(1987) The Celestial Bed by Irving Wallace Read Free Book Online Page A

which would slow down the blood flow to the genital area, and could obstruct an erection.’ Freeberg shook his head. ‘Not a thing wrong in that area. The urologist, Dr Clark, confirmed that by testing the blood pressure of your legs and penis.’
    Demski nodded unhappily, apparently remembering with embarrassment that genital test.
    Freeberg rattled the two sheets in his hand. ‘Everything else seems clear. You take no antidepressants or tranquillisers. You do not drink to excess. No mood-altering drugs, like cocaine. No amphetamines, barbiturates. No prostate or bladder surgery. No damage at any time to your pelvic area, genitals, or spinal cord.’ Freeberg paused. ‘Testosterone level fine. You are in your forties, aren’t you?’
    ‘Forty-two.’
    ‘So your libido has not been affected at all. I see here that the urologist did not think a prosthetic implant was called for.’
    ‘No.’
    Freeberg dropped the report on his desk, and gazed at the patient squarely. ‘Plainly, Mr Demski, your condition does not evolve from an organic impairment.’
    ‘It — it comes from something.’
    ‘Certainly it does. But not from any physical cause. That has now been confirmed. Your problem, it appears, is a psychological one that continues despite your psychotherapy. Probably after your first failure, there were more failures and an inability to focus on your sensations. This is something I can very likely reverse and normalise through diminishing your anxiety. It requires only your full cooperation every step of the way.’
    ‘I came here,’ mumbled Demski.
    ‘You did, and that means you can be helped. As you know, insight or talk therapy can be useful but often it is not enough. After you had such therapy in Chicago, it proved to be not quite enough. That is why your analyst recommended that you come to California to see me. I will work with you almost daily, of course, but I won’t be alone. I will be assisted by a sexual surrogate, a
    trained woman who will guide you and teach you under my close direction. You know about these partner surrogates from what you learned at home and what you heard from me. You know the functions of a sexual surrogate, don’t you?’
    ‘I — I think so, yes,’ Demski said in a small voice.
    ‘Very well. I’ve assigned my very best and most experienced sexual surrogate to you. Her name is Gayle Miller, a young lady you should find most agreeable and useful. She’s prepared to begin your exercises with you.’
    ‘W-when?’
    ‘This evening at seven o’clock at her residence.’
    Demski looked pale and stricken. ‘Tonight?’
    ‘Yes. You’re ready to start. Now I want you to meet Gayle Miller. She knows your case, of course. She’s read the transcript of our first meeting, and I’ve elaborated upon it personally with her. She will join us, sit in on the rest of our meeting, as I explain to you precisely the programme laid out for you and the exact exercises you will undergo with Miss Miller.’
    Freeberg picked up his receiver, pressed down the intercom button, and said, ‘Suzy, please send Gayle Miller into my office. We are ready for her now.’
    The afternoon had waned, and the surrogates, including Gayle Miller, had left for their homes. The Freeberg Clinic was all but empty, except for Freeberg himself, putting away his papers, and Suzy Edwards next door proofing the pages of case histories that she had transcribed from tapes.
    Dr Freeberg, briefcase in hand, poked his head into his secretary’s office. ‘How goes it, Suzy?’
    She lifted her head from her pages, pushing the stray strands of red hair away from her forehead. ‘Almost done, Doctor. Just catching a few typos. I hear it went well with the surrogates.’
    ‘Very well, I think.’
    Suzy fingered the sheaf of pages on the desk before her. T must tell you, Doctor, even though I knew what you were doing, I had no idea how difficult and fascinating your cases would be.’
    ‘I agree with you. They are