Forever Young The Beginning (88 page)

The object then made a cooing sound.
That sound struck a chord in the beast. How could that be? The
young woman’s face suddenly changed to a radiant smile. The
creature wondered at that. It dawned on it that the young woman was
smiling. The thing questioned that revelation. What is a smile, and
how do I know one when I see it? Here was a mystery. The gnawing
pang of hunger disrupted the thing’s reverie, demanding to be
satisfied. The creature forced it to subside by force of will.
There was something to be learned here. The predator focused
intently on the scene.

The young woman’s attention was
focused only on the object. How did the thing know that this was a
young woman? It became hungrier as it watched, the hunger now
gnawing at its innards if it was a living thing, and propelling it
to action. Yet it restrained itself to see what would happen
next.

The young woman arose from the chair
she had been in and lovingly pressed her face to the object as she
gently put it down in a box and covered it. It grunted and made a
cooing sound as she pressed her face to it again. The thing
wondered at that. It longed now to press its hideous face to the
helpless object because it had caught its scent. It could feed here
in safety, and there was plenty of what it desired more than
anything now. The helpless object had the liquid that the creature
craved and which now motivated it to spring through the opening,
yet it held its peace in spite of the gnawing hunger. That hunger
was changing from being less than an easily controlled feeling and
more of an undeniable primal motivating force.

The young woman quietly left the
little object in the box and walked from the room, doing something
that made the yellow light go away. There was nothing now to stop
the creature from feeding on the object. The awful driving hunger
rose then like it had a life of its own and began to take control
of the creature to where it could feel its ability to reason
slipping away. It arose from its position of comfort to one of
dreadful and deadly readiness. There was no sound to betray its
awful presence. Crickets sang their timeless song as the creature
positioned itself to pounce. Its hunger screamed at it to feed now!
It was as if a strong gale was blowing out the candle of reason in
its mind, leaving only the darkness of primal instinct. It tensed
itself to spring.

Ian arrived on the outskirts of Paris
in mid-morning, quickly donning his boots and walking until he came
to Champs Elysees. As he turned to proceed along that avenue, he
looked like any ordinary seaman taking a stroll with his rucksack
on his back. He went to the hotel where the Lafayette’s still had a
suite of rooms. After signing in, he declined to summon the staff,
but did order hot water for a bath in the suite and relaxed in it.
While there, he remembered the time he and Alandra had shared that
tub. Sadly he got out of the tub and dressed in clothing more
suitable for a senior bank officer. Some of his personal wardrobe
was here, as was everyone’s in the family. Before too long, they
would all be transferred to the suite of rooms in the other hotel
reserved for the Laforges.

He sent for the newspapers
of the last few days and when they came he occupied himself with
reading them; hoping to get any hint of any change in the political
winds between France and Britain, or any news of happenings in
America. There was mention of a tragic event in Boston which the
newspaper referred to as the
“Boston
Massacre.”
Ian read the account with more
than a little interest.

After a while, he put on his coat and
went to the Banque de Lafayette and posted his two letters to the
family in Geneva for the next courier. He saw no need to make a
special dispatch for the two letters. It was enough to pass the bad
news along, let alone to pass it along as an urgent dispatch. He
thought that he might go to Edinburg before going to London. Then
as he contemplated the long Atlantic crossing, he decided that
Robert Milliken would need advance notice to see to passage being
booked and preparations made for his special needs. It would be
best to go first to London and then on to Edinburg to see his
family. By the time he got back to London, such necessities would
have been made ready.

He hoped to have his private
cabin fitted with a well-concealed hatch that would give him access
to the hold at any time. He figured to be able to access a small
herd of goats or perhaps rabbits there for his nourishment. This
access hatch would be undetectable to the crew unless a thorough
search was made. He thought of Thomas and decided to ask him if
he’d accept the job to make the modification. He thought
less chance of it ever being talked about over a
pint of ale that way.
He’d be well paid and
would then return to France. Ian liked the idea and resolved to ask
Thomas while in Paris.

He would also bring a
microscope and would make a show of studying the blood of the
animals while at sea. It could be bought in London or maybe while
in Paris, along with a suitable ledger for all of his fake
scientific entries. He would try to find a textbook on the subject
too, even as he thought
it must be in
English though as the crew of the ship I am on will be
British.

He would walk to Caryn’s place and say
hello. It would be something to do before he talked with the
concierge later in the day, and it would be better than being alone
with his thoughts. As he walked, he thought that he might need
Robert’s connections to buy a microscope after all. He would cross
that bridge when he came to it. Even as he walked and pondered this
minor problem, he realized on another level that he was really only
trying to occupy his mind to keep darker thoughts away.

At Caryn’s place of business, she was
in her office and came out immediately when the receptionist gave
his name to her.

“
Ian, what a pleasant
surprise! Are you staying in Paris for long?”

“
No, Caryn. I’m going on to
London in another day or two.”

“
Oh?”

“
Banking business. You did
hear that Celeste had her baby?

“
Yes, but I don’t know more
than that it’s a girl.”

“
That’s all that I know too,
except that she’s beautiful and she has Cosette’s eyes. And Liri
had her baby too, a boy, born the same day.”

“
My word!”

“
May I speak to Thomas while
I’m here?”

“
Yes.” She picked up a
servant’s summoning bell and rang it. A young lady came
immediately. Caryn asked her to bring Thomas to the office, and
then said “Will you and Alandra at least please come have supper at
my home then this evening?”

