“It — it’s nothing real bad. He’s just an outpatient now, and today’s his day to get checked over and pick up some medication. He had a sort of breakdown last month. Had a couple days’ worth of amnesia, and they can’t seem to figure what caused it.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Well, the X-rays didn’t show any damage — like he’d hit his head or anything. And he seems okay now. They say he’ll probably be fine. But they want to keep an eye on him a little longer. That’s all.” Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, she asked, “How’d he seem when you were talking with him, anyway?”

I’d seen it coming, so I didn’t hesitate.

“He seemed fine when I talked with him,” I answered. “But of course I hadn’t known him before, so I couldn’t tell whether he was acting any different.”

“I see what you mean,” she said. “Do you want him to call you back when he gets in?”

“No. I’m going to be going out,” I said, “and I’m not sure when I’ll be getting back. It was nothing really important. I’ll get in touch again one of these days.”

“Okay, then. I’ll tell him you called.”

“Thanks. G’bye.”

That one I’d almost expected. After Meg, George’s behavior had been overtly weird, at the end there. What had bothered me was that he’d seemed to know who I really was and to know about Amber — and he even wanted to follow me through a Trump. It was as if he and Meg had both been subjected to some strange manipulation.

Jasra came to mind immediately in this regard. But then she was Luke ally, it seemed, and Meg had warned me against Luke. Why would she do that if Jasra were controlling her in some fashion? It didn’t make sense. Who else did I know who might be capable of causing such phenomena?

Fiona, for one. But then she’d been party to my later return to this shadow from Amber and had even picked me up after my evening with Meg. And she’d seemed just as puzzled about the course of events as I was.