164 Deal with Olaf

"I heard, Father, that you want to see me."

Olaf looked at Gustav sharply, penetratingly, as only he could. For some reason, that gaze didn't bother Gustav. At least not today.

"How's your hand?"

Gustav picked it up, moved it freely.

"Fine," he replied. "Felix gave me good first aid. Then, to be safe, I went to the doctor. They gave me some stitches, but no serious damage."

What he didn't tell his father was that he went to the doctor at the urging of, or actually driven there by, Julius Linden, whom he had visited during the night. Julius was already in bed, but greeted him warmly, like a true, longing friend. He was such a good man. I think everyone would like to have him as a son-in-law. Any reasonable person would want to be in a relationship with someone like him. But Gustav was not reasonable.

"I'm glad. If you need help to deal with..."