The Good Doctor's Tales Folio Six Read Online Free PDF Page B

killed true Monsters out of hand.  “But that’s just Mary Beth’s cover story.  The real goal of the LPS is to supplant the Council – they’re just using the Focus-Monster question as a leverage point.”
    “They contacted me because I’ve voted against the majority in the Council regarding these failed Focuses,” Polly said.  “I told them to get lost.”
    Polly’s comment brought a large smile to Suzie’s face.  It looked unnatural there.  “Well, Polly, it’s nice to hear that.  You’ve earned a lot of respect among the average Focuses.  With that and the clout you have on the Council, you’d have made a nice plum to fall into Mary Beth’s lap.”
    “But Suzie, you know I’d never go against the wishes of the Council,” Polly twittered.  Tonya tried not to wince at her former friend’s antics.  Polly wasn’t a fluff-head, though she portrayed one when she needed to.  Polly was, actually, a rather independent Focus, elected to an at-large Council seat through the strength of her politicking with Focuses across the country.  A couple of years ago, before her election to the at-large Council seat, she published – just among the Focuses – a large pamphlet on the subject of Focus charisma, some of it rather technical in nature, likely cribbed from an unknown collaborator or just plain stolen.  Before her paper, none of the Focuses believed their charisma had anything to do with the juice, or the fact they were Focuses.  The juice component of Focus charisma had been Tonya’s discovery, a result of a long conversation with a knowledgeable but arrogant doctor and researcher.  Afterwards, she had shared the information with Polly, her closest friend among the Focuses at the time.  Polly had named it, followed up on the research, and had been far more rigorous in her investigation of it than Tonya could have ever been.  Tonya had agreed things would work out better if only one of them claimed its discovery, and since Polly had named the trick as ‘charisma’, she sat back and let Polly claim all the credit.  In return, Polly had agreed to help Tonya politically.  They had both gotten on the national Focus Council, but the first Focuses hadn’t been amused at the tricks they pulled to get there.  The firsters had put them both through the ringer after they got on the Focus Council, and in the process drove a wedge between the two of them and ended their friendship.  Polly had managed to maintain her independent power base, but Tonya hadn’t, and many considered her to be little more than a well-bought flunky of Schrum, Adkins and Patterson.
    No, Polly and Suzie Schrum didn’t see eye to eye on many issues at all.
    “You’re making a big mistake,” Christina said, leaning forward intently.  “Focus Julius may be going against the Focus Council, but regarding these so-called failed Focuses, the Council is wrong.  The Focus-Monsters are too dangerous and untamable.  They’re predators, filthy predators who prey on us – on Transforms and Focuses.”  Focus Lucy Peoples had died trying to help the first of the failed Focuses, back before the first Focuses broke out of the government quarantine.  The Council believed it was the government’s mistake, playing political games with doctors and treatments – and not that of the failed Focus – that led to Lucy Peoples’ death.
    “Let’s vote, then, on this,” Suzie said.  “Everyone in favor of supporting the Council on this question?”
    Five hands went up, all save Christina and Lynn.  A moment later, Lynn’s hand went up as well.
    “All in favor of requiring unanimity on the Northeast Region executive council regarding this question?”
    Four hands went up.  This time, neither Polly nor Lynn supported Suzie.  Four, though, was enough to carry the question.
    “So that’s the way it’s going to be?” Christin a said.  “Fine.  I’m off the executive council, then.  I’m not about to compromise my