Read Online K-Pax by Gene Brewer - Free Book Online Page B

t withou t warning . Th e fourt h floo r als o house s th e clini c an d laboratory ,   a   small researc h library , an da surgica l theater.
    Ward s On e an d Tw o ar e no t restricte d i n mos t cases , an d th e patient s ar e fre e t o mingle .   I n   practice, thi s take s   plac e   primaril y   i n th e   exercise/recreatio n   an d   dinin g   room s   (Ward s   Thre e   an d   Fou r   maintain separat e facilities) . Withi n eac h ward , o f course , ther e ar e segregate d sleepin g   an d   bathin g   area s   fo r   men an d   women .   Th e   staff ,   incidentally ,   maintain s   office s   an d   examinin g   room s   o n   th e   fift h   floor ;   i t   i s   a commo n jok e amon g th e   patient s   tha t   w e   ar e   th e   crazies t   inmate s   o f   all .   Finally ,   th e   kitchen s   ar e   spread ove r   severa l   floors ,   th e   laundry ,   heating ,   air-conditioning ,   an d   maintenanc e   facilitie s   ar e   locate d   i n   the basement ,   an d   ther e   i s   a n   amphitheate r   o n   (an d   between )   th e   firs t   an d   secon d   floors ,   fo r   classe s   and seminars.
    Befor e   becomin g   actin g   directo r   o f   th e   hospita l   I   usuall y   spen t   a n   hou r   o r   tw o   eac h   wee k   i n   the ward s jus t talkin g wit h m y patients , o n   a n   informa l   basis ,   t o   ge t   a   sens e   o f   thei r   rat e   o f   progress ,   i f any. Unfortunately , th e pres s o f administrativ e dutie s pu t a n en d t o tha t custom , bu tI stil l tr y t o hav e lunc h with the m occasionall y an d han g aroun d unti l m y firs t intervie w o r committe e   meetin g   o r   afternoo n   lecture .   On th e da y afte r th e Memoria l Da y   weeken d   I   decide d   t o   ea t   i n War d   Thre e   befor e   lookin g   ove r   m y notes fo r m y thre e o'cloc k class.
    Beside s   th e   autist s   an d   catatonics ,   thi s   war d   i s   populate d   b y   patient s   wit h   certai n   disorder s   which woul d   mak e   i t   difficul t   fo r   the m   t o   interac t   wit h   thos e   i n Ward s   On e   an d   Two .   Fo r   example ,   ther e   are severa l   compulsiv e   eaters ,   wh o   wil l devou r   anythin g   the y   ca n   ge t   thei r   hand s   on-rocks ,   paper ,   weeds, silverware ;a coprophagi c whos e onl y desir e i s t o consum e hi s   own ,   an d   sometime s   others' ,   feces ;   an d   a numbe r o f patient s wit h sever e sexua l problems.
    On e   o f   th e   latter, -   dubbe d   "Whacky "   b y   a   comedi c   studen t   som e   tim e   ago ,   i s   a   youn g   ma n   who diddle s   wit h   himsel f almos t   constantly .   Virtuall y   anythin g   set s   hi m   off :   arms ,   legs ,   beds ,   bathrooms-you nam e it.
    Whack y i s th e so n o fa prominen t Ne w Yor k attorne y an d hi s   ex-wife ,   a   well-know n   televisio n   soap oper a actress . A s fa r a s w e kno w h e enjoye da fairl y norma l childhood , i.e. , h e wasn' t   sexuall y   repressed o r abuse d i n an y way , h e owne da Lione l trai n an d Lincol n   logs ,   playe d   basebal l   an d   basketball ,   like d   to read ,   h e   ha d   friends .   I n   hig h   schoo l   h e   wa s   sh y   aroun d   girls ,   bu t   i n   colleg e   h e   becam e   engage d   t o   a beautifu l   coed .   Althoug h   convivia l   an d   outgoing ,   sh e   wa s   nevertheles s   extremel y   coquettish ,   leadin g   him o n   an d   o n   bu t   neve r   quit e   goin g   "al l   th e   way. "   Craze d   wit h   desire ,   Whack y   remaine d   a s   virgina l   as Russel l fo r tw o agonizin g years-h e wa s savin g himsel f fo r th e woma n h e loved.
    Bu t o n   thei r