Chapter 31
"It could be one of the battles on the Powder River." Ethan sat back and crossed his arms over his thin chest. "My grandfather was in them battles. Warriors fought the soldiers all over the Powder River country. Soldiers killed a lot of the people. Burned our lodges and took our women and children.
Grandfather said the medicine wolves was following the soldiers the whole time, dozens of wolves that made the nights hideous with their howling. Some of the soldiers got so scared, they took off, 'cause they knew them wolves was on the side of Arapahos and if the warriors didn't get their revenge, the wolves was gonna get revenge for them."
Margaret Coel
Eye of the Wolf
New research shows that people with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor. A team at the University of Copenhagen have tracked down a genetic mutation which took place 6-10,000 years ago and is the cause of the eye colour of all blue-eyed humans alive on the planet today.
"Originally, we all had brown eyes," said Professor Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. "But a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a "switch," which literally "turned off" the ability to produce brown eyes."
The OCA2 gene codes for the so-called P protein, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives colour to our hair, eyes and skin. The "switch," which is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 does not, however, turn off the gene entirely, but rather limits its action to reducing the production of melanin in the iris -- effectively "diluting" brown eyes to blue.
Materials provided by University of Copenhagen.
Human Genetics, 2008; 123 (2): 177 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-007-0460-x
...............
New evidence suggests that over 12k yrs ago the break up of a huge asteroid did hit earth causing an ice age and decimating humans and wiping out dozens of species.
Daily Mail
...............
..::The Marquis de Blanchford also relayed that a nameless society protects the lineage of Dagobert II from further assassination. And relayed that the reason these genes were being protected was that their value came from the intermarriages of several distinguished ancient Israelites and superhuman extraterrestrials from the Sirius star system.
(While:)
In the Celtic world, certain royal families (especially those of the Pendragons, or Head Dragons) were said to carry the Fairy Blood - that is to say, the fate or destiny of the Grail Bloodline - while the Elf Maidens of the Albi-gens were the designated guardians of the Earth, starlight and forest::..
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The cottage door flew open and Athena blew in, quite literally, bearing fall leaves with her on the wind; she turned and shouldered the heavy wooden door shut with an effort.
'Shussh!' Wolf Star padded to her side. 'He's asleep.'
He nodded to the sofa upon which Daryl rested, down for the count, apparently.
Athena's head reared back on her shoulders, apprising this new addition to her parlour. 'Well, well!' She removed her coat and hat; Wolf Star hung them on the coat rack. He then put an arm about her waist. 'The north wind comes calling from Grandmother's Land,' he said.
'And that's not all that comes calling, I see.' Athena drew a fleecy purple scarf from her neck, hanging it over her coat. 'You knew he was en route,' she continued, moving about the kitchen.
Wolf Star nodded. 'The kettle is still hot.'
Athena took hold of a mug and added herbs, pouring the tea water. 'I will make a stew later,' she decided, adding honey to her brew. 'Do you think there's game about for a rabbit stew or perhaps a grouse?'
Wolf Star nodded. 'There will be.'
Athena smiled then, running fingers through her long white strands. 'Thank you.' She turned to him and they kissed, then rubbed noses, wolf-like. The tall warrior gently released her, whispering in her ear: 'Our company wakes.'
Athena peered over into the parlour detecting the glint of open eyes from the sofa. Whatever must Daryl be thinking? She smiled to herself, enjoying her secret life, about which Daryl was entirely without a clew...well, surprises for us both this day.
Wolf Star was bent over a crate in the corner, pulling forth a pair of boots. Taking a sheepskin parka from the rack, he dressed quickly, adding gloves and a cap of fur. 'I go to hunt.' He took Athena's hand and kissed it in farewell, before heading out, off into the weather.
Athena entered the parlour, moving with such grace as she did, seeming to float. She held her mug with both hands and made to sit upon the couch with Daryl, who brought his knees up so she may join him.
The two friends looked upon one another. Athena sipped her tea, and then smoothed a stray lock of dark hair from Daryl's forehead.
'So, orphan of the storm,' she began, 'what brings you to my door?'
Daryl took her hand and kissed it, brought it to his chest and held it there. 'Athena...how good to see you.'
His eyes closed. He lay breathing softly a while. Finally a great sigh escaped him. 'I am now, well and truly spanceled.' He sat up against the pillows, regarding her.
