He knew now that he was going to see Dr. Barnez first, before he went anywhere else. He leaned over and gave the driver the address, and then settled back, waiting as the car reached the upper-level strips of the New City. He found the doctor's house, and waited in the small anteroom for a few moments. Then he saw the familiar, stooped figure, beaming at him from the door of the inner office. "Come in, Griff, come in!" he boomed. "Lord, man, what a change! You look like you never looked before. They treated you well over there—" The old doctor tossed him a cigar, and settled back, regarding him over silver-rimmed glasses. "Any regret, Griff? Even cigars you can have again now!"
Griffin shook his head, feeling the uneasiness nibbling again at his mind. "No—no regrets, nothing I can put my finger on—" He nipped the cigar, feeling suddenly foolish to take such relish in contemplating the acrid smoke of a dried-up weed.
"But a multitude of things you can't quite put your finger on, eh?" The old man was smiling.
Griffin nodded slowly.
"You'll find the readjustment troublesome at times. But as a Free Agent, it's infinitely easier." The old man paused. "You've seen Marian?"
Griffin flushed. "No. I haven't been home. I'm—I'm a little afraid to go."
"Don't be. Marian will be there."
"Oh, I don't mean that. It's just—I've been waiting so long, and hoping so much. I don't know what to expect of Marian, I'm afraid she'll be different, somehow—"
"She won't be changed."