About The Scarlett Kite
Hi! I'm Scarlett Kiteway, I'm 20 years old, a journalism student in Perplex City and this is my blog all about the excitement over the search for the Cube. I'll be keeping track of what the media over there is saying about it, and maybe a little bit about my life as well!
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Friday, October 28, 2005
The old man
Category: story, 05:46 PM
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Or seeing. For a moment I was sure that I was having another one of those vivid dreams I've been getting. This was the man from the archives! The mysterious man who'd set me off on all these adventures! Who'd nearly got us killed! As soon as I was able to react, I leaned over toward the panic button on the wall next to my bed. The old man was quicker than me, though. I reached for the button but he grabbed my wrist.
He said: "Don't do that. I need your help."
I struggled, trying to free my wrist. "Let me go!"
He leaned close to my ear and whispered: "Please, Miss Kiteway, I need you to help me. If I tell you who I am, will you promise not to press that buzzer until I explain why I'm here?"
I looked at him. Close-up he seemed older, more tired-looking.
"Yes."
He let go of my wrist and stood back, looking at me.
I said: "So who are you?"
He said: "My name is Henry Castille, retired Major of the Perplex City Defence Forces."
"And why are you here? What is Viendenbourg? Why did you give me a map to it? What is *going on*?!!"
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He looked so much like Allain when he did that.
"Miss Kiteway, I'm afraid I can only answer some of those questions. I wish I could do more, but, like you, I am still trying to establish what is 'going on'. But I can tell you what I know."
He reached one hand around to rub his shoulder, wincing as though he were in pain.
He said: "May I sit down?"
I nodded and he pulled up the straight-backed chair from its place by the window. He looked so vulnerable, I almost wanted to comfort him. He took a few moments to collect himself, had a sip of water. I suggested that he just start at the beginning, and try to explain to me what's going on.
He smiled, just a little.
"Miss Kiteway, the 'beginning' is so long ago that no one can remember it. That is part of the problem. But I can start by telling you about how we came to meet.
"We first encountered one another, you will recall, in the military archives, when you came to research a word you had not heard before: 'Viendenbourg'? You spoke very loudly, it was impossible not to hear what you were discussing." He smiled. "The exuberance of youth. And I gave you a map to the place. Did you ever stop to consider that it was an astonishing coincidence that a person who could give you the precise information that you required should happen to be in the archives at the same time as you?"
I nodded, silently.
"It was no coincidence. My grandson and I, we have been, well, researching Viendenbourg, researching the Reynolds ionizer for some time. I knew you would be in the archives that day, and I came to wait for you."
"But..." I said, "but, but... the woman in the archives said that you came there often; that you always cried when you looked at that box, from 5BC."
"Yes, that is correct. I often visit the military archive, I often look at that box. The history of our city is tragic. But I made a special point to be there at the same time as you."
He stopped to take another sip of water. I thought about what he'd said; it didn't seem to make any sense at all.
"How could you possibly know I was going to be in the archives that day?" I said. "How could you know I was investigating Viendenbourg?"
"Your friend, Kurt, tried to research Reynolds ionizers, yes? His key was attacked by a military-grade trace. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to construct a military-grade trace, and even conceal its origin, without having to be a member of the military. At least, without having to be a member of the military any more."
"It was *you*?!!! You hacked *Kurt's* key?! But how did you know about me?"
He smiled. "You triggered some of our alerts when you searched for Viendenbourg. We could easily trace your connection to Kurt. Allain and I knew who you were, we knew that you must be looking for the same thing we are."
"Just a second," I said, "You did all this? You rigged up a military-grade trace yourself, and you've been tracking me and Kurt? You've been tracking me this whole time?"
"We've only been tracking you for a few weeks. We've been involved in this search a lot longer than that. We've been looking for Viendenbourg for many years now."
"We? You and Allain? But he's only my age, he's only a student."
"Not with Allain. I set up these systems with... my daughter. Allain's mother. A computer expert. Allain came here to find her. She is missing."
I'm sorry, I have to stop now - I'm very tired and I haven't even told you half the things that Major Castille and I have been talking about over these past few days. I have to keep stopping to rest. I'll carry on my story as soon as I can.