn ,/, a/at specialized/vbn ceramics/nn company/nn ,/, an/at organization/nn that/wps built/vbd --/-- very/ql experimentally/rb --/-- high-speed/nn research/nn calculators/nns ./.
Since/cs they/ppss were/bed hunting/vbg for/in national/jj defense/nn contracts/nns ,/, Adam/np Herberet/np ,/, a/at man/nn of/in surprising/vbg resources/nns ,/, entered/vbd the/at combination/nn as/cs a/at silent/jj partner/nn because/rb of/in his/pp$ political/jj connections/nns ./.


	Feeling/vbg his/pp$ power/nn ,/, Freddy/np looked/vbd for/in additional/jj worlds/nns to/to conquer/vb ./.
Heavy/jj industry/nn ,/, slanted/vbn toward/in inexhaustible/jj government/nn coffers/nns ,/, attracted/vbd him/ppo ./.
The/at Allstates/nps-tl Auto/nn-tl Company/nn-tl ,/, a/at medium-sized/jj firm/nn which/wdt manufactured/vbd four-wheel-drive/nn vehicles/nns and/cc other/ap off-road/jj equipment/nn ,/, had/hvd recently/rb constructed/vbn an/at over-large/jj ,/, modern/jj plant/nn in/in a/at burst/nn of/in misguided/vbn optimism/nn ./.
Cursed/vbn with/in a/at shaky/jj management/nn and/cc dissatisfied/vbn stockholders/nns ,/, it/pps was/bedz ripe/jj for/in amalgamation/nn ,/, and/cc Freddy's/np$ instinct/nn was/bedz to/to keep/vb growing/vbg by/in stock/nn mergers/nns and/cc small/jj expenditure/nn of/in cash/nn ,/, and/cc never/rb mind/vb inevitable/jj consequences/nns ./.
With/in Herberet's/np$ blessing/nn ,/, he/pps was/bedz convinced/vbn that/cs Allstates'/nps$ Wisconsin/np folly/nn would/md be/be ideal/jj for/in conversion/nn to/in airplane/nn sub-assembly/nn ,/, tanks/nns ,/, missiles/nns or/cc ordnance/nn of/in some/dti kind/nn ./.


	At/in that/dt point/nn William/np came/vbd into/in the/at picture/nn ./.
Although/cs not/* much/rb desiring/vbg the/at account/nn ,/, he/pps had/hvd been/ben appointed/vbn advertising/vbg head/nn of/in Zenith/nn-tl ./.
Freed/vbn of/in routine/nn by/in having/hvg his/pp$ own/jj firm/nn and/cc a/at complaisant/jj partner/nn ,/, his/pp$ work/nn in/in New/jj-tl York/np-tl had/hvd given/vbn him/ppo a/at broader/jjr overall/jj knowledge/nn of/in business/nn administration/nn and/cc corporate/jj structure/nn ;/. ;/.
and/cc if/cs he/pps wasn't/bedz* entirely/rb committed/vbn to/in what/wdt he/pps did/dod ,/, he/pps was/bedz at/in least/ap fascinated/vbd by/in the/at chance/nn of/in wider/jjr opportunities/nns ./.
Mr./np Willis/np ,/, eager/jj to/to have/hv him/ppo allied/vbn with/in the/at family/nn ,/, wanted/vbd advice/nn beyond/in the/at confines/nns of/in his/pp$ field/nn ,/, and/cc William/np set/vbd out/rp on/in a/at serious/jj study/nn of/in the/at situation/nn ,/, including/in trips/nns to/in Wisconsin/np and/cc Washington/np ./.


