“It’s okay,” the psychologist said. “This is a safe space. I want you to unburden it all to me, judgment-free, and then we’ll go from there.”

“O-okay,” said Marco. “This is going to sound crazy.”

“We don’t use that word here. It sounds an awful lot like judgment.”

“Right. Well, you know how the moon is made of green cheese? They want us to think that’s a myth, they even faked the moon landing to say otherwise, but it is, and I know it is.”

“I see,” the psychologist said. “Go on.”

“Well, the green cheese is the most powerful thing in the universe if you’re a rat. It extends life, broadens the mind, and allows the truly gifted to fold space and time. Whomever controls the source of green cheese controls the universe, yeah?”

“Keep going. Let’s plumb the depths of this.”

Marco breathed deeply. “Yeah. Well, the rats of Earth have known about this for a long time. That’s why they’re everywhere and why they live like they do. This world is their rat crucible, culling out the weak and the stupid. Once they have proven their worth, they are allowed to ascend to the Moonside Layer and begin their dominance of the universe.”

“Uh-huh,” the psychologist said. “So you were building a rocketship for your rat because…?”

“He’s on my side, you see. We’re friends. SO he was going to go up to the moon, make sure that it was full of rats, and come back and report to me. But that’s not going to happen, now.”

“Because you’re here, now?”

“No,” said Marco. “Because the test launches failed and the rat dummies were exploded. I would never put my friend in danger.”

“Yes,” the psychologist said. “We’re well aware of the failed launches. From the-”

“From the forest fires they started, yeah. I said I was sorry about that.”

“Well,” the psychologist said, making a few finishing touches on a notepad. “I think we have all we need to get started. Let me just go consult, okay?”

“You gotta believe me, doc,” Marco said. “That’s the total deal.”

“Yes, yes, we’ll talk soon.” The psychologist left the exam room and followed a winding path through the building, to a small office in a position of authority on the top floor.

“I assume you were listening, sir?” the psychologist said. “What do you suggest?”

A tiny chair swiveled away from a monitor showing Marco in the exam room, revealing a white rat seated there. “He knows!” it hissed. “Begin the memo-purge protocol at once!”

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