Huey 262 0535 Kyle frowned as he listened to his wife's report. She had begun by requesting a radio check from Millinocket SPP. She had then had them stand by as she called Jaret, after which she reported in a general sense that there were casualties at the Piscatquis' camp. She then became more specific, reporting that Lecia had said that Huey 262 would need to look for five survivors running between the camp and Jo-Mary Lakes. "Jaret, what's going on?" Kyle himself demanded to know. "The things have attacked the Piscataquis' camp, injuring and killing people there and driving away the five people that we need to look for. ...Air One, Huey 262. Report on your surroundings." Kay's voice was heard in Kyle, Jaret, and Michelle's headsets. "Two creatures down that the state police officers are guarding. Talon has gone underground with the Piscataquis." Jaret knew it wasn't good enough for Kyle. "Air One, what's the status of your creatures? Is it quiet where you are?" "Both creatures took PC shots. With exception to Talon's actions, yes it's quiet here. Will advise on changes. Air One clear." Jaret then grinned. Kyle didn't. "Oh, gee. Thanks a lot, pal." "She knows you're worried about her, all right. Now bend it around to the south and let's have a look at Jo-Mary Lakes." "Roger." Millinocket State Police Post 0540 Captain Aguilar wasn't happy, either. And using the intuition of someone with years of experience, he turned to his duty officer and gave a couple of quick and important orders. "Call the hospital and tell them to stand by to receive an unknown number of trauma cases." "Do you want them to call in their standby physicians?" The captain thought that one over for about two seconds. "They'll be waking up in about an hour, anyway. Let's have them come on into work and stand by there." "Yes, sir." The radio came to life once again. "Millinocket SPP, Careflight." THANK GOD! the captain thought to himself. He had just heard from his medevac helicopter. "Careflight, Millinocket SPP. Request you land at Millinocket Regional Airfield and take your orders from the hospital." "Will land at the airfield and contact the hospital. Careflight clear." "Millinocket SPP clear.' Jo-Mary Mountain 0600 Everyone was tired. The four runners had crossed a stream that John himself fell into as he tripped on an unseen snag. Yet this time the monsters did not close in right away. Perhaps they had become smarter, knowing that closing in meant pain for them. They were still there, though. Howling and pressing their prey onward and onward, they obviously meant to just drive the four to death and feed unmolested. FASCINATING! Benton knew. He and the others then started up the last hill. Over the top of this one, which was a foothill of Jo-Mary Mountain, was the lake, the cabin, and best of all, anestha and the protection that was needed in order to prepare it. It was Ramona who went down next, finally missing her footing being pressed into deep fatigue. Benton saw Alain pull up to help her as a smaller ursa went right for them. John tried to fire, but his gun was empty. The Penobscot then died when he reversed his weapon and challenged the monster with what was effectively a club. One sweep of the mutant's heavy arm tore the tall man's head right off of his shoulders. "NO!" Benton screamed in rage, firing right into the ursa's face as Alain added his own shots to it. That beast then fell, but the Destroyer once again closed in. Both men took shots at it, then ran with Alain having to carry the shocked and weeping Ramona over his shoulder. Dr. Quest wasn't sure that his friend could carry her and fire effectively as well, but he managed it when he had to. THE LAKE! "Alain, the lake!" It was away and beneath them as they crested the last rise. "I see it! Keep—" Two more fast shots made a monster move back into the trees. Dr. Carpentier felt his weapon go empty, forcing him to stop and put Ramona down so that he could reload. "Alain, look out!" Benton cried as the Destroyer appeared directly behind them. It was Dr. Carpentier's turn to die. He and Dr. Quest both saw it as if in slow motion. The Destroyer was reared on its feet, rising above the exhausted man and woman with its claws extended to kill. And as if the gates of hell themselves opened up, bright light and a terribly hot blast of air swept through the woods, and a sound like a storm was heard. Benton raised his weapon, took aim, and fired... ...And the Destroyer's head came apart as it fell straight to the ground! The sound had not been that of a storm, nor the wind and light that of hell. Dr. Quest quickly looked behind him, seeing the Huey with the guns of four riflemen, and one each rifle woman, firing at the lone remaining smaller ursa, killing it. And in less than a minute a man fast roped down and rose his voice so that he could be heard. "Are you Dr. Quest?" "Yes! Dr. Carpentier and Ramona Mariah are here with me!" "Just you three, sir?" Dr. Quest quickly explained all that had happened as a second man rode the