'I came here, from the City, by way of Russian steamer to Alaska, and then, I am told, from Ketchikan, by coach to a train which took us nearly to Toronto, but I escaped, taking another coach, more of a waggon, really, as close to here as I could...and hiked the rest of the way.'
Athena frowned at Daryl's tale of his travels, wondering. 'Escape? Spanceled, you say.'
Daryl hung his head, slowly shaking it. 'I am grounded. No more may I roam the pathways of time.' He rubbed his forehead. 'My gods, but travel in this age is enough to defeat a man...and, I am banned from the mansion. And lab. I can only haunt the outskirts, like a lone wolf. Not that I miss the place at all. However --' He looked at her then, a deep sadness in his eyes. 'I am aging, now, Athena. No more timewalking; no more holding Chronos at bay.'
Athena took hold of his feet, placing them on her lap.
'And that's why you are here.'
Daryl nodded.
They sat together for a while thus, listening to the wind toss the trees about their snug shelter and the fire crackling before them. Daryl drank in the ambience like a fine wine, needing the comfort of the familiar, so lacking lately.
He leaned back against the pillows, one hand behind his head. 'I was given the choice of abodes: either here, at the mausoleum,' he rolled his eyes at their appellation for his old mansion, 'or back in the City, at Nob Hill house. I chose the City...' He shut his eyes once more. 'I must admit, I dread the journey back across this long land, the way things are now...'
Athena took hold of his feet. 'You needn't walk, you know.'
Daryl opened one jaundiced eye, staring her down.
Athena continued: 'Take your time. So, things have changed. Shift gears! You have plenty of money, Daryl! Why not see this country en route! Take the train. Stop wherever you like, stay a while. You are still a free agent.' She paused. 'Aren't you?' She tossed his feet over the side and stood, stretching. 'What the devil were you doing in Alaska?' She turned and began stirring coals in the fireplace.
Daryl sat up on one elbow, and realised then that he hardly knew. He nearly said: well, it wasn't my idea...but, he had certainly gone along with St.John's plans willingly enough. But, why?
'Athena, my darling...I just don't know.' He noticed her regarding him with quiet alarm. 'The thing of it is; I was, well, I was drugged, rather heavily. True, my back had attacked and I had requested a fair bit, but -- St.John kept me knocked out, even before we reached Alaska. I didn't awaken until we were on the train, mid-Saskatchewan.'
'Oh, I don't like the sound of that!' Athena poked at the fire. 'St.John...you've mentioned him before. An antiques dealer?' Athena commented.
Daryl made a sort of growl. 'That's not all he is...'
He threw himself back on the pillows. 'Oh, my dear...in a way, it's a good thing I'm grounded. St.John is part of a, cabal of sorts, who want ME to be an agent of theirs, in a timewalk that will transport us back before the revolution, to assassinate Hamilton! Eh, that is, before he was assassinated, the last time.'
He rubbed his eyes, and waved a hand. 'The daft bugger has some notion of stopping the Fed, by way of keeping the young nation out of the clutches of a central bank; that is, of course, the Bank of England.'
'But that would preclude the revolution!' Athena turned about, hands on hips, unbelieving. 'That was the goad; it got the colonists up in arms when they couldn't pay the English taxes.'
'It's a bloody dam mess, is what it is! St.John has no idea I've been grounded and cannot timewalk. Your idea of a meandering relaxed vacation by rail doesn't take into account the fact that I'm a wanted man. It was not easy escaping his clutches, and he has since rejoined the rest of his infernal, old boys' hellfire club, whatever they are...'
The pair of friends were silent then, thinking. Daryl sat up, and looked at his long time companion.
'I very much like your Wolf Star,' he told her, taking hold of his mug and swishing the dregs. 'You know, I saw him, on the coach coming here...he was walking through the fields with an owl and a wolf.'
Athena stirred the coals round into a pile, smiling shyly. 'He's not 'my' Wolf Star...he is his own creature.'
'Athena,' Daryl began, 'I hope you might do a small sommat for me. Back at the, house, here, there is a strong box I keep in the icebox. I've certain monies and other needful things there, passport and the like, that I require for my journey. Oh, yes; I do mean to head west.' He frowned then. 'I think. I shall have to make a plan.' He handed her a small key.
'I'll get it for you. Anything else?' She bent to take his empty mug. 'More coffee, maybe? I'm making scones...'
