Read Online The Divide by Robert Charles Wilson - Free Book Online Page B

quietly shocked. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “Only that it’s easy to forget that he is what he is. He has abilities you won’t have encountered. His point of view is unique. He may not feel bound by conventional behavior.”
    “I understand that.”
    “Do you really, Susan? I hope so. I worry that you might be projecting your own concerns onto him. That would be a mistake.”
    “I know.” (But she was blushing.) “There’s no danger of that.”
    “Then I’m sorry I mentioned it.” He was being very Old World now, very charming. “I really do appreciate the work you’re doing, Susan.”
    She thanked him—cautiously.
    He said, “Stay as long as you like. But keep in touch.”
    “I will.”
    “And ultimately—if there’s nothing we
can
do—”
    “I know,” she said. “I’m prepared for that.”
    She was lying, of course.
     
     
    Benjamin called that evening. The call was brief, but Susan could hear the anxiety in his voice.
    “There’s a problem,” he said.
    “What is it? Is it John? Is he sick?”
    Cold night and the city bright but impersonal beyond the windows.
    “He’s thinking of leaving town,” Benjamin said. “You want the truth? I think he’s afraid of you.”
    “We have to talk,” Susan said.
     
     
    She met him at an all-night cafeteria on Yonge Street.
    The club next door was hosting a high-powered reggae band; the bass notes came pulsing through the wall. Susan ordered coffee and drank it black.
    Benjamin came in from the street shivering in his checkerboard flannel jacket. She marveled again at how unlike John he was: nothing to distinguish this man from anyone else on the street. He smiled as he pulled up his chair, but the smile was perfunctory.
    He shucked his jacket and ordered a coffee. He added cream and sugar, sipped once, said: “Oh—hey, that’s good. I needed that.”
    “You look tired.”
    “I am. Ever since we had our talk… I guess I’m kind of reluctant to fall asleep. Don’t know who’ll wake up. He wants more time, Susan. All of a sudden he’s fighting me.”
    “I didn’t know he had a choice.”
    “You come to terms with something like this. But there was never any real conflict before. I mean, you don’t understand what it’s like. It’s not something you think about if you can help it. You just live your life. I think… John was fading because he didn’t really care anymore. He let me do what I wanted and he wasn’t around much. Now… this whole thing has stirred him up.”
    Susan leaned forward across the table. “You can tell that?”
    “I feel him wanting to be awake.” Benjamin sat back in his chair, regarding her. “You think that’s a good thing, don’t you?”
    “Well, I—I mean, it’s important to know—”
    “I had to take a couple of days off.” Benjamin smiled ruefully. “John was kind enough to phone in sick for me.”
    “You said he was thinking about going away?”
    “Both of us have been. I talked to Amelie about it. I asked her if it would be okay, you know, if I didn’t see her for a while.”
    “What did she say?”
    “Basically, that it would be okay, but it wouldn’t make her happy.” He took a compulsive gulp of coffee. “If we do this—if we go for treatment—would it be possible for Amelie to come along? There’s not much to keep her here. I mean, budget permitting and all.”
    “I’d have to talk to Dr. Kyriakides. It may be possible.” She hoped not. But that was petty. “You were saying about John—”
    “John’s pulling in the opposite direction. I don’t usually have much access to his thoughts, you know, but some things come through. He’s thinking of leaving, but not for treatment. He wants to hit the road. Get out of town. Run away.”
    “From me?”
    “From this doctor of yours. From the
situation.
But yes, you’re a part of it. I think you disturbed him a little bit. There’s something about you that worries him.”
    “What? I don’t understand!”
    Benjamin