The Thanatos Syndrome

highway.
    â€œWhat about Belle Ame?” she asks presently.
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œWhat are you going to do about it?”
    â€œYou’re the public-health officer. What are you going to do about it?”
    â€œI somehow have the feeling it’s up to you.”
    â€œFirst, I’m going to get Claude. Tonight.”
    â€œI can send Vergil for him,” says Lucy quickly. “There’s no immediate worry.”
    â€œWhy is that?”
    â€œI learned from Margaret—what a dear!—that he really did go to Baton Rouge for a soccer game. She saw him leave on the bus. He’s okay. We can go get him later tonight.”
    I don’t reply.
    Again she’s up and turned around and looking back at me. “What’s the matter with you?”
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œYou’re acting strange.”
    â€œIs that all you have to say?”
    She’s nodding. “Yeah. What are we going to do about Belle Ame?”
    â€œYou saw the children.”
    â€œYou want to know what I think?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI don’t think Van Dorn even knew about it.”
    I am silent.
    â€œWell?” she says.
    â€œWell what?”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?”
    I am gazing at her. “What do you suggest?”
    â€œI think we’ve got some sickos out there. I think they’re in need of drastic treatment. What do you think?” She shakes me. “Well?”
    â€œRight. We’ll treat them. Starting tomorrow. We’re going to the sheriff. You’re going to report your findings and we’re going to close them down. To begin with.”
    â€œOkay, Tom, okay. I’m on your side, remember.”
    â€œI have to go.”
    â€œTom.” She puts a hand on my arm.
    â€œYes?”
    If you don’t come back with me now, they’re going to be looking for you on the road.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    She takes hold of my arm. “I called Carrie while the children were eating. Max and Comeaux are there. Waiting for you.”
    It is dusk-dark. A van passes on the road. Its headlights are on.
    â€œTom, listen! I think they know.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œThey can’t afford to have you on the loose. Not now. If you don’t come back with me, they’ll be looking for you.”
    â€œDid you tell them I was here?”
    â€œNo. I told them you were coming from your office.”
    â€œGood. Don’t worry about it. I know the roads around here and they don’t. And they don’t know where I’m going. Tell them the truth. I’m making a call.”
    â€œTom, Max is on your side.”
    â€œGood.”
    â€œI don’t know about Comeaux.”
    â€œMaybe you’d better go along now. May I borrow your bag?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYour medical bag.”
    â€œOh, sure.” She turns to me, puts both hands on my arm, squeezes hard. “May I say one thing before you leave?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œTwo things. Here they are. First, Max and I agree on this. You ought to take Comeaux up on his job offer. Okay, so he’s an asshole. But your best chance to change the system is to work within the system. Max’s words! You and Max can be very effective. He needs you. And it will free you up for research. And guess what? Max wants you to move your office to his at Northshore Tulane and practice together. You both need each other. You belong in a research-academic setting, not in that jerkwater town. Max is worried about you, Tom.”
    She pauses, eyes on my face. I am watching the highway.
    â€œOkay, Tom. Number two, and I’m going to tell it like it is. Ellen is in trouble, Tom. You know that. Max took it upon himself to tell me that he’s seeing her professionally. He could not break confidentiality, but I did gather that he thought there was not much future in your and Ellen’s relationship. I’m sorry. Ellen is a remarkable, gifted woman and we’re all devoted to her, but she needs all the help she can get. I’m telling it like it is, whether you like it or not. Max of course thinks you’re some kind of genius and that you’ve done remarkably well, but that you need a little space just now. What do I think? I’ll tell you what I think. I think first of your kids—God, they’re lovely kids, and believe me they’re okay—ain’t nothing wrong with those kids! So Max and I want the