41 5 Gilchrist notices that she seems less self-conscious now than when Tabry introduced her to him four nights earlier at his house. “Raya,” Tabry said at that time, “I’d like you to meet my oldest and best friend in Washington—Dodge Gilchrist.” She smiled at Gilchrist and looked down and then looked immediately up to see if he was still looking at her, and he was. Now as she sits at Gilchrist’s desk in his apartment while he explains what working with him will entail, she appears much more sure of herself. When Gilchrist looks at her, he notices that she does not look down but directly back at him in an attitude of complete attention. “I do all my real work here, Miss Tabry,” Gilchrist is saying. “I have a desk at the office in town, but it’s really just a mailing address. I’m down there, maybe, once a week for a few hours to do a little paperwork, pick up my mail, and talk things over with my editor. But the real writing is done right here, or rather it’s done right here when I’m in Washington. Otherwise , my office is where my head is, and I e-mail what I write directly to the paper.” She nods to indicate that she understands completely and will always, when things are explained to her, understand completely. He leads her to his computer and asks if she can take dictation directly. She answers yes and indicates with her eyes that she is ready. Gilchrist begins reciting the opening lines from Lincoln’s address at Gettysburg and studies her as she types. In her white blouse and tan skirt she seems darker complexioned than she appeared when he first saw her. She has her hair pulled back into a tight French roll, and the blackness of her swirled hair glistens. Her eyes never lose the look of total concentration. They are blue-gray, and they are as clear as mountain brooks or polished gems. She has Tabry’s facial structure, more linear than oval. Gilchrist notes that her posture at the 42 | The Time Remaining computer is almost soldierly—shoulders back, spine absolutely straight, feet together. When Gilchrist finishes his dictation, Raya prints out what she has typed and hands it to him. There is not an error on the entire page. The spelling, the punctuation, and the spacing are perfect. “Very good,” says Gilchrist and smiles at her. She returns the smile but stays at the computer as if she is ready for the next assignment. ...