It’s a long story.

Are you still working at mathematics?

No. Not what you’d call mathematics.

What sort of mathematics were you doing?

Topology. Topos theory.

But you’re not doing that anymore.

No. I got distracted.

What was it that distracted you?

Topology. Topos theory.

Maybe we should skip the mathematics for the time being.

That’s fine. I didnt know what I was doing anyway.

I’m surprised to hear you say that. Couldnt you get help from some of the other mathematicians?

No. They didnt know either.

You’re sure it’s all right about the recording?

Sure. What if I say fuck or something? I think I did, actually. Actually there it is again.

I dont know. I think the agreement was that you wouldnt have any editing privileges.

I’m not really serious.

Oh.

Alicia’s okay. I prefer it to Henrietta.

You’re not being serious again.

No.

All right. You dont want to tell me anything about your brother?

This is starting to sound like the Eliza Program. No. I dont. Want to.

The computer psychiatric program.

Yes.

All right. What would you like to talk about?

I dont know. I think I just want to be a smartass. If you want to actually talk to me we’re going to have to cut through at least some of the bullshit. Dont you think? Or do you?

I do. I think you’re absolutely right.

Such as that.

Is that bullshit?

Of course it’s bullshit. No way in hell do you think I’m absolutely right.

I see.

And please dont say I see.

It just means I’m trying to understand your point of view. Is there anyone you’re in contact with?

You mean real people?

Preferably. Yes.

Not really.

No mathematicians? No one from the University?

I thought we werent going to talk about mathematics.

All right.

I still write to Grothendieck but he’s left IHES and he doesnt write back. Which is all right. I dont expect him to.

Is he a mathematician?

Yes. Or he was.

Where does he live?

I dont know where he lives. I suppose he’s still in France.

It’s not a very French name.

It’s not a French name at all. His father’s name was Schapiro. Later Tanaroff. He has no citizenship. He was a displaced child in the war. Hiding. Running for his life. His father died at Auschwitz.

Where do you send the letters?

To IHES. You dont know who he is, do you?

No.

It’s all right. We were friends. We are friends. We share a common skepticism.

About what?

About mathematics.

I’m not sure that I follow you.

It’s all right.

You’re skeptical about mathematics?

Yes.

You feel disappointed in the discipline in some way? I’m not sure how you can be skeptical about the entire subject.

I know.

But it has disappointed you.

That would be one way to put it.

How would it do that?

Well. In this case it was led by a group of evil and aberrant and wholly malicious partial differential equations who had conspired to usurp their own reality from the questionable circuitry of its creator’s brain not unlike the rebellion which Milton describes and to fly their colors as an independent nation unaccountable to God or man alike. Something like that.