But there are broad wrongs that are trying to be

Why does diversity equate with equality? Ramsey abruptly asked Campbell.

It ensures that a broad and diverse body of students will be available to express different ideas, represent different cultures, which in turn will serve to break down the ignorance of stereotypes.

Arent you premising your entire argument on the fact that blacks and whites think differently? That a black raised by parents who are college professors in a well-to-do household in, say, San Francisco will bring a different set of values and ideas to a university than a white person who was raised in the exact same affluent environment in San Francisco? Ramseys tone was filled with skepticism.

I think that everyone has differences, Campbell responded.

Instead of basing it on skin color, doesnt it seem that the most impoverished among us have a greater right to a helping hand? Justice Knight asked. Ramsey looked over at her curiously as she said this. And yet your argument draws no distinction on wealth or lack thereof, does it? Knight added.

No, Campbell conceded. Michael Fiske and Sara Evans sat in a special section of seats perpendicular to the bench. Michael glanced over at Sara as he listened to this line of questioning. She didnt look at him.

You cant get around the letter of the law, can you? You would have us turn the Constitution on its head, Ramsey persisted after finally taking his eyes off Knight.

How about the spirit behind those words? Campbell rejoined.

Spirits are such amorphous things, I much prefer to deal in concrete. Ramseys words brought scattered laughter from the audience. The chief justice renewed his verbal attack, and with deadly precision he skewered Campbells precedents and line of reasoning. Knight said nothing more, staring straight ahead, her thoughts obviously far from the courtroom. As the red light on the counsel lectern came on indicating Campbells time was up, he almost ran to his seat. As the counsel opposing affirmative action took his place at the lectern and began his argument, it didnt seem like the justices were even listening anymore. *����*����* Boy, Ramsey is efficient, Sara remarked. She and Michael were in the Courts cafeteria, the justices having retired to their dining room for their traditional post-oral argument luncheon. He sliced up the universitys lawyer in about five seconds.

Michael swallowed a bite of sandwich. Hes been on the lookout for a case for the last three years to really blow affirmative action out of the water. Well, he found it. They should have settled the case before it got here.

You really think Ramsey will go that far?

Are you kidding? Wait until you see the opinion. Hell probably write it himself, just so he can gloat. Its dead.

I can partly see his logic, Sara said.

Of course you can. Its evident. A conservative group brought the case, handpicked the plaintiff. White, bright, blue-collar, hardworking, never given a handout. And, even better, a woman.

The Constitution does say no one shall discriminate.

Sara, you know that the Fourteenth Amendment was passed right after the Civil War to ensure that blacks wouldnt be discriminated against. Now its been forged into a bat to crush the people it was supposed to help. Well, the crushers just guaranteed their own Armageddon.

What do you mean?

I mean that poor with hope starts to push back. Poor without hope lashes back. Not pretty.

Oh. She looked at Michael, his manner so intense, so mercurial. Serious beyond his years. He climbed on the soapbox with regularity, sometimes to an embarrassing degree. It was one of the elements about him that she both admired and feared.

My brother could tell you some stories about that, Michael added.

Im sure he could. I hope to meet him someday.

Michael glanced at her and then looked away. Ramsey sees the world differently than it actually is. He made it in the world by himself, why cant everybody else? I admire the guy, though. He sticks it equally to the poor and the rich, the state and the individual. He doesnt play favorites. Ill give him that.

You overcame a lot too.

Yeah. Im not blowing my own horn, but Ive got an IQ over one-sixty. Not everybody has that.

I know, Sara said wistfully. My legal brain says what happened today was correct. My heart says its a tragedy.

Hey, this is the Supreme Court. Its not supposed to be easy. And by the way, what was Knight trying to do in there today? Michael was perpetually in the loop on everything that happened at the Court, all the inner secrets, the gossip, the strategies employed by the justices and their clerks to further philosophies and points of view on cases before them. He felt behind on whatever Knight had alluded to in court this morning, though, and it bothered him.

Michael, it was only a couple sentences.

So what? Two sentences with a ton of potential. Rights for the poor? You saw the way Ramsey picked up on it. Is Knight posturing for something down the road? A case she was trying to set up in there?

I cant believe youre asking me that. Its confidential.

Were all on the same team here, Sara.

Right! How often do Knight and Murphy vote together? Not very. And this place has nine very separate compartments, you know that.

Right, nine little kingdoms. But if Knight has something up her sleeve, Id like to know about it.

You dont have to know everything that goes on at this place. Christ, you already know more than all the clerks combined, and most of the justices. I mean, how many other clerks go down to the mail room at the crack of dawn to get a jump on the appeals coming in?

I dont like to do anything halfway.

She looked at him, was about to say something, but then stopped herself. Why complicate things? She had already given him her answer. In reality, although a driven person herself, she could not imagine being married to someone with standards as high as Michael Fiskes. She could never reach them, sustain them. It would be unhealthy even to try.

Well, Im not betraying any confidences. You know as well as I do that this place is like a military campaign. Loose lips sink ships. And you have to watch your backside.

Im not disagreeing with you in the grand scheme of things, but I am in this case. You know Murphy, hes a throwback a lovable throwback, but hes a pure liberal. Anything to help the poor hed go for. He and Knight would be aligned on this, no doubt about it. Hes always on the lookout to throw a wrench in Ramseys machine. Tom Murphy led the Court before Ramsey got the upper hand. Its no fun always being on the dissenting end in your twilight years.

Sara shook her head. I really cant go into it.

He sighed and picked at his meal. Were just pulling away from each other at all points, arent we?

Thats not true. Youre just trying to make it seem that way. I know I hurt you when I said no, and Im sorry.

He suddenly grinned. Maybe its for the best. Were both so headstrong, wed probably end up killing each other.

Good old Virginia boy and a gal from Carolina, she drawled. Youre probably right.

He fiddled with his drink and eyed her. If you think Im stubborn, you really should meet my brother.

Sara didnt meet his gaze. Im sure. He was terrific during that trial we watched.

Im very proud of him.

Now she looked at him. So why did we have to sneak in and out of the courtroom so he wouldnt know we were there?

Youd have to ask him that.

Im asking you.

Michael shrugged. Hes got a problem with me. He sort of banished me from his life.

Why?

I actually dont know all the reasons. Maybe he doesnt either. I do know it hasnt made him very happy.

From the little I saw, he didnt strike me as that sort of person. Depressed or anything.

Really? How did he strike you?