Flynn's World by Gregory Mcdonald

Author:Gregory Mcdonald [Mcdonald, Gregory]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 2007-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

“To be as frank as I can,” Flynn said in Dr. Bryce Fine’s office, “Professor Louis Loveson may or may not be receiving threatening notes and threatening telephone calls. You saw that attack upon him on the Net yesterday?”

Behind his desk, Professor Fine answered simply, “Yes.” “Someone may or may not have tried to run over him in a car yesterday afternoon.”

Sitting slumped sideways to his desk, Fine snorted. “With all your ‘may’s and ‘may not’s,’ I suspect the President has asked you to watch over old Louie. Correct? I’m not surprised old Louie has friends in high places. I’ve noticed your name in the newspapers, Inspector Flynn. I guess he deserves special attention. Seventy-six years old . . . Still, what may or may not be happening to Louie Loveson is nothing more or less than indicative.”

“Beg pardon?”

“Forgive me, I’m tired. I’ve just finished lecturing. Sherry?”

“No, thanks.”

Fine poured from a decanter on a bookcase a step from his desk. “Lecturing is a great deal more difficult than it used to be.”

Under Dr. Fine’s good tweed jacket was a partially buttoned cardigan sweater. He wore a soft necktie. He carried perhaps twenty-five pounds he didn’t need. His thick black hair was graying.

“One just can’t plow ahead and say what one is saying anymore. One must bob and weave, bob and weave.” He swung his glass, not enough to spill the sherry. “Reach out, up, down, genuflect to this bit of political correctness, that bit. Things used to be understood. Taken for granted. ‘Everyone must pass in his paper next Friday.’ A simple statement. ‘Everyone must pass in his or her paper next Friday.’ I’ll be damned if I’ll follow current trends and say, ‘Everyone must pass in their paper next Friday!’” He shot his sherry down his throat. “Sorry. It’s just that when I get done, having to take two steps sideways for every step forward, I have no idea what it is I’ve just said! Or if I’ve said anything. And I’m tired! Sure you won’t have some sherry?”

“No, thanks.”

Fine poured himself more. Sitting down at his desk, he sipped from his glass more slowly. “Not to worry. I guess I’m at the age where I shouldn’t care so much. I do my job as much as I’m permitted. And go home.” He smiled. “Working on the Great American Novel. Well, I’m trying to write a novel on current university life.”

“Good luck.”

“It’s balderdash, of course. What percentage of American professors are trying to write the definitive novel on contemporary university life? Trying to understand it?”

“Is that what novel writing is?”

“Having spent so much time in the contemporary university, unfortunately I find myself deconstructing before constructing.” He laughed ruefully. “Reminds me of the composer who decomposed before he composed. Wouldn’t leave much, would it?”

“More to the point . . .”

“In a way, I respect old Loveson. He still cares. He still believes Truth is to be pursued. At seventy-six, he’s still in there fighting.”

Flynn cleared his throat. “More to the point .

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.