Unbelievable!

This wasn't the answer that the doctor had been expecting. If Astra had created a set of false memories for herself, to protect her from some trauma, then the hypnosis should have enabled him to get at her genuine memories. "Where is Themyscira?" he asked. He nearly added, "I've never heard of it", but knew that the session was likely to be more productive if he avoided any extraneous comments.

"It is the capital of Aqualaria, a short distance inland from the Bay of Tolomei off the Aryn Ocean. It is a great and beautiful city of over 50,000 people."

None of the place names meant anything to the doctor. Had Astra invented a whole imaginary geography for her early life? Why would she do that? Puzzled, he said: "Tell me about your childhood."

So Astra told him about growing up as a princess in the royal palace and, in answer to further questions, of her capture by the dragon, her rescue by Lord Fred, their death and reincarnation. She finished with their strange time as an impromtu burlesque act, similar to - yet in some important particulars different from - what the doctor knew about events at the Castle Theatre. (For example, "Lord Fred" clearly equated to her press secretary, yet that gentleman had not been anywhere near the Castle Theatre last night.)

The doctor found her story incredible, in the most literal sense of the word. Did Astra really believe what she had told him? How could she? And yet, if she had somehow resisted his hypnosis and was deliberately lying, what motive could she possibly have? She must know that she risked finishing up in a mental institution.

1. He thought of another question to ask.
2. He brought her out of her hypnosis.
3. They were interrupted by a knock at the doctor's door.

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