practical

but—forgive me—wanting to study her has caused us a lot of problems so far.”
“You’re entirely correct.” The old man sank comfortably back against the soft seat. “William, does gravity ever bother you?”
“I never gave it much thought. It’s not as though I have a choice.”
“Ah, precisely my point. William, all existence tries to dictate what you can do and not do. I find it tremendously galling that life insists that we use mechanical devices to escape gravity’s bond. That we find ourselves inconvenienced by luck or practical considerations. That we die. Freedom consists of telling the universe what to do. Not the reverse.”
“I don’t get you.”
“Well, in the short term, it means I have chosen to study Miss Donahue before we eliminate her. I have ­decided. And regardless of the relative importance of that study, I refuse to let man or god stop me. My wish is more important than theirs. Else I’m just another bee in the hive. Do you understand?”
I understand you’ve got some busted gears. “Yes, sir.”
* * *
Harris finished stuffing Gaby’s pocketbook and address book back into her pack. He rose to shut the window again—and felt it shake under his hand as the apartment door slammed open. Someone in the living room, an unknown male, shouted “Police, don’t move!”
Cops. That was okay. He had a right to be here. He might be arrested, but Gaby would show up and fix things.
If she made it home.
If she weren’t grabbed again on the way.
And if she were, and he were in jail, he wouldn’t be able to help her. Dammit! He could run out on Doc, or stay here and perhaps not be available when Gaby needed him. Swearing to himself, he stepped out through the window onto the fire escape, then began descending as quickly and quietly as he could.
He got to the bottom of the fire escape on the second floor. Below was the sidewalk along 11th Street. He climbed over the wrought-iron railing and lowered himself partway down,