XI.
With the exception of a few additional delegates composed of high-ranking Texcocan and Genoese political and scientific heads, the line-up at the end of forty years was the same as ten years earlier—except for the absence of Jerry Kennedy.
Extra tables had been set up, and chairs to accommodate the added numbers. To one side were the Genoese: Martin Gunther, Fredric Buchwald, Peter MacDonald, with such repeat delegates as Baron Leonar and the Honorables Modrin and Russ and half a dozen newcomers. On the other were Barry Watson, Dick Hawkins and Natt Roberts, Taller and such Texcocans as the scientists Wiss and Fokin, army heads, Security Police officials and other notables.
Note pads had been placed before each of them and both Watson and Gunther were equipped with gavels.
While chairs were still being shuffled, Barry Watson said over the table to Gunther, "Jerry?"
Martin Gunther shrugged "Jerry's indisposed. As a matter of fact, he's at one of the mountain sanitariums, taking a cure. He'll be all right."
"Good," Dick Hawkins said. "We've lost too many."
Watson pounded with his gavel. "Let's come to order. Gunther do you have anything to say in the way of preliminaries?"