Free A Borrowed Man by Gene Wolfe Page A

right. I was smiling because I’ve lost the argument. Want to hear the whole thing?”
    â€œYes,” I said. “Very much.”
    â€œAll right. You were unconscious when they undressed you and searched your clothes. They searched you, too, felt around in, well, in your mouth and all that. Then the young one told the mean one that he was going to tie you to that chair. He did while the mean one watched, talking all the time about how they were going to torture us. Pull out fingernails. Burn our feet. There was a lot of that.”
    I said, “I’m glad I missed it.”
    â€œI wish I had. Then the mean one started pulling my clothes off. I yelled and hit him.” She paused. “I know I can’t use my fists like a man, but I can hurt you even so, and I hurt him. He knocked me down.”
    â€œI’m sorry. Terribly sorry!”
    â€œHe started to kick me, but the other man, the young one, grabbed him and pulled him away. He helped me up and told me to take off my clothes. He told me I wouldn’t get hit again if I did it. Then he searched me and made me sit in that chair, and tied me up. The mean one was afraid the rags weren’t tight enough, but he tested them and they were.”
    â€œThis is interesting.” I was thinking hard. “The young one—that’s the taller of the two, correct?”
    â€œYes, and I think he’s not as bad as the other one, and he might even come over to our side if there was enough money in it. Or if we got them arrested like you want—I know that was what you were getting at—he might testify against the others.”
    I nodded. “I wish we had some way of contacting him.”
    â€œSo do I. So we’re back to what you want, getting them to come out of the woodwork again. If you’re right and there are only a few of them, he may be one we’ll see. Are we going to visit this Dr. Roglich?”
    I nodded again. “Just as soon as we can arrange a meeting with him.”

 
    6
    B ACK ON THE S HELF
    â€œI’m Colette Coldbrook.” Smiling, Colette held out her hand, which Dr. Roglich shook even more carefully than I would have. I was looking around his office, which was a trifle larger than I had expected and saturated with the mixed smells of pipe smoke and money.
    â€œAn honor, Ms. Coldbrook. A great honor and a real pleasure.” He had a high, tremulous voice. His two-hour lectures must have been a blast. “Please be seated, both of you.”
    â€œThis is my friend, E. A. Smithe.” Colette was still standing. She smiled. “Perhaps I should say my dear friend and advisor. Mr. Smithe is a veritable fountain of information.”
    Dr. Roglich and I shook hands; his was a damp hand, though bigger and more muscular than I expected. I sat, waiting to wipe my own on my trouser leg.
    â€œI can explain my situation,” Colette continued, “but you probably don’t want to hear all that. Let me just say it’s difficult and complicated.”
    â€œPlease do sit down.” Dr. Roglich seemed to be talking to the bookcase in the corner.
    â€œOf course.” Colette took the big leather chair with arms, I having left that one for her. “I suppose you’re afraid I’m about to burst into tears. I won’t, I promise.”
    Dr. Roglich sat, too, looking relieved. “First, let me offer my condolences on the death of your father.” He glanced at the bookcase. “A great loss, I realize, and not only to you.”
    I said, “Colette finds herself alone in the world, I’m afraid.”
    â€œI do.” The smile had vanished. “My mother passed away a few years ago, and my father only a little over six weeks ago. Here I’m tempted to dance around the truth, Dr. Roglich, but I must not. I won’t! You knew my father, I know. Did you know my brother Cob, too? Conrad Coldbrook, Junior?”
    Dr. Roglich had gotten out a handsome