	In/in the/at end/nn ,/, he/pps said/vbd :/: ``/`` I'm/ppss+bem not/* enchanted/vbn by/in the/at proposition/nn ,/, sir/nn ./.
I/ppss know/vb a/at guy/nn named/vbn Jack/np Hamrick/np ,/, a/at very/ql bright/jj young/jj engineer/nn who/wps was/bedz with/in Chrysler/np ,/, and/cc I/ppss took/vbd him/ppo with/in me/ppo to/in Allstates/nps ./.
It's/pps+bez his/pp$ expert/jj opinion/nn that/cs the/at plant/nn isn't/bez* well/rb suited/vbn to/in what/wdt you/ppss have/hv in/in mind/nn ./.
The/at conversion/nn will/md cost/vb a/at fortune/nn ./.
Besides/in that/dt ,/, I'm/ppss+bem acquainted/vbn more/rbr or/cc less/rbr with/in the/at defense/nn hardware/nn situation/nn through/in my/pp$ contacts/nns in/in the/at Air/nn-tl Force/nn-tl ./.
I/ppss think/vb Adam/np Herberet/np is/bez guilty/jj of/in being/beg too/ql hopeful/jj and/cc better/rbr informed/vbn on/in defense/nn financing/nn than/cs on/in the/at technical/jj side/nn ./.
Missiles/nns have/hv thrown/vbn everything/pn up/rp for/in grabs/nns ,/, and/cc nobody/pn seems/vbz to/to be/be sure/jj where/wrb we/ppss go/vb from/in here/rb ./.
The/at future/nn of/in manned/vbn aircraft/nn is/bez in/in doubt/nn ,/, which/wdt affects/vbz government/nn procurement/nn ,/, and/cc jet/nn transports/nns have/hv revolutionized/vbn the/at airline/nn trade/nn --/-- one/cd jet/nn can/md take/vb the/at place/nn of/in three/cd compound-engine/nn planes/nns ./.
This/dt means/vbz the/at aircraft/nn companies/nns are/ber going/vbg to/to tear/vb into/in the/at government/nn market/nn ,/, looking/vbg for/in anything/pn they/ppss can/md get/vb and/cc making/vbg the/at competition/nn tough/jj ./.
Here/rb are/ber a/at few/ap facts/nns and/cc figures/nns I've/ppss+hv assembled/vbn ./.
Can't/md* you/ppss stay/vb with/in what/wdt you/ppss have/hv and/cc wait/vb till/cs the/at dust/nn settles/vbz ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Willis/np glanced/vbd at/in the/at bound/vbn pages/nns given/vbn him/ppo and/cc shrugged/vbd ./.
``/`` Well/uh ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` there/ex is/bez Freddy/np ,/, you/ppss know/vb ./.
And/cc Gerry/np ./.
Freddy/np is/bez deeply/rb committed/vbn to/in our/pp$ plans/nns already/rb ./.
He/pps assures/vbz me/ppo he/pps has/hvz people/nns to/to handle/vb the/at money/nn raising/nn ,/, and/cc Ham/np Richert/np ,/, my/pp$ lawyer/nn ,/, says/vbz the/at legal/jj aspects/nns of/in the/at wedding/nn of/in Zenith/nn-tl and/cc Allstates/nps are/ber no/at problem/nn ./.
I/ppss don't/do* like/vb to/to exhibit/vb the/at deadly/jj dampening/vbg effect/nn of/in an/at elderly/jj man's/nn$ caution/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Yes/rb ,/, I/ppss appreciate/vb that/dt ./.
I/ppss wish/vb you/ppss wouldn't/md* tell/vb Freddy/np I'm/ppss+bem lukewarm/jj ;/. ;/.
I've/ppss+hv caused/vbd him/ppo trouble/nn before/rb ,/, and/cc he's/pps+bez beginning/vbg to/in resent/vb me/ppo ./.
If/cs we/ppss don't/do* take/vb care/vb ,/, the/at sisters/nns will/md be/be entering/vbg the/at fray/nn on/in opposite/jj sides/nns ,/, brandishing/vbg their/pp$ cudgels/nns ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Which/wdt is/bez a/at frightful/jj prospect/nn ,/, Bill/np ''/'' ./.
Willis/np laughed/vbd ./.
``/`` One/pn shouldn't/md* mix/vb commercial/jj affairs/nns with/in patriarchy/nn ,/, but/cc in/in this/dt case/nn I/ppss have/hv no/at choice/nn ./.
Let/vb me/ppo think/vb about/in it/ppo ./.
I'm/ppss+bem most/ql grateful/jj to/in you/ppo ,/, so/ql grateful/jj I/ppss wish/vb you/ppss were/bed my/pp$ principal/jjs aide/nn instead/rb of/in Freddy/np ''/'' ./.


