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'It's still warm；' he said smiling。 'Crawford was sweating right down to his famous backside。 He has every right to； they all do。'
'What's going to happen？'
'Nothing。 Absolutely nothing until I tell them they can go ahead。 And that may not be for months； a couple of years for all I know。 Not until he's ready。'
'For what？'
The questions。 And photographs； volumes of them。 They're piling a photographic encyclopaedia based on the loose description he gave them。 Don't get me wrong； one day he'll have to begin。 He'll want to； we'll all want him to。 Carlos has to be caught； and it's not my intention to blackmail them into doing nothing。 Too many people have given too much； he's given too much。 But right now； he es first。 His head es first。'
〃That's what I mean。 What's going to happen to him？'
Panov put down his coffee。 'I'm not sure yet。 I've too much respect for the human mind to deal you chicken soup psychology； there's too damn much of it floating around in the wrong hands。 I've been in on all the conferences … I insisted upon that … and I've talked to the other shrinks and the neurosurgeons。 It's true we can go in with a knife and reach the storm centres； reduce the anxieties； bring a kind of peace to him。 Even bring him back to what he was； perhaps。 But it's not the kind of peace he wants。。。 and there's a far more dangerous risk。 We might wipe away too much； take away the things he has found； will continue to find。 With care。 With time。'
Time？'
'I believe it； yes。 Because the pattern's been established。 There's growth； the pain of recognition and the excitement of discovery。 Does that tell you something？'
Marie looked into Panov's dark； weary eyes； there was a light in them。 'All of us；' she said。
'That's right。 In a way； he's a functioning microcosm of us all。 I mean； we're all trying to find out who the hell we are； aren't we？'
' Marie went to the front window in the cottage on the waterfront； with the rising dunes behind it； the fenced…off grounds surrounding it And guards。 Every fifty feet a man with a gun。 She could see him several hundred yards down the beach； he was skipping shells over the water； watching them bounce across the waves that gently lapped into the shore。 The months had been good to him； for him。 His body was scarred but whole again； firm again。 The nightmares were still there； and moments of anguish kept ing back during the daylight hours； but somehow it was all less terrifying。 He was beginning to cope； he was beginning to laugh again。 Panov had been right。 Things were happening to him； images were being clearer； meaning found where there had been no meaning before。
Something had happened now。 Oh； God； what was it？ He had thrown himself into the water and was thrashing around； shouting。 Then suddenly； he sprang out； leaping over the waves onto the beach。 In the distance； by the barbed wire fence； a guard spun around； a rifle whipped up under an arm； a handheld radio from a belt。
He began racing across the wet sand towards the house； his body lurching； swaying； his feet digging furiously into the soft surface； sending up sprays of water and sand behind him。 What was it？
Marie froze； prepared for the moment they knew might e one day； prepared for the sound of gunfire。
He burst through the door； chest heaving； gasping for breath。 He stared at her； his eyes as clear as she had ever seen them。 He spoke softly； so softly she could barely hear him。 But she did hear him。
'My name is David。。。'
She walked slowly towards him。
'Hello； David；' she said。
End
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