VII
Routine enquiries regarding the nature of the suicidal entity's death led the coroner's inquest to interview the philosopher. After no suicide note was found, it was felt the philosopher could have held the key information about the state of mind of the deceased. The philosopher only knew of events surrounding the cessation of the suicidal entity when questioned. Stressed but hyper, the philosopher put on his glasses, sat down and started reading the daily broadsheets. At the office door came a knocking: -
"Come in!", the philosopher started. The door opened and the coroner of the case and an accompanying police officer strode in.
"Good morning sir. I'm PC Killagan and this is Ms. Lesley Dolby QC. I hope we're not intruding, we were hoping you could answer a few routine questions about one of your clients. We believe you may have been one of the last people to have spoken to him."
"What I say to many clients is completely confidential you understand? I don't know how much I can help you sorry. Please let me be." retorted the philosopher. This surprised the officers slightly; though taking into account the eccentricities of the philosopher; should have been unsurprising.
Raising his voice authoritatively, Killagan retorted: “This shouldn't take too long Sir. Now I'll appreciate just responding to a few questions and then we can get on our way.”
“Very well”, replied the philosopher, “please continue”.
With that, the 2 visitors quizzed the man. General questions regarding the relationship between the deceased and the philosopher, plus the qualifications that he held were asked initially. Recollection of people he met wasn't the learned man's strong points and he soon became agitated.
“So can you try to clarify in what state of mind was the deceased in your meetings? Especially in the last one”, Dolby interjected concernedly.
“I'm not telling you again!” came the reply. This perplexed the investigators, who looked at each other before proceeding.
“I don't believe you have told us yet. Sir, could you cooperate fully with Ms. Dolby's questions and we can get on our way to get this written up. Again, do you recall the mood that the deceased displayed in your last meetings?” Killagan glared at the philosopher. The philosopher seemed calm, though his eyes darted around the room a bit too often to put anyone at ease.
“I'm not telling you again!”
Perturbed faces stared. Both interrogators had a fleeting feeling of dread; this wasn't going to be a straightforward investigation. Killagan, being the the most senior there, sighed before resuming the questioning.
“We don't suspect you of any wrongdoing if that's what you are worried about. So could you please answer the question about the deceased's state of mind, please!”
“Very well, I'll tell you one more time. You've been misled!”, the philosopher bruskly replied, “You've been misled by your own perceptions, misled by the differences between concepts and perceived reality. You probably don't understand the fallacious reasoning you adhere to; you've been misled by logical fallacies!”
“Calm down Sir, please explain what you mean!?”
A disinterested, almost vacant look, took hold of the philosopher. Avoiding eye-contact with the others in the room, a low mumbling was all that emanated from his larynx.
“It's just a simple question, maybe we could take a look at some notes?” Dolby pleaded.
Fixing his stare upon Dolby, seeing her kind face, calmed the philosopher slightly. But that was short-lived. Like a crazed demon, he began smiling, eyes widening alarmingly.
“It must have been me! I killed him!”, he bellowed. A stunned pause followed this revelation. Shaking his head, Killagan moved closer to the philosopher.
“No, no. We firmly believe no one else was involved in this death. You're making this extremely difficult sir. Are you OK? This shouldn't be a stressful situation, would you like us to come back another time?”
“Haha!” cried the philosopher, “I've told you, you've been misled! Concepts and perceived reality. The reality is that – I was responsible. I was mainly responsible for his death. I urged him to die and he did. I also urge you to die, and you will. Eventually.” His fiendish grin subsided before resurrecting itself and turning into a loud guffaw, eventually expanding into pained laughter, the palm of his hand slapping the table in front. Dolby turned to Killagan and was met with a shrug and a shaking head.
“The mind is responsible for everything, can't you see? Fuck concepts and perceived reality! Fuck everyone! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” This outburst concerned Killagan, who was contemplating sectioning this crazed man.
“Please stop swearing and calm down. There's no need for this shouting.”
“Fucking concepts and perceived reality! Fucking logical fallacies! Fuck!” screamed the philosopher. Killagan stood up and walked over, quickening as he approached the desk. He made for the arms of the philosopher. But with wolf-like reactions, philosophy became action, the officer was soon on the ground amid fallen glasses. The fleeting skirmish resulted in the door opening and philosophy was out into the world. Running down the street, who knows where. The pursuers gave up at the door, instead calling into their respective seniors for extra help and guidance.