'That would be divine, cara. Coffee, yes. I need to awaken.' Daryl thought a moment. 'Perhaps my guitar? I'm thinking I might go in disguise.'
'A wandering minstrel?' Athena grinned.
'Terpsicore and Lorelei beware!' Daryl sighed, and half-smiled back. 'Music will take my mind off of other things I dare not think about.'
......
Emlyn stared about her at the cold walls of Daryl's mansion 'back east'. Too much marble, she thought, shivering. This would work great in California! Those Romans knew how to keep cool in summer...insane here in Massachusetts.
She hoped young Llew was made of tougher stuff than she.
She'd worn her warmest clothes, but still felt she was freezing. Why did bloody Gwydion choose NOW, with fall and winter coming on, to leave the poor lad here in this mausoleum!
She stomped upstairs to rummage about the closets and find another coat, even a blanket to wear...she'd get a fire or two going...take care of basics. She'd come to simply check out the place, see what needed doing before it was ready to welcome a new guest.
Shrugging into a parka of Daryl's, she also found a woolen hat, and now, she recalled what she must do: The Library!
Daryl's 'study' as he called it; when last here, she'd taken it over and made it her own snug refuge from the rest of the house. Yeats had done the same when here, and she'd improved on his arrangements. She made her way back downstairs.
Libraries...always a fine refuge against the world.
Shutting the double doors against the frozen marble without, she sighed as her eyes took in the walls of books about her. They were insulation, too, of sorts, against the cold. This will do nicely, she decided, relieved to have some welcoming space for her...for young Llew.
She made up a fire in the large stone fireplace and turned her backside to the nascent flames, feeling herself slowly defrost. She smiled to recall how Rosa and Manuel would always flee from here as soon as they were able, back to Nob Hill House, complaining of 'cold bones'. Indeed, she agreed.
She removed the bulky parka, and headed up the spiral stairway to the loft above, where Yeats had appropriated the daybed and made a great cosy nest amongst the surrounding volumes. 'This isn't so bad,' she told herself, easily falling into the isolationist habit of talking to oneself.
So comfy was she now, that she removed the knit cap and went to the bed, just to see if it was still as comfortable as she recalled...aah, it was indeed. She told herself she'd just stretch out for a bit, as she pulled the patchwork star quilt about her and lay down for a wee rest...
.............
'Two fine hares!' Wolf Star proudly held out his hunter's bounty to Athena. 'Not only meat for dinner, but a pair of warm mittens maybe.'
'Wonderful!' Athena was pleased. She lay the rabbits on her large cutting board-topped table and hugged the hunter. 'Now go get yourself warm.'
Daryl strode into the kitchen. 'I can do the skinning. I've had some practise.' He looked at Athena. 'You'll have your gloves.'
'We'll leave it to you, then,' Wolf Star nodded assent, but remained standing by. 'You should know: there is chimney smoke coming from the Big House. Someone is there.'
He had the attention of both Daryl and Athena then.
Daryl slowly shook his head, sharpening the big knife.
'That, should not be,' his eyes sought Athena's. 'If Manuel were here, he'd let you know, yes?'
'Manuel was just here, this morning,' she replied. 'I can go and see who it is.' She looked at Wolf Star. 'You'll accompany me?' He nodded.
Daryl sighed. 'I wish I could go, you know this.' He washed his hands vigorously. 'It's...probably just Em.'
'Right.' Athena wondered how things were now with those two. Both volatile types; things were often prone to eruptions with them.
'I'll start the stew. It'll be ready for you.' Daryl assumed a sangfroid front. 'It's soon dark...' His eyes went to the windows, noting the light going fast now in fall. 'You both take care.'
.......
Emlyn surprised herself by waking up. She certainly hadn't planned on sleeping now! She noticed the room had gone nearly dark and the fire was going out. She was just about to arise when she thought she detected a presence nearby. Someone else here?!
She remained still and silent, her heart beating in her
ears. She couldn't stand not knowing. She risked moving her head up enough to see...a tall shape, a shadow outlined against the fading ambient light.
-- A very, very tall shape.
'What are you doing here, daughter?'
-- Axelis!
Emlyn sat up, running fingers through her disheveled locks. 'Axelis, you gave me a start!' She regarded his immense figure. 'What are YOU doing here?' She countered.
He sighed. 'You simply can't call me father, can you.' It was a statement. 'I think you know why I'm here. Why are you becoming involved with the Twyleth Teg again? Therein lies nought but confusion and chaos!'
