When the doctor removed the plaster, Macon's leg came out died-white and ugly. He still limped a bit, but he now had no excuse for not getting on with the new U.S. guides that Julian wanted. The New York trip was the first one, and Rose drove him to the station to catch the train.
She was worried about Edward. 'I wish you weren't leaving him with me,' she said. 'You know how out of control he gets.'
'What could happen in such a short time?' Macon said. 'I'll be home by tomorrow night. If worst comes to worst, you could lock him in the pantry till I get back.'
New York was a foreign city to Macon. He could never get used to the sense of purposefulness there-everyone was always rushing somewhere without a moment to look around them. He began his usual visits to hotels and restaurants, making notes in the old guidebook in his tiny, near handwriting.
In the evening Julian wanted him to try a new restaurant , which was on the top of an impossibly tall building. The cab driver who took him there clearly thought it was a bad idea.
'Cup of coffee there will cost you five dollars,' he told Macon.
Most of the people in the restaurant were in evening dress and seemed to be celebrating something. Macon was given a table without a view, and after he had given his order, he took his drink over to one of the great black Windows that encircled the room from floor to ceiling.
All of a sudden, he thought he had died.
He saw the city far below him like a shining golden ocean, the streets tiny lines of light, the sky a purple hollow that went on forever. It wasn't the height; it was the distance-his huge, lonely distance from everyone who mattered, Ethan, Sarah...He had gone too far, he would never, ever get back.
His heart began to beat twice as fast as normal and his hands shook. He dropped his glass, and ran clumsily across the room and out the door. In the corridor he found a telephone and called home, worrying that they would not answer. But Charles did.
'Charles? I'm on top of this building and...and a silly thing has happened. Listen-you've got to get me out of here.'
'You out! What are you talking about? You've got to get me out!' Charles sounded unusually excited.
'What?'