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leave her alone。 Dana was getting big thick novels every day； writing reviews which she microfilmed and sent to a secret archive。 She plained of jangled nerves； periods of deep spiritual fatigue。 She told Steffie she was thinking of ing in from the cold。
In the morning I sped out to Glassboro to take the further tests my doctor had advised； at Autumn Harvest Farms。 The seriousness of such an occasion is directly proportionate to the number of bodily emissions you are asked to cull for analysis。 I carried with me several specimen bottles； each containing some melancholy waste or secretion。 Alone in the glove partment rode an ominous plastic locket； which I'd reverently enclosed in three interlocking Baggies； successively twist…tied。 Here was a daub of the most solemn waste of all； certain to be looked upon by the technicians on duty with the mingled deference； awe and dread we have e to associate with exotic religions of the world。
But first I had to find the place。 It turned out to be a functional pale brick building； one story； with slab floors and bright lighting。 Why would such a place be called Autumn Harvest Farms？ Was this an attempt to balance the heartlessness of their gleaming precision equipment？ Would a quaint name fool us into thinking we live in pre…cancerous times？ What kind of condition might we expect to have diagnosed in a facility called Autumn Harvest Farms？ Whooping cough； croup？ A touch of the grippe？ Familiar old farmhouse miseries calling for bed rest； a deep chest massage with soothing Vicks VapoRub。 Would someone read to us from David Copperfield？
I had misgivings。 They took my samples away； sat me down at a puter console。 In response to questions on the screen I tapped out the story of my life and death； little by little； each response eliciting further questions in an unforgiving progression of sets and subsets。 I lied three times。 They gave me a loose…fitting garment and a wristband ID。 They sent me down narrow corridors for measuring and weighing； for blood…testing； brain…graphing； the recording of currents traversing my heart。 They scanned and probed in room after room； each cubicle appearing slightly smaller than the one before it； more harshly lighted； emptier of human furnishings。 Always a new technician。 Always faceless fellow patients in the mazelike halls； crossing from room to room； identically gowned。 No one said hello。 They attached me to a seesaw device； turned me upside down and let me hang for sixty seconds。 A printout emerged from a device nearby。 They put me on a treadmill and told me to run； run。 Instruments were strapped to my thighs； electrodes planted on my chest。 They inserted me in an imaging block； some kind of puterized scanner。 Someone sat typing at a console； transmitting a message to the machine that would make my body transparent。 I heard magnetic winds； saw flashes of northern light。 People crossed the hall like wandering souls； holding their urine aloft in pale beakers。 I stood in a room the size of a closet。 They told me to hold one finger in front of my face； close my left eye。 The panel slid shut； a white light flashed。 They were trying to help me； to save me。
Eventually； dressed again； I sat across a desk from a nervous young man in a white smock。 He studied my file； mumbling something about being new at this。 I was surprised to find that this fact did not upset me。 I think I was even relieved。
〃How long before the results are in？〃
〃The results are in；〃 he said。
〃I thought we were here for a general discussion。 The human part。 What the machines can't detect。 In two or three days the actual numbers would be ready。〃 〃The numbers are ready。〃
〃I'm not sure I'm ready。 All those gleaming devices are a little unsettling。 I could easily imagine a perfectly healthy person being made ill just taking these tests。〃
〃Why should anyone be made ill？ These are the most accurate test devices anywhere。 We have sophisticated puters to analyze the data。 This equipment saves lives。 Believe me； I've seen it happen。 We have equipment that works better than the latest X…ray machine or CAT scanner。 We can see more deeply； more accurately。〃
He seemed to be gaining confidence。 He was a mild…eyed fellow with a poor plexion and reminded me of the boys at the supermarket who stand at the end of the checkout counter bagging merchandise。
〃Here's how we usually start；〃 he said。 〃I ask questions based on the printout and then you answer to the best of your ability。 When we're all finished； I give you the printout in a sealed envelope and you take it to your doctor for a paid visit。〃
〃Good。〃
〃Good。 We usually start by asking how do you feel。〃
〃Based on the printout？〃
〃Just how do you feel；〃 he said in a mild voice。
〃In my own mind； in real terms； I feel relatively sound； pending confirmation。〃
〃We usually go on to tired。 Have you recently been feeling tired？〃
〃What do people usually say？〃
〃Mild fatigue is a popular answer。〃
〃I could say exactly that and be convinced in my own mind it's a fair and accurate description。〃
He seemed satisfied with the reply and made a bold notation on the page in front of him。
〃What about appetite？〃 he said。
〃I could go either way on that。〃
'That's more or less how I could go； based on the printout。〃
〃In other words you're saying sometimes I have appetitive reinforcement； sometimes I don't。〃
〃Are you telling me or asking me？〃
〃It depends on what the numbers say。〃
〃Then we agree。〃
〃Good。〃
〃Good；〃 he said。 〃Now what about sleep？ We usually do sleep before we ask the person if they'd like some decaf or tea。 We don't provide sugar。〃
〃Do you get a lot of people who have trouble sleeping？〃
〃Only in the last stages。〃
〃The last stages of sleep？ Do you mean they wake up early in the morning and can't get back to sleep？〃
'The last stages of life。〃
'That's what I thought。 Good。 The only thing I have is some low threshold animation。〃
〃Good。〃
〃I get a little restless。 Who doesn't？〃
'Toss and turn？〃
'Toss；〃 I said。
〃Good。〃
〃Good。〃
He made some notes。 It seemed to be going well。