"I'll probably stick around a little while longer, anyway," Zack says, shaking his head. Maybe there's nothing more to hear from the official-looking types set up around the center, but that doesn't mean there's nothing more to learn from anyone coherent enough to hold up their end of a conversation. Kerry's done a good job of proving that, himself.

"Can't hurt, right?" He's in no rush. "And it's just bad policy to turn down a free meal."