Deborah watched him carefully, frowning. ‘Why are you acting like there’s something wrong?’
Ralph looked away for a moment as though he wished to skirt a painful subject. At last, however, he shrugged and faced Deborah once more. ‘Doc wasn’t able to do anything for Nevana. He said that her problem is too . . . disfocused, too non-specific. I asked him what he meant, and he actually got mad. I’ve never seen Doc get mad before. Have you?’ Deborah shook her head. ‘Doc said to me, “I can treat her illness; but I can not treat her life!” Before he left, he went to Arlon and Durus’ place and just gave it to them. He threatened to have their kids taken away if they didn’t shape up.
‘While this was going on, Arlon went as white as that pitcher there, and asked Doc to leave. As soon as Doc came out their front door and closed it, Durus began screeching at him. All of a sudden, there was a loud bang from inside their house; it sounded like Arlon smashed a piece of furniture against a wall. A few minutes later, Durus came flying out the front door, balling her eyes out, saying, “I can’t . . . I can’t . . . I’m sorry . . . I’m so sorry . . . but I just can’t. Don’t you think I want to?” She collapsed on the ground then . . . I don’t think any of us realised that she has problems of her own that were never dealt with.’ He sighed. ‘Anyway, Arlon came and got her. It was just as Doc was leaving, and Doc came over to apologise, but Arlon just shook his head and said something like, “No, you’re right; this has gone on far too long.”’