Just in case, John writes a message to Adammos, explaining who John himself is and what he has experienced over the past weeks. This message is left on the bedside cabinet in “his” room. Once again, the fortnight is a struggle, owing to John’s lack of knowledge about Terrania. Yet he gets by.

Sure enough, after the fourteen days he finds himself back on M.I.Wing!

John is a little disappointed to find no message left for HIM by Adammos, but maybe next time! Dr. Singh acknowledges the fortnightly cycle, but insists this is all the more reason for John to stay in the wing.

After days of “therapy” John leaves a further message for Adammos and duly finds himself in Adammos’ room. Aha! A sealed envelope on the bedside cabinet! He hurriedly opens the enclosed letter, which reads:

“ John – DANGER. READ THIS FAST AND BURN. I have uncovered a plot to (I use YOUR term with great fear) ASSASSINATE THE THANNOS! These happenings with us are very strange, but right now more important matters must take priority…..ONLY TRUST MAKKIN AND USURA WITH THIS! Please let me tell Faera myself at the right time. DO NOT TRUST DELLORON OR AGGRON!…..

As you say, may your God be with you.

NOW BURN THIS!

Adammos.”

However, John does not have much time to mull over this missive. There is a knock on his door so he hastily hides the evidence. Not waiting for a response, in breezes Faera.

“We’ve got a treat for you!” announces Faera, “we’re going to watch the state visit. I’ve got us a reserved place right on the route. We’ll be able to see the Thannos from close-up! Get yourself ready Adammos, our driver’s waiting.

About half an hour later, John and Faera are leaning against a barrier, in front of milling crowds. Apparently the Thannos is on his way. He will appear from their left any time soon.

Idly John looks over to the right, at some disused offices.

A gun! Held by a masked man in a heavy coat.

John points him out to Faera, tactfully enquiring whether such “gun cover” is customary on royal visits. Her answer is an emphatic no! She directs the attention of others around them to this man. Meanwhile the rest of the crowd erupt into shouting: the Thannos is here! Indeed he is, as the cavalcade appears from their left.

John is quite certain now. That man up there is the would-be assassin! Impulsively he pushes aside the barrier and dashes out in front of the lead car. Memories of the Kennedy assassination of 1963 spur him on as he frantically waves down that car. Many others follow as more and more people point up at the shadowy, menacing figure above them.

The lead-car stops as some soldiers arrive to challenge John. Once they see the would-be assassin, however, there is pandemonium. It soon becomes clear that the mystery man is not part of their security team. Police and soldiers are swiftly despatched to apprehend the villain.

It later transpires that some other members of the public also spotted the sniper and persuaded some police officers to deal with him. (It was indeed a male would-be assassin). Whether the Thannos would have been shot without John’s intervention remains something of conjecture. It would have been at best very close! Whoever else it was who saw and reported the perpetrator, they have just vanished from sight. Never to be seen again. That leaves John, or rather Adammos, as the big hero.

Nevertheless, in spite of all the fuss, John duly finds himself back on Earth, in that dingy horrible hospital ward. Fortunately he has chance to write a detailed account for Adammos to pick up.

And two weeks later –

Nothing happens!

Nor a fortnight after that, or two weeks after…

He’s cured!

At least for now.

All John can surmise is that it’s mission accomplished. “Employer” unknown. Perhaps he was “chosen” for this special task because of his “experience” of seeing the Kennedy assassination on the television. Ironic to think that we citizens of Earth should have such “specialist” expertise. John is just glad to be “home”, hopefully for good.