if the lines of our lives had coincided … but I didn't mind diverting him a little from his main business； either。
He sighed deeply。 〃Not so well； Paul。 Not so well at all。〃
〃More headaches？〃
〃Only one this week； but it was the worst yet … put her flat on her back for most of the day before yesterday。 And now she's developed this weakness in her right hand…〃 He raised his own liverspotted right hand。 We both watched it tremble above his blotter for a moment or two； and then he lowered it again。 I could tell he would have given just about anything not to be telling me what he was telling me； and I would have given just about anything not to be hearing it。 Melinda's headaches had started in the spring； and all that summer her doctor had been saying they were 〃nervous…tension migraines；〃 perhaps caused by the stress of Hal's ing retirement。 Except that neither of them could wait for his retirement； and my own wife had told me that migraine is not a disease of the old but the young； by the time its sufferers reached Melinda Moores's age； they were usually getting better； not worse。 And now this weakness of the hand。 It didn't sound like nervous tension to me； it sounded like a damned stroke。
〃Dr。 Haverstrom wants her to go in hospital up to Indianola；〃 Moores said。 〃Have some tests。 Head X…rays； he means。 Who knows what else。 She is scared to death！' He paused； then added； 〃Truth to tell； so am I。〃
〃Yeah； but you see she does it；〃 I said。 〃Don't wait。 If it turns out to be something they can see with an X…ray； it may turn out to be something they can fix。〃
〃Yes；〃 he agreed； and then； for just a moment … the only one during that part of our interview； as I recall … our eyes met and locked。 There was the sort of nakedly perfect unders