“I’m the only one now unattached. It seems that Andre and Jennifer are becoming quite fond of each other. It’s the best solution for our family, and it’ll help take my mind off of what has happened. Besides that, I’ve always wanted to see America. I’d like to have a suitable Adept assigned to help me with this endeavor. He should be one who would be able to watch over the bank when we get it running. One of us can return here if the other is there. As you and Henri discussed, we eventually would want two more to help us.”
“I have one in mind. You met him at that raid on the coven. I will approach him today or tomorrow about it.
“They were all good men. What is his best blood-fast span?”
“Four days I think.”
“Good. We are going to be out to sea for a good while, so I want to be sure of that. Be sure to tell him we may be rationing ourselves somewhat. I want no misunderstanding about that.”
“I will. He works as an officer in this bank and knows the business. You’ll benefit from his talent as he is especially good at grasping and understanding commodities and market trends. He is an adventurous sort, and he really looks up to you. You’ll like him.”
“I’m sure that whoever you choose will be up to the task.”
“It would be a shaky thing to me to be the only one of our kind over there, that far away from everything I know.”
“I look forward to it, Robert. It will help me not to dwell on my misfortune. I’d like to go to Scotland to see my family and say my goodbyes. They don’t know about Alandra’s death yet. Can you meet the special needs for my ship? I brought Thomas with me. He can do the work while I’m gone, and he’ll keep quiet about it. Best that no one else knows of it.”
“Yes, yes. It’s a good idea not to use local labor. I’ll have him do the work. I have just the ship. It is coming out of dry dock now and will be ready when you return. She is a three-mast galleon of four hundred and fifty tons. We want to get her working and she’s built for trade with the colonies. We have a cargo for her already. That can be modified for accommodating a herd of goats too.”
“Good. How big of a commitment do you think we should make?”
“Well, don’t you think that we should only start a very small bank and be limited in what and who we loan to? The situation there is uncertain, so Henri and I hesitate to risk a large startup.”
“I agree. With another Adept there to help me, we have better odds of getting our funds to where they can’t be confiscated if it comes to that. We’ll be watchful for that possibility.”
“Confiscation? Really?”
“It’s turning into a war over there. Who knows what might happen? The crown does want financial stability there as of now, in spite of their stupid trade policies and taxes. Should there be a war and the crown feels like it is losing, they might well want to destabilize the economy of the colonies. That is something we have to consider. We’ll need several more Adepts if that happens. Who could spot counterfeit money better than one of us?”
“Could that happen…the Crown lose control of the colonies? Surely not!”
“Ask me that in six months. By your leave, I’ll be on my way to Scotland.”
“Yes. Send Thomas to me and we’ll handle everything.”
“Can you get me a microscope?”
“I have a friend at Oxford who can do that. I’ll have it and that herd of what, twelve goats for you when you return? Why do you need it?”
Ian said with a smile “Why Robert, didn’t you know that I study blood samples as a special favor for a friend at the London Royal Academy of Science? I keep a detailed journal about the makeup of blood in animals confined at sea?”
“Oho! That is a good one indeed. No wonder Henri picked you!”
“Please get me a list of shippers who can bring correspondence to you. I want to keep changing the ones we use to help avoid any foul play by agents of the crown if things turn sour for them over there. It would be wise to keep our communications private in any event to keep our competitors in the dark too. I may even send duplicate messages if it is something vital to insure that you stay informed. I rely on you to keep Henri informed.”
“Easily done. Henri will be kept up to date on everything. There are fourteen shippers who I backed to start up over there. They will all be happy to help us this way. That is a good idea too, and I’ll furnish you with a list of their names and their usual ports of call.”
The two stood up then, smiled, shook hands and embraced each other. Ian said “Tell Margaret that I said hello. Be seeing you soon.” He turned and walked out of the door.
