0023

   "It's not about power," he told me, "it's about influence".
   "What's the difference?", I asked.
   "It's a subtle one, I'll admit. But I think it's a distinction worth making." He fiddled with his glasses for a minute. This was odd, since they didn't seem to be dirty or anything. I got the impression this was some strange flavor of stalling. He put them back on, blinked a few times, and held his hand in front of him, his fingers vaguely pointing at me.
   "You just have to trust that I know what it is I'm trying to do — other than that, there's nothing."
   He repeated that last word after a few moments.
   "Nothing."