He hesitated and looked down. Then he
fastened his eyes on hers and said “Caryn, Alandra is dead. She
died in an accident involving a runaway carriage in
Barcelona.”

Caryn put a hand to her mouth, her
eyes widening. Ian heard the sounds of the busy sewing and fitting
rooms filtering in to her office.

“
Oh, Ian! I am
so
sorry! Please forgive
me.” She came to him then and put her arms around his waist as he
put his around her shoulders. As they embraced he said “Now Caryn,
don’t fret over it. You didn’t know. In fact none of the others
know yet either. I posted letters to them today.”

She stepped back then and looked at
him. “Then you’ll not be joining them?”

“
No. I’m going to London on
business and then to Scotland to tell my family there.”

“
I see. Will you return
through Paris then?”

“
No. I’m going to
America.”

She looked shocked.
“America?”

“
Yes. We’re starting a bank
over there and I’m the one laying the groundwork for
that.”

“
Oh. I see. Ian should you
really be that far from home alone at a time like this?”

“
It may be that would be
just what I need. It will keep my mind busy, and right now, that
helps me. I’ve always wanted to go to see it anyway.”

“
When will you
return?”

‘
I want to return when
everything is done and the bank is running smoothly. I’ll be taking
some help along for that. But I really can’t say for certain when I
can return. You know that things are volatile over there right now
with hard feelings between the colonists and the British
Crown.”

‘
No, I didn’t know. Will you
please dine with me this evening anyway?”

About then, Thomas came in to the
room, and seeing Ian his face split into a broad smile. “Ian
McCloud! By Heaven it’s good to see you, Ian. What brings you to
Paris today?”

“
I have work for you. I
would consider it a favor if you came to London with me for a short
time. I have two day’s work and will pay you well and you should be
back here in three weeks.”

Thomas looked at Caryn then, and then
looked at Ian and said “I’ll do it, Ian. How is
Jennifer?”

“
She’s very well, and I
suspect that she’s quite interested in our young man, Andre.”
Turning to Caryn he said “Caryn, why don’t you come with Tom and
see London. Surely you must have a qualified person to leave in
charge here. When have you last gotten away from this
place?”

She started to shake her head no, then
she looked at Thomas and smiling, she said “You know, that may be
possible, and I can’t recall the last time I was able to get away
from this place. Can we talk about it at supper tonight then, at my
home?”

He looked out over the sewing room
briefly, and then said “Yes.”

“
Seven o’clock
then?”

“
Yes. I’ll see you then
Caryn, and thank you for asking.” he said as he shook hands with
Thomas and walked out of her office. As he was passing through the
front office and vestibule, he nearly ran into a young lady wearing
sunglasses. “Pardon Mademoiselle.”

“
Ian? Oh, Ian, it is you! Oh
how good to see you!”

“
Alyssa. You nearly slipped
past me.” She immediately came to him and they hugged. While he
held her, the familiar scent of her hair triggered a flood of warm
memories of times past. Unknown to him, Alyssa was experiencing the
same things.

“
It’s good to see you,
Alyssa.”

“
Likewise. I had no idea you
were in Paris.”

“
Banking business.” The two
separated then, looking into each other’s eyes.

“
Will you be here long
then?”

“
Not really. I’m dining with
Caryn this evening and may be off to London in a day or
two.”

“
Oh.” The disappointment was
evident in her voice.

“
I’m going to be at Caryn’s
tonight for dinner at seven o’clock. I would be free after that, or
you might ask Caryn if you could drop by while I’m
there.”

She seemed to be undecided and then
she said “I’ll try to make it, Ian.”

“
Good. How are things
then?”

“
We’re doing well, and
Damien and his father are opening a new facility to make our
clothing.”

“
That’s exciting news. You
heard that Liri and Celeste both had babies then?”

“
Yes. Caryn told me that
Celeste had a girl.”

“
Yes, and Liri had a
boy.”

“
I didn’t know that. How is
Alandra?”

He looked away, out toward the street,
and then he said “She couldn’t come with me.”

There was a long pause then. “I see.
You’ll tell her I said hello then?”

He nodded and looked at her, and then
said “You’re a wonderful friend. I must go now. Good bye, Alyssa.”
He stepped to her then and took her in his arms. Her heart beat
faster as this simple gesture again brought back a flood of
wonderful memories she had of this man, and of the love she had for
him still. As always, she felt warm and safe in his arms. He placed
his hands on each side of her face and kissed her forehead. “I’m
truly glad that I got to see you Alyssa. Good bye for now.” Turning
away he put on his hat and walked out of the door.

Alyssa continued inside, looking back
once toward the closing door as Ian exited the place. She saw Caryn
talking to Thomas about something obviously very serious then and
approached them, her eyebrows raised questioningly.

“
I just ran into Ian on my
way in. He seemed to be distracted or something.”

“
Distracted is not what you
saw, Alyssa. Alandra is dead, and he is trying his best to cope
with that.”

Alyssa dropped her package and stepped
back, becoming pale, her mouth open and her pretty eyes widening.
“Oh no! Oh no! What a horrible thing!” Her voice quavering she
continued “She was such a lovely person, and so young! How can he
bear it? This is too cruel! First Cosette and now Alandra! I feel
so bad for him!” Tears formed at the corners of her eyes and began
to course down her cheeks. Caryn and Thomas were moved at her
sorrow on behalf of Ian, and both came to comfort her. She wept
unashamedly then. The sounds of her grief mingled with the sounds
filtering into the room from the busy sewing and fitting
floor.