The last game
Page 8
"In the little time left to me... nobody can cure me... maybe you have to accept that as well."
"Damn! Isn´t it enough for you to know who I am? You have to believe me. I´m doing this all for you. If my identity isn´t enough to convince you that it´s possible, I don´t know anything else that will."
A look of desperation covered Ethan´s face and he frowned until his eyes hurt and a tear ran down his cheek.
The memory of the time when Ethan had revealed who he was cut through Wilfred with the speed of a lightning bolt. He had never had the sensation before of having talked with a true madman. Ethan´s story had been so strange that only a mind completely detached from reality could have come up with anything like it. In spite of everything, the details had fit into the puzzle one after the other with disconcerting ease. Wilfred had demanded a DNA test and anything else that he could think of to confirm that the whole thing wasn´t a horrible joke. But in the end his doubting waned and he was forced to accept the undoubted accuracy of the test results.
"I believe you." Wilfred mused. "Go ahead and tell me. I won´t forget it and I will do what you tell me to."
"Do it, please, it`s your only chance." Ethan said opening his eyes again and looking at the old man. "I´m risking much more than my life in helping you."
"More than your life? What are you talking about?"
"Don´t worry about that just remember this name, Aidan Zack. He´s a detective. You have to meet him."
"A detective can cure me?"
"No, but it´s part of the solution, although he doesn´t know it yet. He doesn´t even suspect what´s coming."
"What do I say when I meet him."
"I can´t reveal that now without breaking the rules. As strange as it may seem to you, and in spite of everything that is going to happen from now on, don´t forget there are rules, and that sooner or later you will learn them. Everything follows certain logic and everything has its consequences. Don´t forget that."
"Ok." the old man said without sounding very convinced or even of having understood what he had to do. "I will find this Aidan. Then, I´m afraid, I will have to improvise."
"I have to go." Ethan said getting up abruptly and leaning over the old man, moving the bed slightly as he did. "I wish I could tell you more. I hope you will understand what this is all about before it´s too late." The young man kissed Wilfred´s bald head tenderly, as his hand stroked the old wrinkled skin of his face. "Look after yourself, my son. I´m always with you."
Ethan turned away to hide the pain that suddenly filled his heart, leaving the room quickly to avoid collapsing right there and then.
"Goodbye, father. I´ll find that detective." Wilfred called after the young man disappearing through the door, his whole body shaking with the thought that nothing could make him get used to the fact that his father was fifty years younger than him.
* * * * *