Alpha To Zeta
by Phil Doran
Theta Epsilon had been waiting impatiently for him to finish reading the transcript. She’d watched as a house fly had landed on the rim of his glasses. He’d swatted it away like someone who had more important things to do with his time.
- Are you ready to?
- Begin again? Yes.
- Certain?
- Damn certain.
- Ever been more certain?
- Frequently,but then again I often am.
- Getting off the subject, aren’t we?
- How come?
- I mean,self-assurance is not a prerequisite for this game.
- June.
- Kleptomaniac. You’re telling me you’ve had the die since June.
- Likelier July or August I’d say.
- More likely January, knowing you.
- Never in all my days have I been so – Opinionated?
- Please insulted I was going to say.
- Quite. I am sorry but Snakes & Ladders is my favourite compendium game and I have been denied its pleasures for some time thanks to your thievery.
- Really! I hardly think forgetting I’d left it in my coat pocket constitutes serious criminal endeavour.
- So, you admit it.
- Truth to tell, I never thought of denying it.
- Unbeknownst to you the die somehow cast its shadow over your personality.
- Very nearly. I must’ve popped it in my waistcoat pocket on a lavatory break.
- Well, let’s have no more abluting during gameplay.Have you an empty enough bladder on which to begin?
- X-rays have indicated that I am in peak physical condition for a man of my advanced intellect.
- You don’t say – Let’s just start, shall we? OK. What was the score?
- Zero-zero. The first game doesn’t count. I suspect you are in league with your electronic random number indicator. I should like to use the die.
Doctor Puchta snorted and lay the file back down on the desk.
- Well, Doctor. What’s the diagnosis?
- His paranoia is exhibiting itself classically. Symptomatically,I’d say your brother is alphabetized schizoid paranoic take a closer look, Miss Epsilon.
Theta knew it now.Her own obsessive compulsion, involving going around revolving doorways until she was dizzy and passing out in corporate lobbies from Albert Embankment to Zaire had a similar pattern. She’d have to phone Gamma first. Omicron,of course, would have to wait his turn.