ROOM 211

PART FOUR

4.

How difficult can it be to find a lady who stands out like a sore thumb? It's not like she got much of a head start or anything of the sorts, but passers-by were either uninterested or couldn't be bothered helping when Henry asked questions of them. How hard is it to answer a question? Have you seen an odd-looking lady in a white and red dress? It's a question that requires either a yes or a no answer and a yes reply would lead to a where have you seen her question. Not so difficult though extracting answers was a difficulty unto itself.

Forty-five minutes pass and the searching comes to an end, forty-five minutes, how could she have gotten so far away that a search may take so long? Luckily, he hasn't completely lost her for he sees her sitting alone at a wooden park like bench and table. Not to frighten her off he moves to her slowly and she sees him coming. Out in the open, what harm can come from just talking to this stranger? He is just one person as opposed to many people; she can deal with one person so long he is not aggressive or unruly. If things get too difficult, she can always just ... scream.

As gently as possible, he attempts to appear friendly. He sits opposite her and rests his forearms on the table in between them. She watches with a mix of trepidation and wonder and is willing for the moment at least to be a part of this encounter. He moves his glance up from the table in an effort to catch her eyes and she does the same.

'Hi ... my name is Henry. Can you tell me your name?'

She remains quiet and he cannot help but wonder as to if she is working with a full deck, for she doesn't even acknowledge his presence, something else may be clicking for him too.

'That dress you are wearing. It's really lovely. Were you at a party, or some sort of Ball perhaps?'

He is about to ask her another question when he sees her smile, anticipating a response he remains quiet for a bit.

'I ... I hate the dress. I ... don't ... I don't ...'

'You don't what? ... Think it's quite you?'

'Yeah ...' she glances away briefly then turns back his way to meet his eyes for a first time.

There is something about her eyes. He is almost certain that they are not new to him. 'Can I ask you something? It might sound odd but trust me; I have been around a fair bit of odd today.'

'Sure.'

'You can tell me that it's none of my business if you like but would I be right in assuming that you have no memory?'

She sits up and slightly back. Her reaction has given Henry his answer, so he continues to speak.

'Would it surprise you to know that I am in the same boat as you? I ... em ... I woke in a field not all so long ago. I woke in the suit I am wearing right now, and I have no memory as to how I got to that field. I have no idea who I am, what I might do for a living ... I know absolutely nothing.'

'Then how do you know what your name is?'

'Good question. I can't know for sure. There was a bag next to me when I woke. In this bag I found keys, keys that led me to a passport, my passport I presume. My name of course is on it. I can't tell if I was trying to get somewhere. I don't know if I was in some type of trouble. I know next to nothing. I have been basically wandering around since I woke up until I saw you. Forgive me but you do stand out a little and something about that song you were singing, not just the song itself but how you were singing too.'

'So, you followed me?'

'Yeah, and here we are. Would you like to tell me about your day?'

'Eh ... not sure ...'