Thirty Four Minutes DEAD by Steve Hammond Kaye

four days in Yorkshire at a Hotel, which was situated in a scenic rural location, and when they returned to their home they had several London based outings. They spoke about the project on occasions, but Tanya didn't press to know any further in depth details until she was alone with Gregory Vain on the eve of his departure.
    "We've had a brilliant ten days Greg, but one things been on my mind since you told me about the MC project. What could happen to the kids if you were suspected of betraying the secrecy of the project?”
    "The only way they'd know would be through you, Tan".
    "Well I obviously wouldn't tell anyone about your work deliberately, but couldn't situations arise where information could be forced from you revealing your revelations to me? Once both physical sight memories and mindsight are further tested, isn't it feasible to argue that team members could be screened for their loyalty with regard to their secrecy, or lack of it as the case may be? You see, what we've discussed since you got home is firmly embedded in both our memory cameras isn't it?”
    "Yes, we've both stored a heavy number of heightened visuals and the respective sounds that went with them. I hope you're wrong about team member testing, but if that did take place love, I'm sure that even the guy who heads the CIA project involvement has let some project information slip. We're only human aren't we - they wouldn't touch any of us Tan - especially the kids. The kids know nothing. Nothing would show on their MCs, so what threat could they represent if they were tested?"
    "I hope you're right Greg, because otherwise you just might have told me too much".
    "That's a bit unfair, Tan. You frequently tried to ascertain details surrounding my work. When I finally tell you, you start insinuating I should have maintained the secrecy that you hated so much. Catch fucking 22 or what?”
    "Sorry Saint Gregory, but your information just might have been a loaded gun mightn't it? Very nice of you to tell me and all that, but I'm fucking terrified about the possible consequences of what I now know! I've had ten days to mull over your work and all the connotations that go with it and it's left a bad taste – there are too many powerful organisations surrounding your project. Maybe you've messed around with science too much here, maybe murder's favourable to reading people's minds. I'm so fucking scared, Greg!”
    Tanya Vain collapsed into Vain's arms sobbing like a frightened child. Vain managed to comfort her and she eventually slipped into an uneasy sleep. Vain didn't sleep until much later. He kept worrying about the pressure that had shown itself so overtly in his wife, and he wished he could reverse his decision to tell her of the MC project.
    He had never seen Tanya so scared in their marriage up to this point in time and her anxiety had made him wonder about any darker side lurking within the confines of the project's organisational ranks. Tanya had stored her fears up, not wishing to spoil the family holiday they all had enjoyed and subsequently her fears were expelled in an outburst - with Vain getting the full extent of her anxiety.
    Tomorrow Vain would start active work on his project again but he was returning with the curse of a man who had possibly said too much to the person who was dearest to him.

FIVE

 
    "Welcome back, Vain".
    The voice belonged to Leif Denison. Vain had just entered the underground London Designation that would be the project's residence for the next three weeks. He was quite surprised to encounter the project leader around the entrance area of the Designation. Denison usually remained out of sight until he addressed MC project staff, but apart from ten security personnel he was the only front line presence apart from Vain in the said area. Vain had arrived an hour early, a factor consistent with his character since a young age. When he was a teenager he would arrive at football grounds as early as he could so he could