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Chapter 15
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Just for two weeks Chapter 16
Chapter sixteenIt was a perfect day for walking. The paths were a rustling carpet of golden leaves, and air hung heavy with the smell of dry brush and bonfires. Lola and Tayo were walking in the direction of the Meadows and talking. They spoke at length about culture, she being eager to hear of how the West African society had been instrumental in their business development, and he wanting to know what most English people (not just the moguls) thought about cultural imperialism. She found his question challenging and felt torn between reality and her own idealism. "You know, America is less racist than England, which inspires hope" "That's encouraging, really" Jason acknowledged but things are not that bad in England, especially this young generation, and I have hope in British" Lola raised her eyebrows, wondering if he was being polite, but he seemed not to have noticed her skepticism, he had gone to talk about some of the encouraging interactions he had experienced with th
Just for two weeks Chapter 17
Chapter seventeenThe next day, Lola took the train to her grandparents for the holidays. She slept through the journey but woke up as the train Drew into wall reef and passengers with luggage began bumping their way down the aisles. She waited for the others to get off before retrieving her two cases - dragging them down the steps and over the gap onto the platform where her grandparents were waiting. They looked older and shorter than Lola remembered, each wearing tan clothing, grandfather's was open at the front. Grandmother's buttoned to the chin. Grandmother's hands were clasped around her handbag as though grasping a horse's reins - fingers curled tightly around leather, hands drawn back, close to the waist - while Grandfather kept his arms folded over his chest in order to keep glancing at his watch, eager to get home. Traffic was slow around wall reef, but then it was a quick run through Fortress and Baldwin Hill into Lentil View. "It's really lovely to be back," Lola
Just for two weeks Chapter 18
Chapter eighteenA male servant welcomed Jason and ushered him into a brightly-lit room abuzz with the animated chatter of people drinking as they mingled. Jason looked for Lola but couldn't see her. Everyone was dressed in fine clothes and seemed completely at ease in the grandiose setting; enormous chandeliers hung from the ceilings and festive swathes of Holly and ivy decorated the large bay windows, waitresses in frilly white caps and starched aprons wove through the room, balancing silver trays on their fingertips. One stopped to offer Jason a Canapé, which he accepted with a glass of wine and made as if to mingle, peering at flower arrangements or gazing at painting until, to his relief, Lola appeared. She was wearing a midnight red sequined dress that clung to her body all the way down to her ankles, where the material spread out in a circle hiding her shoes. She hugged him in greeting, which surprised him. "Come and meet my grandparents," she said. First, She introduced h
Just for two weeks Chapter 19
Chapter nineteenOn Tuesday, they shared walnut cake at the Cadena; Wednesday, they ate chicken curry at Raj Lawal restaurant; Thursday, they drank coffee in her room, and on Friday they attended St. Patrick's weekly seminar on theater. They had considered going to the Moulin Rouge on Saturday to see Kenya famy's Moon light, but decided instead to stay in Jason's room and listen to jazz. Lola loved the smell of Jason's room - a comforting mix of Old spice, Brylcreem, and old books. Occasionally, when they were not together, she would catch the scent on Jason's clothes or on the clothing he had touched. His room was on the first floor of staircase IV, Large and sparsely furnished. In it was a bed with three neatly folded blankets - two white and one Milk - and, at the far end of the room, a fireplace, boarded over and replaced with a coin-operated heater. The heater was always on when Lola visited and she suspected he rarely turned it off. He had told her that when he was younger he ha
Just for two weeks Chapter 20
Chapter twenty"Will you show me a photograph of your mother" "Of course."He stood up and took an envelope from his drawer and then, choosing one of the photographs taken on the day his father had one of his business milestone."And your father?" Jason passed her another picture. Jason didn't resemble his father at all, only the eyes with the thick eyebrows."Any more?" She asked."That's it.""Oh come on!" She tugged at the envelope.It's only a picture of his younger self and one of Jimmy's mother. "Is that Jimmy's mother" she said. Having seen Jimmy with the striking resemblance, he explained, letting her look for herself without making it sad. "I didn't know that" Lola felt relived, staring at Pamela's large brown eyes and perfectly arching eyebrows. Her skin was smooth and her hair swept up high in a Sophie Loren style. She could easily have been a model. "I can't imagine how much you miss her.""We're getting by, me and Jimmy," Jason replied, standing up to change the rec
Just for two weeks Chapter 21
Lola worried about Jason, not knowing how best to comfort him. She'd hoped that he would return to her grandparent's with her, but he seemed keener to spend the summer with his cousin, which she could understand given that this was his only cousin. In the meantime, although she had been dreading the time away in her parents, things had not been quite as bad as she feared, at least not in the beginning. It helped that Grandma and Grandpa haven't had any fuss lately, and the weather at St Patrick was lovely. There was also Madame Jane's Provençal Cooking, which could never be underestimated. Emelia had come to join them for few days, too, so all was going well until Grandmother received a letter from Nathalie Murdoch. "N" for notoriously nattering, nitwit Nathalie who wrote to inform them (never asking, always announcing) that she and her husband would be visiting over the holiday. Grandfather was delighted (typical). Mother was furious. Mr Murdoch had been grandfather's fri