	Not/* to/in William's/np$ surprise/nn ,/, Freddy/np ,/, Adam/np and/cc Hamilton/np Richert/np prevailed/vbd ;/. ;/.
allied/vbn to/in them/ppo was/bedz Gerry/np ,/, devoting/vbg much/ap time/nn to/in swaying/vbg her/pp$ father/nn ,/, and/cc Joan/np dismissed/vbd all/abn thought/nn of/in the/at project/nn and/cc William/np was/bedz unwilling/jj to/to interfere/vb further/rbr ./.
Zenith/nn-tl absorbed/vbd Allstates/nps ,/, stock/nn transfers/nns were/bed arranged/vbn ,/, and/cc Freddy/np became/vbd president/nn of/in the/at hyphenated/vbn combination/nn ./.
Through/in Jack/np Hamrick/np ,/, William/np fell/vbd into/in the/at world/nn of/in automobile/nn promotion/nn and/cc got/vbd several/ap accounts/nns for/in Shoals/nns-tl and/cc-tl Clay/nn-tl ./.


	He/pps forgot/vbd about/in A-Z/np-tl till/cs ,/, unhappily/rb ,/, he/pps and/cc Hamrick/np were/bed proved/vbn correct/jj ./.
Freddy's/np$ backing/nn dropped/vbd away/rb from/in him/ppo and/cc Mr./np Willis/np was/bedz forced/vbn to/to make/vb up/rp the/at deficit/nn ./.
Adam/np ,/, beset/vbn by/in changing/vbg defense/nn conditions/nns and/cc the/at open/jj secret/nn that/cs he/pps was/bedz part/nn of/in the/at new/jj corporation/nn ,/, couldn't/md* deliver/vb from/in his/pp$ end/nn ./.
The/at Wisconsin/np plant/nn turned/vbd out/rp to/to be/be a/at white/jj elephant/nn ./.
Stock/nn Willis/np held/vbd in/in abundance/nn fell/vbd sharply/rb in/in value/nn ./.
Confronted/vbn by/in a/at grim/jj future/nn ,/, Freddy/np lost/vbd his/pp$ nerve/nn and/cc plumped/vbd for/in a/at drastic/jj liquidation/nn ./.


	Once/rb more/rbr Willis/np summoned/vbd William/np ./.
``/`` You/ppss were/bed right/jj ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd --/-- ``/`` you/ppss and/cc your/pp$ engineer/nn --/-- and/cc I'm/ppss+bem in/in something/pn of/in a/at bind/nn ./.
Freddy's/np$ solution/nn doesn't/doz* appeal/vb to/in me/ppo ./.
In/in addition/nn to/in other/ap defects/nns ,/, I'm/ppss+bem a/at stubborn/jj man/nn and/cc hate/vb to/to admit/vb to/in the/at common/jj garden/nn variety/nn of/in bad/jj judgment/nn ./.
Will/md you/ppss see/vb if/cs you/ppss can/md help/vb me/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	William/np spent/vbd a/at long/jj week/nn end/nn closeted/vbn with/in Hamrick/np ./.
His/pp$ recent/jj experience/nn in/in motor/nn car/nn advertising/nn ,/, a/at love/nn for/in cars/nns of/in themselves/ppls ,/, the/at existence/nn of/in A-Z's/np$ useless/jj Wisconsin/np set-up/nn ,/, exposure/nn to/in exciting/jj conceptions/nns of/in Hamrick's/np$ that/wps nobody/pn would/md buy/vb ,/, and/cc the/at coincidental/jj recent/jj failure/nn of/in a/at respected/vbn but/cc out-dated/jj small-car/nn manufacturer/nn called/vbd Ticonderoga/np-tl Motors/nns-tl had/hvd given/vbn him/ppo an/at idea/nn of/in such/jj dimensions/nns he/pps was/bedz almost/rb afraid/jj to/to broach/vb it/ppo ./.
Initially/rb ,/, Hamrick's/np$ reaction/nn to/in A-Z/np-tl going/vbg into/in the/at passenger/nn car/nn market/nn was/bedz discouraging/jj ./.
He/pps thought/vbd the/at financing/nn ,/, the/at advertising/nn ,/, the/at production/nn of/in new/jj models/nns ,/, the/at founding/nn of/in a/at nationwide/jj chain/nn of/in dealerships/nns was/bedz simply/rb too/ql difficult/jj ./.
Then/rb he/pps caught/vbd fire/nn ./.
If/cs A-Z/np-tl could/md buy/vb Ticonderoga/np cheaply/rb and/cc use/vb their/pp$ presses/nns and/cc dies/nns and/cc other/ap equipment/nn ,/, if/cs William/np could/md hit/vb precisely/rb the/at right/jj promotion/nn note/nn ,/, if/cs the/at money/nn hurdle/nn was/bedz not/* insurmountable/jj ./.


