（外文电子版资料）Avram Davidson - No Fire Burns.pdfVIP

No Fire Burns by Avram Davidson Doctor Colles was a thin, pale man with receding hair. Mr. Melchiors chauffeured car had picked him up at his stuffy little office, crowded with papers. He had begun to talk almost at once, and he was still at it now. While waiting for the traffic light to change and listening to Doctor Colles conversation, Mr. Melchior took a long green cigar from his case and lit it. A breakdown of function and structure, said Colles. An absolute lack of communication. Isnt it so? Mr. Taylor, a trim, blond young man, who looked like an ad for expensive shirts, listened carefully, said nothing. Melchior looked impressed—and uncomprehending. Colles took his arm just above the elbow, pressed it. Look at that fellow over there, he said. The one in the brown suit—see? Now: can I communicate with him? Or can you? On any save the most primitive level? No. Impossible, I assure you. Ive only to look at him to know. The crowd flowed across the street. The men in the car watched the vanishing brown suit. We think of, let us say, world problems. He thinks of bowling. We discuss art and letters. He watches the dog acts on TV. We are concerned with our vanishing natural resources. He wonders if he can put a dollar-fifty cab bill on his swindle sheet. Am I correct? The car moved forward. What do you think? Mr. Melchior thought he agreed one hundred percent. Taylor smiled faintly. Just the same, Melchior said, there has to be some way of reaching these type people, getting inside of them. Dr. Colles cleared his throat. Psychology, he began. Good! said Melchior. Good. Go ahead—Oh. Here we are. Youll have to explain this to me when were inside, Doctor. They went up the steps of what appeared to be a small parochial school, but which was, in fact, a club—and not the sort at which members were fined for not using first names in addressing one another. The guests dining room was small and dark. A brandy to begin with, Doctor? I hold with the an