The Goodbye Man

The auburn-haired woman who accompanied Eli was attractive, with high cheekbones and carefully tended brows. She wore purple lipstick and foundation makeup. Her posture was good and her walk studied. A former model maybe.

Eli would whisper to her occasionally. She’d give a smile or offer a reply.

A voice in Shaw’s ear: Walter’s. “That’s Anja.”

“His wife?”

“Don’t know about that. Nobody gives away very much here. But whoever she is, she supposedly helped him found the place.”

“And the bald kid?”

“Journeyman Steve. Personal secretary, keeper of the details. I’ve never seen him without that notebook. Carries it around like a mother with her baby.”

Shaw would have to be careful. He felt a tendency to fall into his real identity around Walter; he liked the man. He couldn’t afford to trip up.

When Eli came to Victoria’s table, she grew nervous and animated. Her face radiated a very different self, one of adoration. She could look his way only for a few seconds without breaking eye contact, and she seemed breathless. Her face was flushed. While Shaw sensed she was taciturn by nature, now she engaged Eli in a nonstop monologue, as if — should she fall silent — he’d escape.

Steve whispered to Eli, who silenced him with a wave of the hand and continued his conversation with Victoria. She wanted to show him something she’d written; she held her notebook out. He read the passage silently, then bent close and spoke to her. She beamed and saluted; he did the same. Victoria seemed deeply moved by this. Her adoring eyes followed him as he left.

I prefer another name for brainwashing: menticide...

Then Eli moved toward Shaw’s table.

“Greetings, Novices Walter and Sally, Abby, John and Todd. And, Novices Henry and Carter — welcome on your first day here.”

Impressive. He knew them all.

They all mumbled various forms of hello. Shaw gave the shoulder salute, which brought a smile to Eli’s face. “Novice Carter, in our expedited program.”

“That’s right, Master Eli. I was surprised. I didn’t exactly excel in school. I’ll do better here. I promise.”

“When I created the Process, I decided we needed to make special arrangements for some of our Companions. I have every confidence in you.”

This comment drew murmurs from the nearby tables. Eyes turned on Shaw. Some seemed impressed and pleased for him. But there was jealousy too.

Shaw himself was troubled that he’d drawn attention, the last thing he wanted. He noted Victoria looking his way.

Eli glanced at the picked-over dinner plates. “I hope you’re finding the meals acceptable. Remember, the fulfillment that the Foundation promises is emotional and psychological, not gastronomical.” Drawing gentle laughs. “Good luck with your training. I’ll see you tomorrow. You’re going to love what I’ve got in store for you.”

The entourage moved on.

A young redheaded woman nearby called, “Thank you, Master Eli. For everything. I’m so...” Concluding words eluded her.

“It’s Apprentice Andi. Am I right?”

“Yes...” The redhead was breathless. She mouthed, “Thank you.”

“Thank you for being a part of the Foundation family.”

Shaw whispered to Walter, “He’s memorized everybody’s name.”

“Not exactly,” the older man said. “Gets prompts from his shadow.” A nod toward Steve.

Eli and his entourage left via a side door, and conversation within the dining hall resumed immediately. Many of the Companions seemed to be dissecting what Eli had said and to whom.

Shaw looked toward Victoria. Her head was down, as she jotted notes.

The lights dimmed, simultaneously with the loudspeaker tones outside, then the keeper of the clock’s melodious voice: “The time is eight p.m. Dinner is concluded.”

The Companions rose, bused their own dishes into gray bins and ambled out the doors. Shaw did the same.

The sun was down and a faint iridescent blue glow filled the sky. Bright stars radiated, visible because of the muted lamplights. The air, steeped in pine and wood smoke, was bracing.

Shaw paused just outside the door, looking about, as if to orient himself, though he knew exactly where he was and in what direction his dormitory lay. He was looking for Victoria. His excuse to speak to her would be to apologize for getting her into trouble because of his breaking the rules.

After a few minutes, though, the hall was empty of Companions; only the cleaning crew remained. She hadn’t passed him.

Then Shaw spotted her, walking up the steps to her dorm, across the central grounds from his. How had she gotten there? It had to be via the side door, the one that Eli and those with him had used, even though doing so meant a longer walk. It was almost as though she’d been intentionally avoiding Shaw.