Chapter 112
The creature saw familiar landmarks as it ran. After feeding from a rabbit that it caught effortlessly, it continued southward and followed the river more frequently. It turned eastward then for miles, avoiding a large city that looked familiar. It could see the blue Mediterranean Sea in the distance to the south from some of the hilltops as it crossed them. As it came to a road that it knew its anxiety increased with that knowledge. Memories were returning bit by bit as it ran. They were like pieces of a puzzle. It hungered for them to all return, but they returned bit by bit steadily, as a mosaic image being assembled tile by tile.
It came to a driveway and turned in, more than ever certain that this was the place as it ran the distance to a large home. Slowing to a walk then it circled the place warily. What if this was the wrong place? It sat in the shade of a large tree then, contemplating the layout of the place. Some things looked different. It suddenly had another piece of its memory fall into place and rocketed away to the east for a mile and stopped, looking at a smaller house of gray stone with a slate roof. Circling this place warily, it crept to a window and peeked in. Soon it was apparent that the place was empty. The thing looked through all of the windows and began to feel as empty as the house was. That was a new feeling and the thing wondered at it, not liking it at all.
It ran back to the other larger place and this time ran to the bushes all around the back yard that grew in abundance. It stripped foliage and ate it, not knowing why but knowing that it should do so. Then it ran up to the back door of the house and peered in. Circling the place it saw no sign of life. It could see covered furnishing inside, so it knew that it was like the other smaller one, empty, but not abandoned. How did it know that? It struggled to grasp that concept, but it felt so very much alone. Not having felt that way the whole time it had been running to get here, it hit the creature hard. Trying windows it soon had found one on the second floor that was unlocked. It entered silently and glided to the stairs, peering down. Before it ever went down the stairs, it knew that it was alone in the large house.
In the parlor, it saw several love seats and sofas and easy chairs arranged around a huge fireplace. Every piece was covered with a dust cloth. There was nothing not covered that way in the whole house. It saw a covered Harpsichord there and it knew what it was. Ripping the cover off it touched the keyboard. The sound coming from it amplified the sense of isolation, of being utterly alone. It pondered that because it had never remembered feeling like that or even caring about that. The sense of isolation grew in the silence of the place. It did not like this sensation.
It went from room to room and peered at everything it saw, carefully as if looking for something. Passing a full-length mirror it stopped and peered at itself for a long time. As it looked at its image it began to remember a bit more. It decided to go and feed. Even though it was getting dark it knew that it could feed easily. That part of it was functioning perfectly. It was the other part that it sensed that was not functioning yet. It saw no injury on the reflected image as it contemplated the stolen kitchen knife and bowl tied up in a rag that it had taken when it had killed the chickens. How did it know to take the knife and the bowl? It knew how to use them. How did it know to take the clothing it now was wearing? There was so much it wanted to know then, b
ut the pieces just kept coming along at a measurable pace.
It went outside, leaping easily from the second story window and landing lightly on the ground. It walked to a building in the back that was a small two story house. The door wasn’t locked so it went in. Something had happened here and it was something good. It remembered now that other things that were good had happened inside of the big house and at the other smaller gray stone house too. It would stay here and wait for the pieces to all come back. There were answers here, and it meant to have them.
It stood and listened as a nightingale sang. An owl answered and the creature hunted, soon making a kill nearby in the woods. It rinsed its mouth with water that was in the watering trough and again stripped foliage from the bushes, but ate only the blossoms this time. It didn’t know why, but it knew that it should do that. Later it went back into the big house. It settled itself on one of the sofas and waited. It knew that more answers would come. It was nothing if not patient.
***
Ian stood on a hilltop overlooking the yet distant city of Edinburg. He had actually enjoyed the running, coming here afoot. As he began to travel the last short distance to his Aunt and Uncle’s home, he went over the words he would use.
He stood at the door and knocked before opening, as always. Aunt Mary saw him and shouted for everyone to come quickly. He embraced and kissed everyone then. His mother noticed that he had on rough clothing, not his usual travel attire. As he embraced her, she knew that there was something wrong with this visit. She knew her son and his ways. For the first time, Stu was not being tossed up on Ian’s shoulder and carried about. That was another indicator to her knowing eyes. After he had hugged Angus, Mary, and Stu, Elsie said “Ian, you might just as well tell us what’s wrong. Come in here with us now.” She led the group to the parlor than and all sat down expectantly, looking at him questioningly.”
