“I remembered that paranoid thing you have about April 30, because of a couple of accidents.”

“More than a couple. I never told you about all of them.”

“So you still believe it?”

“Yes.”

He shrugged. The waiter came by and filled our coffee cups.

“Okay,” he finally agreed. “Have you had it yet today?”

“No.”

“Too bad. I hope it doesn’t pall your thinking.”

I took a sip of coffee.

“No problem,” I told him.

“Good.” He sighed and stretched. “Listen, I just got back to town yesterday…”

“Have a good trip?”

“Set a new sales record.”

“Great.”

“Anyhow… I just learned when I checked in that you’d left.”

“Yeah. I quit about a month ago.”

“Miller’s been trying to reach you. But with your phone disconnected he couldn’t call. He even stopped by a couple of times, but you were out.”

“Too bad.”

“He wants you back.”

“I’m finished there.”

“Wait’ll you hear the proposition, huh? Brady gets kicked upstairs and you’re the new head of Design — for a twenty percent pay hike: That’s what he told me to tell you.”

I chuckled softly.

“Actually… it doesn’t sound bad at all. But, like I said, I’m finished.”

“Oh.” His eyes glistened as he gave me a sly smile. “You do have something lined up someplace else. He was wondering. Okay, if that’s the case he told me to tell you to bring him whatever the other guys offer. He’ll try like hell to top it.”

I shook my head.

“I guess I’m not getting through,” I said: “I’m finished. Period. I don’t want to go back. I’m not going to work for anyone else either. I’m done with this sort of thing. I’m tired of computers.”

“But you’re really good. Say, you going to teach?”

“Nope.”