North Carolina Boundary Lines Drawn on an Oak Desk

Don Davis stood at the back, his arms crossed, watching the dais with a quiet intensity.

Ralph Hise turned to Phil Berger, speaking in a hurried whisper that did not carry to the microphones.

Phil Berger did not answer him. He simply stacked his papers into a neat pile, aligning the edges with his palms.

He picked up his heavy wooden gavel and held it continue reading …