The Project Gutenberg EBook of Compatible, by Richard R. Smith

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Title: Compatible

Author: Richard R. Smith

Release Date: May 22, 2009 [EBook #28922]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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_Richard R. Smith has been writing SF since 1949, "except for the
year that I spent climbing up and down hills in Korea." Former
office manager for a construction company, and a chess enthusiast,
he now writes full time and adds, "My main ambition in life is to
write SF for the next forty years!"_

compatible

_by ... Richard R. Smith_

There are many ways--murder included--in which husbands
can settle certain problems. This was even more drastic!

George stood by the fireplace, his features twisted into a grimace.
"It's hell, I tell you. A living hell."

I sipped my drink and tried to think of a subtle way to change the
subject. I didn't like to hear a person's personal problems and every
time I visited George, he invariably complained about Helen. If it had
been anyone else, I might have thought it wasn't entirely Helen's fault,
but George and I had been roommates in college and I knew him like a
brother. He was a person who got along with almost everyone.
Intelligent, easy-going and likeable.

He lifted his glass and glared at me as if I were the guilty party.
"She's a worry-wart," he continued. "A hypochondriac, a neurotic, an
escapist, and a communist." He studied the ceiling thoughtfully. "And
sometimes I think she's a little crazy."

I tried to calm him, "Don't worry about it. If things get worse, get a
divorce."

"Divorce, ha! She wouldn't give me a divorce if--"

The door opened.

Helen smiled half-heartedly, her pale face quickly resuming its unhappy
expression as if it tired her facial muscles when she smiled. "Hello,
Ed. Nice to see you again."

"Hello, Helen." I glanced at George and noticed he had closed his eyes
as if the sight of his wife was unbearable. His lower lip was white
where he gripped it with his teeth and