10
"So is it that you want to forget, or that you want to stop being vain?" asked Director evenly.
For a moment it looked as though Memorist were upset enough at Director's bald statement to get up and leave. But he controlled himself and said: "I do not wish to be vain. How do I start?"
"Limit yourself to remembering things for your friends and pleasure. Once you know how to do that you can try other reasons."
"What sort of reasons?"
"Best not to worry about them now, friend."
"But I will worry if I don't know. Just tell me one, something to look forward to."
"Alright. Here's a reason to remember something: revenge."
Student looked keenly to Memorist.
"Revenge is a good reason?" asked Memorist.
"Maybe not 'good' strictly speaking, or maybe exactly good. In any case, that memory of yours can be used to work revenge, can't it?"
"I don't know what you have in mind, exactly, but I can imagine that it can serve that end. But why tell me that?"
"You asked."
"No, I mean why precisely that, revenge? Why not something less harsh?"
"Nothing else came to mind."
Student laughed.
Memorist looked at Student then looked back to Director who shrugged and smiled faintly.
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Nick Pappas, pappasnick.typepad.com
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