Archive of Our Own ^beta

Anderson was a good-looking man. He was desirably tall, impressively muscular, had a gorgeous face and a strong jaw that wasn't unlike those prevalent among male models (something Enrico was intimately familiar with). Enrico had noticed Anderson's looks mid-way through puberty, and for many a year he had considered these thoughts a simple, aesthetic appreciation. How ignorant he'd been back then, how innocent. But he wasn't anymore. He hadn't been for a very long time. 
安德森是个英俊的男人。他身材高挑得恰到好处，肌肉结实得令人印象深刻，面容俊美，下颌线条刚毅，与那些男模特有的轮廓如出一辙（恩里克对此再熟悉不过）。恩里克在青春期中期就注意到了安德森的容貌，多年来他一直以为这只是单纯的审美欣赏。那时的他是多么天真无知啊。但现在不同了。这种状态早已持续了很久很久。

Enrico had long since passed the stage of denying his attraction to men and denying himself appreciation of good-looking ones. He was also, thankfully, well past the stage where anyone could do anything even if they did find out about his sexual proclivities. Through the right channels, a bishop could get away with just about anything, and being the head of an organisation that specialised in being non-existent made that especially easy.
恩里克早已过了否认自己对男性有吸引力、压抑对英俊男人欣赏的阶段。值得庆幸的是，他也早已过了会因为性取向暴露而遭受威胁的人生阶段。通过正确渠道，一位主教几乎可以为所欲为——而作为某个专门负责"不存在事务"的组织的首领，这尤其容易办到。

Enrico had lost count of how many Anderson look-alikes he’d called into his room over the years. So many tall, broad-shouldered, bronze skinned men with stubble and blond hair and never quite the right eyes, but that didn’t matter, because he could get them to close them while he held them down by the throat and fucked them into the mattress. Over twenty would be his estimate. The frequency of them had increased as he’d gotten older. He’d been so tentative in the beginning, fearful of disappointing God, but that had been assuaged fast by the quality of his work in Iscariot, which he felt more than made up for his occasional indulgence.
这些年来，恩里克已经记不清自己召唤过多少个安德森模样的替身进入房间。那么多高大魁梧、古铜肤色、留着胡茬的金发男人，却始终没有一双完全对味的眼睛——不过这无关紧要，他总能让他们闭起眼睛，在他掐着喉咙将他们钉在床垫上操弄的时候。粗略估计超过二十个。随着年龄增长，这种召唤变得愈发频繁。最初他还战战兢兢，唯恐令上帝失望，但很快就被自己在伊斯卡利奥特的工作成果安抚了——他坚信这足以弥补偶尔的放纵。

Part of the reason he was attracted to Anderson, aside from his looks, was his steadfast devotion to God. Which was ironic, considering Enrico’s own faltering where self-control was concerned. There wasn’t a single detail of Anderson’s life that hadn’t been dictated by his faith. His work, his relationships, where he lived, where he went - all these things where decided for him, and he was content with that in a way Enrico had always struggled with, even as a boy with little independence to speak of. It was part of the reason Enrico had gone for a job of authority rather than contenting himself with a lower position. He could never forfeit control the way Anderson did.
除了外貌，安德森吸引他的部分原因在于其对上帝坚定不移的虔诚。这颇具讽刺意味，考虑到恩里克自己在自制力方面的溃败。安德森生活的每个细节都由信仰支配——工作、人际关系、居所、行踪，所有这些都被安排妥当，而他竟能安之若素。这种顺从是恩里克自幼就难以理解的，即便在他几乎毫无自主权的童年时期。这也正是恩里克选择掌权职位而非安于低位的原因之一。他永远无法像安德森那样放弃掌控权。

