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Chapter 21
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I had set the GPS to take me to the nursing home, where Iintroduced myself as a family friend.
‘I’m afraid she won’t know you,’ said the nurse. This was theassumption I had made, although I was prepared with aplausible story if necessary. The nurse took me to a singleroom with its own bathroom.
Mrs Case was asleep.
‘Shall I wake her?’ asked the nurse.
‘No, I’ll just sit here.’
‘I’ll leave you to it. Call if you need anything.’
I thought it would look odd if I left too quickly so I sat besidethe bed for a while. I guessed Margaret Case was about eighty,much the same age as Daphne had been when she moved tothe nursing home.
Given the story Rosie had told me, it was very possible that Iwas looking at her grandmother.
As Margaret Case remained still and silent in her single bed, Ithought about the Father Project. It was only possible becauseof175/290technology. For all but the last few years of human existence,the secret would have died with Rosie’s mother.
I believe it is the duty of science, of humanity, to discover asmuch as we can. But I am a physical scientist, not apsychologist.
The woman in front of me was not a fifty-four-year-old malemedical practitioner1 who might have run from his parentalresponsibilities.
She was totally helpless. It would be easy to take a hairsample, or to swab her toothbrush, but it felt wrong.
For these reasons, and for others that I did not fully3 grasp atthe time, I decided4 not to collect a sample.
Then Margaret Case woke up. She opened her eyes andlooked directly at me.
‘Geoffrey?’ she said, quietly but very clearly. Was she asking forher husband or for her long-dead son? There was a timewhen I would have replied without thinking, ‘They’re dead,’ notout of malice5 but because I am wired to respond to the factsbefore others’ feelings. But something had changed in me, andI managed to suppress the statement.
She must have realised that I was not the person she hadhoped to see, and began crying. She was not making anynoise, but there were tears on her cheeks. Automatically,because I had experienced this situation with Daphne, I pulledout my handkerchief and wiped away the tears. She closed hereyes again. But fate had delivered me my sample.
I was exhausted6, and by the time I walked out of the nursinghome there were tears in my own eyes from lack of sleep. Itwas early au-tumn, and this far north the day was alreadywarm. I lay under a tree and fell asleep.
I woke to see a male doctor in a white coat standing7 over meand for a frightening moment I was taken back to the badtimes of twenty years ago. It was only momentary8; I quicklyremembered where I was176/290and he was only checking to see that I was not ill or dead. Iwas not breaking any rules. It was four hours and eightminutes since I had left Margaret Case’s room.
The incident was a timely reminder9 of the dangers of fatigueand I planned the return trip more carefully. I scheduled afive-minute break every hour and at 7.06 p.m. I stopped at amotel, ate an over-cooked steak and went to bed. The earlynight enabled a 5.00 a.m.
start on the Sunday.
The highway bypasses Shepparton, but I took the turnoff andwent to the city centre. I decided not to visit my parents. Theextra sixteen kilometres involved in driving the full distance totheir house and back to the highway would add a dangerousunplanned increment10 to what was already a demandingjourney, but I did want to see the town.
I drove past Tillman Hardware. It was closed on Sunday, andmy father and brother would be at home with my mother. Myfather was probably straightening pictures, and my motherasking my brother to clear his construction project from thedining table so she could set it for Sunday dinner. I had notbeen back since my sister’s funeral.
The service station was open and I filled the tank. A man ofabout forty-five, BMI about thirty, was behind the counter. As Iapproached, I recognised him, and revised his age tothirty-nine. He had lost hair, grown a beard and gained weight,but he was obviously Gary Parkinson, who had been at highschool with me. He had wanted to join the army and travel.
He had apparently11 not realised this ambition. I was remindedhow lucky I was to have been able to leave and reinvent mylife.
‘Hey, Don,’ he said, obviously also recognising me.
‘Greetings, GP.’
He laughed. ‘You haven’t changed.’
177/290It was getting dark on Sunday evening when I arrived back inMelbourne and returned the rental2 car. I left the JacksonBrowne CD in the player.
Two thousand four hundred and seventy-two kilometresaccording to the GPS. The handkerchief was safe in a zip-lockbag, but its existence did not change my decision not to testMargaret Case.
We would still have to go to New York.
I met Rosie at the airport. She remained uncomfortable aboutme purchasing her ticket, so I told her she could pay me backby selecting some Wife Project applicants12 for me to date.
‘Fuck you,’ she said.
It seemed we were friends again.
