Wilt on High Read Free Page B

burnt the paper before the girls could read it.’
    ‘Henry would. That’s typical. He’s anti freedom of information.’
    ‘Well, it wasn’t a very nice article, was it? I mean it’s all very well to say that men are … well … only biological sperm banks but I don’t think it’s right to want them all neutered after they’ve had two children. Our cat sleeps all day and he’s –’
    ‘Honestly, Eva, you’re so naïve. She didn’t say anything about neutering them. She was simply pointing out that women have to suffer all the agonies of childbirth, not to mention the curse, and with the population explosion the world will face mass starvation unless something’s done.’
    ‘I can’t see Henry being done. Not that way,’ said Eva. ‘He won’t even let anyone talk about vasectomy. Says it has unwanted side-effects.’
    Mavis snorted. ‘As if the Pill didn’t too, and far more dangerous ones. But the multi-national pharmaceutical corporations couldn’t care less. All they are interested in is profits and they’re controlled by men too.’
    ‘I suppose so,’ said Eva, who’d got used to hearing about multi-national companies though she still didn’tknow exactly what they were, and was completely at a loss with ‘pharmaceutical’. ‘All the same, I’m surprised Patrick agreed.’
    ‘Agreed?’
    ‘To have a vasectomy.’
    ‘Who said anything about him having a vasectomy?’
    ‘But you said he went to Dr Kores.’
    ‘ I went,’ said Mavis grimly. ‘I thought to myself, “I’ve had just about enough of you gallivanting about with other women, my boy, and Dr Kores may be able to help.” And I was right. She gave me something to reduce his sex drive.’
    ‘And he took it?’ said Eva, genuinely astounded now.
    ‘Oh, he takes it all right. He’s always been keen on vitamins, especially Vitamin E. So I just swapped the capsules in the bottle. They’re some sort of hormone or steroid and he takes one in the morning and two at night. Of course, they’re still in the experimental stage but she told me they’d worked very well with pigs and they can’t do any harm. I mean he’s put on some weight and he’s complained about his teats being a bit swollen, but he’s certainly quietened down a lot. He never goes out in the evening. Just sits in front of the telly and dozes off. It’s made quite a change.’
    ‘I should think it has,’ said Eva, remembering how randy Patrick Mottram had always been. ‘But are you really sure it’s safe?’
    ‘Absolutely. Dr Kores assured me they’re going to use it on gays and transvestites who are frightened ofa sex-change operation. It shrinks the testicles or something.’
    ‘That doesn’t sound very nice. I wouldn’t want Henry’s shrinking.’
    ‘I daresay not,’ said Mavis, who had once made a pass at Wilt at a party, and still resented the fact that he hadn’t responded. ‘In his case she could probably give you something to stimulate him.’
    ‘Do you really think so?’
    ‘You can always try,’ said Mavis. ‘Dr Kores does understand women’s problems and that’s more than you can say for most doctors.’
    ‘But I didn’t think she was a proper doctor like Dr Buchman. Isn’t she something in the University?’
    Mavis Mottram stifled an impulse to say that, yes, she was a consultant in animal husbandry at that, which should suit Henry Wilt’s needs even better than Patrick’s.
    ‘The two aren’t mutually incompatible, Eva. I mean there is a medical school at the University, you know. Anyway, the point is, she’s set up a clinic for women with problems, and I do think you’d find her very sympathetic and helpful.’
    By the time Eva left and returned to 45 Oakhurst Avenue and a lunch of celery soup with bran magi-mixed into it, she was convinced. She would phone Dr Kores and go and see her about Henry. She was also rather pleased with herself. She had managed to divert Mavis from the depressing topic of the Bomb and on to