His dedication was admirable. It was also something Enrico would have quite liked for himself. What a terrible thought, to want Anderson to serve him the way he served God, to get on his knees and kiss his feet and hands and worship Enrico. But he was - as previously mentioned - well past the stage of denying himself things he wanted, so while he knew it was a terrible thought, he was by no means guilty about it. It was a fantasy that instead elicited frustration; it was impossible to get Anderson to reciprocate his interest, you see. He was too firmly categorised as one of Anderson's children to be extended even a fraction of the deference he deserved. He couldn’t get the man to call him ‘sir’ half the time, and the few times Anderson had remembered to address Enrico with respect for his position it'd held a dismissive quality. Not a deliberate one, but one brought on by him having known Enrico as a child. Enrico insisting he was a friend and superior and not to be treated like the boy he’d once been hadn’t done much to foster the deference he was due.
他的虔诚令人钦佩。这也是恩里科非常希望自己能拥有的东西。这是个多么可怕的想法啊——想让安德森像侍奉上帝那样侍奉自己，跪下来亲吻他的手脚，崇拜恩里科。但正如前文所述，他早已过了压抑欲望的阶段，所以尽管知道这个念头很糟糕，他却丝毫没有负罪感。这个幻想反而激起了他的挫败感；要知道，他根本不可能让安德森回应他的兴趣。他被牢牢归类为安德森的"孩子们"之一，连应得的半分敬意都得不到。大多数时候他甚至没法让这个男人称呼他"阁下"，而少数几次安德森记得用职位尊称他时，语气里也总带着轻慢。并非刻意为之，而是因为他认识孩童时期的恩里科。尽管恩里科坚称自己是朋友兼上级，不该被当作当年那个男孩对待，但这丝毫没能培养出他应得的敬意。

And even if he could get Anderson to heel for him, there was no position high enough for him to get exactly what he wanted out of their relationship. Anderson would never give Enrico the intimacy. His stringent moral code ensured he wouldn’t accept a proposition from someone he’d had a hand in raising. None of Enrico's usual methods of acquiring what he wanted would work on Anderson.
即便他能让安德森臣服，世上也没有足够高的职位能让他从这段关系中获得真正想要的东西。安德森永远不会给予恩里科亲密。他严格的道德准则确保了他不会接受自己亲手抚养长大之人的求欢。恩里科那些惯用的欲望达成手段，在安德森身上统统行不通。

So he'd have to employ unusual methods instead.
于是他不得不采用些非常手段。

“This,” said Enrico, holding up a small syringe full of white liquid. “Is what the laboratories have been working on.”
"这个，"恩里科举起一支装满白色液体的小注射器说道，"就是实验室一直在研发的东西。"

Anderson cocked his eyebrows at the syringe. “Is it another enhancement?” There was a note of excitement in his voice. He was always eager to improve his service to God. 
安德森对着注射器挑起眉毛。"又是强化剂吗？"他的声音里带着一丝兴奋。他总是渴望能更好地侍奉上帝。

“No,” said Enrico. “We’ve not quite reached the stage where we can just give you an injection to achieve that, but this does concern enchantments.” He stepped out from behind his desk, rolling the syringe between his index finger and thumb. “It’s an anaesthetic that will actually work on you for a significant period. With the rapid advancement of technology, I thought it’d be prudent to have one made so you won’t be aware for future procedures.”
"不是，"恩里克说。"我们还没发展到打一针就能实现强化的阶段，不过这个确实和附魔有关。"他从办公桌后走出来，用食指和拇指转动着注射器。"这是一种能对你真正起效的麻醉剂，而且持续时间很长。随着科技飞速发展，我认为有必要准备一支，这样你在未来手术时就不会有知觉了。"

That wasn’t the entire truth of its creation, and the inevitability of Anderson finding out the rest of Enrico’s motivation was why he’d insisted upon an anterograde amnesia variation of anaesthetic.
这并非它被制造出来的全部真相，而安德森迟早会知道恩里克的其他动机——这正是他坚持要使用顺行性遗忘型麻醉剂变体的原因。

“That’s a waste of their time,” said Anderson, frowning. “I can handle the procedures without it, Maxwell.”
"这是在浪费他们的时间，"安德森皱眉道。"没有麻醉剂我也能承受手术，马克斯韦尔。"

Enrico cast him an irate look. “For once, Anderson, don’t fight me on my decisions. I consider this necessary and you will take it when it comes time for that.”
恩里科恼怒地瞪了他一眼。"安德森，这次别跟我争辩决定。我认为这很有必要，到时候你必须接受。"

There was a moment of silence, during which Anderson frowned, shifted in his chair, and looked very much like he wanted to argue, but eventually he just leaned forward and extended a hand. Enrico hastily uncovered the needle and approached.
一阵沉默中，安德森皱着眉头，在椅子上不安地动了动，显然很想争辩，但最终只是向前倾身伸出手。恩里科匆忙揭开针头走上前去。

“You’ll need to get your clothes out of the way.”
"你得把衣服撩开。"

“I’ll take it to my room at Ferdinant Lukes,” Anderson began, but Enrico interrupted him.
"我可以带回费迪南特·卢克斯的房间再——"安德森刚开口就被恩里科打断。

