Plague Maker by Tim Downs

Author:Tim Downs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

MACY WAS IN HER favorite outfit: a loose-fitting, long-sleeved pullover, a pair of baggy gray sweatpants, and thick cotton socks. It was her lounging outfit, her comfort suit. Macy loved the fall and winter because they allowed her to bundle up like this, and it didn’t seem fair that she should have to give up the joys of warmth and coziness just because the earth decided to rotate on its axis. In the summer, she just fired up her air-conditioning and bundled up anyway. For three months every summer her electric bill was astronomical, but she didn’t care. There were very few pleasures in her life right now, and a pleasure that could be purchased was a pleasure worth paying for.

She had just settled down on the sofa when the doorbell rang. When she opened the door, she found Li standing there grinning with his arms folded behind his back.

“Well, hello!” he said cheerfully.

“Li.”

“The very same.”

“Well, what are you—why are you—”

Li held up his hand. “Perhaps I can anticipate your first few questions. What am I doing here? I came to pay you a visit. Is this visit personal or professional in nature? That depends largely on your frame of mind. How did I get here? In one of those infamous New York taxicabs. Does Nathan know I’m here? There are many things Nathan doesn’t know, as I’m sure you will agree.”

Macy just stood there, dumbfounded.

“This is such a lovely front porch,” Li said. “One could almost remain here.”

“Oh—I’m sorry. Won’t you come in?”

Li stepped in and brought out a small paper sack from behind his back. “These are scones,” he said, “true English scones, not the crude American facsimiles, which taste like sawdust with a binding of glue. I don’t mind telling you, it was no mean feat to find them. It seems provisions were a bit short at Nathan’s house.”

“They sound wonderful.”

“You’ll find there are two of them.”

“Then all we need is tea.”

“What a lovely suggestion.” He walked to the sofa, took a seat, and looked back at Macy with a warm smile. Macy still stood in the doorway holding the paper sack.

“You’re wondering why I didn’t call first,” Li said. “In point of fact, I did. I remembered that last night you said you were giving an examination today, so I called your office at Columbia University. I was informed that it was a morning class and that you planned to return to your home afterward to grade the papers. I can’t say I blame you—this is really a lovely setting.”

“How did you get my home address?”

“I told the departmental secretary that I was your aged uncle from Great Britain, who just arrived from Heathrow to find himself stranded and forgotten at LaGuardia. It was my first time in the States, you see, and everything was so big and confusing. If only she would give me your home address, I could take a taxi and meet you there. The story had just enough pathos to do the trick.

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