Page 65 of Swamp Kings 1

“Don’t tell him!” Harlow shot out. “Not until I know what he knows!”

“What do you want to know, how about ask me that?” Quantum said.

“She’s your wife,” Kult said.

“Christ!” Harlow cried at him.

“He needs to know.”

“She’s mywife?” he said, sounding pissed he would forget such a thing. “How in the fuck do I forget a whole fucking wife?”

“Wow, you are cussing a lot,” Harlow worried.

“Well, at least it’s something I remember,” Quantum snapped.

“Except yourarelycussed!”

“Probably because he’s lost so much of his AI ability,” Kult reasoned.

“Can you please quit telling him shit,” Harlow begged.

“Why! He’s a fucking grown man, he can take the fucking facts!”

“Then just be quiet formysake, okay? This is a lot to take in. For me! Okay?”

Kult eyed him for several seconds.

“How do I forget a whole fucking wife?” Quantum marveled to himself. “I need to see her. I’m sure I’ll remember if I see her.”

“And if you don’t?” Harlow asked with wide eyes.

Quantum considered it. “Then…”

“Then she’ll freak out,” Harlow helped. “You ready to deal with that? You rememberButterfly, and not your wife.”

“You remember Butterfly and not Isla?” Kult worried.

“How do you know how much of my AI I lost?” he suddenly wondered to Kult. “And I know names, that’s it. I know Handy.”

Harlow checked, “What about Kaphas?”

He looked at him, puzzled. “Is that a thing, a person, a place?”

“Oh man,” Harlow muttered.

So, it’s his short-term memory,” Kult said. “Which will likely come back within the next twenty-four hours.”

“Show me a picture of her,” Quantum realized. “I might remember her if I see her.”

Harlow fished out his phone, searching for one. “Find out what he remembers,” he told Kult then turned and dialed Lucy. She picked up on the second ring.

“Harlow?”

“Hey baby,” he whispered, “sorry it’s taking me a bit. I was wondering, do you think you might have a picture of Isla you can send me real quick?”

“Isla? Um… yeah I’m sure I do.”

“Good, thank yousomuch,” he praised.

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