Legends of Amacia: Mysteries of Tiamat
Danger Realized

Harry arrived back atHannibal’s house forty-five minutes after leaving, speeding up the driveway.Mary appeared visibly upset and injured as Harry helped her entered the house.Hannibal, Selina, and Dennis were sitting in the living room as Harry broughtMary in. Hannibal watched them come in and noticed Mary’s expression and badlybruised face and arms with cuts on the cheeks. Her tan blouse and blue denimskirt were rumpled, smeared with blood and dirt, and ripped in several placeson her arm and torso. “Oh god no, this is not good,” Hannibal cried with greatalarm as he rushed to her. “What on earth happened?”

Tears streamed down Mary’scheeks; she was unable to speak as Harry and Hannibal gently helped her to thesofa so she could sit down. Hannibal looked at Harry, seeing his face a complexof anger and grief. “It was a home invasion. Someone broke in the house while Iwas gone and attacked her,” Harry snarled. “Apparently the house was beingwatched and they waited until I was gone to do it. I got there and found thefront door broken off its hinges and Mary tied to a dining room chair with agag in her mouth. They beat her unmercifully and ransacked the house. My studywas torn apart. They were looking for something. They had better hope I don’treplace them. If I ever replace the guys that did this, I’ll tear them apart!”

Hannibalknelt down in front of Mary, holding her hands as Selina put an arm around her.Dennis looked at his mother with shock and tears welling up in his eyes. Marylooked up at Hannibal and bawled as he embraced her. “It’s all right. You’resafe now,” Hannibal cooed.

“I don’tunderstand!” Mary bawled. “They never told be what they were looking for or whythey were there. They just broke the door down and came after me! I couldn’teven get to the phone to call for help!”

Hannibalglanced at Harry. Rage filled his features. “I’ll get whoever did this!” Harryroared. “They are so dead!”

“Selina,see to her,” Hannibal ordered as he got up. Selina rose and retrieved afirst-aid kit and an ice pack from the kitchen. Righteous anger welled up inHannibal’s soul and it spilled out onto his face. It contorted in righteousindignation. “This is a message. Did they take anything?” Hannibal asked Harrypointedly.

“Yes,”Harry replied with a growl. “They ransacked the house and took my computer.”

Hannibal’sface fell slightly. “Tell me you erased those pictures off your computer,” heasked, almost pleading.

Harry gazedat Hannibal intently through his anger and a sinister smile crossed his lips.“They aren’t going to get anything off that thing,” he hissed. “The night Iprinted the pictures, something told me to wipe out everything that had to dowith you. Then I went and infected it with a virus that would completelycorrupt the system in ten seconds if anyone but me tried to access the computerwhether it was from my terminal or remotely if they didn’t know the startupprotocol and password. Any remote network contact with my system would infectand crash the remote system before they realize what they’d hooked into.”

“Yousurprise me, Harry,” Hannibal replied. “How’d you get your mitts on such anasty virus?”

“It wassomething I came across a couple years ago with that big hacker bust we made,”Harry stated, his anger on a slow boil. “I interrogated the hacker before thegovernment goons took over the case and killed him. Apparently, he hacked intonot just the banking system, but also the government’s secret intelligencenetwork, found some very disturbing information about the government’sactivities he wasn’t supposed to see, and downloaded everything he could beforethey shut him down. Our department got the call to raid the kid’s home and holdhim until the feds could show up and take over. No interrogation was to takeplace. All we had to do was hold him. So, we arrested him and held him at hishouse until the goon squad showed up. But I smelled a rat and so did the restof my team. We decided that I alone needed to talk to the kid before the fedsshowed up since I was the senior officer. While my partner and the rest of theteam secured the house, I informed him of his rights and spoke to him about whyhe was being arrested. The boy wasn’t more than eighteen, but understood why wewere there and feared for his life. He didn’t fear us, but the feds, whom heinsisted were going to kill him for hacking into their black operationsnetwork. He admitted the hacking and warned me not to trust the feds. Then hetold me about the government secretly spying on its citizens electronically soit could replace any malcontents.

