The Manticore

I was losing ground. This was humiliating. I am a fine cross-examiner and yet here I was, caught off balance time and again by this woman doctor. Well, the remedy lay in my own hands.

"I don't think this line of discussion profitable, or likely to lead to anything that could help me," I said. "If you will be good enough to tell me your fee for the consultation, we shall close it now."

"As you wish," said Dr. von Haller. "But I should tell you that many people do not like the first consultation and want to run away. But they come back. You are a man of more than ordinary intelligence. Wouldn't it simplify things if you skipped the preliminary flight and continued? I am sure you are much too reasonable to have expected this kind of treatment to be painless. It is always difficult in the beginning for everyone, and especially people of your general type."

"So you have typed me already?"

"I beg your pardon; it would be impertinent to pretend anything of the kind. I meant only that intelligent people of wealth, who are used to having their own way, are often hostile and prickly at the beginning of analytical treatment."

"So you suggest that I bite the bullet and go on."

"Go on, certainly. But let us have no bullet-biting. I think you have bitten too many bullets recently. Suppose we proceed a little more gently."

"Do you consider it gentle to imply that my father killed himself when I tell you he was murdered?"

"I was telling you only what was most discreetly implied in the news report. I am sure you have heard the implication before. And I know how unwelcome such an implication usually is. But let us change our ground. Do you dream much?"

"Ah, so we have reached dreams already? No, I don't dream much. Or perhaps I should say that I don't pay much attention to the dreams I have."

"Have you had any dreams lately? Since you decided to come to Zurich? Since you arrived?"

Should I tell her? Well, this was costing me money. I might as well have the full show, whatever it might be.

"Yes. I had a dream last night."

"So?"

"Quite a vivid dream, for me. Usually my dreams are just scraps – fragmentary things that don't linger. This was of quite a different order."

"Was it in colour?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact, it was full of colour."

"And what was the general tone of the dream? I mean, did you enjoy it? Was it pleasant?"

"Pleasant. Yes, I would say it was pleasant."

"Tell me what you dreamed."