THE ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY, his bushy red beard scarcely trimmed and showing white streaks that made him seem older than his age, stood by the reception table. He glanced at the two men at the end of the buffet, then back to the entrance of the committee hearing room. His name tag bore the words “Ray Thomas, Counsel, Ecology Now!”
“What’s your problem, Ray?” asked the woman behind the linen-covered table on which were arrayed the name tags for the VIP guests, most of whom had yet to appear. The lights on the large wall clock showed why—a roll call vote in the House.
“Why’s Cal talking to Richards?”
“Congressman Richards? He invited him, that’s why.”
“He invited Bang-Bang Richards? What on earth for?”
“I suggest you ask him yourself.” She turned to the woman who had appeared at the table. “Congresswoman Sperlen. Would you like a name tag?”
“No, thank you … I was looking for … There he is, thank you.” The rangy Representative from Oregon eased past the table and headed toward the silver-haired and well-tanned Congressman and the founder of Ecology Now!—both still immersed in their conversation.
As Congresswoman Sperlen neared, the two men turned.
“Gladys!” Richards’ voice boomed across the still-muted voices around the buffet tables. “My favorite debating partner!”
Cal Griffen smiled at the Congresswoman, said a few words lost in the rising hubbub, and stepped back, still smiling, turning toward a sandy-haired man in a three-button charcoal pinstriped suit. “Andy! I’m glad you could come.”
“You know my personal concerns, Cal…”
Thomas shook his head, turning away from the two men. Both fists clenched at his sides for a moment, and his jaw tightened before he took a long deep breath, then another.
“Easy, Ray.”
“Right. Right. Politics makes me puke.” Thomas watched as the balding ecologist talked for a few moments more with the sandy-haired businessman before excusing himself and heading toward the reception greeting table.
“Cal?”
“Just a minute, Ray.” The ecologist leaned over toward the dark-haired woman who had tried to calm Thomas. “Has the Chairman arrived yet, Martha?”
“Chairman Sloan? No, but he was leading the floor debate on the tariff bill. Bill said he’d make an appearance at least.”
“If he comes in and I miss him, get me. Same if Mort Hancock should show up.”
“We’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks, Martha.” Griffen turned toward his staff attorney. “Ray, you look like … Loosen up a little.”
“You invited Bang-Bang Richards?”
“Congressman Richards? Sure,” Griffen answered.
“Why? He sees commies under every bed, and he’d nuke them all, even if his own mother was sleeping there.”
“He’s kind of conservative on defense, but you couldn’t ask for a better voting record on most environmental issues.” Griffen looked past the attorney at the Hill staffers—primarily junior legislative assistants and interns—edging toward the food.
“Kind of conservative?” Thomas’ voice was harsh. “That man never met an atom bomb he didn’t like. He thinks the NRA are a bunch of weenies for stopping with just supporting the right to carry assault weapons. He feels they should have demanded the right to keep and bear MX missiles.”
“You’re exaggerating. In case you don’t remember, he was the one who persuaded the Chairman to force DOD facilities into compliance with DEP cleanup schedules for Superfund sites. He also blocked oil exploration off the Carolina and the Delaware coasts last year.”
“That’s only because he didn’t want to see oil towers when he went marlin fishing in that fancy boat of his. Anyway, his constituents would have handed him his head if he hadn’t.”
“Still, no one without his seniority and position could have faced down both the defense contractors and the oil industry. Besides, he’s a nice guy.” Griffen’s voice dropped into weariness.
“How can you deal with someone like that? When you started Ecology Now! the idea was to avoid wheeling and dealing.” Thomas waved at the tables still loaded with food and the waiters removing empty plates and glasses.
“I guess that all depends on whether you’re interested in accomplishing something worthwhile or mouthing self-righteous slogans. Richards is someone to talk to if you want to accomplish something. Now, if you’ll excuse me … We happen to need some support on the joint DEP/OSHA initiative.”
Griffen turned and eased toward a heavyset man heading toward Richards, timing his approach to coincide with the younger Representative’s.
Thomas headed for the bar, his jaw set and his head shaking.