BooksBarbecue
Back The Double Save as PDF
Chapters (63)
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28
  29. 29
  30. 30
  31. 31
  32. 32
  33. 33
  34. 34
  35. 35
  36. 36
  37. 37
  38. 38
  39. 39
  40. 40
  41. 41
  42. 42
  43. 43
  44. 44
  45. 45
  46. 46
  47. 47
  48. 48
  49. 49
  50. 50
  51. 51
  52. 52
  53. 53
  54. 54
  55. 55
  56. 56
  57. 57
  58. 58
  59. 59
  60. 60
  61. 61
  62. 62
  63. Acknowledgements

‘Connard. Bastard. What are you doing here? I told you to scram. Leave me and my family alone.’ He slurs his words, sways on his feet.

‘I just want to talk to you,’ he says. ‘I have no designs on your sister. I’d like to come back…’ He almost says home but knows that would only enrage this surly lad looking for trouble.

The golden boy, master of the realm, stumbles towards him and swings, whirling comically when his fist fails to meet its target. That his adversary succeeds in evading the punch seems to enrage him. He stumbles and swings again.

Having nimbly avoided the attack, he decides it’s time to flee. As his feet pound the pavement, certain he’s being pursued, he hazards a look back, but no one is there. No one and nothing but the dark river flowing inexorably towards the coast. He steps close to the edge of the embankment and stares into the rushing water.

Has anyone seen him? If he returns to his room, it will mean waiting in fear for the police to arrive and take him away. Better to consign himself to the muddy waters than go on like this. He doesn’t belong here, not in this city of emperors and queens. Connard. Bastard. For nine months he’s been holding his breath, waiting to be found out.

The great river surges through the darkness. He closes his eyes, feels the damp spray on his skin. How easy it would be to jump.

52

Clinique Les Hirondelles
Saint-Odile, Switzerland
4 January 2009

At the sound of a knock on the door, Gessen dropped his pen and closed the file he was reading. ‘Ah, Libby,’ he said, when she poked her head through the doorway. ‘Come on in. I’ve got a few minutes before my next session.’ He stood and guided her to a chair. ‘Ready to head back to uni?’

‘More or less.’ Her normally bright eyes were cast in shadow.

He followed her gaze to the window.

‘More or less?’

‘What I mean is, I wouldn’t mind staying on longer.’ She fiddled with a button on her cardigan. ‘It’s been such an eye-opening experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to observe real patients, and you and Dr Lindstrom at your work. I’ve learned more in six weeks here than I would from years in the library.’

He nodded to the bound report on his desk. ‘I’ve already read your paper. You’ve done an excellent job.’ He stood and passed it to her. ‘I jotted a few notes in the margins. Have a look and let me know if you have any questions. I’ve also sent my feedback to your supervisor. I’m sure Dr Wakeford will be pleased with your efforts.’