council meetings, the figures on Victory party recruiting, the accounts by his spies of Victory party rallies worldwide. He was more than alarmed. For the first time in many years, he felt he was no longer in control of the situation. Everywhere he looked he saw Shevket and Larsen gaining strength. The nations that still retained some of their old wealth and power, once staunch supporters of Earth First, were flocking to Victory."Mansfield, come in here." He leaned back in his chair, elbow on armrest, chin in hand.Mansfield was unsettled when he saw Carstairs looking so bemused. The man had always been dynamic and decisive. "Sir, I have the new reports on—""I just went over them," Carstairs said. "Sit down. We have some heavy planning to do, Greg. We're in serious trouble."Gregory Mansfield had been executive secretary of Earth First party for twenty years. He knew his boss's moods and attitudes and what he saw frightened him. "Surely it's not all that bad, sir. We still have the support of a majority of the membership of the U.N." Carstairs glared at him and Mansfield knew there was a bout of the famous Carstairs sarcasm coming."Oh, splendid, Greg!
