You told your brother this?

Yes.

What did he say?

He said. He said you cant talk to me like that. You mustnt ever talk to me like that again.

And?

And what?

What did you say?

I said that I wouldnt. And I didnt.

What were your feelings about this?

About the dream?

Yes.

Regret.

You were sorry that you told him?

No. I was sorry it was a dream. That’s all. I’m tired.

All right. Will I see you on Wednesday?

I dont know. Yes. You will see me.

VII

How are you doing?

I’m okay.

I havent seen that sweater before.

It’s a loaner.

You dont have a coat, do you?

I’m not going anywhere.

I could bring you one.

Okay. What about galoshes?

Why not. What happened to your hair?

Leonard whacked some of it off.

What did he use to cut it?

Is it that bad?

I only wondered where he got the scissors.

Not telling.

Okay. I replayed our last session.

How was that.

It occurred to me that when a patient unburdens herself of some intimacy—even if the therapist might like to think that he’s earned a new level of trust, it may not be that at all.

So what may it be at all? Do you think.

It could be that she’s afraid that the therapy is threatening to reveal some other intimacy she considers more private. Although I grant you that might be hard to imagine.

I would tell you something I dont want you to know in order to conceal something that I really dont want you to know.

Something like that.

Sounds a bit shrinky to me.

I know. Actually it sounds like something I once said.

Anyway, having uncovered this deviousness in your patient, what horrors do you think she might be concealing?

I dont know. What have you got?

Marlon Brando in The Wild One.

I’m sorry?

That was his line. Anyway, why would I tell you? Isnt that the point of the maneuver?

Do you still imagine an intimate relationship with your brother?

My brother’s dead.

I’m sorry. Was this why you left IHES? Well. Yes. Of course. I suppose. I guess what I wanted to ask is if you intend to return.

No.

Where did you learn German?

In Germany.

You speak it without an accent.

How would you know?

To my ear at least. My grandmother spoke German. German and Yiddish.

There was a German driver who was interested in me.

Were you having an affair with him?

No. But Bobby didnt know that. I told him it was none of his business. I just wanted him to see what a fake he was.

He was jealous.

Tell me about it.

Did you like Germany?

Yes. It surprised me. I think I worked harder at German than at any other language. I had about ten colorcoded notebooks. The articles are tricky. And it’s a very mannered society. I kept a log in my say and do book.