Free Biblical by Christopher Galt Page A

athletic-looking. It also felt to Hoberman that the President’s doctor was a foot taller than he was. On the strength of this evidence, Hoberman decided not to equivocate and hate the guy from the outset.
    “I guess you know why you’re here.” Ward nodded to the black-bound dossier in Hoberman’s hand. “Please, Professor Hoberman … take a seat.”
    He sat in a club chair that swallowed him up and Ward sat opposite, his expression suddenly serious.
    “I take it I don’t need to explain the sensitivity of the material you have just read.”
    “No, you sure don’t,” said Hoberman. “Who else knows about this?”
    “The President approached me directly and I compiled the dossier myself. So the answer is, at this time, only three people: you, me and the President.”
    “Why me?”
    “I’ve read several of your papers, particularly on stimulant psychosis and therapeutic psychotomimetics – and I was very impressed with your book on sensory deprivation-induced delusions. Given what you’ve read in the dossier, I’m sure you can see why you were the obvious choice.”
    Hoberman shrugged. “There are others equally qualified …”
    Ward shook his head. “No there’s not. This is highly sensitive and could not be more important to national security and we need the best brains on it. There were only two choices as far as I was concerned: yourself and John Macbeth, but Dr Macbeth is currently involved in research work in Copenhagen, Denmark.”
    Hoberman nodded, dismissing the thought that Ward’s confidence in him didn’t extend to him working out that the Copenhagen to which he referred was the capital of Denmark and not the one in Idaho.
    “I can see why you thought of John too.” He paused, considering what he had read in the dossier as the governmenthelicopter had swept over the dark Maryland landscape. “What’s your take on it, Colonel Ward?”
    “I have been the President’s personal physician for three years. You get to know a person pretty well in that period. Physically, President Yates is in tip-top condition for a woman of her age; and psychologically, she possesses a very down-to-earth, practical and calm personality. I can also state that there has been absolutely no record of mental illness or instability. I’ve gone through her entire family history: no indicators of any genetic predisposition to psychiatric conditions.”
    “Mmm …” Hoberman paused, framing his next question carefully. “President Yates has a reputation for – how can I put it? – for
profound
religious belief. Some may say worryingly profound.”
    “I don’t see …”
    “One man’s godly zeal is another man’s religiomania.”
    “President Yates has her faith, yes, Professor Hoberman. But, as I said, she is also a very
grounded
person. Her God is not one who manifests himself, or others, through visions. She is deeply concerned about what she has experienced. But there’s more …”
    Ward crossed the room to a sideboard and lifted a black attaché case identical to the one Bundy had had in the helicopter. While Ward fetched the case, Hoberman looked out through the large sliding glass doors. Dawn was beginning to push gray fingers through the Camp David trees and he could see the outline of a kidney-shaped swimming pool, a diving board at the far end. He reflected for a moment on all of those who had sat where he was sitting, looking out at the pool as dawn broke, discussing in measured but urgent tones landing men on the moon, missiles on their way to Cuba, convention center break-ins, a wall coming down in Germany, towers crashing to the ground in downtown New York …
    “This is a report by the White House Security Office …”Ward handed Hoberman a document from the case. “It relates to video surveillance of some of the main corridors and hallways in the White House. On more than one occasion, the President’s behavior has caused security alerts. Basically, President Yates has