But then, suddenly George’s mood changed. He dug his foot into the sand beneath the swings and said, in a harder voice, “Except that it’s not such a funny joke, when you come right down to it. Hell, I don’t know. But I worked on that custodian’s teeth the other day; he told me he was Christ, all right. He seemed like a nice enough guy. When I was finished he said, “God bless you,” or something like that….” George broke off, obviously embarrassed.

Seven said, “And—?”

“Shit,” George went on, grinning self-deprecatingly. “But for just a few moments there I felt great, renewed, vigorous, full of life or whatever. The attendant said that kind of thing happened now and then, and laid it to suggestion. And it had to be—suggestion. But goddammit, I’m not particularly suggestible, or I didn’t think I was.

Momentarily George seemed to forget that Seven was even there. He mused, aloud but to himself, “I thought of all kinds of things that I haven’t thought about, in years … and now this. It’s a dirty shame when people take advantage like that—”

“Like what?” Seven asked, unable to remain quiet.

“Like, well, hell, raise false hopes like that,” George cried, throwing up his arms in the air. “Well, let’s get going,” he said. “Life’s no playground, I’ll tell you that…. And I’m going to catch that bunch red-handed.”

Resolutely George got up and began striding toward the parking lot. Beside him, feeling some alarm, Oversoul Seven almost shouted, “You might be in for more surprises than you’re counting on….”

But George didn’t answer. He was filled with righteous indignation; his brown eyes blazed, his arms swung vigorously at his sides. “A joke is a joke and enough is enough,” he said. And Seven thought that George suddenly bore an uncomfortable resemblance to his grandfather, George Brainbridge the First.

Chapter Nine

George Hears Further Disclosures: His Dilemma Deepens

George was to meet Gregory Diggs in the center’s dental office, where they’d have some privacy. Diggs was a few minutes late for their appointment, and George muttered to Seven, “Want to bet that he doesn’t come? He probably guesses we’re on to him. Damn! How can life get so complicated?”

“Maybe he’s on the up and up though,” Seven offered, grinning as if this possibility was the furthest from his mind. “After all, we didn’t find records of any twin. I mean, the records the police checked couldn’t have been tampered with.”

“Records or no, it’s the only possible explanation,” George said stubbornly. “Unless you believe in miracles.”

“Maybe miracles are events we just don’t understand,” Seven ventured. “Science admits there’s lots of phenomena that can’t be explained—”

“But gums are gums!” George said, as if that ended all possible discussion.