Chapter 20

Word of the program participants' whereabouts must have gotten out somehow, for the participants woke up to find the press and droves of aeronautic fans crowding outside the hotel. The program participants were slated to attend a briefing at 9:00 am, followed by a symposium in the afternoon. Their tightly packed schedule did not allow them any room to dawdle. However, judging by the size of the crowd outside, the participants wouldn't be able to make it out the door, let alone to the briefing session and symposium. They began to worry. Just as they thought they weren't going to make it to the briefing session in time, a hundred-strong entourage of bodyguards showed up to enforce order on the crowd outside, clearing a path for the participants. The oncoming bus further cleared the crowd, and the driver reckoned they wouldn't be late to the briefing session. The participants heaved a sigh of relief. They began to discuss who might be behind this well-timed assistance. Winona said no