All eyes were on the device as the letters came to a painfully slow stop. When they came to a standstill, all breathing in the vicinity had some to a halt, awaiting those fateful words.  Reynard read them first, being more proficient in the language. He began laughing, doing his best not to make his guests angry with his levity.

“I am so sorry my friends, but this device seems to have a sense of humor!"

Maggie ran the marker over the letters and a napkin over the words, flipping it impatiently to see what was there.

“dans votre propre temps."  

Her sigh of relief was nearly as great as was Edward's. He had understood the folly of his question the second after he uttered it. His voiced crackled a little as he spoke.

“I suppose that's a true enough answer."

Maggie punched him in the arm. “Quit asking stupid questions! You'll die when I'm good and ready to let you go. In the meantime, if you're going to ask it things, make sure you really want to know the answer."

Reynard was still chuckling at the looks on their faces. Instead of the expected anger he was prepared for, they joined in with him, realizing the idiotic fatality of asking such a question. When they recollected themselves into a more sober manner, the old Belgian patted Edward's hand.

“My friend, this is no mere toy that you have here. And yet, I sense that it might tell you only what you really need to know and skimp on the details on that which is asked idly."

“I don't know if my question was idle or not. And yet, I think you might be correct. My heart wasn't really into asking that as much as my mind was," Edward replied, feeling a little sheepish.

“I sensed a touch of anger in your voice. Why hold resentment for a simply machine?"

“Simple? I would hardly call this thing simple! It can do what I cannot!"

 Reynard sat back in his seat and shook his head. “I think that this machine can do nothing on its own. It must have something to draw upon, and that would be a living entity. And even then, there is a good chance it won't work for just anyone. You mentioned when we first met that you had some small ability?"

Edward rubbed his head where the now vanished bullet hole had been. “Yes, of a sort. I'm not sure it's worthy of an explanation."

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."

“What?"

Reynard  laughed. “From Shakespeare of course. Though I am beginning to think that you might be all three of those things. “

“I wasn't born great!"

“No one really ever is. But your genetics seem to say otherwise. As for achieving it, who is to say what is and isn't great? And can I guess that you were afflicted with an injury that brought forth something from inside you that you didn't know you had?"

“Something like that."

“Time will tell what will come of that. You know, I sometimes find that the youthfulness we are granted in our early years gives one a certain flexibility to adapt to new and different things. You are not yet old, even by normal standards. Take what has been given you and exercise it."

“How does one exercise foresight?"

“A little at a time."

He turned to Maggie. “Do you have the same ability?"

“Not like his seems to be, as I mentioned before."

“Meaning what?"

“I have some small abilities. I can see the need for things ahead of time. And…"

“And?"

“I can immobilize people if I will it."

“The latter is a common trait."

Maggie sat up straighter. “What?"

Reynard looked at her with equal surprise. “You didn't think you were the only one graced with that did you? Why do you think people tend to fear the dark? It's an old trait many of us have. Paralyze them and force the feeling of terror into their soul and you can achieve a lot without bloodshed.Of course it varies from person to person, just like any talent."

She sat there musing his words over in her head. “That would go far to explain a lot about the reaction to it. Between not being able to see well, on top of adding the inability to move and the addition of a feeling of fear, I could see where people would shy away from the darker, more forbidding places in the world."

“Which is why you can often find us in just those spots, at least you could in the past.Times change. And by people, I assume you mean those graced with none of the abilities that make The Kind who they are?"

“Yep. I never really thought about it before."

“That is one of your follies. You must take the time to think everything through. You might be surprised how differently you'll react when you do."

“That's being made increasing clear." she said with a touch of wryness in her voice.

“I'm not trying to be nasty," he said hastily. “I was young once. A good elder tries his best to pass along his wisdom, including how to avoid the same mistakes he made."

Edward took this moment to return the pat on their host's hand. “That advice is greatly appreciated, but I really think we need to make our own mistakes. Something tells me that what we will end up doing in our lives is going to be completely different from what you did in yours."

“Oh, don't be too sure of that. I have been through violent wars and peace time alike. I have taken my share of wounds and I have had my share of love. Though it seems I might have room for more, assuming that your little machine is correct."

“Just be careful," Edward replied, a touch of humor in his voice. “Sometimes the wounds caused by love are tougher to bear than those from the other."

He dodged Maggie's fist just in the nick of time.

“You're a jerk!"

He grabbed her before she could throw another punch and pulled her in, kissing her soundly. “Yes I am. But you know I didn't mean it."

She pulled away, but not before she managed to bite his lip. “Yes you did! And I happen to agree with you. But I think we might be viewing it a little differently, one from the other."

