Passing Along Information
The person asking the question was none other than John himself. It was downright absurd, and deeply ironic.
As his son, Thomas couldn't exactly curse his father to hurry up and die, could he?
Whether in the East or the West, thinking that way would make him an unfilial son.
"I'm really sorry!"
Even though they were discussing a request to have someone kill his own father, Thomas realized there was no way they could continue this conversation. It went against the moral code of both East and West.
The murder of one's parents was an unforgivable crime, yet the son was asking someone to do the work of a murderer. It was utterly immoral.
He fell silent.
Thomas's wife, Catherine, was an expert in this field too. She had treated members of the Samos Family before, and knew John's request was simply asking the impossible. At last, unable to hold back, she said, "Honey, Li Bai is right. No doctor would agree to such an outrageous request."
Forget Li Bai—even the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital affiliated with Columbia and Cornell, where she had once worked, wouldn't agree. No amount of money would change that.
"Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Try to stay optimistic. Things will work out for the best."
Li Bai did his best to persuade Thomas not to get stuck in a rut. The food at the buffet was good, but dinner was still a joyless affair.
Thomas tried to convince Li Bai, but failed. In the end, he nearly drove himself into depression.
Then John's eldest son, Thomas's older brother and heir to the Samos Family, Lancelot Samos, came to try his hand at persuading him.
If Li Bai hadn't seen the writing on the wall and made a timely exit, the other