Summary

In Chapter 54, the committee added the creation of a census committee to the agenda for the next town meeting. They reasoned they needed to know how many people were in the community as well as how many people were leaving. Someone suggested people might be leaving and taking information about their community to Flagg. Another suggested putting people in jail to keep them from joining the dark man’s forces, but Frannie argued that sounded like something the secret police would do.

Nick proposed that they create a department of law and order and put Stu in charge of it. Stu said he did not really want the job, but would accept the nomination if that was what the committee wanted. He insisted that he would not serve more than a year. Frannie, however, said bluntly that she did not want him...