Chapter 2

           ItwasadampAprilday,withlongdiagonalcloudsovertheAlbishornandwaterinertinthelowplaces.ZurichisnotunlikeanAmericancity.Missingsomethingeversincehisarrivaltwodaysbefore,DickperceivedthatitwasthesensehehadhadinfiniteFrenchlanesthattherewasnothingmore.InZurichtherewasalotbesidesZurich—theroofsupledtheeyestotinklingcowpastures,whichinturnmodifiedhilltopsfurtherup—solifewasaperpendicularstartingofftoapostcardheaven.TheAlpinelands,homeofthetoyandthefunicular,themerry-go-roundandthethinchime,werenotabeingHERE,asinFrancewithFrenchvinesgrowingoverone’sfeetontheground.

           InSalzburgonceDickhadfeltthesuperimposedqualityofaboughtandborrowedcenturyofmusic;onceinthelaboratoriesoftheuniversityinZurich,delicatelypokingatthecervicalofabrain,hehadfeltlikeatoy-makerratherthanlikethetornadowhohadhurriedthroughtheoldredbuildingsofHopkins,twoyearsbefore,unstayedbytheironyofthegiganticChristintheentrancehall.

           YethehaddecidedtoremainanothertwoyearsinZurich,forhedidnotunderestimatethevalueoftoy-making,ininfiniteprecision,ofinfinitepatience.

           To-dayhewentouttoseeFranzGregoroviusatDohmler’sclinicontheZurichsee.Franz,residentpathologistattheclinic,aVaudoisbybirth,afewyearsolderthanDick,methimatthetramstop.