Em was startled by a new revelation. She wondered if Axelis knew he was a...well, a grandfather?! Of a half-faery child.
Axelis sighed again and sat upon the bed beside her.
'Of course I know! I know the fey require earth-human blood to re-invigor their species. But, daughter, you forget that you are NOT earth-human! Not entirely. Perhaps Gwydion missed that little bit of information.'
Axelis' features seemed carved into a permanent frown now, she noticed. Not encouraging.
She knew she could hardly plead ignorance, that she'd been kidnapped, etc. She knew, and he knew, that she'd gone willingly.
Just then, Emlyn and Axelis became aware of the slam of the front door, voices and movements in the outer hallway. 'Someone's here!' She looked at Axelis in alarm.
He stood and began to run down the stairway, surprisingly light for such a vast being. Emlyn followed only a step slower.
'-- it seems to be coming from the library chimney...'
Em relaxed, recognising Athena's voice.
Another voice answered, deeper. A man's voice she did not know. Footsteps approached the study doors. She found Axelis waiting against the wall, ready to confront, or attack, the intruders. As she joined him, she saw that he seemed to have also registered Athena's voice now and relaxed a bit.
'It's all right! It's Athena,' she told him, opening the double doors.
It was hard to say who was more surprised: Axelis by Wolf Star, or Wolf Star by Axelis. Athena took charge of the situation in a trice.
'Axelis, please meet Wolf Star. Wolf Star, meet Axelis, an old friend.'
At the designation of 'old friend', Axelis stiffened somewhat. He then rallied and bowed with ataraxian aplomb, and said, 'A pleasure.'
Wolf Star stood unmoved, except to bow his head slightly.
'A star shines on our meeting.' He kept gazing upward at Axelis, taking in the great height of him.
'And,' Athena continued, putting one hand upon Em's shoulder, 'here is my dear friend, Emlyn; Em, please meet Wolf Star.'
'Greetings, Wolf Star.' Emlyn dipped a small curtsy his way.
In reply, he took Em's hand.
'Boozhoo, Nishiime,' he said to her, nodding.
Athena looked surprised, then smiled. 'In Ojibwa, this means "greetings, little sister".'
Wolf Star nearly smiled then, releasing Em's hand.
'Well! It is certainly cold in this old pile!' Athena exclaimed. 'Why do we not all come to the gatehouse for dinner? Daryl is making rabbit stew, freshly bagged by Wolf Star.'
Wolf Star turned and began to smoor the remains of the fire while the others started to file into the hallway.
'Daryl is here?' Emlyn asked, wondering. She noted his parka she'd tossed on the sofa. He may need this, she decided, shrugged it on.
'He showed up late this afternoon.' Athena told her. 'Ah, that's right -- a moment while I grab something for him. I'll meet you all at the front door...Daryl will be glad to see you, Em.'
Em wasn't so sure about that.
.............
It was a dinner party like no other.
There was Athena hosting her three male 'friends'; Daryl, Wolf Star and Axelis who were, Em rightly suspected, much more than just friends. (In the case of Axelis, mucho mas.) And then she, herself, Emlyn, the daughter of Axelis, and the former novia of Daryl. The only one in attendance who was fairly free of entanglements was Wolf Star, who retained an air of calm acceptance about himself. Emlyn rather envied him.
Nevertheless, it became quite the merry feast. Daryl had indeed made a delicious rabbit stew and some cheese and onion biscuits as well. Emlyn threw together a green salad and there was pumpkin pie for dessert.
'Coffee anyone? Shall we adjourn to the parlour, then?' Athena and Em brought in extra chairs and a small table, setting baskets of nuts and apples amongst the guests.
Wolf Star brought in more wood and built up the parlour fire, whilst everyone settled and sipped coffee and brandy or, like Axelis and Wolf Star, herbal tea.
'Daryl...I feel so badly knowing all you went through, just after I'd left the City!' Em was saying. 'I never trusted that St.John.'
'Well,' Daryl stirred honey into his coffee, 'I certainly never did trust him, either, but...I have to admit, at the time, the thought of simply ~ sailing off into the sunset ~ rather appealed to me.' He hefted his feet up upon the hearthside. 'I had no idea what I was in for. You know I can no longer travel the roads of time. I guess I was tired of feeling so...hobbled.'
Emlyn had felt compelled during dinner, to reveal her own problems with others who wished to use her timewalking abilities for their own nefarious machinations.
