Overload by Arthur Hailey Read Free Book Online

closer to her normal, attractive self.
    Mary, too, had returned to the living room. This time Wally replenished the
    drinks and the four of them sat, uneasily at first, uncertain of what to
    say.
    It was Ardythe who broke the silence.
    She said firmly, "I want to see Walter." Then, turning to Wallv, "Do you
    know where your father has been taken, what . . . arrange-
    b
    ments have been made?"
    "Well , . there's a Wally stopped, got up and kissed
    his
    mother, then, standing where he did not have to meet her eyes, contin-
    .26
     

ued, "There's a problem, Mother. Nim is going to talk to you about it.
    Aren't you, Nim?"
    Nim wished be were somewhere, anywhere, else.
    "Mother, dear," Wally said, still standing. "Mary and I have to go home to
    the children for a while. We'll come back. And one of us will stay the
    night with you."
    As if she had not heard, Ardythe intoned, "Nk"hat problems? . . . Why can't
    I see Walter? . . Someone tell me."
    Wall), went out quietly, Mary following. Ardythe seemed unaware they had
    gone.
    "Please . . . Why can't I . . . ?"
    Nim took her hands and held them between his own. "Ardytbe, listen to me.
    Walter died suddenly. It was all over in less than a second. He didn't have
    time to know what was happening and there could have been no pain." Nim
    hoped it was true. He went on, "But because of what happened, he was
    disfigured."
    Ardythe moaned.
    11 Walter was my friend," Nim persisted. "I know bow be thought. He
    wouldn't have wanted you to see him as he is now. He would have wanted you
    to remember him He stopped, choked by his own emotion, not sure that
    Ardythe had heard or, even if she had, had understood. Once more they sat
    in silence.
    More than an hour had gone bv since Nim arrived.
    "Nim," Ardythe said at length. "Have you had any dinner?"
    He shook his bead. "There wasn't time. I'm not hungry." He was having
    trouble adjusting to Ardythe's sudden changes of mood.
    She got up. "I'm going to make you something."
    He followed her into the compact, orderly kitchen which Walter Talbot had
    designed himself. Characteristically, Walter had first made a time and
    motion study of functions to be performed, then positioned everything for
    maximum convenience and a minimal need to move around. Nim seated himself
    at an island worktable, watching Ardythe, not interfering, reasoning she
    was better off with something to do.
    She heated soup and served it in earthenware mugs, sipping her own while
    she put together an omelette, seasoned with chives and musbrooms. When she
    divided the omelette between them, Nim discovered he was hungry after all,
    and ate with enjoyment. Ardythe made an initial effort, then left most of
    her portion. '1-'hcy followed the meal with strong coffee which they took
    into the living room.
    Speaking quietly and rationally, Ardythe said, "I may insist on seeing
    Walter."
    "If you do," Nim told her, "no one can stop you. But I hope you won't."
    "Those people who planted the bomb, who killed Walter and the others. Do
    you think they'll be caught?"
    27
     

"Eventually. But it's never easy when you're dealing with crazies. Because
    they aren't rational, it makes them harder to catch. But if they try
    something similar-which they probably will-thc odds are on their being
    caught and punished."
    "I suppose I ought to care about them being punished. But I don't. Is that
    bad?"
    "No," Nim said. "In any case, other people will take care of that."
    "Whatever happens, it can't change anything. It wouldn't bring Walter . .
    . or the others . . . back." Ardytbe mused. "Did you know we were married
    tbirty-six years? I should be grateful for that. It's more than many people
    have, and most of the time was good . . . Thirty-six years . . ." She began
    crying softly. "Hold me, Nim."
    He put his arms around her and cradled her head on his shoulder. He could
    feel her crying, though not hysterically any longer. These -were tears of
    farewell and acceptance, of memory and love; gentle and