In classical Hollywood political thrillers, the hero is targeted by rogue intelligence agents who embroil him (it was usually a him) in a fantastic conspiracy. He loses everything including, apparently, his sanity. After all, is there anything more symptomatic of paranoia than believing that unknown forces are after you?
And yet South African political life has been a web of conspiracies - fantastic in their brazenness but not in their unreality.
Following the High Level Panel Report on Intelligence, the Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence - the civilian body charged with overseeing the intelligence agencies - has launched an investigation to determine whether I was the subject of an intelligence operation. Apparently there is already some very suggestive evidence.
Perhaps its time to start feeling paranoid!