Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction June 1954. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.
FORGET ME NEARLY
By F. L. Wallace
Illustrated by EMSH
What sort of world was it, he puzzled, that wouldn't helpvictims find out whether they had been murdered or hadcommitted suicide?
he police counselor leaned forward and tapped the small nameplate onhis desk, which said: Val Borgenese. "That's my name," he said. "Whoare you?"
The man across the desk shook his head. "I don't know," he saidindistinctly.
"Sometimes a simple approach works," said the counselor, shoving asidethe nameplate. "But not often. We haven't found anything that'seffective in more than a small percentage of cases." He blinkedthoughtfully. "Names are difficult. A name is like clothing, put on ortaken off, recognizable but not part of the person—the first thingforgotten and the last remembered."
The man with no name said nothing.
"Try pet names," suggested Borgenese. "You don't have to be sure—justsay the first thing you think of. It may be something your parentscalled you when you were a child."
The man stared vacantly, closed his eyes for a moment and then openedthem and mumbled something.
"What?" asked Borgenese.
"Putsy," said the man more distinctly. "The only thing I can think ofis Putsy."
The counselor smiled. "That's a pet name, of course, but it doesn'thelp much. We can't trace it, and I don't think you'd want it as apermanent name." He saw the expression on the man's face and addedhastily: "We haven't given up, if that's what you're thinking. Butit's not easy to determine your identity. The most important source ofinformation is your mind, and that was at the two year level when wefound you. The fact that you recalled the word Putsy is anindication."
"Fingerprints," said the man vaguely. "Can't you trace me throughfingerprints?"
"That's another clue," said the counselor. "Not fingerprints, but thefact that you thought of them." He jotted something down. "I'll haveto check those re-education tapes. They may be defective by now, we'verun them so many times. Again, it may be merely that your mind refusedto accept the proper information."
The man started to protest, but Borgenese cut him off. "Fingerprintswere a fair means of identification in the Twentieth Century, but thisis the Twenty-second Century."
he counselor then sat back. "You're confused now. You have a lot ofinformation you don't know how to use yet. It was given to you fast,and your mind hasn't fully absorbed it and put it in order. Sometimesit helps if you talk out your problems."
"I don't know if I have a problem." The man brushed his hand slowlyacross his eyes. "Where do I start?"
"Let me do it for you," suggested Bor