Light, prolonged
春分 [5] / [33]
With that, he departed. Alexander and Cynthia took a few minutes to look over and discuss their notes. Nearly 10 minutes passed before Lucas, far skinnier and more haggard-looking than when Alexander had last seen him, was led in, sporting an orange, numbered jump-suit and handcuffs. His facial hair was patchy and ungroomed.
He didn’t dare to look at them directly. He looked much more gaunt than he originally used to be. He looked down at his own knees, and refused to speak.
“Patrick Collins,”
Cynthia said the name. Lucas lifted his head at once.
“What the hell did you call me?”
“Do you know who that person is?”
she asked, as if she had no clue who the person was.
“It was me, until . . . ”
he paused. Alexander presented him the picture of Sarah.
“Do you recognize who she is?”
Lucas took the photo, and looked at it closely and asked with a quivering voice.
“How do you know of her?”
“Do you know her for sure?”
Alexander questioned again.
“I’d thought I knew her,”
Lucas answered slowly.
“It’s been almost 5 years . . .”
Neither Cynthia nor Alexander said anything. The way Lucas spoke, with such fragility, was such that it seemed he would be too easily shaken if anybody broke the silence.
“But what about her? Why do you come here with her picture?”
"We were hoping you could tell us that,"
said Alexander, holding back his instinctual revulsion and antipathy towards him, "Patrick―"
"My name is Lucas,"
he responded with intense irritability.
"Don't call me that."
"Okay, Lucas. I want you to tell us about her. Where do you know her from, and who is she to you?"
He looked down again in shame, and said nothing.
"Please,"
Cynthia looked at him imploringly, placing her hand bracingly on his shoulder.
"We really need your help with this, Lucas. Just tell us what you're willing to tell us, and we'll let you be. We won't press you. Just give us something.”
It seemed that Lucas was deeply agonized, thinking of what he should or shouldn't say. No matter how horrible the crime he committed, he still was a youngster who couldn't calculate well enough if something was good or bad for him.
Lucas swallowed and asked them,
"How can I benefit by answering your questions?"