	They/ppss took/vbd nearly/rb a/at month/nn to/to investigate/vb ,/, marshal/vb statistics/nns ,/, and/cc put/vb their/pp$ arguments/nns down/rp in/in black/jj and/cc white/jj ./.
Taking/vbg Hamrick/np with/in him/ppo ,/, William/np went/vbd to/in Mr./np Willis/np ./.
He/pps was/bedz surprised/vbn and/cc dubious/jj ,/, but/cc impressed/vbn by/in the/at engineer/nn and/cc the/at report/nn ./.


	``/`` Your/pp$ alternative/nn is/bez breathtaking/jj ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` and/cc ,/, I'm/ppss+bem frank/jj in/in saying/vbg ,/, a/at bit/nn mad/jj ./.
I/ppss wish/vb I/ppss was/bedz younger/jjr and/cc less/ql timid/jj ./.
Well/uh ,/, I/ppss can't/md* resolve/vb this/dt myself/ppl ./.
I'll/ppss+md have/hv to/to call/vb in/rp the/at brain/nn trust/nn ./.
Are/ber you/ppss willing/jj to/to run/vb the/at gantlet/nn ?/. ?/.
I/ppss can't/md* guarantee/nn you/ppss a/at sympathetic/jj audience/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` We'll/ppss+md be/be in/in there/rb swinging/vbg ''/'' ,/, William/np said/vbd ,/, ``/`` but/cc in/in a/at way/nn ,/, sir/nn ,/, you've/ppss+hv got/vbn to/to decide/vb it/ppo yourself/ppl ./.
You/ppss have/hv the/at controlling/vbg interest/nn and/cc the/at principal/jjs expenditure/nn is/bez yours/pp$$ --/-- and/cc ,/, besides/rb ,/, nobody/pn else/rb is/bez going/vbg to/to have/hv the/at courage/nn ./.
If/cs they/ppss follow/vb anyone/pn ,/, it'll/pps+md have/hv to/to be/be you/ppo ''/'' ./.
He/pps paused/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss should/md explain/vb :/: there's/ex+bez more/ap here/rb for/in me/ppo than/cs advocating/vbg my/pp$ little/ap dream/nn ,/, there's/ex+bez you/ppss ./.
You/ppss mustn't/md* take/vb a/at fall/nn ,/, or/cc publicly/rb back/vb away/rb ./.
I/ppss hate/vb that/dt ./.
You're/ppss+ber --/-- you're/ppss+ber Arthur/np Willis/np ./.
Forgive/vb the/at hearts/nns and/cc flowers/nns theme/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss rather/rb like/vb the/at music/nn ''/'' ,/, Willis/np replied/vbd quietly/rb ./.
``/`` Thank/vb you/ppo ''/'' ./.


