Read Online Comeback (Gun Pedersen Book 1) by L. L. Enger - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: L. L. Enger
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Amen.”
“Amen,” said several voices at the front tables.
“And now,” said Barr, “I’d like to bring up Elder Hedman. People have been saying Elder’s got a big surprise to spring. That true, Elder?”
Hedman uncoiled himself from his chair and moved jointlessly to the podium. Gun could see Geoff now, recovered from his rest-room trial, blushing near the door.
“Pastor,” said Hedman, stooping as he reached the podium, “you have the holiest voice I’ve ever heard.” A few people laughed. Gun rolled up slightly on his toes, leaning into the room toward Hedman. Geoff, to Gun’s left, had his hands rammed deep in his pants pockets.
“It was a bigger surprise to me than it will be to you,” said Hedman. “My boy Geoff ran out on me over the weekend and came back with a ring on his finger.” Hedman unstooped his shoulders and stretched his thin lips in a grin. “The kid went out and eloped, and him a staid thirty years old.” He shook his head as if in fond exasperation. “And the best part of it is, he went and found a woman you’ll all agree comes from good, strong stock: Mazy Pedersen.”
A hundred fifty faces turned to the back of the room. Hedman ran a slick tongue over his parted lips. Gun’s eyes stayed on him. Hedman squinted and
smiled narrowly, like a man spotting a bagful of money across a crowded hall. “Gun!” he said. “Gun Pedersen. Damn! Who’d ever thought we’d be rela tives by marriage. Guess we never knew how bad our kids had it for each other.”
“Guess not,” Gun answered.
“Damn right!” Hedman said, celebratory. “And Gun, my friend, since our kids have gone and made everything a lot easier, maybe you’d like to announce the second part of the surprise.”
“Floor’s all yours,” said Gun.
“Pleasure,” said Hedman. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m happy to tell you the way has been cleared to build Loon Country Attractions on a suitable site—not that eastside swamp. Provided the referendum goes through, and with the gracious permission of Geoff and Mazy Hedman, the biggest development in the northern half of the state will go up on the old Pedersen property west of town. Four hundred acres of prime lakefront. Room for the mall, room for hotel accommodations. Time-share condos. Theaters. Res taurants. Jobs. Loon Country Attractions will attract millions of customers a year.” Hedman stopped. He ran his long fingers through his limp silver hair. He smiled with his upper teeth at Gun. “Mr. Pedersen,” he said. “Why don’t you come up and bless the marriage of our children.”
Gun said nothing. He turned his head and caught Geoff looking at him. Geoff was immediately snagged with a fit of coughs.
“Later, then,” said Hedman. “We’ll have a private toast. In the meantime, this is a public hearing—a piece of democracy. Does anyone have something to say? Floor’s open.” Hedman stretched his long arms into a plea for someone else to talk. No one did, and he seemed about to give up and start another speech when Carol Long spoke.
“What about Larson? Let’s hear what Larson thinks.” Several voices affirmed the idea, and Hedman smiled at them.
“Of course,” he said, and signaled Tig Larson to the podium. Larson was slow getting up and squeezed between the rows like a baby whale in a tight channel. He seemed to be breathing hard. “In the past, of course,” Hedman said, “I’ve known Tig as an elo quent and worthy adversary. You all know his record as a conservationist. But now, fortunately for Stony, he’s recognized that not all progress leads to Hell. Commissioner?”
Larson, large and moist in a light summer suit, gained the podium and rested there on his arms. Hedman stepped back and waited for him to speak. Gun saw Carol, sitting at a table on the room’s left edge, printing precisely with a pen. Larson blew out his cheeks.
“I think there has to be a time when you look at certain realities,” he said. “And I think
“Amen,” said several voices at the front tables.
“And now,” said Barr, “I’d like to bring up Elder Hedman. People have been saying Elder’s got a big surprise to spring. That true, Elder?”
Hedman uncoiled himself from his chair and moved jointlessly to the podium. Gun could see Geoff now, recovered from his rest-room trial, blushing near the door.
“Pastor,” said Hedman, stooping as he reached the podium, “you have the holiest voice I’ve ever heard.” A few people laughed. Gun rolled up slightly on his toes, leaning into the room toward Hedman. Geoff, to Gun’s left, had his hands rammed deep in his pants pockets.
“It was a bigger surprise to me than it will be to you,” said Hedman. “My boy Geoff ran out on me over the weekend and came back with a ring on his finger.” Hedman unstooped his shoulders and stretched his thin lips in a grin. “The kid went out and eloped, and him a staid thirty years old.” He shook his head as if in fond exasperation. “And the best part of it is, he went and found a woman you’ll all agree comes from good, strong stock: Mazy Pedersen.”
A hundred fifty faces turned to the back of the room. Hedman ran a slick tongue over his parted lips. Gun’s eyes stayed on him. Hedman squinted and
smiled narrowly, like a man spotting a bagful of money across a crowded hall. “Gun!” he said. “Gun Pedersen. Damn! Who’d ever thought we’d be rela tives by marriage. Guess we never knew how bad our kids had it for each other.”
“Guess not,” Gun answered.
“Damn right!” Hedman said, celebratory. “And Gun, my friend, since our kids have gone and made everything a lot easier, maybe you’d like to announce the second part of the surprise.”
“Floor’s all yours,” said Gun.
“Pleasure,” said Hedman. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m happy to tell you the way has been cleared to build Loon Country Attractions on a suitable site—not that eastside swamp. Provided the referendum goes through, and with the gracious permission of Geoff and Mazy Hedman, the biggest development in the northern half of the state will go up on the old Pedersen property west of town. Four hundred acres of prime lakefront. Room for the mall, room for hotel accommodations. Time-share condos. Theaters. Res taurants. Jobs. Loon Country Attractions will attract millions of customers a year.” Hedman stopped. He ran his long fingers through his limp silver hair. He smiled with his upper teeth at Gun. “Mr. Pedersen,” he said. “Why don’t you come up and bless the marriage of our children.”
Gun said nothing. He turned his head and caught Geoff looking at him. Geoff was immediately snagged with a fit of coughs.
“Later, then,” said Hedman. “We’ll have a private toast. In the meantime, this is a public hearing—a piece of democracy. Does anyone have something to say? Floor’s open.” Hedman stretched his long arms into a plea for someone else to talk. No one did, and he seemed about to give up and start another speech when Carol Long spoke.
“What about Larson? Let’s hear what Larson thinks.” Several voices affirmed the idea, and Hedman smiled at them.
“Of course,” he said, and signaled Tig Larson to the podium. Larson was slow getting up and squeezed between the rows like a baby whale in a tight channel. He seemed to be breathing hard. “In the past, of course,” Hedman said, “I’ve known Tig as an elo quent and worthy adversary. You all know his record as a conservationist. But now, fortunately for Stony, he’s recognized that not all progress leads to Hell. Commissioner?”
Larson, large and moist in a light summer suit, gained the podium and rested there on his arms. Hedman stepped back and waited for him to speak. Gun saw Carol, sitting at a table on the room’s left edge, printing precisely with a pen. Larson blew out his cheeks.
“I think there has to be a time when you look at certain realities,” he said. “And I think
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