Tomlinson actually gasped. “Vice president? That’s like a retirement home.”
Focusing on Lovett, Patrone said, “The two of you together on the ticket would be unbeatable. You would clobber the Democrats in November.”
“You might be right,” Tomlinson said to Patrone, unsmiling. “How about I handle the top spot and Brad runs for veep?”
“Unacceptable!” Sebastian snapped.
“Same here,” said Tomlinson.
“Now wait a minute,” Lovett said to Patrone. “You’re saying our two guys should work together to take the White House in November.”
“That’s right,” Patrone replied before anyone else could respond. “For the good of the party. Together, they’d be unbeatable.”
“For the good of the party,” Lovett echoed.
“The delegates would love it. The two of you would be nominated by acclamation. Wouldn’t even need to count votes.”
“There’s only one problem,” Tomlinson said, his face grave. “I’m running for president, not second place.”
“So am I,” Sebastian snapped.
Jake asked, “What about the space plan?”
“What about party loyalty?” Sebastian countered. “This isn’t all about you, you know.”
“No,” Tomlinson replied, with a cold smile. “It’s all about you.”
Before the two senators could work themselves into a real fight, Jake reminded them, “We’re talking about the space plan.”
Sebastian’s expression turned sour. “We won’t need a public relations gimmick like that, not if we pool our voting blocs.”
“But it’s important!” Jake insisted.
Patrone shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Not maybe,” Jake countered. “It’s attracted voters all over the country. Especially the younger voters, the people you’ll need to win in November. It’s given people hope, it’s even bringing other nations together. It could be an international breakthrough!”
“Pie in the sky,” Sebastian grumbled.
Jake was on the verge of telling them about the undeclared war with Russia. Instead, he said, “No, Senator. Space is important. It means jobs. It means the future. The United States could lead the way to a new world.”
Patrone turned to Sebastian. “It’s a vote-getter, true enough.”
Lovett added, “You can’t expect Frank to just drop the idea after he’s worked so hard for it.”
“Is it really that important?” Sebastian demanded.
“Yes!” Jake and Lovett—and Senator Tomlinson—answered in unison.
“Look,” Sebastian said, suddenly sounding reasonable. “I’m not against your plan. I just don’t see that it’s so damned important.”
“Not important?” Jake yelped. “A program that could generate hundreds of thousands of new jobs? Whole new industries? A program that could bring cheap, clean electrical energy to people all around the globe? Create new lightweight metals? Ultrapure medicines?”
“When?” Sebastian challenged. “How long will it take to achieve these lofty goals of yours?”
Tomlinson jumped in. “If we don’t start now we’ll never achieve them. The future starts now, Brad, it starts right here and now. We can change the world, make it brighter, healthier, safer. And the time and place to start making the change is right here and now.”
Sebastian shook his head. “I just don’t see it that way.”
Jabbing a finger at the senator from Florida, Tomlinson said, “Remember Ted Turner? Remember what he often said? ‘Lead, follow, or get out of the way.’ Which is it going to be for you, Brad? Are you going to lead or follow, or get rolled over by the future?”
Before Sebastian could do more than glower, Patrone asked, “Are you willing to accept the vice president’s spot on the ticket?”
Lovett responded, “Are you willing to adopt the space plan?”
With all eyes focused on him, Sebastian pursed his lips, then answered, “If I have to.”
Jake said, “That means you’ll end your opposition to the loan guarantee bill?”
Looking as if he’d rather be boiling in oil, Sebastian said, “I suppose Zucco could get it out of committee and put it on the floor of the Senate for a straight up-or-down vote.”
A crooked little smile breaking out across his stubbled jaw, Patrone said questioningly to Lovett, “Pat, do we have a deal here?”
“If the senator wants it,” Lovett replied.
Jake had never seen Tomlinson look so unsure of himself. His usual brilliant smile was gone. His face was set in a guarded, worried expression. Frank’s uncertain! Jake realized. For once in his life he doesn’t know which way to jump.
“Let me get this straight,” he said, stalling for time to think. “If I drop out of the race, you’ll nominate me for vice president.”
Sebastian nodded, just once.
He doesn’t like this any more than Frank does, Jake saw. But he wants the White House badly enough to do the deal.
“And you’ll drop your opposition to the space plan,” Tomlinson continued.
Before anyone could reply, Jake added, “And you’ll let the loan guarantee bill come up for a vote on the Senate floor.”
“Yes,” said Sebastian. The single word sounded to Jake like a desperate man’s cry for help.
Patrone asked, “So we have a deal?”
For a breathless instant the limo’s interior was absolutely silent. At last Tomlinson nodded tightly. “We have a deal.”