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event.”
    I looked at Spencer Durkee. He was bent forward, his elbows on his knees, rolling and unrolling the unknotted twine. I was sure Spencer would agree to host me if I appealed to him. But if I did, the malicious people who’d victimized him already would torture him again. I couldn’t take the chance of making his life more difficult than it already was.
    I pointed to the rude young man in the back. “Perhaps you’d like to volunteer?” I said. My remark succeeded in evoking a laugh and breaking the tension that pervaded the meeting. Cries of “Yeah, Holland, you do it,” echoed in the room.
    Holland colored but wasn’t cowed. “Me? Not in this life. Anyway, we don’t need any more stupid stories in the Gazette .”
    “Pipe down, Holland,” Levi said. “This is a senior decision.”
    “Brady just don’t want no one to find out why his other slicker stinks from rotten bait,” called out one of Holland’s companions. He pushed Holland in the shoulder, then giggled, elbowing another young man in the ribs.
    “Shut up, Maynard,” Holland said. “Or you’ll step in it tomorrow.”
    Spencer frowned, but said nothing.
    “Benjamin Press, what about you?” Levi said to a fisherman sitting next to the ten year old I’d seen outside.
    “Nah, Levi. Women’s bad luck on board.”
    “Who’re you kidding, Ben?” Levi said. “Didn’t your wife use to fish with you?”
    “Yeah, and I never had any luck,” Press replied, setting off another wave of laughter. The atmosphere in the room was relaxed now, but still, I had no takers.
    “Alex Paynter. Can you do it?” Levi asked.
    “I would, Levi, but my motor catched up on me. Gotta get me a new part tomorrow.”
    “Okay, we don’t have all night for this,” Linc said.
    My heart sank. I glanced at Levi, hoping he’d say something. But he was looking at Linc. I saw his shoulders rise and fall.
    “Sorry, Levi, you’re stuck with her,” Linc said, and my heart soared.
    A couple of the men snickered. I thought I knew who they were. I gave Levi a grateful smile, but he didn’t respond.
    “There’s not a lot of room on my boat, Linc. Plus I’ve got Evan as sternman.”
    “That’s my ruling,” Linc said. “Your idea, your project.” He raised his left hand and rapped his gavel on the woodblock. “Any new business? No? Remember, what’s said here stays here. This meeting is over.”
    I was surprised at the way Linc Williams ran the association. Plainly his word was law, and few would buck him. Ike Bower must have been expecting others to join his mutiny. Perhaps privately they’d rally to the cause. But in public, the support never materialized. Williams was still the king. No votes were taken. No one raised Robert’s Rules of Order . The association simply ruled.
    As the meeting broke up, several people came up to greet me or to apologize for the rudeness of Holland and his friends, for which I thanked them. When they departed, I looked around for the association president. There was still a crowd of people lingering in Nudd’s, but I managed to spot him across the room and headed in his direction. I wanted to express my gratitude for his aid.
    Evelyn Phillips had elbowed her way inside the shop and was advancing on Linc as well. She reached him before I did. “Mr. Williams, do you have a statement on the meeting for the Gazette ?” she asked.
    “No comment,” Linc said.
    “Come on now, Mr. Williams. The village wants to know if the association is still supporting the festival.”
    “The lobstermen don’t break their word. We’ll do what has to be done, and that’s all I have to say.” He pushed his way into the crowd headed for the door.
    Evelyn winked at me and looked around for another likely candidate to interview, but when the men spied her, they turned their backs or hurried toward the exit.
    Spencer saw her coming and ducked past me to get away. “I talk to her,” he murmured to himself, “and it’ll get worse.”
    “Hey,