Is that true?

No. I made it up. Jesus.

Sorry. I’m not sure I’ve heard a description of the unconscious that grants it that kind of autonomy.

Well. It’s been on its own for a long time. Of course it has no access to the world except through your own sensorium. Otherwise it would just labor in the dark. Like your liver. For historical reasons it’s loath to speak to you. It prefers drama, metaphor, pictures. But it understands you very well. And it has no other cause save yours.

Do we have a working relationship with the unconscious? Is it a reciprocal arrangement?

No. That would be a stretch.

Are you free to ignore it?

Sure. If you like. You might call that manual override. Not always such a good idea of course.

Have you talked to other therapists about these ideas?

Not much. They bore pretty easily.

What did they say? If they didnt get too bored.

Nothing. They’d write it down. Or write something down. Or I’d change the subject.

Like now.

No. We’re still okay.

I suppose your reservations about the souldoctors have a long history.

Fair to say.

What is your biggest complaint?

I dont know. Maybe their lack of imagination. Their confusion about the categories into which they’re given to sorting their patients. As if name and cure were one. The way they ignore the total lack of evidence for the least efficacy in their treatments. Other than that they’re fine.

That’s reassuring.

Anyway, it’s a nice little cottage industry you’ve cobbled up for yourselves. The subject at hand would seem to be reality and that in itself is pretty funny. Still, you probably get up to a minimum of mischief. If you serve to keep the patients clothed and fed and off the street that’s a good thing.

The Kid. Does he attempt to influence you? Does he tell you what to do? I asked you this before but I’m not clear on it.

I’ll have to get back to you.

I’m sorry?

I’ll have to think up another answer. I’m sure he’s advised me on what I should do. From time to time. As for influencing me, why else would he be there?

Do you think a voice can compel a person to commit suicide?

You suspect that the Kid has been quietly moving yours truly to the edge?

It’s just a question.

If a person has auditory hallucinations she’s going to have some definable relationship with the voice. Most suicides dont need a voice. What should give you pause is that suicide scales with intelligence in the animal kingdom and you might wonder if this is not true of individuals as well as of species. I would.

Do you think that there is something suicides have in common? Some common mindset?

Yes. They dont like it here.

Well.

I’m being a smartass. I’m not in the best of moods. Which I’m sure you’ve picked up on.

Do you want to stop?