Just for two weeks Chapter 22
Dear Jason, How could you possibly think that you were boring me? I want lots of emails and even longer ones, but make it less polite and formal next time. Tell me how much you've been missing me and how much you dream of me - otherwise I'll start wondering what you're up to with those northern lasses! I do wish you are here. The weather is beautiful warm, just as you would like it, and we spend most of our time outdoors. Most days I circle to the near by town of Beaulieu to outdoor Market where we buy fresh breads, pastries and smelly cheeses (I know you are not a fan but just wait till you come). In the afternoons I visit the local café and sip my café-au-lait, while fending off all the French men (ha ha!), And I gaze across the Côte d' Azur and dream of you. And in between these dreams, I've been reading the books you suggested, I also have a few suggestions. I've also corrected one or two grammatical errors - you'll see them marked in red. Well done and très bien! Reading
Just for two weeks Chapter 23
"Now, we're ready to party!" Abdul announced, Clapping his hands while Jason saw to the women's baskets and carried them to the kitchen."Custard pie. Scotch egg," Abdul mumbled. "Cheese straw. Swiss roll. Treacle tart. Now that's what I'm talking about. Sausage rolls." "Abdul," Joyce shouted."Bloody hell, woman! Abdul jumped, one hand hovering guiltily over the sausages. "Why are you shouting?" "I said I haven't seen your friend here before.""That's because he is just visiting for the first time in a long while, daft thing," Abdul laughed. She waited for an explanation, but none was forthcoming. The boys from the company had arrived, and she had lost Abdul's attention to samir, who wanted to know what they were celebrating. "It's a party for my cousin," Kyle explained."Come ladies, I think you've worked hard enough. Let's join the party." The front room was crowded, and Jason recognised only a few people, some were from the company, others from the hospital, and Mr and M
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Just for two weeks Chapter 116
Jason was receiving an award for his book that he'd published and Jimmy was in the city, so he did the best thing he could before running off to Florence. It has been a long time since he'd been around but the event that had unfolded recently had taught him to spend more time with family. Encaenia took place in the Sheldonian - a long and rambling ceremony conducted in Latin for six distinguished persons though, in Lola's mind, this was a celebration mainly for Jason. At last, he was receiving the recognition he deserved. After the ceremony, she stood and watched him with pride as he mingled with guests. She had met Jason briefly before the ceremony and they had hugged, but hardly spoken; too many people and not enough time. She thought at first that it was perhaps the way it should be, with no time for sentimentalism, but no, she decided that it was not the way it should be. They needed more time. "Do you know all these people?" Malik whispered."No." Lola shook her head, even tho
Just for two weeks Chapter 115
Night had fallen over Shekina. Jimmy stood alone on the porch of the fieldstone house enjoying the sounds of laughter and reunion drifting through the screened door behind him. The mug of coffee in his hand had granted him hazy reprieve from his mounting exhaustion, and yet he sensed the reprieve would be fleeting. The fatigue in his body went to the core. "You slipped out quietly," a voice behind said.He turned. McEwan's grandmother emerged, her silver hair shimmering in the night. Jimmy gave a tired smile. "I thought I'd give your family some time together." Through the window, he could see McEwan talking with her brother. Sophie's grandmother came beside him. "Mr. Jim, when I first heard of Esquibel's murder, I was terrified for McEwan's sake. Seeing her standing in my doorway tonight was the greatest relief of my life. I cannot thank you enough."Jimmy had no idea how to respond. Although he had offered to give McEwan and her grandmother time to talk in private, she had asked
Just for two weeks Chapter 114
"Davis?" McEwan was standing outside the car, looking back at him. "Are you coming?" She was holding the rosewood box, which captain Romano had returned to them. Inside, both cryptex had been reassembled and nested as they had been found. The verse was locked safely at its core - minus the shattered vessel of vinegar.Making their way up the long gravel path, Jimmy and McEwan passed the famous west Wall of the chapel. Casual visitors assumed this oddly protruding wall was a section of the chapel that had not been finished. The truth, Jimmy recalled, was far more intriguing. Shekina chapel's entrance was more modest than Jimmy expected. The small wooden door had two iron hinges. The chapel would be closing soon, and as Jimmy pulled open the door, a warm puff of air escaped, as if the ancient edifice were having a weary sigh at the end of a long day. Entering with McEwan, Jimmy felt his eyes reaching across the famous sanctuary and taking it all in. Although he had read accounts of She
Just for two weeks Chapter 113
