Disclosure: A Novel by Michael Crichton Page A

the glass, of course.
    Walking with your head down, like a defeated putz." Dorfman snorted again, and then wheeled his chair around. His eyes were bright, intense, mocking. "You were such a promising man. And now you are hanging your head?"

    Sanders wasn't in the mood. "Let's just say this hasn't been one of my better days, Max."

    "And you want everybody to know about it? You want sympathy?"

    "No, Max." He remembered how Dorfman had ridiculed the idea of sympathy. Dorfman used to say that an executive who wanted sympathy was not an executive. He was a sponge, soaking up something useless.

    Sanders said, "No, Max. I was thinking."

    "Ah. Thinking. Oh, I like thinking. Thinking is good. And what were you thinking about, Thomas: the stained glass in your apartment?"

    Despite himself, Sanders was startled: "How did you know that?"

    "Maybe it's magic," Dorfman said, with a rasping laugh. "Or perhaps I can read minds.
    You think I can read minds, Thomas? Are you stupid enough to believe that?"

    "Max, I'm not in the mood."

    "Oh well, then I must stop. If you're not in the mood, I must stop. We must at all costs preserve your mood." He slapped the arm of his wheelchair irritably. "You told me, Thomas. That's how I knew what you were thinking."

    "I told you? When?"

    "Nine or ten years ago, it must have been."

    "What did I tell you?"

    "Oh, you don't remember? No wonder you have problems. Better stare at the floor some more. It may do you good. Yes. I think so. Keep staring at the floor, Thomas."

    "Max, for Christ's sake."

    Dorfman grinned at him. "Do I irritate you?"

    "You always irritate me."

    "Ali. Well. Then perhaps there is hope. Not for you, of course for me. I am old, Thomas.
    Hope has a different meaning, at my age. You wouldn't understand. These days, I cannot even get around by myself. I must have someone push me. Preferably a pretty woman, but as a rule they do not like to do such things. So here I am, with no pretty woman to push me. Unlike you."

    Sanders sighed. "Max, do you suppose we can just have an ordinary conversation?"

    "What a good idea," Dorfman said. "I would like that very much. What is an ordinary conversation?"

    "I mean, can we just talk like normal people?"

    "If it will not bore you, Thomas, yes. But I am worried. You know how old people are worried about being boring."

    "Max. What did you mean about the stained glass?"

    He shrugged. "I meant Meredith, of course. What else?"

    "What about Meredith?"

    "How am I to know?" Dorfman said irritably. "All I know of this is what you told me.
    And all you told me is that you used to take trips, to Korea or Japan, and when you came back, Meredith would-"

    "Tom, I'm sorry to interrupt," Cindy said, leaning in the door to the conference room.

    "Oh, don't be sorry," Max said. "Who is this beautiful creature, Thomas?"

    "I'm Cindy Wolfe, Professor Dorfman," she said. "I work for Tom."

    "Oh, what a lucky man he is!"

    Cindy turned to Sanders. "I'm really sorry, Tom, but one of the executives from Conley-White is in your office, and I thought you would want to"

    "Yes, yes," Dorfman said immediately. "He must go. Conley-White, it sounds very important."

    "In a minute," Sanders said. He turned to Cindy. "Max and I were in the middle of something."

    "No, no, Thomas," Dorfman said. "We were just talking about old times. You better go."

    "Max-"

    "You want to talk more, you think it's important, you come visit me. I am at the Four Seasons. You know that hotel. It has a wonderful lobby, such high ceilings. Very grand, especially for an old man. So, you go right along, Thomas." His eyes narrowed. "And leave the beautiful Cindy with me."

    Sanders hesitated. "Watch out for him," he said. "He's a dirty old man."

    "As dirty as possible," Dorfman cackled.

    Sanders headed down the hallway to his office. As he left, he heard Dorfman say, "Now beautiful Cindy, please take me to the lobby where I have a car waiting. And on the way, if you don't mind indulging