Huey's winch line down and helped Alain put a harness on Ramona. She was then taken aboard the Huey, where Michelle tended to her. "Talon flew to the Piscataquis' camp, Dr. Quest! We have not had a detailed report from her!" "Can you take all three of us aboard?" "We can, sir!" And in less than five minutes, it was done and the doors of the Huey were closed. Alain was about to speak to his wife when the Bell team's report finally came in. "Millinocket SPP, Air One." Captain Aguilar again replied. "Air One, go." It was Kay who was calling. "We have firmed up casualties at our location. We will need you to alert Millinocket Regional Hospital and have them stand by to receive our injured." "Will alert and advise. Air One, be informed that Careflight is standing by at MRA." "Ah, Millinocket, Talon says that we cannot wait. Talon advises that Careflight should refuel and stand by ...Huey 262, Air One?" Jaret answered. "Go, Kay." "Do you have Drs. Quest and/or Carpentier?" "That's affirmative. We have them alive and well." Kay didn't waste time celebrating. "We need you to take them straight to the state police post, where you need to drop them off and clear the pad." "Wilco. Will deliver the doctors to Millinocket SPP and clear the pad." Kay called the captain again. "Millinocket SPP, Air One actual." "Go, One." "We are inbound with two casualties. Subject one is a male Caucasian, eleven years old with a broken ankle. He is unconscious and in shock due to exposure. Subject two is a female Caucasian, approximately twenty-seven years old, unconscious and in shock due to exposure. Subject two appears to have suffered a head trauma. Both victims need medical attention immediately." "Air One, be advised that Millinocket Regional is rolling an ambulance at this time. ...Huey 262, state ETA." "Ten minutes. Huey 262 clear." "Air One, state ETA." "Air One is twenty minutes out. Clear." "Careflight, Millinocket SPP." "Careflight copies inbound casualties. Will refuel and stand by, clear." The captain simply clicked his microphone twice and said a silent prayer. He then turned the radio back over to the duty officer and himself walked outside to wait for the arriving aircraft. Two other flight officers were already there... the relief pilots. "Stand by on wands," the captain told them. In the back of the Huey, Michelle, who was the only one wearing a headset, heard the report and sat down heavily on the forward bench seat. She then removed the headset with her right hand and covered her eyes with her left as if in guilt. THIS, she knew, was in fact too much to have exposed her son to. Alain knew the look. "Is he—" His wife looked up then, cutting him off. "He's hurt. So is Rachel. Lecia is flying them to Millinocket, where an ambulance will be waiting to take them straight to the hospital. We will arrive before they do, though." Benton was completely cold, his eyes hard. "Did Lecia say what had happened to them?" "Rachel has a head injury and Jordan's ankle is broken. They are both in shock and unconscious from injuries and exposure. ...Alain, why are you two not with them?" "He had suffered the ankle injury as he, Benton, Rachel, and Ramona were almost to the Piscataquis' camp after being forced from the Bend by those monsters. The Indians homes had tunnels below them, and we treated him there, leaving him with Rachel while we went back above ground to confer on the matter of our circumstances. Four or five more monsters then crashed the conference, complicating matters by driving us away and shattering the Piscataquis home above the tunnel where they were hiding. Possibly Rachel tried to come up and help us and the house fell in on her. Jordan, I can only surmise that he tried to help her and allowed himself to grow cold. He was on morphine, too. ...Do we need to report that, Benton?" But Dr. Quest had already donned Michelle's headset in order to tell Jaret to report the issue to the police post. "We will beat them there, Doctor. And Lecia would not have administered medications, herself." "Ask them if the ursas we left at the camp are still asleep," Dr. Quest then said. Jaret already knew the answer. "She says that they euthanized them. We were given potassium chloride and hypodermics by the same veterinarian who took care of the baby creature." "WHAT? It was alive?" "It was and probably still is. We'll know in a few minutes when we land." "I understand." Dr. Quest then closed his eyes as if in deep contemplation. WHAT WENT WRONG? he wondered. WE KNEW THE DANGER. WE HAD AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSE. YET THE URSAS ATTACKED IN NUMBERS THAT WE HAD NOT EXPECTED. CLEARLY THEY HAVE BEEN ALIVE AND BREEDING IN THESE FORESTS FOR A NUMBER OF BIRTH CYCLES. The doctor opened his eyes and stared out at the sunrise. It was a pretty one, but he did not dwell on it. His wife was hurt, almost certainly severely so, and he himself was exhausted. He then looked at Alain as Michelle cleaned him up and the Huey began to descend for its landing. Dr. Carpentier