The cuckoo

Part 20 The happy ending

The police enquiry into all that had happened ended up very predictably with a plausible story to explain everything that had happened.     According to the press release Harry had been cornered and had fired upon the officers who had then been forced to shoot him dead.     On closer examination it transpired that the body was that of an imposter,  identified by dna, and  actually a  felon possessing multiple previous convictions.     Also having previously worked for the make-up and make-over departments of various theatres, he was skilled at changing his appearance and had a known talent for mimicry.    The  story went on that after a bold rescue by special force police officers the  hostages were freed unharmed.  The actual motive for it all they said was  unknown and because of the perpetrators death probably never would be.    May  and Julian  were reunited with Alan and George and all four were checked over in hospital and pronounced well and unharmed by their ordeal.       In truth once the order to shoot Harry had been issued it is protocol that events from this moment on are filmed, thus once the recording was played back Harry could be plainly seen slowly changing colour and vanishing into thin air. Not the kind of thing that the press could ever be allowed to get hold of.   

All  four of them had been interviewed by the police and warned of the foolhardiness of disagreeing with the official statement.     The police had also contacted   Harry Nichols's parents as well and explained to them that in fact Mr Nichols had been correct, and the young man at their house had been an imposter.   They also explained how they were unsure how he had disposed of their real sons dead body,   but  that they were currently investigating it and would get to the bottom of it eventually.   As for Mrs Nichol's false memories of their son they told her that the interloper had somehow drugged her with a powerful mind weakening drug, and planted the false suggestions into her subconscious.  They told her that the specialist they had consulted assured them that soon  the effects would wear off and she would regain her true memories of Harry.  Strangely both of them felt a curious contentment and had the feeling that somehow something really good had come out of all of this.   Also strangely they didn't buy one word of the account of events that the police had told them. 

Just one month later at a large and very tasteful venue in the country town of Epping, as they were all celebrating Julian and May's engagement,  and after they had all eaten.    May  gathered up Julian,  her future father-in-law,  and George,  and ushered them outside onto the balcony area,  and led them to a quiet spot away from the guests.    "I have something to tell you all"  she  said.     " Harry told me something on that last day and now it is time to tell you.    He left us a gift, for each of us.    He said it was for trusting and loving him, for not running to save our own skins when things became dangerous.   Oh and he also told me that everything  in the world is fine now and will be for the next two thousand years or so.  And then another will come and perform the same task.    The gift that Harry has given to us is that we will never become ill or succumb to disease.   We will become very good at making the right choices in our lives and generally our lives will become easier.    Unless we manage to get ourselves accidently killed because of this gift we are all going to live long beyond a normal lifespan.   Not only that but our children will also enjoy the same blessing".     Mays mum was calling to them from the open doors.  "Come in now your guests are looking for you.  Haven't you all had enough of each others company to last you a lifetime"    Laughing happily they all trouped back inside.

The End

Completed