"A Stranger to Myself"

Astra said, "I can honestly say that before last night, I have no memories of Ralph. The only man that I recognize is Fred, and even he seems to be different. The Fred I knew was much more approachable."

The doctor smiled, and said, "He will be glad to hear that. That is the only bad thing that I have ever heard him say about you is that you keep him at arm's length. Astra, you sit right here, and just relax for about an hour. I will have one of the nurses keep you company while I am taking care of another case. I will be gone about an hour. Do you need some tea, or something to read, while I am out?"

Astra replied, "I will just talk with the nurse. I like that better than reading."

The doctor gave the nurse, Roberta, instructions. He said that Astra's shocking behavior was caused by nervous exhaustion brought on by overwork, and that she was not herself. He told her that she appeared to be harmless to herself and others, but deeply delusional. She was not to encourage Astra's delusions, but not to challenge them directly. She was to change the subject whenever possible.

The Governor's inner circle had gathered around a mahogany table in the formal study in the Governor's mansion. There was a mood of gloom. Astra's chief of staff, Frank Maia, put it bluntly. "We are screwed."

Fred said, "It is terrible. What a way to spend a Friday! She has really put her heart into blocking what she thinks of as a terrible bill - a sweetheart deal for the Dragon Group, and she has snapped. There is no other explanation. And now she is nothing more than a laughing stock."

The doctor said, "Whatever trauma has happened, it runs deep. This is more than amnesia, or even delusional fantasy. She shows signs of being unable to function in modern civilization. For example, while she has a concept of time, she did not understand what I meant when I told her about her big speech against the bill at 7 o'clock on Monday. She does behave in some ways as if she is a visitor from an archaic society. But I do not believe that she has quite forgotten her past life. Merely subliminated it."

Lieutenant Governor Norris Velus said, "Subliminated? What do you mean?"

Frank said, "Do you think that Ralph was really there? I find it unlikely that he would risk being caught doing something like that."

Belboz replied, "Ralph is a more than a bit of a bastard. I would not put it past him."

The doctor said, "I think that it is possible that Ralph is a bit of symbolism that she incorporated into her experience, but there are some reports of witnesses that may be able to confirm her story. I think that this would be useful to know. We could start with the trooper, Sgt. Bruno Wilkes, who according to the calendar was the last person in the office to see her last night. But there are other things that are pure fantasy, but involve elements of her life. She told me that she found a note that she was on a quest to slay a dragon. There is a clear and trivial connection between the Dragon group and the dragon animal. And she also had a fantasy about Fred being there, naked with her before her enemies - a rather obvious symbol of a close ally fighting a losing battle with her. And when Fred 'ran away', perhaps that was her way of expressing a feeling that she did not want to admit to herself - a feeling of abandonment, or that her friends were ineffective. No offense, Fred. Astra has obviously been pushed beyond the breaking point. I will say that she obviously she has deep feelings for you that she has not revealed until now."

Fred shook his head. "I had no idea," he said. "If only I had known, I would have gladly reached out to her. But she always seemed to grow cold when I made any suggestion of talking about things other than politics with her."

Frank replied, "Don't beat yourself up Fred. She was always the rock on which we all stood, and nobody ever thought of her as being vulnerable. She just picked a bad time to be human. Our party is going to get wiped out in the next election."

Belboz interjected, "Keep cool, Frank. While I am not saying that this is a good thing, I think that, if we can get the Governor back to a state of sound mental health, that we can keep her political career alive, and may even benefit from it. How many voters feel like they are on the verge of losing control, and step back from the brink? A good staff should be able to make her into a sympathetic figure."

Fred replied, "But she does not have time! I am worried for her. I think that she needs to quit, and spend some time trying to recover. I remember a politician who was supposed to have said, 'I spend so much time in the service of others, that I have become a stranger to myself.' I am afraid that is what has happened."

Frank replied, "Well, Norris, you have to get ready. If the doctor says that Astra is not fit to be governor, you will have to be ready to step in. What about it doctor? Is there any chance that she can recover?"

"Is there a chance that she will recover?" asked the Lieutenant Governor.

1. The doctor is of the opinion tha Astra should be relieved of her duties now.
2. The doctor recommends waiting for 48 hours, and see if she recovers her sanity. Little business gets conducted on a weekend.
3. Meanwhile, back upstairs....

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