“The details are not important” I said. I hoped it
would end the inquiry.
“Nonsense” he replied. “The details are
everything. Tell my exactly what you remember. And,
please be thorough and candid.” The salacity in his
enthusiasm and tone was palpable.
“Well” I began and paused to compose my words.
“Let me say that...in various ways…and by different
methods…she endeavored to... Doctor, please. I implore
you.”
word.
“Continue” he commanded, fairly shouting the
His voice sent a terror through me. There was such
fury in it that I knew I must comply. I had to utter the
words he wanted to hear. I took a breath as deep as I
could muster in my depleted state and searched for words
but there was no other way to put it. “...to extract my
essence. I will say no more on the subject.”
Wertenberg laughed out loud but my conscience
was eased by such delicacy in describing events that were
of an extremely intimate nature.
“Are you amused, sir. That is exactly as I recall the
behavior.”
“No” he replied. “My amusement is purely in your
reticence.”
“You were present, of course” I added. “You must
know exactly what happened. At least, I believe you were
there. In a cloud of your own, you stood sentinel above us.
Your body was rigidly aligned. Head erect, feet extended
downward to a point as sharp as the tip of an arrow. Palm
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