l walked slowly down the hall, his grin gone, his face looking washed out. He turned into his own little office and snapped on the communications video.
"First Vice-President Michael Thompson," he said to the operator.
In a moment Thompson appeared on the screen.
"Mr. First Vice-President," Al said in a tired voice, "may I suggest that you remain in the Capital for the next few weeks?"
Even though he knew that it was not polite, Al snapped off the set without waiting for a reply—but not before he caught the white and frightened look on Thompson's face.
—STEPHEN ARR