'It's odd that we both, suddenly, find ourselves in nearly the same predicament at the same time, Daryl.'
They held each other's gaze a moment; thinking.
'Yes, isn't it...' Daryl mused. 'Both St.John and this descendent of Kidd's, and now, Jeanne, are lusting after Bonnie Prince Charlie to rule again; to remake America and Canada, presumably, into a New Scotland.'
'There's a connection, Daryl.' Em stated. 'Has to be.'
Daryl ran his fingers through his hair, scratched his head, and stood. He began pacing. 'It's all sheer madness! All this plotting and talk of assassinations...it is piling iniquities upon injustice...'
'"The soul of a murderer is blind."' Wolf Star spoke up.
Daryl stared, his eyes narrowing. 'Albert Camus.' He said, and stopped his pacing. 'You walk the time trails as well, Wolf Star.'
'Athena and I met on the time trail,' Wolf Star confirmed, nodding to Athena, who smiled. 'Here's another for you:. "The national vice is waste." -- Henry Miller.' Wolf Star was well-read. 'From a native perspective, everything the white man has done is insane. Wasteful.
'Why murder for sport? Kill all the buffalo just to let them rot? There is something in the white man that is fundamentally different from the native, and ultimately self-destructive.' His gaze went to Axelis then, who shifted somewhat uncomfortably.
'This intrinsic difference, compounded by too much travel from their own native lands, has sent them all 'round the bend' as you might say. They are not grounded. All up in the head. Sin corazon, is the true meaning.
The entire company sat stunned. Save Athena, who barely managed to hide her smile behind her coffee mug.
At last, Axelis sighed. 'He speaks truth.' His gaze went around the room, catching the eyes of all. 'At one time, back in 'pre-history' as you term it, everyone on this planet was native. And all had brown eyes.'
'Then came the Visitors,' Athena revealed.
Axelis nodded. 'Yes. Not so many, at first. But after the first voyagers, there came others. And more genetic tinkering with the Cromagnon; whose brains are much larger than your homosapien cranium. But, other, more important strands of DNA were disconnected, leaving the current species less able to discern, simply because they were unable to be aware of these subtle realms any longer. 'Nowadays men suffer from this 'brain fever' more than women, who have more of a genetic propensity for intuitive thought than men. And this is why men kill and waste buffalo, pollute the air and water, and build bombs that would destroy the planet, along with them all.' His frown was fierce. 'IF, if it were not for us, 'interfering' with your missile launches.'
Wolf Star nodded. He added, 'You must know this word: Wetiko. Or Windigo. It is a malevolent and greedy spirit that enters into those who are open to that kind of evil.
'This manifests as a madness, that in future times, becomes viewed as a positive thing: to 'grab all you can' only for oneself. "Greed is good!" -- was that not the saying?
'We natives care for the entire tribe, the whole band, the young, the old. The animals. The plants and planet. The circle. All are important. None more than another. We know, if we do not, we all will fail. The white brothers have no feeling for this truth. They believe themselves to be great because their brain has concocted a Final Solution killing machine. They fancy themselves brilliant. Like in Atlantis. They have no idea they cannot intuit the obvious: the Wetiko has whispered this madness in their mind. The Wetiko has hold of them and will destroy them all in the end.'
. . . . . .
Emlyn and Daryl were left sitting upon the sofa together after Axelis had taken his leave and Athena and Wolf Star had adjourned upstairs to the loft. Daryl stood and added a couple of good-sized logs to the fire.
'That should last through the night.' He told her as he resumed his seat at one end of the old sofa, sighing.
Em lay her head back and stretched. 'It's soo comfortable here now...'
Daryl regarded her from his corner of the couch. It was a comfort zone. This place, the company, the ambient smells of savory cooking, the spicy scent of teas, the wood fire burning old orchard wood...it exuded home and hearth...
'This folds out you know. Why not share a space with me here? You needn't go anywhere tonight...' He looked down, not wanting her to see his eyes, should she decline.
'I, I shouldn't, really...' Emlyn began, but she was thinking, why not? 'Wellll...I just might. I don't feel like moving at all. It has been a busy few days.' She finished her coffee. 'But, later. I'm comfy, but, not really tired yet.'
'Some cognac?' Daryl leaned forward and tipped out the amber liquid from his flask. 'Just because one has been kidnapped, it doesn't follow that one needs must be bereft of comforts...'