I could not believe how much baggage Rosie had brought. Ihad told her to pack as lightly as possible but she exceededthe seven kilogram limit for carry-on luggage. Fortunately I wasable to transfer some of her excess equipment to my bag. Ihad packed my ultra-light PC, toothbrush, razor, spare shirt,gym shorts, change of underwear and (annoyingly) bulkyparting gifts from Gene13 and Claudia. I had only been allowed aweek’s leave and, even then, the Dean had made it difficult. Itwas increasingly obvious that she was looking for a reason toget rid of me.
Rosie had never been to the United States, but was familiarwith international airport procedures. She was highly impressedby the special treatment that I received. We checked in at theservice desk, where there was no queue, and wereaccompanied through security to the business-class lounge,despite travelling in economy class.
As we drank Champagne14 in the lounge, I explained that I hadearned special privileges by being particularly vigilant15 andobservant of rules and procedures on previous flights, and bymaking a substantial number of helpful suggestions regardingcheck-in procedures,178/290flight scheduling, pilot training and ways in which securitysystems might be subverted16. I was no longer expected to offeradvice, having contributed ‘enough for a lifetime of flying’.
‘Here’s to being special,’ said Rosie. ‘So, what’s the plan?’
Organisation17 is obviously critical when travelling, and I had anhour-by-hour plan (with hours subdivided18 as necessary)replacing my usual weekly schedule. It incorporated theappointments that Rosie had made to meet the two fathercandidates – Esler the psychiatrist19 and Freyberg the cosmeticsurgeon. Amazingly, she had made no other plans beyondarriving at the airport to meet me. At least it meant that therewere no incompatible20 schedules to reconcile.
I opened the schedule on my laptop and began outlining it toRosie.
I had not even completed my list of activities for the flightwhen she interrupted.
‘Fast forward, Don. What are we doing in New York? BetweenSaturday dinner at the Eslers and Freyberg on Wednesday –which is evening, right? We have four whole days of New YorkCity in between.’
‘Saturday, after dinner, walk to the Marcy Avenue subwaystation and take the J, M or Z train to Delancey Street,change to the F train –’
Overview21, overview. Sunday to Wednesday. One sentence perday.
Leave out eating, sleeping and travel.’
That made it easy. ‘Sunday, Museum of Natural History;Monday, Museum of Natural History; Tuesday, Museum ofNatural History; Wednesday –’
‘Stop, wait! Don’t tell me Wednesday. Keep it as a surprise.’
‘You’ll probably guess.’
‘Probably,’ said Rosie. ‘How many times have you been to NewYork?’
‘This is my third.’
‘And I’m guessing this is not going to be your first visit to themuseum.’
179/290‘No.’
‘What did you think I was going to do while you were at themuseum?’
‘I hadn’t considered it. I presume you’ve made independentplans for your time in New York.’
‘You presume wrong,’ said Rosie. ‘ We are going to see NewYork.
Sunday and Monday, I’m in charge. Tuesday and Wednesdayit’s your turn. If you want me to spend two days at themuseum, I’ll spend two days at the museum. With you. ButSunday and Monday, I’m the tour guide.’
‘But you don’t know New York.’
‘Nor do you.’ Rosie took our Champagne glasses to the bar totop them up. It was only 9.42 a.m. in Melbourne, but I wasalready on New York time. While she was gone, I flipped22 openmy computer again and connected to the Museum of NaturalHistory site. I would have to replan my visits.
Rosie returned and immediately invaded my personal space.
She shut the lid of the computer! Incredible. If I had done thatto a student playing Angry Birds, I would have been in theDean’s office the next day. In the university hierarchy23, I am anassociate professor and Rosie is a PhD student. I was entitledto some respect.
‘Talk to me,’ she said. ‘We’ve had no time to talk aboutanything except DNA24. Now we’ve got a week, and I want toknow who you are.
And if you’re going to be the guy who tells me who my fatheris, you should know who I am.’
In less than fifteen minutes, my entire schedule had been tornapart, shattered, rendered redundant25. Rosie had taken over.
An escort from the lounge took us to the plane for thefourteen-anda-half-hour flight to Los Angeles. As a result of myspecial status, Rosie and I had two seats in a row of three. Iam only placed next to other passengers when flights are full.
180/290‘Start with your childhood,’ said Rosie.
All it needed was for her to turn on the overhead light for thescenario of interrogation to be complete. I was a prisoner, so Inegotiated –and made escape plans.
‘We have to get some sleep. It’s evening in New York.’
‘It’s seven o’clock. Who goes to bed at seven? Anyway, I won’tbe able to sleep.’
