"The surgeon dropped what he thought would be a bombshell: 'We will have to remove almost half of the mobile part of your tongue.' My lack of reaction must have surprised him. Not only had his Swiss counterpart already warned me, but after being told in Zurich that it would be two thirds, I had the distinct impression I was getting a bargain. Perhaps I should have gone back to Switzerland to barter a bit more: 'Your colleague in France is offering me fifty percent. Can you make me a better offer?'"