	At/in the/at meeting/nn ,/, attended/vbn by/in Freddy/np ,/, Richert/np ,/, Herberet/np and/cc the/at A-Z/np-tl executive/nn staff/nn ,/, with/in Mr./np Willis/np presiding/vbg ,/, William/np and/cc Hamrick/np did/dod indeed/rb run/vb the/at gantlet/nn ./.
From/in shock/nn and/cc incredulity/nn ,/, most/ap of/in the/at listeners/nns went/vbd on/rp to/in open/jj resistance/nn and/cc animosity/nn ./.


	``/`` Oh/uh ,/, my/pp$ God/np ''/'' ,/, Ham/np Richert/np said/vbd ,/, ``/`` a/at little/jj child/nn shall/md lead/vb them/ppo ./.
Move/vb over/rp ,/, General/nn-tl Motors/nns-tl ''/'' ./.


	``/`` It's/pps+bez absurd/jj ,/, Bill/np ''/'' ,/, Freddy/np said/vbd ,/, from/in a/at pale/jj face/nn ./.
``/`` You're/ppss+ber leading/vbg Dad/nn-tl down/in the/at garden/nn path/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Your/pp$ garden/nn ,/, God/uh damn/uh it/uh ''/'' !/. !/.
William/np said/vbd ./.


	``/`` I/ppss don't/do* enjoy/vb family/nn quarrels/nns ''/'' ,/, Adam/np said/vbd ./.
``/`` Nor/cc crazy/jj relatives/nns ./.
We're/ppss+ber here/rb to/to transact/vb business/nn ./.
Can't/md* we/ppss put/vb an/at end/nn to/in this/dt ,/, Arthur/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Hear/vb me/ppo out/rp ,/, please/uh ''/'' ,/, William/np begged/vbd ./.
``/`` I'm/ppss+bem an/at advertising/vbg hustler/nn ,/, I/ppss admit/vb ,/, but/cc I/ppss have/hv to/to get/vb hot/jj once/rb in/in a/at larger/jjr sphere/nn ./.
Sure/rb ,/, Ticonderoga/np went/vbd broke/jj in/in the/at low-priced/jj market/nn bucking/vbg the/at Big/jj-tl Three/cd-tl ./.
Their/pp$ cars/nns weren't/bed* small/jj enough/qlp ,/, they/ppss didn't/dod* have/hv the/at power/nn ,/, they/ppss were/bed old-fashioned/jj ./.
They/ppss tried/vbd to/to sell/vb 'em/ppo on/in economy/nn and/cc simple/jj merit/nn ./.
We've/ppss+hv arrived/vbn at/in an/at age/nn for/in romance/nn and/cc snobbery/nn ./.
We've/ppss+hv all/abn been/ben rich/jj and/cc spoiled/vbn long/jj enough/qlp to/to hate/vb the/at machine/nn age/nn ./.
Look/vb what/wdt those/dts little/ap European/jj jobs/nns are/ber doing/vbg ./.
We'll/ppss+md woo/vb the/at consumer/nn with/in a/at product/nn ,/, not/* bludgeon/vb him/ppo with/in chromed/vbn excess/jj length/nn and/cc weight/nn ./.
Let's/vb+ppo make/vb it/ppo moonlight/nn and/cc the/at call/nn of/in far/jj places/nns and/cc a/at seduction/nn ,/, at/in reasonable/jj rates/nns ./.
Ticonderoga/np folded/vbd a/at few/ap minutes/nns too/ql soon/rb ,/, before/cs the/at tide/nn changed/vbd ,/, still/ql honest/jj and/cc stupid/jj --/-- and/cc the/at network/nn of/in dealers/nns the/at company/nn had/hvd is/bez around/rb waiting/vbg to/to be/be signed/vbn up/rp again/rb --/-- waiting/vbg for/in us/ppo ,/, ready-made/jj ./.
We've/ppss+hv got/vbn rid/jj of/in the/at steam/nn yachts/nns and/cc Georgian/jj houses/nns ,/, and/cc the/at bloated/vbn ,/, too-expensive/jj automobile/nn is/bez next/ap ./.
Why/wrb not/* come/vb down/rp smartly/rb in/in the/at world/nn ,/, in/in a/at chic/jj fashion/nn ,/, with/in an/at Allstates-Zenith/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	He/pps swayed/vbd them/ppo somewhat/rb ,/, but/cc the/at debate/nn raged/vbd on/rp ./.
Financing/vbg emerged/vbd as/cs the/at main/jjs obstacle/nn ./.
Mr./np Willis/np made/vbd it/ppo evident/jj that/cs he/pps had/hvd contributed/vbn his/pp$ maximum/nn ./.


