Chapter 16

           "Iwanttogoaway,"hetoldFranz."Foramonthorso,foraslongasIcan."

           "Whynot,Dick?Thatwasouroriginalarrangement—itwasyouwhoinsistedonstaying.IfyouandNicole—"

           "Idon’twanttogoawaywithNicole.Iwanttogoawayalone.Thislastthingknockedmesideways—ifIgettwohours’sleepintwenty-four,it’soneofZwingli’smiracles."

           "Youwisharealleaveofabstinence."

           "Thewordis‘absence.’Lookhere:ifIgotoBerlintothePsychiatricCongresscouldyoumanagetokeepthepeace?Forthreemonthsshe’sbeenallrightandshelikeshernurse.MyGod,you’retheonlyhumanbeinginthisworldIcanaskthisof."

           Franzgrunted,consideringwhetherornothecouldbetrustedtothinkalwaysofhispartner’sinterest.

           InZurichthenextweekDickdrovetotheairportandtookthebigplaneforMunich.Soaringandroaringintothebluehefeltnumb,realizinghowtiredhewas.Avastpersuasivequietstoleoverhim,andheabandonedsicknesstothesick,soundtothemotors,directiontothepilot.Hehadnointentionofattendingsomuchasasinglesessionofthecongress—hecouldimagineitwellenough,newpamphletsbyBleulerandtheelderForelthathecouldmuchbetterdigestathome,thepaperbytheAmericanwhocureddementiapræcoxbypullingouthispatient’steethorcauterizingtheirtonsils,thehalf-derisiverespectwithwhichthisideawouldbegreeted,fornomorereasonthanthatAmericawassucharichandpowerfulcountry.