hat they don't need their wit because God's hand is on
their shoulder, so to speak, and that's why et cetera? Childish,
perhaps, but touching, don't you think?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Fairfield," Victor replied, "but I hadn't heard the
phrase before. Perhaps I'm just unfamiliar with it, or more probably you
picked it up elsewhere on your travels."

"Mmmm," Donald answered, somewhat noncommittally, "perhaps. Well, don't
let me detain you. I'll just run along. Vaya con Dios," he waved as he
left the room. They waited a few seconds in silence, but he didn't
return.

* * * * *

"Will you take him on as a patient?" Mimi asked when they heard the
first roaring of the crowd from the living-room.

"I'd like to very much, if you want me to. He's a fascinating case. But
it won't be easy, it's going to take time."

"Oh, that's all right," she assured him. "He's not dangerous, and we've
plenty of money. Take all the time you want."

"You know," he said, "I don't mind admitting I'm pretty bewildered by
now." He shook his head two or three times, as if to clear it, then
asked, "Where does the money come from?"

"I don't know."

"I mean, what does he do for a living?"

"I don't know. Did you ask him?"

"Not yet. He'll probably say he brought the money from the future."

"Uh-huh," she agreed.

"Well, don't you even know where your husband gets his money?"

"No."

"What a combination you two are," he muttered.

"I can't hear you," she called from the kitchen. "The water is making
too much noise. Come in here." He went in and leaned against the powder
blue refrigerator while she soaked the dishes. "He won't come to your
office for examinations or treatments," she said. "He thinks I'm the one
who's nuts."

"That's probably true," he agreed, somewhat ambiguously. "It would be
better if you were my patient at the same time. You do have this amnesia
anyhow, I'd like to clear that up. Would you be willing?"

"Oh, I'd love it," she cried. "I can come see you for regular
treatments, and then you can come to the house for supper several times
a week and see him then."

"Let's go see if he agrees to that," Victor said. Mimi dried her hands
in a hurry on a dish towel, grabbed a handful of his fingers, and pulled
him after her to the living-room. Her fingers were still cool and damp.

* * * * *

He saw a lot of the two of them in the few weeks following that night,