thomas bernhard

It's the middle of a meeting. The usual things are being discussed. ROI. Contact Rates. Percentages. He spots something on the shelf. It's the boss's office. There are various books there. Technical boredom. A Miles Davis biography. Some Amis. Dostoyevsky. In amongst the spines there's one that catches his eye. It's a book called Extinction. It's not just that he recognises the writer. He knows this book. It's calling him. He can't help himself. He gets up and walks over to the shelf. Picks the book up. He's done this before. Opens it up. There's a handwritten note inside. Addressed to him.

He looks at the boss. This book is part of his history. Someone gave it to him. He gave it to someone else. They gave it to...

Someone turns around and asks him what he thinks about the possibilities of increasing Direct Debit take ups. He says something. He goes and sits down. He doesn't let go of the book.