“No,” he said. “You’ll be injected here so I can keep an eye on you and make notes.”
“不行，”他说道。“你得在这里接受注射，这样我才能观察你并做记录。”

Anderson thinned his lips. “I can make my own notes and send them down to the laboratory. You don’t need to trouble yourself.”
安德森抿紧了嘴唇。“我可以自己做记录然后送到实验室。你不必费心。”

“’Trouble myself’ – I can tell you’re trying to squirm out of it for prides sake.” Enrico offered a small, knowing smile. “You need to be observed and interacted with to ensure its fully functional as an anaesthetic. And no, we’re not going to bother the laboratories with this task.” He already knew the anaesthetic worked, of course; it had been tested enough on other, moderately enhanced soldiers for the scientists to have concluded it would be effective on Anderson. The laboratories did still want Anderson to trial it, but it wasn’t as pressing or demanding a request as Enrico was making it out to be. “I’ll be recording the next few hours, but I’ll generously omit any footage of you drooling on yourself or babbling from the final cut.”
“‘费心’——我看得出来你是为了面子想逃避。”恩里克露出一个了然的微笑。“你需要被观察和互动，以确保它作为麻醉剂完全有效。而且不，我们不会用这个任务去打扰实验室。”他当然知道麻醉剂已经生效——其他经过适度强化的士兵已经接受了足够测试，科学家们断定它对安德森也会有效。实验室确实仍希望安德森进行试验，但远没有恩里克表现得那么紧迫或苛刻。“我会记录接下来几小时的情况，不过我会慷慨地剪掉你流口水或胡言乱语的镜头。”

Anderson scoffed and began to shrug off his cassock-coat. “You won’t be omitting them from your private files.”
安德森嗤笑一声，开始脱下他的教士长袍。"你可不会把它们从私人档案里剔除。"

Enrico’s smile sharpened. “I deserve a little ammunition, don’t I? Now get the rest of those clothes out of the way. Unless you’d like me to inject it somewhere other than your arm?”
恩里科的笑容变得锐利。"我总该有点反击的资本吧？现在把剩下的衣服也脱掉。除非你想让我注射在手臂以外的部位？"

“Do it in my neck.” Anderson popped the buttons on his clergy jacket and pulled free the clerical collar, unveiling the warm stretch of his throat. “Easier to reach than an arm.”
"往我脖子上打。"安德森解开牧师外套的纽扣，扯下牧师领，露出温暖的颈部曲线。"比手臂更容易够到。"

Enrico wanted badly to reach out and graze his fingers over the hollow of Anderson’s throat. It was rare that he ever got to see it. Licking his lips, he pressed his knuckles against the underside of Anderson’s jaw to guide him into tilting his head back and then carefully slid the needle into his neck. There was a reflexive twitch, followed by Anderson going slack as Enrico pressed down on the plunger. 
恩里克极度渴望伸手触碰安德森颈窝的凹陷。他很少有机会看到这个部位。他舔了舔嘴唇，用指节抵住安德森的下巴引导他仰头，随后小心翼翼地将针头刺入他的颈部。安德森条件反射地抽搐了一下，当恩里克推动注射器活塞时，他的身体便瘫软下来。

“There,” murmured Enrico, sliding the needle smoothly out and tossing it into his bin. “Start counting for me. People usually only get to five or so before it starts taking effect.”
"好了，"恩里克轻声说道，利落地拔出针头扔进垃圾桶。"现在开始数数。通常人们数到五左右药效就会发作。"

Anderson, predictably, got to twenty before cognisance abandoned him.
安德森不出所料地数到二十，意识便离他而去。

He slumped forward in his chair, eyes drooping, head listing forward. Enrico was quick to steady him with a hand on his shoulder.
他整个人向前瘫倒在椅子里，眼皮耷拉着，脑袋向前垂落。恩里克迅速伸手扶住他的肩膀稳住身形。

“Sit quietly a moment, Anderson. I need to set up the camera.”
"安静坐一会儿，安德森。我需要调试相机。"

It was a personal camera that he drew out of his bottom-most desk drawer. He set it on the edge of the desk, facing Anderson, and made sure he had a good, frontal view of the man before returning to where Anderson was lounging.
他从办公桌最底层的抽屉里取出一台私人相机。将相机摆在桌沿对准安德森，确保镜头能完整捕捉到男人的正面后，才回到安德森斜倚着的位置。

“How are you feeling?” he asked as he stood behind Anderson, his long thin fingers rising to glide along either side of Anderson’s jaw, through his bristles. The man made an appreciative sound.
"感觉如何？"他站在安德森身后问道，修长的手指抬起，沿着安德森下颌两侧的胡茬轻轻滑过。男人发出满足的轻哼。

