He gave his name at the front desk, this time to a different officer who seemed less efficient and more world-weary than the last, and within two minutes he was being escorted back to the captain's office where Berding waited for him. Berding looked tense. His jaw was clenched, and his body appeared ready to uncoil and leap across the desk. Ludwig understood. He had spent the afternoon in a mindless faculty senate meeting and then was detained by his department chair who wanted to talk about the composition of a search committee to hire a new Shakespeare scholar. Ludwig went through the motions of his day, but inside he wanted to scream. "Close the door," Berding said. Ludwig did, but before he could sit down, Berding spoke. "I know you're disappointed in the search," he said. "I am. Surprised, too." "I feel the same way. I was just about to call you." "You were?" Berding nodded. He clenched and unclenched the fist that rested on his desk. "Are you free right now?" Berding said. "Right now, this is all I have in my life." Berding stood up and grabbed his hat.
