Lisa is walking around, table to table, helping with the different families now. After a while, it becomes apparent that she is avoiding our table and eye contact with me. Dr. Rowan, Officer Trailbreaker, and Lilly are having a conversation just at the edge of the entrance to the dining hall. The doctor turns and walks back down the hall. Seeing that their conversation is coming to an end, I excuse myself from Jenn’s company and head to intercept Officer Talon on his way out. Lilly continues to stand just inside the doorway greeting guests as they come and go.

I quicken my step to come alongside Officer Trailbreaker and as I start to speak, he shuts me down with a sideways nod of his head and a look towards the exit. Sunset is beginning as we step outside, walking out the front of the Main building. After walking about 50 feet, he begins speaking. “If you want to keep your conversations private, do not underestimate Lilly’s perception skills” giving me a sideways glance and a smile. “Even now, I think if she wanted to know what we are saying, she could. But with dinner in progress and I don’t think her focus is towards us, I think we are moderately safe.”

“Have you found anything?” I ask.

Shaking his head. “No, I am afraid not. You are an enigma and records of you do not exist. Nothing you have told us exists. If not for having spoken with you and what you have done, I would think you an undocumented refugee or spy.”

“Not even a ‘shut-in’ doomed to live out my existence, hidden from the eyes of the world?” I grin. He doesn’t have his guard up but he isn’t completely open with the information either.

“No, you are not that either. You are far too comfortable in conversation to have lived as a hermit. Wherever you were before this, you are a good man and lived a peaceful life. I am still not sure if I agree with Dr. Rowan or not yet. He believes that the lightning is what has affected you and why the Identifier isn’t picking up anything. But if that were true, there would still be records or traces of your life. I have no idea where you could have possibly have lived that there are not even traces of you. I’m am sure that there is an explanation, but until then, I am trying to do want I can for you. Not only because you are in need, but also because of what you have done for the children.”

“Thank you. I am not sure what to do or where to go. I do feel helpless in some ways and it is making me angry and upset. I think I am handling it pretty well at the moment. To be honest, I am having some internal struggles just talking to you. People like you and the Doctor can just as much be my friend, as you can be my worst nightmare. What if the Doctor thought it would be best to keep me here or force treatment on me, I did not want? What if instead of believing in me, you thought I was guilty? What recourse would I have? How would I defend or justify myself? I haven’t asked yet, but am I free to leave this place? I am afraid to ask because I don’t want to know right now and have no idea where I would go or how my treatment here would change if I knew I couldn’t leave. Would I start being guarded, restricted, locked up?”

Officer Talon is looking at me contemplating my words. “Maybe where you are from, it is not as peaceful as I thought. The dangers of the forest and the wilderness can be quite deadly. The dangers self-righteous people can have, destroy much more than families and lives.”

“I want to go home Talon. I want to find my wife and family. I want them to know that I am ok. Until I know which way to go, I am going to wait until I can make that decision. I need to know how to survive in this place. Am I trapped here? What do I need besides food, clothing, and money? I cannot just sit and wait.”

“We are doing what we can Doug. This is more than just reuniting you and your family. Not being able to determine your identity combined with the fact that there are no trails or leads concerning the attempted kidnapping has some very important people concerned. You understand that I am not just telling you these things because I am being nice or to make you feel better. I am grasping for anything, any clue or information that I can use. I wasn’t going to talk to you, but now we are here. Talk to me, Doug. Help me help you. Whatever happened to you, you are not a simple man. There is a strength of mind and understanding that I see in you that whoever you are, wherever you are from, helplessness is not a word I would use to describe you. Jenn is adamant that you are not what you appear. Who are you, Doug? Do you not remember anything?

We have stopped walking and I turn to square up and face the officer. “Talon, believe me when I tell you that before I woke up here in this bed, I was at home sleeping in my own. There was no traveling. I did not come here. I have never seen you or anything else here before. I see and have done things here that make me question my sanity. It is like some elaborate prank gone wrong. There was no fighting, no saving people. You tell me Talon, what should I be remembering that I don’t?”

There is silence between us as the sun dips a bit further, a cool night’s breeze dying down. Officer Trailbreaker breaks the silence. “I want you to come with me, not now, hopefully, tomorrow. The road where we found you and rescued the children is still cordoned off. We are still searching the area. It was not wiped clean, but we have not been able to find anything. I want to bring you there and you tell me if you remember anything.”

“Done” I cut him off. Looking at the setting sun. “I’ll be ready in the morning, what time?” I ask.

“I cannot just bring you into a crime scene while it is being investigated, not this one. I have to inform some colleagues and make sure we are not interfering with anything that they might be conducting. Possibly also some special transportation to make sure no one interferes with us. Are you good with that?” he asks.

“I am” I reply.

“Good, are we done?” he questions.

I nod and he turns, continues down the front walkway, out the front gate.

I head back to my room. As I pass the dining hall, I peek in to see if Jenn is still there. She is not, but Lisa is. She glances at me, then at Lilly, who is still standing just inside and to the side of the entrance. She quickly goes back to work without any acknowledgment that I am there. Lilly must be some kind of director or owner of this place with the way she acts and how Lisa is respecting her.

Heading back to my room, the rest of the evening is uneventful. Trying to sleep I find myself wishing for some TV, cable news, or something to watch. If anything proves that I’m not in Kansas anymore, not having a TV is it.

(A reference to “The Wizard of Oz” in case you didn’t know).