spoke as if having read Benton's mind. "Michelle?" "Yes, dear?" "You're not going to forgive me for this, but I'm going to have to leave you alone with Jordi. Benton will have to stay close to Rachel, and that will leave me as the only one who can report to the authorities. ...Benton, you will have to come when you can." "You needn't go right away, Alain," Dr. Quest replied before Michelle could. "Have the hospital look you over and care for your hand. And you can't go before you know that Jordan will be well." "Yes, that I will do. But what of Rachel? If they have to move her out of town, you will have to go with her." Benton winced. "I'll have to call her father. With luck— I can't believe that I put it that way given his feelings towards me— Doug's in New York and not at home in New Mexico." Dr. Carpentier squeezed his friend's shoulder in sympathy. "He will not be happy to hear of this, I can tell." "No, he will not." "Dr. Quest?" Jaret called. "Yes?" "Prepare for landing, sir." And in five minutes they were down. A state police cruiser then whisked the doctors and Michelle away as the Nitro team reported to the captain, Jaret stood by, and Kyle flew to the airport and returned to the police post in a second cruiser. By the time he returned, Lecia, the sergeants and Kay were there, and the Bell was being pre-flighted by the day shift state police pilots. "Reports," Captain Aguilar ordered everyone to write. Nobody was going to bed before Noon. Not even Kyle and Kay, who as civilians could refuse to cooperate, but as licensed pilots could not. Millinocket Regional Hospital 0740 Alain had been taken behind closed doors for immediate treatment, but Benton and Michelle were there when the ambulance arrived and the EMTs burst through the doors with Rachel. Dr. Quest stopped them and very briefly looked at his wife. He was stunned at her lack of color and at the number of times that she had already been punctured (three). There was a cardiac monitor on which he noticed that her heartbeat was very weak, and all around her were blankets and warm water bottles. "Sir, please. We have to get her inside." "Go," Benton told the EMTs, who instantly reacted and removed Rachel into the emergency room. Michelle next met Jordan, who had been revived. He didn't sound very well, though. "Holà, Mère." "Mon fils. Avoir l'air froideur vous?" (You seem cold). "Non, madame. Pourquei?" (No ma'am. Why?). Michelle laughed and brushed her boy's bangs back away from his eyes. "You're blue, and your teeth are chattering." "Madame du Lumière?" the boy sadly asked. "I saw her, Jordi. She is alive, if not well. And I know that you tried to help her." Jordan smiled and squeezed his mother's hand, and was just as quickly gone as Rachel a moment later. "She will be all right, Benton." Dr. Quest had collapsed into a chair and was as careworn as Michelle had ever seen him. He looked up, a tear running down his cheek. "I'd better call her father and have him start this way." "I'd be interested to meet a man so awesome as to draw such a display of respect from you." "Well, you almost certainly will get the chance." Benton replied. Michelle spoke carefully. "He must love her very much." "Doug would excuse himself from the Oval Office and not wait for an answer if it was to be with her at a moment like this." The doctor then stood, walking with calling card in hand to the nearest pay phone. In ten minutes, he returned with his face as ashen as his wife's. Apparently, the man who was Doug Wildey had reacted as expected to the news of his daughter's injuring. Benton sighed. "He's on his way." "As are you, Dr. Quest," an ER nurse appeared and said. "This way, please. It's your turn for treatment." 0900 The emergency room physician was just finishing with Benton when Rachel's doctor appeared. The news he brought was not good. She had suffered a cerebral hematoma that had needed to be drained. That having already been done, Dr. Quest was told that his wife needed to be flown to the trauma care hospital in Bangor. The Careflight crew had been called and Rachel was being prepared for her trip. "Am I released?" Benton asked his own doctor. "You are, Doctor, though I will call Bangor and request that they once again check you there. You need to try to sleep, or they will have to see to it that you do." "I understand. I need to see Dr. Carpentier and make one telephone call, right away." "You have five minutes in which to do so," Rachel's doctor replied. His face revealed that the time limit was not open to negotiation. Benton first called the ATC System Command Center and had them forward a message to the Learjet that was flying somewhere over Kansas that its new destination was Bangor, Maine. Dr. Carpentier had heard, speaking as his friend hung up. "Rachel's father?" "He's over Kansas, right now." "I see. Captain Aguilar wants to see either you or I, and I gathered that he meant yesterday." Dr. Quest simply nodded. "Tell him that I will file my initial report with SPP Bangor this afternoon." "He'll