Reynard could sense an argument beginning to brew, and while it wasn't likely to be severe, he decided to intervene. “When we lose one we love, our bitterest tears are called forth by the memory of hours when we loved not enough."

They both looked at him.

“What?"

“Something a friend and a son of Belgian once wrote. I think it is sound advice. You can never recoup the time you have wasted, so do your best to waste none of it."

Maggie's cheeks turned red.

“But we have plenty of time; right?"

“Never assume anything young lady. Life can be a hard mistress regardless of what sex you are. Be careful not to take anything or anyone for granted."

“Like that lady who was here earlier?"

“Even like her. Had you not said anything about her, I would never have known the difference. I am, however, referring more to how you two get along, and how you live out your life. I know you've had some rough spots and that is normal. A smooth sailing ship might make for a fine vacation, but it leaves you with nothing exciting to remember in your later years."

Edward shifted uncomfortably.

“What would you have us do?"

“Me? I can only make suggestions. You are correct in that you must do things your own way, but always be ready to listen to those who have more years on you. I'm not saying that age makes one smarter, but it does give a certain perspective that can only be earned the hard way."

Edward remained motionless for a little while, his face frozen as his brain wrestled with a dilemma. He finally spoke.

“Can I ask a favor of you?"

“Of course!"

“You will keep any promise I ask?"

“No. I am no fool to commit to that which I do not know."

“Fair enough. I want to put this box back in the safe. The key I'll keep, but I don't want to be tempted to ask it a question that may do me more harm than good if it answers it properly"

Maggie was about to protest, but immediately saw the wisdom in his decision. Out of sight was out of mind. She added her support to the idea.

“I agree. I think we need to make our own future, not try and see what it is going to be without putting in the actual effort."

Reynard smiled broadly. “A wise choice. And by taking the key, you remove any temptation I might have in looking too hard into my own future."

Edward slumped back against his seat. While it looked as though he had succumbed to defeat, in actuality he was feeling better about his life.  He relaxed, allowing his muscles to unknot from the recent tension he had been experiencing. He leaned forward and began closing up the device. He hesitated before the final panel was in place. Maggie read his thoughts.

“It'll only take a day to reopen it. I think we can afford that if there is a need for this again."

“Yeah, I think you're right. I was just trying to see if there was one more question to ask it."

“Sure. Ask it if this is what you should be doing."

The lid clicked shut. “No. I'll decide that, thank you very much."

Thus, the box was returned to its prior location, the lid shut tight and securely locked with the bed returned to its position over it all.  The three of them retraced their steps to the tavern and drinks were poured.

“So my friends, what now?"

Maggie looked at Edward before speaking. “I guess we go round up Leo and see what he has to say about this Lady Lily."

Reynard nodded. “That seems expedient. Did he ever mention this lady before?"

“No, but then why would he? We were a tad bit busy with other things at the time."

“Yes, I guess that would make sense. I'm sure there were many things left unsaid. As the lady has existed for a very long time, one could conclude that he might have had contact with her in the past. Still, I find it odd that the machine would have directed you to a secondary person to find her, when one might assume that the machine could have done so on its own. As we have seen, there is still a little mystery left in its short and simple answers. I would say that whatever and whomever you discover in your travels, this machine will have left something to the imagination."

“Are you saying that packing it up was a mistake?"

“Not at all. I am saying that unless you pressed hard to extract the answer from it, it would only tell you what you absolutely need to know. But that is only my opinion, which is subject to all sorts of flaws."

Edward chugged back the last half of his glass of beer.

“As is mine I think. But then, what good would perfection be to the likes of us?"

Reynard coughed a little and motioned his eyes towards Maggie. Edward followed his glance and then turned red.

“Well, some things in life ought to be perfect."

Maggie nodded knowingly. “Yes they should be and yes I am!"

Their laughter was loud and joyous.

They packed up the next day, saying goodbye to all of the members of the kludde clan. Each and every man there reminded Edward that he was now their leader, and though they would still listen to Reynard, if anything major were to befall them or their beloved Belgium, he would be the one they would turn to in their hour of need.  He accepted it with as much grace as he could muster, knowing that he had nothing he could offer them but his acceptance of their support. He wasn't a leader and he doubted he ever would be one. As it was, the delay got them on the road much later than he had expected.

This time Reynard filled the basket with food for them, along with a few bottles of wine. It was a large and boisterous group of well-wishers that saw them off from in front of the tavern.

