Chapter 2 Summary

Randy leaves home in his new Bonneville to reach Orlando on Route 50 at eleven. He turns on the radio to hear Turkey, Syria, Israel and Egypt in conflict. Russia accuses the United States of plotting against Syria with Turkey and warns France, Italy, Greece and Spain that harboring American bases may cause a general war. The Secretary of State flies to London for conferences and the Soviet Ambassador is withdrawn. Randy recalls similar world turmoil in 1957 and 1958. He wonders if something new is happening.

Florence and Alice Cooksey meet for a regular Friday lunch together. Alice is late from having a squabble with Kitty Offenhaus at the library. Kitty is on the library board. She asks Alice if the library has books she considers subversive and anti-south and orders her to remove them. When Alice refuses, Kitty threatens her job. Alice says she'll...