“Tired,” said Anderson, his head flopping back to give Enrico better access to his jawline.
"困，"安德森说着，脑袋后仰让恩里克更方便触碰他的下颌线。

“So it looks like,” said Enrico, chuckling. He liked Anderson like this, all warm and sleepy and pliant. He ran his fingers delicately through Anderson’s bristles, like petting a cat. And with how eagerly he was tilting into Enrico's fingers, he was starting to remind Enrico distinctly of a cat. “Do you like this? What I’m doing?”
"看来确实如此，"恩里克轻笑着。他喜欢这样的安德森，温暖、困倦又温顺。指尖轻柔地穿过安德森粗硬的短发，如同抚摸一只猫。而对方正急切地往他指间凑的模样，愈发让恩里克联想到猫咪。"喜欢我这样碰你吗？"

“Isn’t it obvious?” mumbled Anderson. “It’s pleasant.”
"这还不明显吗？"安德森咕哝道。"很舒服。"

Enrico dropped his fingers lower, sliding them down either side of Anderson’s throat, a thumb slipping into the hollow of his clavicle. “How about this?” he asked, his exploratory glide transitioning into a slow kneading massage. Anderson’s skin radiated heat. Enrico, who’d always struggled to maintain a reasonable body temperature, found it delicious.
恩里克的手指缓缓下移，沿着安德森咽喉两侧滑落，拇指陷入他锁骨的凹陷处。"这样如何？"他问道，试探性的滑动逐渐转为缓慢的揉捏按摩。安德森的皮肤散发着灼人热度。向来难以维持正常体温的恩里克，觉得这温度美妙极了。

“Good,” Anderson breathed.
"很好，"安德森喘息着说。

Enrico smiled and began to pop free the buttons on Anderson’s clergy jacket and shirt, taking his time so to keep Anderson relaxed. People under twilight amnesia still had some control over their faculties. If he went too fast, Anderson might start to resist, and he wasn’t completely devoid of his strength. He didn't want to have to wrestle the broad-shouldered, six foot six man back into his seat because he'd pushed too hard.
恩里克微笑着开始逐一解开安德森神职外套与衬衫的纽扣，刻意放慢动作让安德森保持放松。处于黄昏失忆状态的人仍保留着部分自控力。若进展太快，安德森可能会开始抗拒——这位肩宽体阔、身高近两米的男子并未完全丧失力量。他可不想因为操之过急而不得不把这大个子重新按回座位。

“Anderson,” he murmured- practically moaned, because he’d pulled apart the clergy jacket and shirt to unveil a beautiful chest. He slipped a hand between the swell of those pecs and lightly thumbed a soft areola. His other hand drifted to the fine, sparse hairs on Anderson’s olive skin. “Have you ever been intimate with another person? I want to know.” He had to know if he was the first. The thought of being Anderson first in some capacity was deeply, wonderfully appealing.
"安德森，"恩里克近乎呻吟地低语，因为他已经解开了神职外套与衬衫，露出那片美好的胸膛。他将手滑入那对饱满胸肌之间，拇指轻轻抚过柔软的乳晕。另一只手则游走在对方橄榄色肌肤上稀疏的细软毛发间。"你曾与人亲密接触过吗？我想知道。"他必须确认自己是否是第一个。想到能在某些方面成为安德森的初次体验，这个念头令他感到美妙至极的愉悦。

A strangled sound tore from Anderson’s throat. He curled his back, pressing his shoulders into the chair, the crown of his head cradled by the folds of Enrico’s vest. “What… what do you mean?” he asked.
安德森喉咙里挤出一声哽咽。他弓起背脊，肩膀深深陷进椅背，头顶抵在恩里克制服的褶皱间。"你...什么意思？"他问道。

The journey of Enrico’s hands must have been making it difficult to focus. Enrico stilled them, just for a moment.
恩里科游走的手肯定让他难以集中注意力。恩里科暂时停下了动作。

“Have you ever kissed? Have you ever been touched?” He leaned down, lips beside Anderson’s ear, tongue flicking over the shell. “Have you fucked, Father? That’s what I want to know.”
"你接过吻吗？被人碰触过吗？"他俯身贴近，双唇擦过安德森的耳廓，舌尖轻扫耳垂。"你做过爱吗，神父？这才是我真正想知道的。"