Maggie was waving out the window as Edward gunned the engine and hurried off down the street towards the highway. They weren't so much in a rush to leave as they were in a hurry to get closer to their ultimate destination, or was that penultimate? Leo wasn't going to be the final destination…unless he was a she? No, that was too far-fetched for even their increasingly vivid imaginations.

The trip was going to be fairly long, some fifteen hours at best if they drove straight through. She knew her partner well enough to know he was considering driving straight through, but she had caught on to feeling out the scenery. If something came up to draw her attention, she was planning on taking notice.

Their trip took them through France, and Maggie sat looking out the window at the passing scenery.

“I wonder how Emile and Corrine are doing?" she said more in her head than through her mouth.

“What?"

“Oh sorry. I was just wondering how the twins were doing."

“I would suppose they're doing fine.They're with Leo after all, so you'll be able to have an answer to your question when we get there."

“You're right," she said with a sigh. "I like having this adventure and all, but I sort of miss having a girl my own age around."

“Your age? I think that she's a little younger than you."

“It's still closer than the old dudes we've been hanging out with for the past week . And she's a she. That helps immensely."

“Well, I'm sure you can look her up when we get to the Vatican. She's probably still working in the kitchen."

“And Emile is probably sharing Leo's bedroom. Things will probably be status quo when we get there."

“I doubt very much that anything is merely status quo with Leo around. Then again, I haven't heard anything on the news, so maybe he is actually trying to lie low as he promised he would."

“I think he intends to. Between catching up on all the modern inventions and technology, and his general promise to the pope, I really think he intends to stay out of sight. IWHile it makes sense on the outside of it, it almost appears that he has a good reason to stay hidden"

"It's possible. If you came out of a five hundred year sleep, would you be ready to tackle a new world?"

"No, I suppose I wouldn't. But maybe his cryo-sleep had something to do with the lady?"

“Could be. If that's the case than maybe he won't want to help us find her."

“We'll see. On the other hand he might want to get it over with and meet up with her as well, to patch up anything they had in the past."

“Could be.In the end it's all mere speculation."

“I know. I'm kind of bored right now. Conjecturing gives me something to do."

The sounds within the car soon quieted down to nothing more than the roar of the engine rumbling under the hood and the hum of the tires as they caressed the road. There were the occasional stops for petrol, but overall the drive became rather monotonous.Maggie plugged earpieces into her cellphone and listened to music while Edward drove stolidly onward. As they drove south and east through the French countryside, both of them were absorbed in their own thoughts and musings, rarely saying a single word to break the silence.

It wasn't until sometime later that they both shivered a little and looked at one another.

“Did you feel that?"

“I did. What was it?"

“I don't know. I mean, I've had reactions similar to that before  as you well know, but if you felt it too, it has to be something more than mere coincidence. Where are we?"

“I don't know. Just on some highway that's taking us south towards Switzerland."

Maggie pointed to a car that had just passed them by. “Do you think it has something to do with that driver?"

“How the hell should I know? What do you want me to do, follow him?"

“Why not? If nothing else we can stop where he stops for the night and get something hot to eat."

“I don't know. I think I'd rather forget about it and just keep driving. We still have food in the basket."

“Oh come on! Aren't you least bit curious?"

“Curiosity killed the cat they say. I'm finding that we're already in over our heads. I don't think adding to that will do us any good."

“Please! Can't we just follow the car and see where it goes?"

Edward sighed. “Fine. I guess it's not like we're on a schedule or anything."

He pulled ahead to regain the lost ground that had grown between them. The lead car seemed oblivious to the fact it was now being followed, and sped down the road towards wherever it was the driver was heading.

They followed the Peugeot for a few kilometers on their present course before it veered off on one of the exits. They found themselves on another of the many arteries that crisscross Europe, with it taking them through one picturesque town after another. Edward dropped back now and again in an effort not to seem to be shadowing the other person. Maggie got irritated by his caution.

“He'll never know he's being tailed!"

“If we felt something, he may have too.  I'm not going to be obvious about this."

“And if we lose him?"

“Then we lose him. This was your idea, and I'm not all that excited about meeting another - uhm - unusual person right now."

“Oh come on! Are you telling me that you don't want to find out if this person is a werewolf like us?"

“I don't care if that guy up ahead is a werewolf, loup garou, or kludde, or whatever other permutations exist around here. We have a mission to complete you know."

“But you said we weren't on a schedule."

“We're not. And yet, I feel we probably shouldn't be getting sidetracked with something that may prove to be pointless, or even worse, dangerous."

Maggie was about to plead with him when the lead vehicle pulled off the road and towards another town. The sign said that the upcoming community was called Dole.

“Dole? Have you ever heard of a place with that name?"

