Read Online (1961) The Chapman Report by Irving Wallace - Free Book Online

there were still seven more to call. Would it not have been more efficient, she asked herself, to send each member of the Association a letter informing her of Dr. Chapman’s lecture? At once, she knew that, while it might have been more efficient, it would have been less effective. Sarah Goldsmith and Naomi Shields would have ignored the printed invitations. And how many more? It was only direct conversation that had forced acceptances out of both women, and perhaps out of all of them. Still, thought Kathleen, it was ridiculous and ironic that she, of all people, was being forced to sell Dr. Chapman and his voyeurs to the others. Surely not one of them, all things considered, would hear or meet him with more unwillingness.
    She considered the warm telephone again. Duty was duty, and that was that. Glancing at the remainder of the list, she reached for the receiver. Her hand was poised over it, when, jarringly, it rang. Startled, she instinctively withdrew her hand. At last, after the third imperious ring, she answered the phone.
    “Hello?”
    “Katie, doll? It’s Ted.”
    She was not sure if she was pleased or troubled, “Ted, how are you? When did you get in?”
    “Five minutes ago. I’m still in Operations. I had to hear your voice before I got tied up with Metzgar.”
    “Was it fun?”
    “Where I was stuck, North Africa looked like Carswell Base in Texas.”
    “You didn’t even get to see Livingston or a Mau Mau?”
    “I got to see the PX. Period. How have you been? Missed me?”
    “Of course.”
    She had not missed him, really. When Ted had informed her, two weeks before, that he had to represent Radcone in a test flight to Africa, sponsored by Strategic Air Command, she had been relieved. Ever since Boynton’s death sixteen months ago, Ted Dyson had been a visitor and a friend. Ted had known Boy, as he and most of America liked to call Boynton Ballard, long before Kathleen had known him. Ted and Boynton flirted with MIGs over the Yalu, wing to wing. Immediately after, Ted had gone to work for J. R. Metzgar and Radcone Aircraft in Van Nuys, and later, following a great blare of publicity when Boynton had joined him there as a test pilot, Ted always proudly claimed part of the credit for snaring him.
    After Kathleen had married Boynton, it was Ted Dyson who was retained as number one bachelor friend-to run an occasional household errand, fill in when there was a female visitor from New York, escort Kathleen to a play when Boynton was busy. It was natural that when Boynton was killed, Ted would appear as official family mourner. The entire nation, Metzgar, the President in the White House, mourned, but Ted had seniority. At first, he had appeared irregularly, out of respect for Kathleen’s grief, but making her aware always that he was hovering near and need only be summoned. Then, gradually, in the sixteen months past, a subtle change had overtaken Ted Dyson. As friend of the hero, he was also heir to the hero’s mantle. He was elevated to the position of Radcone’s first test pilot and trouble shooter, Boynton’s job. He was recipient of some of Boynton’s old glory and attention. And soon, as Kathleen perceived it, he began to think himself the only male capable of possessing and satisfying Boynton’s widow. He was the successor and began to conduct himself as such. His appearances were more regular. His familiarity was more aggressive. And on their last date, just before the African trip, emboldened as he was by several drinks, he kissed Kathleen good night as they stood inside the door and then somehow found her breasts with his hands. But she had moved quickly away, and he had not pursued her. It was tacitly understood, by both, that he had drunk too much. And now he was back.
    “… so that’s the way I think it’s going to work out,” he was saying.
    She had not heard a word. “That’s fine, Ted,” she said quickly.
    “Well, anyway, I’m going to be here, and I’ve got a lot to tell