OCR Text |
Show -70- "Very well? If she has any questions? ask her to call me. He told the Professor he wanted to see him again in two weeks; then he turned and was out the door in his usual fashion; his white coat flaring behind him? The Professor got disconsolatly to his feet;1 He stuck the pamphlet in his coat pocket? Talking about his illness had made him actually feel ill. How different from when he had come to California such a short time ago. A newspaper had run a brief article on his arrival? "The Busy Professor" had been the caption over his picture? It had recounted his career as editor, writer? teacher? That first year? when they had lived in an apartment in Sausalito, he could party Until two or three in the morning? then get up and write to three or four hours, then teach two classes in the afternoon? On weekends, he would read all the fiction submitted to the magazine with which he had merged his own? making selections and writing to the authors? Perhaps going without his martinis in the afternoon and his double bourbon and water at night would revive some of that energy? He needed to think about it? Now he could scarcely think? He left the littleJroom and walked to the outer office, where he made the appointment for two weeks hence; then he left the building and got into his car? Driving homeware? he knew what he would do'? He would have one last martini tonight - and one last bourbon and water? Then tomorrow he would stop? He would not take another drink for two months ? |