And as the great burning rose, and the huge tower swayed, and then sank, so huge was the heat and so stupendous the pressure of that massive falling that, like everything around it, above and below, the wampum belt was atomized into a dust so fine it could scarcely be seen. For a short time it hovered around the base of the vanished tower. But then at last the wind, kinder than men, lifted it up in a cloud—high, high over the harbor waters, and the city, and the great river that led to the north.

Epilogue

Summer 2009

THEY SAT IN the café. It was a beautiful day. Gorham looked across at the Metropolitan Opera and smiled at his daughter. He could see that she was going to try something on him, but he waited for it to come.

She looked serious.

“Dad.”

“Yes, my darling.”

“I think I have ADD.”

“Really? That’s nice.”

“No, Dad. I mean it. I really can’t concentrate.”

“Well, I’m certainly sorry to hear that. When did you discover this?”

“This year, I guess.”

“You don’t think it could have anything to do with all the parties you went to?”

“Dad, be serious.”

“I am being serious. Listen, Emma, I have to tell you something. You can’t have ADD.”

“How do you know?”

“Listen, when I brought you over here this morning and made you look at those two huge Chagalls by the entrance to the Met, did you have trouble doing that?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t mean did you complain all the way across the park about having to look at the damned opera house—by the way, it’s a very fine opera house and a damn sight better than the old one, but never mind that. I mean, were you able to stare at the Chagalls and take them in?”

“I had great difficulty.”

“No you didn’t. I watched you.”

“That is so unfair. You’re worse than Mommy.”

“Wow. Impressive insult.” He looked at her seriously. “Emma, you have to understand. Attention deficit disorder exists. A few people have it, and if they really do, it’s no joke. But nowadays, half the kids in your school say they have it. Why’s that?”

“You get extra time in exams.”

“Right. It’s a racket. The parents tell the doctors they think their kids have it, and the doctors go along with it, and soon everybody has it, so they can have extra time with their exams and improve their grades.”

“Isn’t that a good reason to have it?”

“No. And I also know the Ritalin racket.”

“Meaning?”