Page 53 of The Things We Never Say

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That second summer, when Rob and Francesca came over to visit for ten days, Artie did not mention going for a sail, and neither did Rob, who seemed preoccupied much of the time, although Artie did notice that he and Francesca seemed very much a couple, very loving to each other, just as he and Evie had noted when they visited them a few months before in Brussels. The day before they were to leave, Rob said, “Dad, let’s go out in your boat.”

“Wonderful!”

And then Rob did something strange. He reached over and took Artie’s cellphone from him and said, “Leave this here.”

Once they were on the water, headed out of the bay—it was an overcast day, and the wind rippled against the sails—Artie said, “Son, what’s going on?”

Rob, who was sitting on the side of the boat, moved to be closer to his father, who sat in the stern with the tiller, steering. Rob said, “Dad.” He spoke with quiet seriousness. “Dad, listen to me. I’m working for the European Union. It’s serious stuff I’m doing. That’s why I want you to use burner phones and encrypted email.”

Artie said, “Okay, son. But you’re safe?”

Rob looked up at the sky for a minute, and then back at Artie. “This is what I’m doing. Even Francesca doesn’t know the whole of it. But American intelligence can’t be trusted anymore. So, the EU has to develop its own AI platform. And I’m working on that.”

Artie felt dazed. “What a world,” he finally said.

Rob said, “You have no idea.”

“Your mother doesn’t know about the kind of work you’re doing?”

Rob shook his head. “Let’s leave her out of this for now.” Then he added, “But whatever you do, stay off social media.”

“I have always stayed off it,” Artie said, and Rob nodded.

Artie steered past the islands without really seeing them. Rob said, “Really bad stuff is happening, and it’s going to get worse. When anyone enters this country, if there’s any sign of anything—right now it’s just people from foreign countries—but they have to hand over their cellphones, and the immigration people download what’s on them, and if there’s anything against—you know—our administration, they have to go back, they’re not allowed in.” He added, “And honestly? I think, even for citizens, I can see a time when due process just no longer exists. For any of us. Here.”

“But, son, you’re going to be okay?”

“I think so. They gave me an EU passport.”

It was hard for Artie to enjoy the sail because of this conversation, and Rob seemed distracted, he did not say much more after that, except to look at his father and say, “I’ve already said too much.”

The fog came in as they were headed back into the bay. It was a quick fog, and thick within minutes. Artie could not see where he was going, and he knew this to be a dangerous situation. The boat continued to move slowly, but Artie did not know if another boat would ram into them or not. In a few minutes, he did not even know if they had gone past their house, the fog was that thick. “Dad?” Rob said, and Artie said, “Right here! We keep going and hope for the best.” He did not want Rob to see his fear.

Later Artie figured that the fog had lasted only ten minutes, but what minutes they were! At one point Rob reached for him, and Artie held on to his son’s arm as he tried to steer the boat, having no idea where he was steering to.

Slowly, and then quickly, the fog was gone. Endicott Peabody’s house came into view, as though appearing through a mirage. Rob said, “I’ve always hated that guy,” and Artie, so relieved to be safe, broke into laughter, and Rob joined in.

—

That winter, Hoover Lakeland shot himself.

—

As the months passed by, Artie grew very weary, he was aware of this in himself. When he spoke to Evie of leaving the country, she said only, “Where would we go?” Adding, “Plus, I have clients who depend on me.”

Artie could not find people who would talk to him about what was happening in the country. Carl LeBlanc said, “Let’s not go getting ourselves depressed. He just wants to destroy us, so don’t let him.” This baffled Artie.

He preferred his nights out with Ken Moynihan because of the man’s kindness (and because Artie loved him), even though they never once spoke about politics.

—

The new principal was a woman about whom Artie immediately had misgivings; she seldom smiled, except at the younger faculty. One day she walked by his classroom as he was clapping his hands and saying to the students, “Boys and girls!” He was summoned that afternoon to her office, where she said sternly, “Not only is it demeaning for your students to be called boys and girls, but you are not even sure that they are all male and female. There may be students who are neither.”

Artie just stood there, and then he said, “You’re right.”

“You bet I’m right,” she said.