?A bit.?
The doctor shone a light in his eyes.
?Headache??
?Yes.?
He put a stethoscope to his chest and listened, finger on Griessel?s pulse.
?I have found you a place to stay.?
Griessel said nothing.
?You have a heart like a horse, my friend.? He took the stethoscope away, put it in the pocket of his white coat and sat down. ?It?s not much. Bachelor flat in Gardens, kitchen and living room below, wooden stairs up to a bedroom. Shower, basin and toilet. One two per month. The building is old but clean.?
Griessel looked away to the opposite wall.
?Do you want it??
?I don?t know.?
?How?s that, Benny??
?Just now I was angry, Doc. Now I don?t give a fuck.?
?Angry with whom??
?Everyone. My wife. Myself. You.?
?Don?t forget it?s a process of mourning you are going through because your friend the bottle is dead. The first reaction is anger at someone because of that. There are people who get stuck in the anger stage for years. You can hear them at the AA, going off at everyone and everything, shouting and swearing. But it doesn?t help. Then there is the depression. That goes hand in hand with withdrawal. And the listlessness and fatigue. You have to get through it; you have to come out the other side of withdrawal, past the rage to resignation and acceptance. You must go on with your life.?
?What fucking life??
?The one you must make for yourself. You have to find something to replace drink. You need leisure, a hobby, exercise. But first one day at a time, Benny. And we have just been talking about tomorrow.?
?I have fuck-all. I?ve got suitcases of clothes, that?s all.?
?Your wife is having a bed delivered to the flat, if you want the place.?
?Did you talk to her??
?I did. She wants to help, Benny.?
?Why hasn?t she been here??
?She said she believed too easily last time. She said this time she must stick to her decision. She will only see you when you are completely dry. I think that is the right thing.?
?You have all worked this out fucking beautifully, haven?t you??
?The
the great conspiracy. Everyone is against you. Against you and your bottle. It?s hard, I know, but you?re a tough guy, Benny. You can take it.?
Griessel just stared at him.
?Let?s talk about your medication,? said Barkhuizen. ?The stuff I want to prescribe . . .?
?Why do you do it, Doc??
?Because the drugs will help you.?
?No, Doc, why do you get involved? How old are you??
?Sixty-nine.?
?Fuck, Doc, that?s retirement age.?
Barkhuizen smiled and the eyes screwed up behind the thick lenses. ?I have a beach house at Witsand. We were retired there for three months. By then the garden was lovely and the house was right and the neighbors met. Then I began to want the bottle. I realized that was not what I should do.?
?So you came back.?
?To make life difficult for people like you.?
Griessel watched him for a long time. Then he said: ?The medication, Doc.?
?Naltrexone. The trade name is ReVia, don?t ask me why. It works. It makes withdrawal easier and there are no serious contraindications, as long as you stick to the prescription. But there is a condition. You must see me once a week for the first three months and you must go to the AA regularly. That is not negotiable. It?s an all-or- nothing proposition.?
?I?ll take it.? He had no hesitation.
?Are you certain??
?Yes, Doc, I am certain. But I want to tell you something, so you know what you are letting yourself in for,? he
