Castle on the Edge Read Online Free Page B

on.
    “Yes, Lederer, Doctor Franz Lederer. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Professor Strutmire.”
    “Well, I suppose you gentlemen would like to come in,” he said in a rather annoyed way.
    “No, not now because we really don’t have much time. I wanted you to meet Doctor Lederer,” I replied.
    “Well, I’ve met him. So now, if you will excuse me, I’ll go back to reading my paper…as I was doing before I was interrupted,” he barked back. Then he pulled off his glasses again and slammed the door in our faces.
    As we proceeded to Mister Lipton’s room, I sheepishly said to Doctor Lederer: “I apologize for Mister Strutmire’s rudeness. As you can see he has a problem with public relations.”
    “Oh, don’t worry about it, Alex,” Doctor Lederer said as he made a sweeping motion with his right hand, “he wouldn’t even be here, if he didn’t have a problem in the first place.”
    As I was about to knock on Mister Lipton’s door, Nurse Jenkins came by with a sedative for him. I introduced her to Doctor Lederer and we entered the room. Mister Lipton was sitting on his high-back leather chair with his arms resting in his lap. His far-off stare gave the impression he was completely oblivious to our presence. Nurse Jenkins got his attention by calling his name at which point he then looked at her, took the sedative and swallowed it with water. After she left the room, I proceeded to offer salutations and introduce Doctor Lederer to Mister Lipton.
    “Good morning, Mister Lipton, how are you feeling today?”
    Mister Lipton slowly looked up, gazed at me and quietly said in a monotonous tone, “The same, everyday is the same.”
    “I would like to introduce you to Doctor Franz Lederer. He will be staying with us a couple of days. He would like to meet you.
    “Who would like to meet me?” he said lethargically.
    “Doctor Lederer. This is Doctor Lederer from Zurich, Switzerland. One of his specialties is treating your type of condition. He’ll be able to help you,” I said sympathetically.
    He looked up at Doctor Lederer without saying anything and the doctor said, “How do you do, Mister Lipton, I understand you’re a writer?”
    “A writer? Oh, yes, I’m a writer…I write short stories and novels. I’ve had nine novels published, you know…though I haven’t had anything published for a while, about a year, I think.” Then he started to drift off with a numb stare.
    Doctor Lederer looked at him sympathetically and said with a soothing voice, “Well, Mister Lipton, we’ll help you get back on your feet.” Then he turned to me and affirmed, “Won’t we, Doctor Ramsey?”
    “Of course, Doctor Lederer,” I replied reassuringly. Then, putting my arm on Mister Lipton’s shoulder, I went on to say, “In fact, Mister Lipton has been making good progress since he’s been with us these past six months. For the first three months he was unable to sit at his desk at all, let alone write. Now, he can not only sit at his desk but is able to type at his typewriter, for half an hour a day, and with good concentration too.”
    Then Mister Lipton came out of his glazed gaze, looked up at me, then turned to Doctor Lederer and said with a slight enthusiasm, “I’m working on a novel now. See the pages on the left corner of the desk, over there…left of the typewriter?”
    “Why yes, Mister Lipton, I do. I would like very much to read it. What is the novel about?”
    “It’s a roman `a clef, you know, in which actual persons or places are depicted in fictional guise; in this case about a writer who, even though successful, suffers from melancholia and alcoholism and voluntarily enters a hospital for treatment.
    “I see. I’m sure it will be a great success and an inspiration to others, Mister Lipton, because it’s written from the very essence of the author’s soul.” Doctor Lederer said, with a feeling of true empathy.
    I looked at my watch and motioned to Doctor Lederer that we should leave.
    We