tragic accident. He lost his wife and two children. When he got out of hospital, we
shipped him to Tucson to recuperate, then put him to work in Paradise, at the power
plant. Complete change of work, scene, people – my partner’s notion of how to
rehabilitate a good man who had had his very life chopped off. Delos – Mr Harriman –
takes care of his people. Shall we go in?’
It was a pleasant house, with good landscaping and a fenced back yard – and it was
furnished.
Mr Strong said, `Ali he asked to have shipped to him were his books and his clothes.
Her clothes and those of his youngsters and their personal possessions all went to
the Salvation Army. The rest – bedlinen, blankets, rugs, towels, drapes – have all
been cleaned and the mattresses sterilised. The house is for sale furnished or
unfurnished, and you can have it either way on lease.’
It had a master bedrooan and mo smaller ones upstairs, each with bath. The master
bedroom was on the west and. had a `sunset’ balcony, like the flat we had in 1940 on
Woodlawn in Chicago. Downstairs was both a parlour and a family room, an arrangement
I strongly favour for any family having children at home. Youngsters need a place
where they can be less than neat, without disturbing mother when she has someone in
for tea.
Off the back hallway, balancing the kitchen, was a maid’s room and bath. The kitchen
had a GE dishwasher and a Raytheon electronic cooking unit of the same sort that I
had in my old farmhouse – and in both cases the equipment was new, not the age of
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either house. A feature that struck my eye was an abundance of built-in bookcases…
added later, it seemed to me, except a pair of small ones flanking the fireplace in
the family room. Most houses didn’t even have that much, as most people don’t read.
(Before the twentieth century was out that could be worded, ‘most people can’t
read’. One of the things I learned in studying the histories of my home planet and
century on various time lines was that in the decline and fall that took place on
every one of them there was one invariant: illiteracy.
In addition to that scandalous flaw, on three time lines were both drug abuse and
concurrent crime in the streets, plus a corrupt and spendthrift government. My own
time line had endless psychotic fads followed by religious frenzy; time line seven
had continuous wars; three time lines had collapse of family life and marriage – but
every time line had loss of literacy… combined with – riddle me this – more money
per student spent on education than ever before in each history. Never were so many
paid so much for accomplishing so little. By 1980 the teachers themselves were only
semi-literate.)
The house had – mirabile visu! – two hot-water heaters, one for upstairs, one for
kitchen, laundry room, and maid’s bath. I tried a tap and was amazed to discover
that the water was hot.
George Strong said, ‘After you called yesterday I instructed our maintenance foreman
to have services turned on and the house aired. You could sleep here tonight if you
so wished.’
‘We’ll see.’ I took a quick look in the basement and we left.
George Strong treated us to a lovely lunch in The Fiesta Patio in the Plaza, then at
my request we were taken to Dr Rumsey’s office. I spoke to Jim Rumsey and told him
what in particular I wanted him to look for – I can be truthful with Dr Rumsey,
thank goodness, since he understands Howard problems.
‘Don’t tell her whether or not she is pregnant; tell me. She’s a difficult case; I
need leverage. Do you want to know her real age?’
‘You forget that I know it. I’ll try not to let that fact affect my judgement.’
‘Jim, you’re a comfort.’ I kissed him goodbye, went out and spoke to my youngsters:
`Just sit tight and wait. He has other patients ahead of you. When you are through,