The hospital was small, and it was not called a hospital. The sign at the gate read:
Moravia ResearchAny Texan would know that you could get shot for trespassing, sign or no sign. A "NO TRESPASSING" sign meant that the owners probably had their guns oiled, boresighted, and loaded. Perhaps as a courtesy to such foreigners (from, say, Kansas) who might wander up to the Moravia fences, they were topped with razor war. This should provide them with sufficient clues that they should drive on to the next habitation before daring to ask directions.
Private Property
NO TRESPASSING
While Moravia Research posed as a scientific establishment, it was really a dry farm, a quiet place where the elite of East Texas could come to dry out, to detoxify, and to heal up from such injuries they may have sustained before they were dried out and/or detoxified. All these good things could be done far from the eyes of reporters, plaintiffs, and/or police.
Despite the German name, from a place swept clean of Germans after Hitler lost his war, the staff were not very Aryan. Most of the doctors were from India or Taiwan; most of the nurses came from the Philippines or Mexico; all of the orderlies were large and strong. The management were Americans, and they had chosen the rest of the staff with economy and reliability in mind. Poor immigrants (especially illegals) would keep quiet even if they identified their patients. The doctors, except for the top staff, owed their precious work permits ("Green Cards," though they had another color in 2010) to Moravia.
This is where the Reverend John Lee Swainson, Fourth Prophet of the New Gospel Church, was being confined. Paterson was impressed by what he found. He told Michael Fine, "You did not exaggerate. He won't be ready for Sunday. Hell, he won't be ready by the 16th. We can't let the Jap press see him like this. They'd crucify him, and it would get back here."
"No worse than our people would."
"No, not unless the Japs break the story first. Even Jack Crawford pulls his punches for the Reverend. The managers are always afraid of losing advertisers. But if the Japs see him like this, they'll break the story open, and there is no telling where it could end."
"Did you learn this from the Agency?"
"Damn straight." Paterson shook his head.
"The Japanese press weren't too hostile the last time we were there."
"Things have changed. That was when Ms. Urawa was just a woman in a custody dispute. Now she's the great friend of our new great friends from Outer Space. She's even met their Empress. That's a signal."
"I missed that," said Fine.
"Well, I bet the Reverend didn't miss it. He could never get that drunk!
Paterson and Fine conferred with Dr. Witte, not a Moravia hack but a psychiatrist of great professional stature, though not well known outside his profession. "I concur with Mr. Paterson. Your Reverend will not be ready to function Sunday, or Tuesday. Even his performance last Sunday was an extraordinary achievement, given his condition."
"Extraordinary and foolish?" queried Paterson.
"I do not subscribe to your Reverend's faith, Mr. Paterson. He certainly made that extraordinary speech with the best intentions as he defines them. He believes he has the power of prophecy. That is what motivated his Sunday speech, I am sure."
Fine said icily, "If he is a prophet, why couldn't he see aliens coming here?"
"He is sure he did, now," said Witte. "He has been telling me for some time that he expected some great event, but could not yet know what it was. He says his daughter blinded him to it."
Paterson said something unexpected. "'How sharper than a serpent's tooth . . . '"
"'. . . it is to have a thankless child.' You know, you never finish surprising me, Mr. Paterson. I didn't put you down for a man who would know King Lear."
"You agree with him?" asked Fine. "Do you think his daughter is the cause of all this?"
"Largely," responded Witte. "There are other factors, but his daughter's change of allegiance has to be the impetus behind behavior this extreme."
"Did you see this coming? I mean really, Doctor."
"I thought his decline would be more gradual and would take longer to manifest. But yes, I really expected a breakdown."
"I think Mr. Paterson means," said Fine, trying to defuse a situation that might develop between the therapist and the paladin, "is: Did you guess his daughter would do this to him?"
"Oh, yes. I'm not her therapist, but I have seen enough of her to evaluate her. She is more perceptive than the son, and unlike the son was not able to establish an independent existence he could tolerate."
"That sounds about right to me," said Fine. "What do you recommend we do?"
"I will stay here until I feel he is out of danger. Then I want him to go home. No Church business, not any business for awhile, but he must go back to a familiar environment. After that, we'll see."
Fine nodded. "I have to go to Japan with Mr. Yount. Should I leave him there?"
"That is an excellent idea. The strain of performing for that young man constantly is something that your Reverend could do without."
"Then I have to stay with him," said Paterson. "Fine here is the only other guy who can face off the Board and keep the Reverend from making a 24-carat ass of himself before he gets his marbles back in his jar."
Witte smiled. "That's an impressive endorsement, young man."