Anderson’s breath hitched. Enrico could feel the warmth gathering in his cheeks. “’Course I haven’t. We have vows, Enrico.”
安德森的呼吸一滞。恩里科能感觉到自己脸颊发烫。"当然没有。我们发过誓的，恩里科。"

Enrico – my, he was far gone. He rarely ever used Enrico's first name, these days. Though he had a hard time regarding Enrico as his superior, it was customary for surnames to be used by lower ranks, and he respected that well enough.
恩里科——天啊，他已经完全沉沦了。这些日子他很少直呼恩里科的名字。虽然很难把恩里科当作上级看待，但按照惯例下级该用姓氏称呼，这点他倒是遵守得很好。

Anderson swallowed hard as Enrico’s hands resumed their journey down his body, feeling out every rise and dip of his muscular build. The muscle was firm, but not so much so that Enrico couldn’t sink his fingers in with enough effort. “Never,” Anderson continued in a distracted mumble. “I’ve never… broken my remaining vows. I didn’t break the promise of chastity I made as a boy, either. I would… I never did…” His voice trailed off, his gaze falling to the fingers splayed out on his midsection, and it seemed to finally register what was happening. “Enrico, we can’t do this.”
安德森艰难地咽了咽口水，恩里克的双手继续在他身躯上游走，感受着他肌肉线条的每一处起伏。那些肌肉很结实，但还没到让恩里克无法用些力气就把手指陷进去的程度。"从来没有，"安德森心不在焉地咕哝着继续道。"我从未...违背过剩下的誓言。连小时候许下的守贞誓言也没破过。我本来...我绝没有..."他的声音逐渐消失，目光落在自己腹部展开的手指上，似乎终于意识到正在发生什么。"恩里克，我们不能这样。"

“Of course we can,” said Enrico, his voice gentle and coercive. “It’s alright if it’s me, Father. If you give your chastity to me, it will always belong to God in some capacity.”

“To God…” Anderson blinked blearily. “I thought this was… something for the laboratories. Weren’t we doing something for the laboratories?” He frowned, clearly struggling to recall just how he’d gotten into this situation.

“I can multitask. And besides, they’ve taken semen samples before, haven’t they? I mean, they’d have to have, to know you’re sterile.”

“Yes,” said Anderson, his brow pinched in concentration. Following the conversation was clearly proving difficult.

“Then this should be nothing new to you,” murmured Enrico. “And doesn’t it feel nice? Nothing worth complaining about.”

“Mhm,” came Anderson non-committal response, his attention finally drawn away from the journey of Enrico’s hands. His gaze drifted to Enrico’s face.

“Right,” said Enrico, his voice soft and persuasive. He eased his touches until the tense line of Anderson’s shoulders turned slack. “I’m just going to make sure you never need worry about your chastity again,” he continued. “Because your bishop will always have it.”

“Oh,” said Anderson, like this made complete sense.

The anaesthetic made him uncharacteristically accommodating, but Enrico was sure his general naivety helped. Most people would at least have some intimate experience to guide their reactions; Anderson had none, so of course convincing him of Enrico’s sincerity was easy.

He applied his teeth to the lobe of one of Anderson’s ears to keep Anderson distracted while he undid his belt buckle. Once that was out of the way, it was easy enough to unzip and unbutton the remaining layers, giving him access to the hardness developing between Anderson’s legs. There came a slight jolt as one of Enrico’s hands descended through the tawny hairs trailing down from just under Anderson’s bellybutton, but Enrico soothed that by murmuring sweet platitudes into Anderson’s ear. ‘This will feel good’; ‘you’re doing so well’; ‘you look beautiful’.

The man was surprisingly receptive to praise. Enrico noted this with some bitterness, as it was rare he was receptive to praise from Enrico while cognisant.

An almost palpable excitement overtook Enrico when he was finally able to curl his fingers around the solid warmth of Anderson’s cock. A gasp flittered out of Anderson’s throat, followed by a rumbling moan as Enrico began to stroke. It didn’t take him long to fill out Enrico’s hand. He was sensitive and receptive in a delectable way. The real thing, the real Anderson, was so much better than every lookalike Enrico had taken to his room. No one could perfectly capture Anderson’s reactions; the tenor of his voice, his shivering, the way his powerful body strained in tensed in areas and ways only a warrior’s body could. Nothing measured up to finally having the real thing.