agree with that," Alain smiled. "Jordi?" "Under two extra blankets and out like a light. Michelle is with him, but he'll probably sleep for a couple of days." "I wish that I could do that," Benton managed to laugh. "Don't I know it." Dr. Quest's face then took a turn. "Ramona?" "She asked to be flown back to Kokadjo, and the captain had his pilots take her there." "Follow up on that when you can." "A top priority, yes," Dr. Carpentier agreed. The Careflight EMTs then appeared with Rachel. Dr. Quest was even more appalled than before. Her head was wrapped with thick bandages and her neck and entire body had been braced for the coming helicopter ride. Yet it was the drainage tube and IVs that truly horrified Benton. Beneath his wife's head, the tube was still dripping. The application of intravenous fluids seemed to guarantee that it would only continue to do so. Dr. Quest moved to follow, but turned to Alain and spoke. "I'll be back by Noon tomorrow." "God bless, Benton." "Thank-you, my friend," Dr. Quest replied. And in five more seconds, he was gone. QUEST AND PROPHECY, Entré Acte Quest Estate 8 August, 1984 1000 The Blazer arrived, Sea Ray in tow, and out stepped Dr. Quest looking much better after the ordeal of the past few days. With him was Dr. Carpentier, who upon seeing his wife and son in the company and care of Mrs. Evans broke out in a huge smile. "Good news!" Dr. Quest exclaimed. "Rachel is going to be just fine!" Michelle laughed. "Yes, she called last night and we talked for twenty minutes or so. She seemed to me to be in an almost chipper mood." "And how are you, Jordi?" "Fine, Dr. Quest. Cool still, but warmer at madame's news." Benton smiled at that. After having left Rachel in Bangor with her father, and after having seen to it that Michelle and Jordan had been flown back to the coast and the good attentions of Mrs. Evans, he had rejoined Alain at the little cabin on Southern Jo-Mary Lakes. But before he had left him, the doctor had seen how fiercely the boy felt towards his entrapment beneath the Piscataquis' camp. Jordan had actually been ashamed at what he felt was his failure to adequately protect Rachel after she was hurt. ABSURD! Dr. Quest grinned. "You performed admirably, Jordi, doing everything that you could to help her. I, for one, consider you to be her guardian angel." Jordan seemed about to smile, but did not. Benton moved forward and met the boy's blue eyes. "Will you accept the honor?" "As far and as often as I can help her, Doctor. But I am not worthy." Benton smiled. "THAT remains to be seen. I believe that she'd love to keep you near her, Jordi." "I wish that it could be always." "As do I," Dr. Quest replied, catching his little friend in an arm. He wanted to hug him harder, but the boy was on crutches. Best not to get him off balance. Everyone went inside, where Jordan went with Mrs. Evans while the others retired to Dr. Quest's study in order to converse behind closed doors. "What has since transpired in the mountains?" Michelle asked as she sat down. Benton sat behind his desk, his eyes serious with the business at hand. "Based on our report, the Federal District Court having jurisdiction over Maine has issued an injunction barring the Atlantic Coast Company from operating their Chesuncook Mill until further notice. Moreover, they have been required to shut the mill down and leave the premises during the ongoing investigation of the area in question, which is all of Chesuncook Lake and its surrounding tributaries and ponds. Alain and I have since been all around those sites gathering samples. Every last one, and keep in mind that I'm talking about an area of over three hundred square miles, has been revealed to be contaminated with TMT. The EPA is forming a new team of field investigators, who with representatives of the State of Maine will go into the White Mountains in order to ascertain the EXACT extent of the damage. For now, Atlantic Coast is going to be allowed to run their other mills. They will be required to shut those down if the field teams find any further contamination in those areas. As for the ursas, the forest east of Moosehead Lake and north of the Appalachian Trail is closed to recreation until further notice and the National Guard is up there in force. They are combing an area far wider, looking for any remaining animals." "The one that we caught?" Michelle asked very softly. Benton frowned. "Terrible. The courts have ordered it to be kept alive, and the poor creature has to be suffering from the misfortune of its birth. I only hope that those who are most responsible for all of this will pay the heaviest possible penalty." Michelle let it stand. "What of our friends?" Benton laughed. "Would you believe that Lecia and Jaret are still flying for Atlantic Coast?" "I had feared that their actions would cost them their jobs. Does Atlantic Coast NOT desire to pay them by the order of the courts?" Benton absolutely roared with laughter. "No, they OWN the Aerospatiale with which they haul loads for