“Nope. But then outside of knowing about Paris and a few other major cities, why would I?" Edward asked peevishly.

“I don't know. It sounds a little familiar to me."

 “Probably from back home. There is a food company by that name."

“If you say so. I guess it's not important."

They drove on for a little while longer, trying to keep the car in sight. Twisting streets didn't help matters, but finally the driver pulled over and parked. Edward hung back to follow where the man was headed. Parking in these little towns was a premium considering their age. They were built long before cars were invented so no room had been allotted for them.

As they drove forward, Maggie made a note of the building he had entered. After a few moments of driving Edward finally found a spot and slipped the little Alfa into it. They got out, locked it up and walked a few blocks over to where they had seen their mystery man enter. It was an upscale eatery. The aroma of fine dining was overwhelming.

“I don't have a solid opinion of the French as of yet, but when it comes to food, they know what they're doing!" exclaimed Edward.

“Mmmm Hmmm!" replied Maggie, a slight rumble coming from her belly. “I didn't think I was all that hungry until I got here. Let's go inside!"

The interior was very nice, and owing to the lateness of the hour, rather filled to capacity. They made their way to the bar and sat down, looking over the selection of liquors embellishing the back wall. The bartender came over and inquired what their preferences would be.

“Bonne après-midi! Que désirez-vous? “

Edward thought for a moment. “La prérogative de vartender.“

The man behind the bar smiled. “You speak good French for a foreigner. American?"

“Is my use of it that bad?"

“Not at all. But you carry an accent that is not natural to those who grew up with the language. I suppose I must sound strange to your ears speaking English."

“A little. I'm still wrestling with the concept of knowing several languages."

“You make it sound like you've been learning them overnight."

“Something like that."

The man gave him an enigmatic stare before turning to his wares. “So, you desire an aperitif? Do you want something similar to what you Americans drink or something closer to what we drink?"

“Surprise us."

He pulled down a bottle of absinthe. “Have you ever tried this?"

They both grinned. “Yes. Got anything else?"

“Hmm. I suppose that you've been traveling a lot? Becoming familiar with L'Hexagone?"

“With what?"

“My Pardon. We have a nickname for our country, just like you have for yours. I assume you are tourists?"

“Not exactly. We're traveling south to Italy and decided to stop here for the night."

“I see. Very unusual. Normally we don't get too many visitors that travel on their own.  You have a rental car?"

“No. I own it."

“So you're telling me that you came over here, bought a car and are now traveling on your own? There is more to you than meets the eye. But then, I am being rude. What you do is your own business."

He turned his attention to his art, pulling down a couple of bottles, two glasses and a fresh lemon. In a few minutes he presented them with two glasses.

“There is some debate over this drink. Some say it was first created here, others say across the channel in Britain."

“What is it?"

“It is referred to as a Sidecar. Bon Appetite!"

Maggie sipped hers, rolling the taste if it in her mouth before swallowing. “This is very good!"

“Yes it is. Unlike your country which seems to have devolved when it comes to creativity, we still like to tantalize our tongues with good taste." The twinkle in his eye told them he was ribbing them gently.

Edward said nothing. He was well aware that American's had been earning themselves a poor standing around the world. He wasn't about to get into a heated debate on the subject.

  “So? Are you staying for a meal? I can recommend several good choices if you're interested."

“Sure. And perhaps a place to stay?"

“That might very well be possible as well. But first food. Shall I chose for you in this regard?"

“Why not? You seem to know what you're about."

At that moment a man walked up to the bar, asked for something, which he received for the price of a handshake before melting back into the crowd. As he walked away though, he sniffed the air, turning this was and that before finding his way back to his table. Maggie turned to her partner.

“Do you suppose that was the man in the car?"

“I don't know. I do think his actions just now were a little odd. Then again, maybe he was smelling someone's perfume."

“I didn't feel anything odd when he was around."

“Me either, but I have this feeling that it might have been him."

The bartender cleared his throat. “Odd feeling? About whom might I ask?"

They whipped around, both feeling a little embarrassed. “That fellow who was just up here? Do you happen to know him? Is he a local?"

He stared across the room. “Local? He used to be. His family line has lived here for generations. Why would you ask?"

“Well, this will sound stupid, but we swear we followed him into town."

“You very well could have. He did just arrive from up north."

“Oh, so then it might have been him. A strange coincidence…" Edward halted. He knew better than that. The thought made him feel both angry and tired at the same time.

“Coincidence? Yes, I suppose it could be. After all, things happen all the time that are within the realm of the unexplained. For example, one might ask what two American members of The Kind are doing here and particularly now in this very place?"