‘I’ve brought sleeping pills.’
Rosie was amazed that I would use sleeping pills. She thoughtI would have some objection to chemicals. She was right aboutnot knowing much about me. We agreed that I wouldsummarise my childhood experiences, which, given herbackground in psychology26, she would doubtless consider hugelysignificant, eat dinner, take the sleeping pills and sleep. On thepretext of visiting the bathroom, I asked the cabin manager tobring our dinner as quickly as possible.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 practitioner 11Rzh     
n.实践者,从事者;(医生或律师等)开业者
参考例句:
  • He is an unqualified practitioner of law.他是个无资格的律师。
  • She was a medical practitioner before she entered politics.从政前她是个开业医生。
2 rental cBezh     
n.租赁,出租,出租业
参考例句:
  • The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
  • We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。
3 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
4 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
5 malice P8LzW     
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋
参考例句:
  • I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
  • There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。
6 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
7 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
8 momentary hj3ya     
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的
参考例句:
  • We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
  • I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。
9 reminder WkzzTb     
n.提醒物,纪念品;暗示,提示
参考例句:
  • I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
  • It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知,她才付应该交的房租。
10 increment o8Cx6     
n.增值,增价;提薪,增加工资
参考例句:
  • Each increment of knowledge tells us more of our world.知识的点滴增长都会增进我们对世界的认知。
  • She receives a salary increment each year.她每年得到加薪。
11 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
12 applicants aaea8e805a118b90e86f7044ecfb6d59     
申请人,求职人( applicant的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
  • He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。
13 gene WgKxx     
n.遗传因子,基因
参考例句:
  • A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
  • The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。
14 champagne iwBzh3     
n.香槟酒;微黄色
参考例句:
  • There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
  • They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。
15 vigilant ULez2     
adj.警觉的,警戒的,警惕的
参考例句:
  • He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
  • The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。
16 subverted 0ea056f007f4bccdd3f72e136b787a55     
v.颠覆,破坏(政治制度、宗教信仰等)( subvert的过去式和过去分词 );使(某人)道德败坏或不忠
参考例句:
  • Their wills could be subverted only by death. 只有死神才能使他们放弃他们的意志。 来自教父部分
  • Indiana State laws deliberately subverted the intent of the constitutions 14th Amendment. 印第安纳州的法律有意歪曲联邦宪法第十四条修正案的愿意。 来自辞典例句
17 organisation organisation     
n.组织,安排,团体,有机休
参考例句:
  • The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
  • His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。
18 subdivided 9c88c887e396c8cfad2991e2ef9b98bb     
再分,细分( subdivide的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The compound was subdivided into four living areas. 那个区域被划分成4个居住小区。
  • This part of geologic calendar has not been satisfactorily subdivided. 这部分地质年代表还没有令人满意地再细分出来。
19 psychiatrist F0qzf     
n.精神病专家;精神病医师
参考例句:
  • He went to a psychiatrist about his compulsive gambling.他去看精神科医生治疗不能自拔的赌瘾。
  • The psychiatrist corrected him gently.精神病医师彬彬有礼地纠正他。
20 incompatible y8oxu     
adj.不相容的,不协调的,不相配的
参考例句:
  • His plan is incompatible with my intent.他的计划与我的意图不相符。
  • Speed and safety are not necessarily incompatible.速度和安全未必不相容。
21 overview 8mrz1L     
n.概观,概述
参考例句:
  • The opening chapter gives a brief historical overview of transport.第一章是运输史的简要回顾。
  • The seminar aims to provide an overview on new media publishing.研讨会旨在综览新兴的媒体出版。
22 flipped 5bef9da31993fe26a832c7d4b9630147     
轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 ); 按(开关); 快速翻转; 急挥
参考例句:
  • The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转,撞毁了。
  • The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。
23 hierarchy 7d7xN     
n.等级制度;统治集团,领导层
参考例句:
  • There is a rigid hierarchy of power in that country.那个国家有一套严密的权力等级制度。
  • She's high up in the management hierarchy.她在管理阶层中地位很高。
24 DNA 4u3z1l     
(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸
参考例句:
  • DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
  • Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。
25 redundant Tt2yO     
adj.多余的,过剩的;(食物)丰富的;被解雇的
参考例句:
  • There are too many redundant words in this book.这本书里多余的词太多。
  • Nearly all the redundant worker have been absorbed into other departments.几乎所有冗员,都已调往其他部门任职。
26 psychology U0Wze     
n.心理,心理学,心理状态
参考例句:
  • She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
  • He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。


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