“Alandra is dead.” There were several gasps, and both Mary and Elsie began to cry and to shake their heads. Angus rose up and came over to kneel before Ian, reaching his arms around him to embrace him. “Ah, Ian. Such sad news.” he said in a voice husky with emotion. “Can you tell us now what happened?”
“She was killed by a runaway cart in Barcelona. I traveled afoot and came here through London. It’s been some two weeks now.”
Through her tears Elsie said “Oh son, this is terrible news! You’ve not yet been to see the others?”
“No. They’re in Geneva. I sent a letter to them from Paris.”
By now, Elsie sat on one side of him as Angus sat on the other on the large sofa. They both held him. Ian wept then leaning forward, his head in his hands. Elsie still wept openly as did Aunt Mary. Angus began to weep as well. Stu was silent in wide-eyed shock. Elsie said in a husky voice “Son, you stay here as long as you like.”
“I thought that I was done with weeping. I wonder if I’ll ever be done with it now. I’ll only be here a few days, Mother. I’m sailing for America soon. My ship is being made ready.”
“America Ian?” The others expressed surprise too.
“Yes. We’ve long wanted to start a bank over there. Everyone in my family is married or paired to be married but me. I need the distraction and I’ve always wanted to go there. It’s the right time for me.”
They all knew which family he referred to. There was silence then, and Ian became aware of the wind playing about the windows and gables of the McCloud home.
He continued “I should tell you that we plan to leave Europe someday. Our plan now is that we’ll eventually all move to America. Europe is headed for more warfare in our opinion. Our aim is to be gone before that happens. We think that will be years away though. I plan to return when the banks are established. Others will be sent to operate them.”
“What about Aimee, Ian?”
“I thought of that, and I know that she’d love to go. But she’s far better off with the others. I have little idea what awaits me there. It wouldn’t be fair to her.”
“But son, you’ll be alone over there.”
“No mother. I’m taking one like me to help. I’ve met him, and I think that you would all like him. He’s my age, and is very reliable.” He didn’t add that he would have gone alone otherwise. The visit was warm and loving, but bittersweet at the same time.
***
On the day of his departure, there was an air of sadness over the house. He came to them one by one hugging and kissing each of them. Elsie wept softly as they embraced, which caused Ian to weep as well. With a final goodbye, he shrugged his rucksack on and departed into the gathering dusk. Soon he was running south through the Southern Highlands towards England. There was no moon, but he needed no moon to guide his journey or light his path. There were only the sentinel stars in a black sky and a lone dark figure running faster than the wind.
Chapter 113
Marie stood idly by a window in their home in Geneva, watching Celeste and Louis walking together. Louis was carrying their daughter. They were talking and smiling a bit as they walked toward the house. Marie was glad to see anything resembling happiness after the devastating news. There had been an air of sadness and depression at the chalet since the news of Alandra’s death. She wondered where Ian was now and had expected him to come or at least to send a letter.
As they neared the veranda Louis said “So you’ve decided on a name for our girl then?”
“Yes. I want to call her Cosette.”
Louis smiled then, and said “You know, she has Cosette’s eyes.” Celeste smiled dreamily, a pleasant look on her face. Suddenly she stopped in her tracks. Her big doe-eyes went wide as her hands flew to her cheeks. Her mouth formed an ‘O’ as she gasped. She began to jump up and down with a big smile on her face, and began to laugh. ‘Oh Louis come quickly, come quickly now! Hurry Louis!” she said as she began to run toward the chalet. “Hurry, hurry!” Their baby began to laugh too.
Marie peered intently at her as she ran toward the house. “Henri, come here!” she called. “I’ve not seen Celeste do this since she was a young girl! What has happened to cause this?” The two ran to meet Celeste, calling out “Everybody, come here now! Come here now! Hurry” as they both ran toward the foyer.