Atlantic Coast!" Michelle's face revealed her delight. "They never told us that! I naturally assumed that when they called for Kyle and Kay it was because they feared that Atlantic Coast would ground them and put yes men into their helicopter." Alain smiled. "No, they knew that the Company would not send them HELP when their aircraft was lost. They were never once concerned for themselves." "How like them," Michelle smiled. "Indeed," Benton replied. "Their helicopter normally performs very well for Atlantic Coast, its having broken down during our ordeal being no more than an odd twist of fate. And since the courts have ordered Chesuncook shut down, the Company needs to pick up the slack with their other mills. This means that there's plenty of work to do for our friends with the big Aerospatiale." Michelle almost grinned until she thought about someone else. "Ramona?" Alain took his wife's hand. "A suicide," he gently told her. "Apparently she could not go on without John." "I don't believe it! Her people need her all the more!" Benton rose and looked out his window over the Atlantic Ocean. "Two of the worst possible losses to all of the Native American tribes here in Maine. Perhaps they will find unity in the leadership of Willem. This I can guarantee them all: they have won the fight in which John and Ramona died. Their forests will be made well again, and all of them with it as John himself indirectly expressed to you, Alain." "I remember his words," Dr. Carpentier nodded in agreement. He let it stand for a few moments before he changed the subject. "You know, I can still see that little area off of Third Roach Pond in every detail, the one where he took me to see Ramona's grandfather, Hector." Dr. Quest turned to face his friend. "And you still don't see how it could be that Atlantic Coast used that pond as a holding area for their lumber stocks." "It's way out in left field, Benton, not even being on the same lake system on which we found contamination. How could it be that Third Roach Pond, alone among all the rest of its sisters, reflects such damage AND in greater detail by far than anywhere else that we found TMT? Recall that the transportation contractor for Atlantic Coast denied with great conviction that they ever used those ponds as holding areas. Neither do Lecia, Jaret, and the rest of the Company's pilots recall ever having FLOWN lumber stocks there." Benton once again stared out to sea, his voice low in thought when he finally did reply. "I don't know, Alain. For a fact, you've uncovered an anomaly that may never be answered. I agree that something else is responsible for what happened there, though. Perhaps over the course of time we will find other answers with respect to Third Roach Pond. But we in Maine must now begin our efforts to clean up that area and all of the Chesuncook system. I expect that it will take years to complete it." "I will always pray to hear that it is finished. Those SUNSETS we saw! Such loveliness in nature must be guarded." Benton turned and grinned, uplifting the overall tone of the conversation. "Well, as guards go, you will soon become a great one. How soon do you leave for the Solomon Islands?" "Five weeks," Alain quietly replied, holding Michelle to him. Benton understood it completely. "There is no way that your theories will not bear out, my friend. In one to two more months, you will begin one of the single most important works in the history of man. And when it is finished, we will all see the sea in a far greater light." "My part will not be so important. I need establish just the base from which others will perform the greater work." "The vision is yours, Alain. Even better, you are moving your vision forwards and will see the results barring the impact of any unforeseen events. No, my friend, you will go into the Pacific and establish your laboratory. By my calculations, it will prove you to be quite correct, and it will do so no later than the turn of the century some sixteen years from now." Alain felt Michelle's hand close on his own. He met her eyes and both smiled. "It would be an amazing thing to beat that time frame. But I can only look forward to those ends and dream about how they might be reached." Benton also smiled. "Five years to build, and eleven more to run all of the planned experiments. Sixteen years, maximum." Somewhere not far enough away, a brilliant but sad man sat alone and coldly stared at an article of news that both did and did not mean defeat to him. He had not destroyed his hated nemesis as he had planned to, though he had managed to hurt him in an indirect, though not inappropriate way. This the man found satisfying, though in the years to come he would surpass it many times over to his complete physical and spiritual gratification. And in between would come many moments in which he would take great satisfaction as he watched his enemy suffer under the weight of his efforts to dominate all men, everywhere. There came a knock on the door, and with great fear and respect