The Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart Read Free Book Online

a bright-eyed look at me and went to take a chair. A juvenile idiot.
    I plumped my big bulk informally on the desk opposite the Cannons and tried my `gee-it's-wonderful-to-be-able-totalk-to you' smile. The boy was sitting near the window to my right and slightly behind his parents, looking at me with friendly anticipation.
    `You understand, Pastor Cannon, I hope, in committing Eric to this hospital you are surrendering your authority over him.
    'Of course, Dr. Rhinehart. I have complete confidence in Dr. Mann.'
    `Good. I assume also that both you and Eric know that this is no summer camp Eric is entering. This is a state mental hospital and-'
    `It's a fine place, Dr. Rhinehart,' said Pastor Cannon. `We in New York State have every right to be proud.'
    'Hmmmmm, yes,' I said, and turned to Eric. `What do you think of it all?'
    'There are groovy patterns in the soot on the windows.'
    `My son believes that the whole world, is insane.'
    Eric was still looking pleasantly out the window. `A plausible theory these days, one must admit,' I said to him, `but it doesn't get you out of this hospital.'
    'No, it gets me in,' he replied. We stared at each other for the first time.
    `Do you want me to try to help you?' I asked.
    `How can you help anyone?'
    'Somebody's paying me well for trying.' The boy's smile didn't seem to be sardonic, only friendly.
    `They pay my father for spreading the Truth.'
    `It may be ugly here you know,' I said.
    `I think I'll feel right at home here.'
    `Not many people here will want to create a better world,' his father said.
    `Everyone wants to create a better world,' Eric replied, with a hint of sharpness in his voice.
    I eased myself off the desk and walked around behind it to pick up Eric's record. Peering over my glasses as if I could see without them I said to the father: `I'd like to talk with you about Eric before you leave. Would you prefer that we talk privately or would you like to have Eric here?'
    'No difference to me,' he said. `He knows what I think. He'll probably act up a bit, but I'm used to it. Let him stay.'
    `Eric, do you want to remain or would you like to go to the ward now?'
    'Full fathom five my father lies,' he said looking out the window. His mother winced, but his father simply shook his head slowly and adjusted his glasses. Since I was interested in getting the son's live reaction to his parents, I let him stay.
    'Tell me about your son, Pastor Cannon,' I said, seating myself in the wooden desk chair and leaning forward with my sincere professional look. Pastor Cannon cocked his head judiciously, crossed one leg over the other and cleared his throat.
    `My son is a mystery,' he said. `It's incredible to me that he should exist. He's totally intolerant of others. You ... if you've read what's in that folder you know the details. Two weeks ago though - another example. Eric [he glanced nervously at the boy, who was apparently looking out or at the window) hasn't been eating well for a month. Hasn't been reading or writing. He burned everything he'd written oven two months ago. An incredible amount. He doesn't speak much to anyone anymore. I was surprised he answered you .... Two weeks ago, at the dinner table, Eric playing saint with a glass of water, I remarked to our guest that night, a Mr. Houston of Pace Industries, a vice-president, that I almost hoped sometimes that there would be a third World War because I couldn't see how else the world would ever be rid of Communism. It's a thought we've all had at one time or another. Eric threw the water in my face. He smashed his glass on the floor.'
    He was peering intently at me, waiting for a reaction. When I merely looked back he went-on: `I wouldn't mind for myself, but you can imagine how upset my wife is made by such scenes, and this is typical.'
    `Yes,' I said. `Why do you think he did it?'
    `He's an egomaniac. He doesn't see things as you and I do. He doesn't want to live as we do. He thinks that all Catholic priests, most teachers