Truth Machine : A Novel of Things Come

TRUTH MACHINE: EXCERPT CHAPTER 1: CHAIN OF FURY Massachusetts State Prison September 6, 1991--The cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union has just ended following an unsuccessful coup against Mikhail Gorbachev's reformist government. Gorbachev remains in power, but Boris Yeltsin, whose heroic actions during the coup may have saved Gorbachev's government, is now a force with which to be reckoned. Communism, for all practical purposes, is dead.--The United States, in the midst of economic recession after the Gulf War against Iraq, is entering a dangerous time of increasing isolationism. Many voters resent seeing America's resources exploited to solve the problems of other nations and insist their leaders focus attention on problems at home, particularly the economy and violent crime. "According to your file you were raped by your father and you murdered your mother. Tell me about that." Those were the first words Daniel Anthony Reece, Jr. heard from Dr. Alphonso Carter. Reece was shocked. Carter didn't ask if he had been happy in school, or what his childhood had been like before the "incident," or any of the other standard questions. Just my luck, Reece thought. Affirmative action. This monkey should be flipping hamburgers, but instead he's my goddam shrink. In fact, Dr. Carter was famous in criminal psychology circles, and well known even outside his field. Just 31 years old, he had co-authored the best-selling book, Chain of Fury--The Cycle of Savagery in America, and so could afford to pass up the financial enticements of private practice. At Massachusetts State Prison, Carter immersed himself in the study of violence--and those who commit it. Thus he had developed a depth of understanding of the criminal mind exceptional for a man of his time. Carter's voice boomed and his diction was perfect, like that of a trained actor. As a boy he had stuttered horribly, the butt of cruel and inevitable teasing by the other kids in the neighborhood, until a drama teacher from the Booker T. Washington Middle School discovered his concealed talent. By the time he graduated from high school, Carter had played the lead in "Othello." Even now his speech often seemed more like performance than conversation. Never did he use contractions or resort to street lingo. "Mr. Reece?" Reece sat back in his chair and sucked on a kitchen match. The two were less than four feet apart, separated by nothing--not a desk, not a coffee table. Carter's legs were crossed, his hands folded, his massive head shaved above a face so black that when he smiled his gums seemed blue. Reece glared. Defiance showed in his eyes-and something else. Contempt, Carter thought to himself. Mr. Reece is a racist. He plied his sense of timing and patience. Perfectly still and silent, he gazed at Reece with such intensity that the inmate felt as though Carter was peering straight into his brain. Reece had always enjoyed therapy sessions. In a way, he was addicted to them. Talking about himself with the various psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers made him feel important, as though his life meant something, and as if there might be some hope for him. The more he disclosed, the better he felt. He now realized that this new shrink wasn't going to utter another word; it was up to Reece to say something next, or there would be no further discussion. Finally he blurted, "I was only nine, but I knew there was gonna be trouble. Dad got mean when he was drunk and I knew he'd been drinkin' a long time 'cause he got home so late. I heard them arguin'--my mother and him I mean. Then I heard her go. She just left me with him. I never forgave her." Did I just tell him I blamed my mother for what happened? Suddenly Reece wasn't enHalperin, James L. is the author of 'Truth Machine : A Novel of Things Come', published 1998 under ISBN 9780517300466 and ISBN 051730046X.