The last few shreds of poor little Lester

At that moment, some part of Morris softened. He looked at the man before him and felt real pity. Here was an individual who had aspired to some kind of accomplishment, only to discover that it was as beyond his reach as the stars themselves. “Are you really leaving the program?”

He got a laugh by way of reply, and then, “Have a choice? After the performance I gave today?”

Morris tried to save him. “I could intervene. If you apologized to them, maybe I could talk to Professor Putridrine and …”

Lester raised his hands, revealing more gristly fake stitches at the wrists. “Please don’t bother. I’m leaving.”

“I’m …” Morris considered his words, then plunged ahead. “I’m very sorry.”

“Yes,” for once Lester wasn’t smiling. “Yes, I believe you really are. Unfortunate, really. There is a part of you that is, I think, genuinely decent. Problematic for me. It would make my life so much easier if you were rotten to the core.”

Morris said nothing that. He wasn’t sure what he could have said.

So, Lester continued. “You all are, actually. You, the others. A touch of humanity in all of you. You are complex creatures, you know.”

“Thank you. I think.”

“I wish you were more like me. I’m pretty much the same right through. Cut me open and you’d find I was sort of like a plant. A pine. All the same right through, except for a few tree rings.” Another laugh. “And, of course, the rind. That’s different, too. The last few shreds of poor little Lester.”

Morris regarded him warily from behind his mustache. This was the talk of madness. Lester was clearly disturbed. Was he also dangerous?

“Don’t worry,” Lester gave his former professor a grin. “I speak … metaphorically. If it makes you more comfortable, pretend I said ‘the former Lester,’ or the ‘previous me.’ It isn’t true, but it makes conversation easier.”

In spite or because of Lester’s assurances, Morris found himself becoming tense. “Well, it’s been nice talking to you, but . . .”

“But you think I ought to be getting along, yes.” Lester seemed almost tender. “But, before I go, I do want to repeat my offer of help.” He stood.

Irritated, Morris “I don’t need your aid.”

“Ah, but you do. You see, you are desperately unhappy.”