and underling approached and brought even more news that the man scanned very carefully. "So. Dr. Quest feels as though he has succeeded in the White Mountains. How convenient that he is so short of sight." "Master, read on. He has taken notice of your efforts to work beneath the cover of the Atlantic Coast Company." The man laughed. "He will not be able to trace it to us. And we achieved all of our goals except his death." "What of this Dr. Carpentier?" "An oceanographer in the employment of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. I have studied him, and he is quite brilliant. Yes, we must deal with him in time, not only because he is a friend of Quest's, but because he has interfered with me." "Something slow, my master?" "Slow and excruciatingly painful in every way. We must look for a way to destroy him by way of his love, the sea." "Have him watched?" "Not at this time. We must draw no further attention for many months." "As you wish, my master. If I may, your daughters will awaken soon. Shall I inform them that you will see them in the garden?" "As always, yes. Now go." Once alone, the man put away the article of news and returned his attention to his current project, a schematic of the sensor systems of an especially powerful and deadly robot spy. "Extensors? Brilliant! HA, ha, ha, haa!" Quest Estate Christmas Day, 1984 Sunrise Dr. Quest had risen early and dared the frosty December weather by donning a thick robe in order to observe the new day's rising sun from the balcony of his bedroom. He smiled as the warm and familiar old orb put on an extra lovely display of colors as it rose ever higher above the Atlantic ocean horizon. HOW APPROPRIATE TO THIS DAY, Benton smiled. He was a very happy man in that the last month had brought nothing but the best news. In the mountains, the Atlantic Coast Company had been ordered to pay all costs associated with the reparation of the Chesuncook Lake and Third Roach Pond areas. In Kokadjo, the Penobscots had recovered and were responding to an elder who very wisely worked with Willem Marten and the Piscataquis as both peoples moved forwards with respect to the memory of John Hawkes and Ramona Mariah. The forest was once again a place of peace and progress, though it would be years before anyone would once again speak of it in the context of prosperity. At that thought, the doctor frowned a bit. But then he recalled the last several letters from Dr. Carpentier in the Solomon Islands. There, Alain was reporting that he had brought together an amazing team of marine and structural engineers, and in another few months they would set the first parts of Carpentier laboratory in the cove of Rendova island, after which that great work would literally begin to grow and rise from the sea as if a living being unto itself. SPECTACULAR! Benton knew. MICHELLE AND JORDI MUST BE SO PROUD OF ALAIN. Dr. Quest thought about Michelle and Jordan and laughed. In their Christmas card had come a picture of the pair as they enjoyed an afternoon of skating on the frozen little lake behind the Carpentier's Victorian home outside of Montreal. The boy had mended well and was ice dancing with his mother— well, too. As for Michelle, she was deep into the composition of her doctoral thesis. By the time the little lake thawed and the flowers bloomed around its edges, it would be DRS. Alain and Michelle Carpentier. The boy, Benton grinned, had a tough act to follow. But he was very worthy. Dr. Quest sighed, lastly thinking about his golden-haired and now recovered wife. She was mostly well, though she often complained of headaches. Her doctors had assured she and Benton that these symptoms would eventually go away, barring any further injuries to her head. Benton had since spoken very seriously with Rachel on the matter of her intense physical nature. He had told her that he would not be happy to see her risking her health on horseback and skis from that moment forward, to which she very simply smiled, took his hand, and drew him into bed. The lady most definitely knew what she wanted at that time in her life, and as if on cue the doctor out on his balcony her his wife rise from bed and run into the bathroom, where she could be heard suffering those symptoms that were clearly not cerebral, but were instead thoroughly and completely maternal. Dr. Quest walked into the bedroom as Rachel appeared from out of the bathroom. Their eyes met, and he smiled as he extended his hand to her. She returned his smile with one that only a Wildey could give, and she took his hand and let him hold her to him. She began to laugh as he began to cry a father's tears of joy. "What could possibly be so funny?" he chuckled from within her embrace. Rachel looked up, tears in her own eyes as she grinned. "You're absolutely freezing cold!" "Oh, yes?" Benton smiled. She shook her head, looked up and laughed, then once again let him hold her as she rested her cheek on his chest. "Merry Christmas, Pop!" she very softly exclaimed. The End QUEST AND PROPHECY