upon palm, your elbows jutted outward at perfect right
angles to your torso, your figure the shape of an
Misericorian dagger or macabre crucifix suspended above
us.”
I managed to open my eyes to gauge his reaction.
A thin smile was on his face as if to confirm that my
description was accurate in all respects. He nodded his
head slowly. “A lethal God perhaps but not a vengeful
one. Merely practical.”
“Did these things really happen?” I asked. “Can
you confirm the truth of my memory? Or am I relating an
illusion, a dream? And, if I speak truth, what is the
meaning of all of this?”
“You have notified your office of your departure
on business of an unknown nature and duration.”
“I have? I have done no such thing. I am quite
incapable of doing anything at this point. I don't have the
strength to rise from this bed, even if you release the
bindings. And in any event, why would I do such a thing?”
“You wouldn't” he replied. “You didn't. It was
done. You might as well understand the full extent of this
affair, although understand is perhaps an inadequate term.
The liquid you have come to crave contains an extract of a
rare East Asian narcotic. It is highly addictive as you can
appreciate and contains other, more Priapusian properties
that you may not. Its application was necessary…to
control your mind and body. The restraints became useful
for the latter. It was imperative that you remained docile in
a state of induced sortilegio while we...my daughter and I
fulfilled our purpose.”
23