	``/`` Nobody/pn will/md underwrite/vb it/ppo ,/, I'm/ppss+bem telling/vbg you/ppo ''/'' ,/, Freddy/np said/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss know/vb what/wdt I'm/ppss+bem talking/vbg about/rb in/in that/dt department/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` There's/ex+bez plenty/nn of/in risk/nn money/nn ''/'' ,/, Ham/np Richert/np added/vbd ,/, ``/`` but/cc not/* for/in anything/pn this/dt risky/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` All/ql right/rb ''/'' ,/, William/np said/vbd ./.
``/`` We'll/ppss+md try/vb to/to swing/vb the/at deal/nn on/in that/dt basis/nn ./.
If/cs we/ppss can't/md* raise/vb the/at capital/nn ,/, we're/ppss+ber through/rp ./.
Nothing/pn has/hvz been/ben lost/vbn ./.
You're/ppss+ber up/rp against/in it/ppo anyhow/rb ./.
Why/wrb won't/md* you/ppss give/vb me/ppo a/at chance/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	A/at silence/nn fell/vbd ./.
Heads/nns instinctively/rb turned/vbd in/in Willis'/np$ direction/nn ./.
He/pps smiled/vbd at/in William/np and/cc slowly/rb rubbed/vbd his/pp$ hands/nns together/rb ./.


	``/`` I/ppss feel/vb I/ppss must/md answer/vb the/at question/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` since/cs the/at onus/nn later/rbr ,/, if/cs any/dti ,/, should/md fall/vb on/in me/ppo --/-- I/ppss don't/do* relish/vb recriminations/nns spread/vbn broadcast/vbn outside/in my/pp$ family/nn ./.
I'm/ppss+bem not/* giving/vbg you/ppo a/at chance/nn ,/, Bill/np ,/, but/cc availing/vbg myself/ppl of/in your/pp$ generous/jj offer/nn of/in assistance/nn ./.
Good/jj luck/nn to/in you/ppo ''/'' ./.


	``/`` All/ql the/at in-laws/nns have/hv got/vbn to/to have/hv their/pp$ day/nn ''/'' ,/, Adam/np said/vbd ,/, and/cc glared/vbd at/in William/np and/cc Freddy/np in/in turn/nn ./.


	Sweat/nn started/vbd out/rp on/in William's/np$ forehead/nn ,/, whether/cs from/in relief/nn or/cc disquietude/nn he/pps could/md not/* tell/vb ./.
Across/in the/at table/nn ,/, Hamrick/np saluted/vbd him/ppo jubilantly/rb with/in an/at encircled/vbn thumb/nn and/cc forefinger/nn ./.
Nobody/pn else/rb showed/vbd pleasure/nn ./.




Spike-haired/jj ,/, burly/jj ,/, red-faced/jj ,/, decked/vbn with/in horn-rimmed/jj glasses/nns and/cc an/at Ivy/nn-tl League/nn-tl suit/nn ,/, Jack/np Hamrick/np awaited/vbd William/np at/in the/at officers'/nns$ club/nn ./.
``/`` Hello/uh ,/, boss/nn ''/'' ,/, he/pps said/vbd ,/, and/cc grinned/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss suppose/vb I/ppss can/md never/rb expect/vb to/to call/vb you/ppo '/' General/nn-tl '/' after/in that/dt Washington/np episode/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I'm/ppss+bem afraid/jj not/* ''/'' ./.

