Free A Touch of Infinity by Howard Fast

say. I imagine that it would make trouble for him if it got out that he was going into therapy.”
    â€œTrouble?”
    â€œYou know how the government is about those things.”
    â€œYou must have found him very appealing.”
    â€œVery good-looking, Doctor. You know, I am a woman.” Miss Kanter seized opportunities to remind Dr. Blausman. “But very desperate for help. If he is government and high government—well, that might be very meaningful, might it not?”
    â€œStill, he refuses to say who recommended him?”
    â€œYes. But I’m sure you’ll get it out of him.”
    â€œYou told him my fee?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œWas his face familiar?”
    â€œIt was one of those faces that seem to be. But I have no idea who he really is.”
    Neither did Dr. Blausman have any sure idea of who the new patient was. It was the following day, and across the desk from Dr. Blausman sat a strongly built, handsome man, with pale blue eyes, iron-gray hair, and a square jaw that would have done credit to a Western star of the thirties. He was about forty-five years old, six feet or so in height, and appeared to be in excellent physical condition. He was nervous, but that was a symptom that brought patients into the office in the first place.
    â€œWell, Mr. Smith,” Dr. Blausman began, “suppose you tell me something about yourself, what made you seek me out, who referred you to me, your problems—”
    â€œI have only the most rudimentary knowledge of psychoanalysis, Doctor.”
    â€œThat doesn’t matter. It’s important that my knowledge should be a little more than rudimentary. Which I hope it is. But for the moment, forget about psychoanalysis. I am a psychiatrist, and I prefer to think of my work as psychotherapy. Does the thought of psychoanalysis disturb you?”
    â€œI suppose it does. The couch and all that—”
    â€œYou can lie down if you wish, or you can sit in a chair. That’s not important, Mr. Smith. The point is to get at the root of what troubles you and to see whether we can alleviate the pain. We do that by establishing a relationship. So, you see, you have to be rather forthright. It is true that in the course of therapy, even lies can be revealing, but that’s not a good way to begin.”
    â€œI don’t understand you.”
    â€œI think you do. I must know who you are. Otherwise—”
    â€œI told you that my name is Alan Smith.”
    â€œBut it isn’t,” Blausman said gently.
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œIf I were not adept enough at my discipline to know, you would be making a mistake in coming to me.”
    â€œI see.” The patient sat in silence for a moment or two. “And if I refuse to give you any other name?”
    â€œThen I am afraid you must seek help elsewhere. There is a sufficient unknown in a person who meets me forth-rightly. In one who doesn’t—well, it is impossible.”
    The patient nodded and appeared to reflect on the doctor’s words. “How confidential is your treatment?”
    â€œTotally.”
    â€œDo you make tapes?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDo you take notes?”
    â€œIn most cases, yes. If there were sufficient reason not to keep notes, I would forgo it.” When the patient still hesitated, Dr. Blausman said, “Perhaps you would prefer to think about it and return tomorrow?”
    â€œNo, that won’t be necessary. I also pride myself on being a judge of character, and I think I can trust you. My name is Franklin Hardy. General Franklin Hardy. I am a three-star general, second in command at the War Board. A three-star general who is second in command at the War Board does not consult a psychoanalyst.”
    â€œHave you thought of resigning or taking a leave of absence, General Hardy?”
    â€œI have thought of it—yes. My pride will not allow me to resign, and the situation today