E=They Ate the Truth 5

"Interesting move, " says Alastair in a voice that is gentle and
admiring, "Maybe I'll hear what questions you've got. "

"What did you take out of Lorrie ? " I ask, "What did she do that was
so bad?"

He purses his lips, takes a quick look at the bugs, who are starting to
scuttle around. "Nah, " he says, "Think I'll go Dare on that one.
"

"Who wants her to forget what she knew? Is it her, or is it you boys?
Or someone bigger, more important than Chesterton. "

He lifts his index finger, scratches his chin languidly, "No, not
answering that one either. "

Of course, with a gun, you can point it, cock it, even fire a warning
shot into the air, or even into someone's foot to scare them up, but
with a box full of effectively killer bugs, there are only two states -
closed and harmless or open and deadly. There's nothing menacing you
can do with it.

"Pretty cool customer, " I say, "These bugs are interested in you
though, they can smell your secrets. "

Alastair says nothing. I can smell his aftershave, it is very subtle. I
wish I could ask him what it is - perhaps that's the only question he's
prepared to answer.

"You see, " he says lazily, "This is why the direct questions never
work - that's why we prefer to befuddle the target, get them so
confused they're just desperate for a question they actually know the
answer to. "

For want of anything better, I hold the box slightly further away from
my body and closer to him - I feel like one of the Wise Men offering a
gift.

"What happened to Lorrie's husband, who is he ? "

"Oh, " says Alastair, "Better questions. Much better. You already have
the answer to the second part. "

I don't, so far as I know.

"What did she say her surname was ?"

"McLuhan, " I say, "Lorrie McLuhan. "

He laughs, a real deep laugh, "Funny, " he says, "That's my surname.
Guess some things still float around in there. But you've already
decided that my name isn't Alastair McLuhan, haven't you?"

I had, but not any more. I know this man.

"Stockholm, " I say to him, "You were applying for a licence, just like
me. Not in a cream suit then, something navy, gold coloured tie, your
shoes were well-polished. You failed, as I recalled. "

He gives me a sarcastic - mock-sarcastic? - round of applause, "Well
done memory man, " he says.

But if the name Lorrie gave Rachael isn't her real surname, then how
else would I know it? Where would she have written it down ?

"Christ, " I say, "It's on the cheque, isn't it ?"

Alastair sits down, "No reason for me to be uncomfortable while you're
threatening me, is there ? I mean, we both know you're not going to
open that box. Yes, her name is on the cheque. Did you not see it,
memory man?"

I remember everything, I don't notice everything. I was too busy
looking at the amount to see the surname. The cheque is still in my
jacket pocket. I hold the box steady with my left and pull the cheque
out with my right.

"You forgot to pay it in, " says Alastair, "It would nearly have
cleared by now. Memory not so hot after all ?"

I remember everything that happens, it doesn't make me any more
organised than anyone else with a busy life.

I realise that he's steering things again, he's good at this. I'm the
one with the killer bugs but he's in charge. I brandish the box again
but all it does is make me feel foolish.

"Right, " I say, "If you don't answer the questions, I'll get the bugs
to eat it out of you, then Retrieve it. If you know Chesterton, you
know I'm able to do that. It's just a pain in the arse, that's all.
"

"Don't be wet, old horse, " says Alastair, "You're not going to set
those bugs on me. For a start, you're not a killer, and second, you'd
only find out something your girlfriend doesn't want to remember
anyway. She'll not thank you for it. "

If there's anything worse than having your bluff called, it's having
your bluff called by someone who smells better than you do. I put the
box down on the table, confident that he's not going to jump me. Why
should he? He's completely in charge and I've got nothing. Except this
cheque.

"See you around, " says Alastair, standing up and leaving, "I'd ask you
to give my love to Lorrie, but I'm REALLY sure there's not any memories
of me left. Pity, I like the ones I've got of her. "

I unfold the cheque, what's written on it? The money still looks too
good to turn down. The surname.

Lorrie van Gibt.

Lorrie's husband is the Dutch scientist who created these bugs.