He opened his eyes and I was shocked to see them full of tears. “I’m not afraid,” he said.
Nine
1
A few days after our disastrous dinner, Clarissa came to me in my office. It was our first real meeting since her return from Europe. It was also my first meeting with any one of the directors for, since the scene on the penthouse terrace, none had come near me, not even Paul whom I usually saw at least once a day.
Clarissa seemed tired but fashionable in summer lace. She sat down heavily in the chair beside my desk and looked at me oddly. “Recriminations?” I asked cheerfully: the recent outburst had restored me to perfect health and equanimity. I was prepared for anything, especially battle.
“You’re an absolute fool and you know it,” she said at last. “I suppose there are wires in here, recording everything we say.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised. Fortunately, I have no secrets.”
“There’s no doubt of that,” she glared at me. “There was no need to rush things.”
“You mean you anticipated this?”
“What else? Where else could it lead? The same thing happened to Christ, you know. They kept pushing him to claim the kingdom. Finally, they pushed too hard and he was killed. It was the killing which perpetuated the legend.”