The mist had settled low as Amorth limped into a quiet hollow out of sight. Kneeling on the wet grass, he could feel a warm stream of blood flowing from the bullet wound below his ribs. Still, he managed.The fog made it look like heaven here.Raising his bloody hands, he prayed, but most importantly he prayed for his mentor… Myositis… that he would not fade with the sands of time. The fog was swirling around him now, and Amorth felt so light that he was sure the wisps would carry him away. Closing his eyes, he said a final prayer.His pains at last began to fade, and he knew Myositis was right. It was late afternoon when the London sun broke through and the city began to dry. Andrie Romano felt weary as he emerged from the interrogation room and hailed a cab. Sir Albert Rodriguez had noisily proclaimed his innocence, and yet from his loose ranting about the Archstone, secret documents, and mysterious brotherhood, Roman suspected the sly historian was setting the stage for his lawye
Just for two weeks Chapter 112
Myositis's body had endured many kinds of pain, and yet the searing heat of the bullet wound in his chest felt profoundly foreign to him. Deep and grave. Not a wound of the flesh… but closer to the soul. He opened his eyes, trying to see, but the rain on his face buried his vision. He could feel powerful arms holding him, carrying his limp body like a rag doll, his black cassock flapping. Lifting a weary arm, he mopped his eyes and saw the man holding him was Amorth. He was struggling down a sidewalk, shouting for a hospital, his voice a heart-rending wail of agony. His red eyes were focused dead ahead, tears streaming down his face. "My son," Myositis whispered, "you're hurt." Amorth glanced down, his visage contorted in anguish. "I am sorry sorry, Father." He seemed almost too pained to speak. "No," Myositis replied. "It is I who am sorry. This is my fault. I was too eager. Too fearful. You and I were deceived." Myositis was unconscious when the doors of St Luke's hospital hiss
Just for two weeks Chapter 111
Jimmy and McEwan moved slowly down the north aisle, keeping the shadows behind the ample pillars that separated it from the open nave. Despite having traveled more than halfway down the nave, they still had no clear view of the tomb. The sarcophagus was recessed in a niche, obscured from this oblique angle."At least there's nobody over there," McEwan whispered.Jimmy nodded, relieved. The entire section of the nave near Klaus' tomb was deserted. "I'll go over," he whispered. "You should stay hidden just in case someone-"McEwan had already stepped from the shadows and was headed across the open floor."-is watching," Jimmy sighed, hurrying to join her.Crossing the massive nave on a diagonal, Jimmy and McEwan remained silent as the elaborate sepulcher revealed itself in Tantalus increments… a black-marble sarcophagus… a reclining statue of Klaus… two winged boys… a huge pyramid… and… an enormous orb."Did you know about that?" McEwan said, sounding startled.Jimmy shook his head, als
Just for two weeks Chapter 110
Jimmy had not gotten his eyes off the computer screen since the search began. He was starting to get worried.Anita Istredd was in the adjoining room, preparing hot drinks. Jimmy and Sophie had inquired unwisely if there might be some coffee brewing alongside the tea Istredd had offered, and from the sound of the microwave beeps in the next room, Jimmy suspected their request was about to be rewarded with instant Nescafe.Finally, the computer pinged happily."Sounds like you got another," Istredd called from the next room. "What does it say?"Jimmy looked at the screen, disappointed.They sat patiently in front of the screen and waited through two more dubious returns. When the computer pinged again, nothing interesting happened.Istredd peeked back in the doorway, holding a packet of instant coffee. "You don't want the full text," Istredd called. "Click on the hypertext title. The computer will display your keyword hits along with mono prelogs and triple post logs for context."Jim
Just for two weeks Chapter 109
Copus peccate's headquarter in London is a modest brick building. Amorth had never been here, but he felt a rising sense of refuge and asylum as he approached the building on foot. Despite the rain, Beardsley had dropped him off a short distance away in order to keep the limousine off the main Streets. Amorth didn't mind the walk. The rain was cleansing.At Beardsley's suggestion, Amorth had wiped down his gun and dispose of it through the sewer grate. He was glad to get rid of it. He felt lighter. His legs still ache from being bound all the time, but he had endured far greater pain. He wondered, though, about Rodriguez, who Beardsley had left bound in the back of the limousine. The Briton certainly had to be feeling pain by now."What will you do with him?" Amorth had asked Beardsley as they drove over here.Beardsley had shrugged. "That is a decision the Teacher would make." There was an odd finality in his tone.Now, as Amorth approached the building, the rain began to fall harder
Just for two weeks Chapter 108
Jimmy still felt shaken as he and McEwan came from the rain and entered the library. The primary research room was as Rodriguez had described it - a dramatic octagonal chamber dominated by an enormous round table with twelve flat-screen computer workstations. On the far side of the room, a reference librarian was just pouring a pot of tea and settling in for the day of work. "Good morning," she said in a beautiful British accent, leaving the tea and walking over. "May I help you?""Thank you, yes please," Jimmy replied. "My name is-""Jimmy Davis." She gave a pleasant smile. "I know who you are."For instance, he feared Romano had put him on English television as well, but the librarian's smile suggested otherwise. Jimmy had not gotten used to these moments of unexpected celebrity. Then again, if anyone on earth were going to recognize his face, it would be a Librium in a religious studies reference facility."Anita Istredd," the librarian said, offering her hand. She had a friend
