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reintroduce Jana to Boryda, who interrupted Sofia.
    “Jana Matinova, from the restaurant. I told you I wouldn’t forget your name.”
    Sofia reached up to affectionally pat Boryda’s shoulder. “He remembers everyone’s name. I think he knows all five million people in Slovakia by name.” She brushed lint off his arm in a familiar way, running her fingers down to his hand. “Ivan is brilliant.”
    “I’ve read that in the papers. I generally distrust the newspapers, but since you say it, I know it must be true,” Jana replied.
    They all laughed, Boryda looking appropriately abashed.
    Jana watched their interaction, the way they leaned against each other, the way Sofia constantly touched Boryda, the way she looked at him, the way she said his name. Sofia was in love. There was no doubt in Jana’s mind that the two had begun an affair. “I wish you a huge sweep of the election and a change for the good in the government.”
    Boryda thanked her, but he was already trolling the room with his eyes to find the next person to charm.
    As others came up to talk to Sofia and Boryda, Jana began backing away. “You’ll do the country proud,” she murmured, hoping against hope that they would. She was also aware of the possibility of a scandal that might destroy both their careers. Slovakia was still a very proper country when it came to politicians’ personal lives. And Boryda was a married man.
    Jana sat in the back of the room, watching the proceedings. The mayor introduced the three dignitaries, and then called on Lesna to speak. There was loud applause when he stood up, which became a rhythmic clap of appreciation, until he finally held up his hand to quiet his audience.
    When he spoke, Jana was riveted. Not that he used grand gestures or a stentorian voice to command attention. He seemed sincere, all-inclusive in his gentle, direct approach, and captivated everyone in the room. It was a huge change from the man who was currently in power, a change for the better. Jana was glad that Sofia was in his camp. He was the right man for the job.
    Lesna apologized for having to leave the meeting early, departing as soon as he was through. Sofia and Boryda remained to get the needed commitments from the people in the room, not only to vote for them but to campaign in their neighborhoods, to get their friends and neighbors to campaign, and, perhaps, to give small contributions to help win the victory they were all working so hard to achieve.
    Sofia gave a persuasive talk, emphasizing the need to curtail the illegal activities of the people in power, their nepotism and cronyism. She reminded her audience over and over of her past work with Transparency in trying to open government to public scrutiny. She did exactly what she had been brought into the campaign for, lending needed authenticity to the party’s calls for honest government. Her prior reputation added almost a religious note of conviction. The response to her speech was good, though it lacked the aura of veneration that Lesna had received just a few minutes earlier.
    Boryda was the last to speak. He started slowly, his voice gradually building in volume, his gestures becoming broader as his speech progressed. His words, starting off mildly, reached a roar of reproach for the current regime. His eyes flashed, his posture was assertive. He carried the audience with him, held them in his hands and lifted them up with him in a final burst of exhortation. There was a split second of silence when he ended. Then the audience jumped to their feet, screaming approval, applauding, the applause becoming a chant. They bathed Boryda in adoration.
    Boryda glowed, beaming when the people began pushing forward, crowding around him, patting him on the back, complimenting him. Finally, as a pair of bodyguards appeared out of nowhere, Boryda edged away from his admirers and was escorted to the door, a retinue like a comet’s tail trailing after him. Sofia, who had stayed behind to talk