'Indeed, indeed...' Emlyn accepted the snifter. 'Cheers! Salud! Em clacked her glass to his. 'So like you to carry Courvoisier in a flask...' She shook her head, smiling. 'That was an excellent ragout de lapin, Daryl. A real native feast.'
The two companions sat together in silence a while, listening to the sounds of the old cottage and getting a new feel for one another.
'Hm. That Wolf Star...he is something.' Daryl locked his gaze to hers. 'I have a feeling he may be as ancient and as singular, in his way, as Axelis.' He sipped his drink, pondering all they'd heard tonight. 'There's more to him than one would, or perhaps could, imagine.'
'Our many-layered friends...' Em mused. 'They keep surprising me, that's certain.' Her eyes flickered over Daryl briefly, including him in that statement. 'He called me 'little sister'...I wonder how he knew I had Cherokee blood?'
'I wonder if he really is Ojibway, or just fluent in many languages...one thing is certain, he knows much more than he lets on. And meeting Athena on the 'time trails'?' Daryl sipped his brandy slowly. 'A little tete-a-tete with her is soon called for.'
Em had been frowning at the fire during Daryl's discourse. 'I keep wondering about Axelis showing up as soon as I'd taken the time trail east...there is something I must discuss with you, Daryl, but it can wait until morning.'
'Good.' Daryl lifted his long legs and began to take off his boots. 'Been a long, long day...' Boots were removed to the hearthside, and he leaned back against the couch.
'I keep thinking back, though...these strange beings, such as Axelis, these giants of old, keep showing up around here in ancient burial mounds and digs. Many dating to 10k BC and older...
'There are records in every country and in all of the old legends, of a cataclysm which happened around that time, wiping out the mastodons, saber tooth tigers and such, causing massive flooding, and an ice age. In every land, there were legends of great floods recorded.'
'Yes,' Em added, 'and at about that same time, this being, whoever it was, arrived with blue eyes and that particular new branch of humans was suddenly on the scene.'
Daryl leaned forward, pouring them another tot of cognac. 'Exactly, ma chere'. And, there is another legend, of a 'comet' breaking up and large chunks battering the earth, which caused the cataclysm...'
'I have heard, also,' Em chimed in, 'in old Celtic legends, that the Celtic race came from a planet called Kantec, which exploded, and pieces of it rained down upon the earth. A race of giant beings were also rumored to have lived there.'
Daryl caught her eye then. 'A race of giant blue-eyed Celts like Axelis? Perhaps they were refugees...from Kantec.'
Em shrugged, a 'maybe' gesture. Daryl continued: 'You know, the Indians here in North America, at least, refer to themselves as 'the human beings'. The Lani Lanappe, who came to the east after Lassen blew, seeking new lands, referred to themselves as 'the real people', or 'the human beings.'
'To differentiate themselves from those who were...not?' Em wondered, swirling her drink. 'There were giants on the earth in those far-off days, they say. Rumors of 9 and 12 foot skeletons have been found, buried with pearls and copper crowns.'
'Yes. Fair-skinned mummies with red and golden hair. Some of these were rumored to live around Lassen, and in Nevada.' Daryl knew of these. 'Some with double rows of teeth.'
'Human-like, yet not human...' Em mused. She yawned behind her hand. 'Fascinating, but, I think I could sleep now.'
'Well, we can discuss all this manana, si, cara?' Daryl inquired. Em nodded.
'So, what will you do now, Daryl?' Em curled her feet underneath her on the couch. 'You cannot walk the time trails, as you said.'
'Not sure. I am locked into the life of Nob Hill House now.' He sighed. 'I've told Athena, I'll be traveling, mostly by rail, back west. In disguise, somewhat.' He swirled the golden liquor in his glass. 'But, not just yet. I think I might take a room in town. It was 12 kinds of hell getting here this far. Although I need to be away from St.John's reach, there is some business I might attend to whilst here.'
'Indeed?' Em inquired. 'Something you can share?'
'Well...' He drawled, 'I plan to look for a new violin. Well, a new, old violin, really. And New York at this time would be a fine place to find a 'find'.' He grinned lopsidedly. 'But first, maybe treat myself to a real Yankee lobster dinner and some fado on the coast.'
'Sounds good Daryl. Here's to music, and a new life, oui?' Em held out her glass.
'I'll drink to that.' Daryl toasted.
And they did.
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