Brayer rubbed his chin. "I forgot you and him were competitors," he
said, almost apologetically.
"Keep on forgetting it," said Groff. "That isn't why I'm asking."
Brayer looked at him thoughtfully and shrugged. "You think Chesbro's
horning in on something? Maybe you're right. He's thick as thieves with
old Akslund, all right, and I'd swear they never saw each other before
today. The congressman's all hotted up about a regional disaster-relief
agency. He's been sending out statements and messages--right through
our own radio; I read some of them. One of them went right to the White
House, boy. He's asking for a billion dollars grant."
"And I suppose Artie Chesbro wants to have something to say about
spending it?"