She came breathlessly into the oversized foyer, bursting through the door and laughing. “Oh everyone come here! Come here!” She could not contain herself then and threw her hands to her cheeks again and jumped up and down, laughing and saying “Oh this is wonderful! This is wonderful! Come here now everybody, hurry now, hurry now!” and she continued to jump and laugh while holding her hands to her cheeks as everybody gathered about her.
“Cosette is alive! Praise God, Cosette is alive! Oh my God she is alive, and she’s at the chateau now! She’s there waiting for us!”
***
Robert Milliken stood in the study of his home and said “Ian, I think you remember James Barrows. James, I know that you remember Ian McCloud.”
James said as he stepped forward extending his right hand “Oh sir, indeed I do! I’m pleased to see you again sir.”
Ian smiled broadly at James then and said as he grasped his hand “I’m pleased to see you again as well James, and to you I’m Ian.” He sized up the young man then. James looked to be twenty years old, was about five foot ten inches tall and weighed around one hundred seventy pounds. He was fit, athletic looking with regular features, had curly sandy-colored hair, blue eyes and a ready smile. Ian remembered liking him the first time he’d met him.
“I’m really looking forward to this, Ian. I’ve wanted to see America from the time I first heard of it.”
“So have I. We should make a good pair then, shouldn’t we? How long has it been since you crossed over?”
“Eleven years sir, er, Ian. Mr. Milliken brought me over when I had a bad case of pneumonia. I would’ve died but for him.”
“You’ve been a vampire longer than I have by a f
ew years. Perhaps I can learn from you?”
“Oh no, sir…Ian. No one even knows anyone who has done the things you’ve done. I’m hoping to learn from you.”
“We’ll learn from each other then, James. Let’s go and see our ship. I’m anxious to see how well Thomas made our modification. Who knows but that we might be the first two of our kind to go to America?”
***
Henri, Marie, Li, and Sophia ran at a ground eating pace through the foothills of the Alps and crossed into France, heading west. They would soon swing south and follow the Rhone valley to Marseille. They hoped to be there by sometime the next morning.
Back in Geneva, a message had been left for Ian telling him to come to the chateau, and that Cosette awaited him there, alive and well. A duplicate message had been sent to the Banque de Lafayette in both Paris and in Marseille. Instructions were sent to divert all couriers to the chateau now instead of to Geneva. Jennifer, Andre, Mustafa, Liri, Celeste, and Louis and the two babies had all departed for the chateau, taking two carriages.
As they rode along, Louis held his sleeping daughter and said “I wonder why we’ve not heard from Ian? Do you think he’s still in Barcelona?”
“He could have been selling his house and dealing with Barcelona House; or he may have spent some time with Alandra’s family and with Tom and Celita. Oh, Louis, can’t you just see his eyes when he learns that Cosette is alive! I can just see it now, and that big bright smile of his that can light up a room!”
Suddenly, she sat bolt upright as her eyes widened. Her dreamy smile had vanished and been replaced by a look of grave concern. Their baby awoke and began to look all around the interior of the coach with eyes wide.
“No, Ian’s in London. He’s going to sail to America. If we search through the bank dispatches in that trunk we packed we’ll find his letter. He intends to go to America to do the bank startup. He sails today!”
Chapter 114
Cosette wandered aimlessly around the chateau, memories clicking into place seemingly a bit faster than before. The sun had just risen. She pondered her reflection again in the mirror. Whereas it had at first seemed to be someone else, it now was becoming more familiar. She contemplated the clothing she had stolen from the people at the site of the ruined Francoise mansion. Why had she stolen the man’s pants and shirt and a broad-brimmed hat? She knew now that it was not the sort of clothing she would wear every day, but she had taken it from an assortment that included women’s wear too. Recalling that she had rinsed her mouth and eaten lilac foliage after killing the chickens, she tied that to her sudden desire to eat that here at the chateau.
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