42
Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 11AM Eastern Standard Time
“Well, sir, we questioned him in the hospital,” the Director of the Secret Service said, sitting in the chair across the Resolute desk in the Oval Office.
“You questioned him?” the President replied.
“Yes, sir.”
“What did he say??”
“Not much, sir. He seems fairly calm, but he does not communicate much. It could have something to do with his condition.”
“His condition?”
“Yes, sir, his possible schizophrenia.”
“What does that do? Give him multiple personalities? I saw that in a movie once. Is he like Sibyl? Sixteen personalities?”
“No, sir, but he does seem a bit detached from reality. We think he might hear voices.”
“What do they say?”
“I… he would not tell us, sir. I think he’s a bit crazy.”
“Did he mention me?”
The Director shifted in his seat.
“Well?”
“Well, sir, we asked about you. We showed him a picture of you.”
“What did he say?”
“He, uh… it’s unclear, to be honest, but based on the material written on his signs, I think he thinks you are the Beast of Revelation.”
“I’m what?”
“I think he thinks you are the Beast of Revelation. It’s something from the Bible. Has to do with the end of the world or something. It’s in the last book of the Bible.”
“Mrs. Johnson,” the President said into the intercom.
“Yes, sir?”
“Do we have a Bible around here somewhere?”
“I’ll… I don’t know, sir. I’m sure we can find one.”
“Where’s that one we used last year at the church?”
“I’m not sure. But I’ll get right on it, sir.”
The President turned back toward the Director.
“McCarthy.”
“Yes, sir?”
“McCarthy, can you interview this guy? On tape? Ask him what he thinks about me?”
“Uh… we can, sir. But he’s pretty uncommunicative. And he has these seizures. Half the time I didn’t know what he was talking about.”
“Ask him about this Beast thing. …Forget about it, can you bring him in here? I can ask him.”
“Uh… I think we’ll have to talk to his doctors, get some permission or something.”
“You can do it. Just say… well, you’ll know what to say. Leave my name out of it.”
“Okay, sir.”
“You said you talked to him. Did you tape the conversations?”
“It did not seem useful. He is very uncommunicative.”
“Well, get him over here.”
“I’ll have our people get on it, sir.”
“And McCarthy.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Remember. Need to know.”
“Right, sir.”
“Okay, scram. The guy’s coming to install my lumbar massage chair.”
“Yes, sir.”
© 2020 Nolan O’Brian