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to me), and Kierkegaard said there are many people who reach their conclusions about life like schoolboys, they cheat their masters by copying the answers from a book, and Vico said the criterion and rule to truth is to have invented the truth, maybe even conducted a few interviews, who knows? And Wittgenstein said ethics and aesthetics are one and the same thing, and he said the solution to the problem of life is seen in the vanishing of the problem, and he said I can only doubt if there is something beyond doubt, and Heidegger said the idea of logic itself disintegrates in the turbulence of a more original questioning, and Fichte said—No, Al, I’m not hungry, I’m doing an interview, I’ll be out tomorrow, go out, enjoy yourself, it’s a lovely day . . . A warning? . . . Burn it, Al! It’s just a collection notice. Just burn it, burn the whole fucking stack, the phone and electric, just burn it in a pyre on the landing and strap that fucking nosy super to it! You can do it, Al, you can do it! . . . You were saying, Mr. Markham . . . Yes, I was saying Fichte said something too, and so did Pascal, and my mother said we all fall apart in little ways, and then there’s the passage here, the one I can’t stop reading, where is it? Here in the gospel, Luke, Chapter Two. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? . . . My father’s business . . . Open to any page. Here, take a book, Mr. Markham, yes there, that wetted paragraph, read the words.

[end of final tape]

MCLEAN’S HOSPITAL

115 MILL STREET

BELMONT, MA 02478

Office of Dr. Anthony Houston

February 11, 1998

Winston P. Gollinger, M.D.

231 Pine Street

Brookline, Massachusetts 02346

Dear Win,

You inquired about the progress of Daniel Markham. As of a week ago, he is no longer a patient at the hospital, having checked himself out.

He was under my care for three months. After coming off his initial manic high, he was moderately to severely depressed nearly every day of his stay. I tried several drug regimens, some with partial efficacy. If there was any real progress, and I’m not sure there was, it came in our twice-weekly therapy sessions. Here he exhibited brief periods of animation. Once I’d read the transcript and listened to the tapes I was able to engage him on the topic of philosophy. This seemed to provide some bearing for him. A friend named Kyle Johnson brought him books and this appeared to boost his mood somewhat. The nurses report that on his better days he spent most of his time reading.

Around Christmas, his father made an unfortunate visit to the hospital. He was in a full-blown manic episode, soliciting staff and nurses for investments in an offshore hedge fund. Needless to say, the visit didn’t help Daniel, and a week later I increased his dosage of Depakote.

We both know these refractory cases are out there. We did the best we could. Without medication, I’d be surprised if Charles Markham doesn’t commit suicide within five years. Daniel’s still young, the course of his disease difficult to predict.

If I hear anything further I will contact you. If Daniel reenters treatment with you, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Anthony Houston, M.D.

THE TRAIN CLICKS past the backyards of Bradford. One strewn with children’s plastic toys. Another with its ground churned up, ready for the sod of a new lawn. Daniel leans his head against the glass, letting his eyes drop out of focus, the trees becoming a gentle blur. Without looking, he takes the papers from his lap and places them facedown on the seat beside him. Soon the train begins to slow. At Bradford Hills, he watches the father two rows up gather his briefcase