Chapter Five: My Mother No Longer Knew Me

Their collection times differed by less than one second. “Which one is real?” the director whispered. “Both,” Zhao said from the corridor. “Every possibility you rescue creates a person who has nowhere to belong. Give me the ticket, Lin. At least your mother can keep her son.” Lin's phone rang. His mother spoke with careful courtesy. “Who are you trying to reach?” His throat tightened. “Mom. It's me.” “My son's surname is Gu. He does business in Singapore. Don't call again.” The number 12 faded rapidly. Zhao had not waited for another investigation; he had used his mother's memory to force the third completion. Lin was silent for several seconds. Then he inserted both tubes into the archive's public analyzer.