Review: Science Fiction Short Story: “At the Post” H. L. Gold

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Clocker Locke makes his living handicapping horseraces, publishing short tip-sheets. He recently married Zelda, a 42nd St. “stripeuse,” who decided to make a gentleman out of him. Sadly, shortly after they married, Zelda began hearing voices. She’s now institutionalized in “an upholstered room.” As Clocker tells his drinking buddies at the Blue Ribbon on 49th St., he wants to get Zelda out. Doc Hawkins warns him people are not horses. Doc is a non-practicing general practitioner who writes a daily medical advice column for a local tabloid. He’s at the Blue Ribbon celebrating his release from the alcoholic ward. But Clocker has ideas. Zelda was a dancer before she began stripping. And now she spends her days doing elementary time-steps, as if she’s teaching a slow class. Clocker believes he can get the attention of whoever she’s talking to. The story is farfetched and the resolution more wishful thinking than anything else, but it reflects Clocker’s love for his wife. It also reflects the Cold War thinking of the inevitability of the self-destruction of mankind and probably the planet. I was half-expecting a dolphin to jump up somewhere and say, “So long and thanks for all the fish.” Clocker is unapologetic: he’s selfish. But in his selfishness (in an Adam Smith kind of way) just may lie the salvation of humankind. Nevertheless, the story is sad. The truth is this sort of mental illness is, if not “hopeless,” difficult and painful to all involved. In addition to writing science fiction, author H. L. Gold edited Galaxy Science Fiction and wrote for DC Comics. The story is available from Project Gutenberg: _____ Title: “At the Post” Author: H. L. Gold (Horace Leonard) (1914-1996) First published: Galaxy Science Fiction October 1953 Source: ISFDB