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you should know that I would not be here today were it not for my wife. For three decades she has stood, not only by my side, but ahead of me.'' He raised his hand to her. "Claire?" |
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The audience applauded politely as Claire Manning Wick smiled and accepted the tribute. |
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While her husband delivered a brief acceptance speech, she settled back and scanned the frieze of distinguished facesthe White House chief of staff, presidential advisers, cabinet officers, aides, senators and congresspeople, CEOs, icons of the Academy of Science. |
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Her eye fixed on the Seal of the President that emblazoned the podium. Hanging just above the seal was Julius's shiny red face. With profound satisfaction she felt her body relax into the realization of the momenthow they had made it all the way to this august chamber and the high office to which they had been appointed. How startling it was to think of the distance they had traveled from the inauspicious beginnings twenty-odd years ago in that crude little laboratory of BiOmega. How far behind them all that was now. Everything was in its place, and ahead only endless blue skies. |
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