His own cock strained against the front of his trousers, forming a tent. Something would have to be done about it later. For now, he just wanted to touch Anderson until he felt the man shudder and come apart. He curled his free arm over Anderson’s sternum, holding him in place while he stroked him from base to tip and danced his fingers over the prominent vein on the side of his cock. He periodically grazed his nails over the sensitive frenulum and slit and was pleased to find that Anderson seemed to enjoy the touch of pain. He didn’t speak any further, so to not take Anderson out of the moment, and focused instead on getting Anderson to orgasm, which didn’t look as though it would take long.

He dropped his lips to the column of Anderson’s throat and slid his tongue up the length of it, thrilled by the way Anderson shuddered and gripped at the edges of the chair. His trailing brought him to the underside of Anderson’s jaw, which he searched with lips and tongue until he found Anderson’s thrumming pulse. When he closed his teeth over it, feeling it flutter between his teeth like a trapped bird, Anderson cried out his appreciation and spilled into Enrico’s palm.

The man had a biting kink. How ironic.

He held the man close to him while he arched like a drawn bow and shivered helplessly in Enrico’s arms. Helpless, vulnerable – words Enrico never would have thought he could apply to the man, but he was those things in this state, and the surge of power that gave him was just as arousing as watching Anderson reach his climax had been.

He’d had so little power as a boy. He hadn’t been able to make his parents respect or love him, had spent his formative years being ordered to his bedroom so his father wouldn’t see him when he visited. He hadn’t been able to make his peers like him either. But he had made one of the most powerful beings in the world bend to him, want him. Want this. That was at least one figure from his youth finally doing what he wanted.

“I’m an extension of the church, Anderson,” he murmured into the man’s ear, so quiet that he wouldn’t be entirely intelligible. “That makes you mine. You’re mine.”

Anderson didn’t respond beyond a weak, trembling sort of sound that Enrico didn’t quite know what to name. Surrender, perhaps? He liked that idea.

He harshly bit down on Anderson’s shoulder to mark him before he drew away to clean his hand. The mark would have faded the moment he withdrew, but he had the recording. He could enjoy the sight of Anderson with his mark for however long he liked.

Anderson continued to slump in the chair and breathe slow and tired while Enrico used a tissue to clean his hand. He was thorough about it, not wishing to sully his paperwork with Anderson’s finish.

“I think that’ll do for now,” said Enrico thoughtfully, throwing his tissues into the bin and glancing into his open drawer, at the collection of syringes tucked into the very back. He would try something more involved during their next session.

Anderson remained drowsy and pliable the entire trip back to Ferdinant Lukes. Enrico got him into bed, pressed a kiss into his hair, and by the time he’d drawn back Anderson was already asleep. It wasn’t until the following day that Anderson appeared in his office again, and he displayed no recognition of what had occurred in Enrico’s office the day prior.

“How did you sleep?” asked Enrico, idly spinning a pen between his fingers. “You were out like a light the moment I dropped you off.”

“I thought you wanted to observe me,” said Anderson with an arched eyebrow.

“I did,” said Enrico. “But you can’t expect me to spend my entire evening doing that.” Leaning his chin on a hand, he looked Anderson up and down like one would a patient. “No side-effects, I take it? You don’t feel tired or sluggish?”

Anderson shook his head. “Well-rested, actually. The staff said I was out for two hours, and it seemed to be a deep sleep. Can’t remember a bit of it, mind. I didn’t dream.”

“Good,” said Enrico. “You’re not supposed to, with twilight anaesthetic. It worked just as intended.”

“Weird feeling, waking up like that,” said Anderson, rubbing one of his eyes with a thumb. “I hope you’ve left me with some dignity in that recording. I’d prefer to be able to look the laboratory staff in the eye.”

“Don’t worry,” said Enrico, laughing. The recording was safely hidden in a bedroom safe. There would be no eyes other than his viewing it. “You spent most of the time sitting in a chair looking tired. Nothing exceptionally interesting or worthy of derision.”

“Good.” There was no relief audible in Anderson’s voice, but Enrico could tell he was. He’d gotten good at reading the man, over the years. “Does the laboratory staff have everything they need?”

“Now that you mention it…” Enrico feigned a troubled look. “You were a little too inactive under the anaesthetic. We’ll need to try a different dose to see if we can get you more reactive. The ability to perform menial tasks is useful during the kinds of procedures you’re usually put through.”

Anderson looked very put upon at this suggestion, but he eventually acquiesced. “Fine, if that’s what they need.”

“They do,” said Enrico, smiling wide and sharp. “Don’t worry, Father; I’ll take good care of you while you’re under. You’ve nothing to be worried about.”