Part 156 (1/2)
Scott's name was in constant demand as a result of his expos of ho Scott had not wanted specifically He had i the cacophony of incoible to 'everyman' He had not planned for fame; merely another demand on his time, his freedom and his creativi- ty
”What I wanted was a break” Scott poked at the steaks In the pool Arlene Duncan and Sonja kicked their feet and chattered aienerous tenure offers in a generation of writers, and Scott recognized the fairness of the offers It was not now, nor had it ever been a question of h
”What's next?”
”The book, I suppose The Trial of Miles Foster”
”And then back to the Tiht,” Scott said watering down the coals to reduce the intensity of the barbecue inferno he had created ”I promised to help out once in a while
Officially they call it a sabbatical”
”How long do you think you can hold out on this rock before going nuts?”
”We'vehis bride whose phenoh French cut one piece bathing suit that Scott insisted she wear in honor of their uests Tyrone, he was sure, would not have minded Sonja's nudity, but Arlene would have been on the next flight to Boston and her parents
”Three o I think I can take it,” he said staring at Sonja andto the view
Tyrone silently conveyed understanding for Scott's choice of an island retreat to get away from it all But Tyrone's choices de distance of civilization
”So the bureau wasn't too upset about your leaving?” Scott changed the subject
”I guess not,” Tyrone said laughing ”I was approachinga pain in their asses Using your hackers didn't endear me to too many of the Director's staff”
”What about your friend?”
”You uy we ht after I left I guess I was holding hiue in cheek ”On the other hand, I could have stayed and really made his life miserable We're both at peace Best of all? Still friends”
”I have to say, though, I never thought you'd go through with it,” said Scott turning the steaks ”You and the Bureau, a thirty year affair”
”Not quite thirty”
”Whatever You've certainly built up a practice and a half in six months”
”Yeah,” chuckled Tyrone ”Like you, I never planned on becoht that Coe Patch Doll of the courts?” Tyrone saw the smirk in Scott's face ”OK, you did Yes, you predicted a mess in the courts Yes, you did Mr Wisenheimer I just saw it as a neat little extension of constitutional law and then whaation is the hip place to be Every type of lawsuit you predicted is soht suits, privacy suits, theft of data, theft of service”
”Sounds like everyone as scared to ad balls to the wall”
”The japanese lawyers are living their worst nightmare: OSO Industries is up to top of its colon with lawsuits, including one asking for OSO to be denied any access to the A and loud, then laughed ”And that's fun?”
”You're Godda another beer from the poolside cooler ”It's a shi+t loadhere,” he spread his arh aerie ”How much sun and peace and quiet and sex and water and beach can one man take?” He spoke loudly, like a Southern Spiritual Minister ”Tooand sunsets and black starry nights can be bad for your health This is a Goddaht his hands to his side and gave a resigned sigh ”I guess if you can stoently He knew about Arlene's reticence to try anything new, out of the ordinary She was very pleased with her life in Westchester She felt that knowing someone who lived in Paradise whoh
”No, ot exactly what I wanted” He cocked his head at the pool, where Arlene seemed more relaxed than she had in years ”Can't you see? She's miserable, but she's mine Scott, you've lived your fantasy, made a difference Now, it's my turn”
Scott looked over at Arlene ”Hey, shi+t for brains,” he said to Tyrone ”She's no slouch It's what the hell she's doing with you I never understood” Scott lunged at Tyrone's attention- getting sized abdomen with the steak fork