“For somereason I don’t quite understand, he gave me a flash drive with the virus of hisown creation that would protect any computer from government intrusion andconfiscation. He then told me how to install it and where he’d stashed theinformation in cyberspace. It was information that was apparently so hot thegovernment would kill anyone who’d seen it without authorization. My copinstinct told me something much more sinister was going on, so I didn’t reportwhat he said or hand over the flash drive. That kid never left that house. Iheard multiple gunshots as the government goons chased my squad and me from thehouse after they took over. The official report is the hacker committed suiciderather than be taken. The thing is my team and I searched that residence fromtop to bottom and found no guns at all on in the house. How could he shoothimself multiple times when he never owned a gun, much less do it with hishands cuffed behind his back? I personally snapped the cuffs on him. My teamand I were interrogated by the feds for several days after the incident, butnone of us said anything beyond what the official report was, especially whenwe found out the agents were intelligence operatives. That flash drive has satin my safe for two years until the other night when I decided to use it afterpurging everything about you from the hard drive.”

“I rememberthat incident,” Hannibal stated soberly. “Seems you got caught in a reallypickle that day. And I can’t help but think that this incident may havesomething to do with this attack on Mary. Your exposure to the hacker beforethey could show up may have caused them to flag you as a potential threat whenyou didn’t tell them what the boy said. You said you finally utilized the virusthe other night?”

“Yeah,”Harry growled. “I did. Once I installed it, I put the flash drive back in thesafe. I hope that virus contaminates every system they have when they try tohook my computer into their network. They’re going to rue messing with me andlaying their hands on Mary.”

“That was agood move,” Hannibal replied with a raised eyebrow, “and very clever. They’llnever get anything off your computer now and hopefully, it’ll damage theirother systems too. What about the hard copies you had of the pictures. What ofthem?”

“We cut abreak there. They didn’t replace the safe. That’s where I put all that stuff. Iretrieved all that material, including the flash drive with the virus andscarab and brought it. They’ll never get it now,” Harry answered venomously.

“This isgetting serious,” Hannibal stated. “Now I know the decision to bring you toTiamat is the right one. We’re going to have to move immediately. They’ve showntheir hand. This is a warning to us. I just didn’t think they would move soquickly or boldly.” He turned back to Mary and sat down on his haunches infront of her. Selina had dressed her cuts and given the ice-pack to her. Maryheld the ice-pack on the side of her face, which was swollen from the beating.Hannibal looked her in the eye and said with utter sincerity, “I’m truly sorrythat this happened to you. It wasn’t anything you did. They did what they didin order to get to me.”

Mary gazedinto Hannibal’s eyes; her pain reflected in the grimace on her face. “I guess Ishould thank you for sending Harry back when you did,” she said with a mix ofbitterness and gratitude. “Otherwise, who knows what they would have done orhow long I would have been there. I want to blame you for this but I just can’tstay mad at you after all that you’ve done for us.”

“That’sfair enough,” Hannibal conceded. “In a way, it is my fault because of what Ilet you in on. Maybe if I hadn’t, you might not have been attacked. On theother hand, maybe not…did they ask you anything at all?”

“No, notthat I can remember,” she replied, shaking her head no slowly. “All they didwas beat the daylights out of me and tie me up. I thought for sure they weregoing to rape me but they didn’t. For that I’m thankful.”

“Did yousee their faces?” Hannibal queried again.

“No,” Maryreplied softly, still upset and hurt by the experience. “They were wearing skimasks.”

“I thinkthat’s enough questions for now,” Selina said sternly.

Hannibalnodded. “You just lie down and rest for now,” he said softly to Mary. “We’lltalk later when you’re feeling better.” Just as he finished speaking, theyheard the rumble of a truck outside. “This is not good timing,” Hannibalgrowled. “Come Harry, we’ve got work to do.”

Harry’sanger subsided to a slow simmer as he followed Hannibal out the door. Selinaslid down to the end of the sofa and helped to lay Mary down, carefully layingher head on her lap. She gently stroked Mary’s hair, purring softly in aneffort to calm her down. Dennis stayed right there beside them. Selina’spurring helped to calm Mary’s shattered nerves and she slowly relaxed, driftingoff to sleep in the matter of ten minutes. After Mary had been asleep for aboutfive minutes, Dennis asked Selina in a troubled tone, “Mom’s going to be allright, isn’t she?”

Selinalooked at Dennis compassionately. “Yes, Dennis,” Selina replied. “She’s goingto be all right. She just needs a little rest.” She noticed that Dennis wasstarting to cry. “Come here, little one,” she said extending her other arm.Dennis moved to her and cried softly on her shoulder. Selina put her arm aroundhim and consoled him. “It’s going to be all right. You’ll see,” she purred,letting Dennis sit on the sofa arm. There she sat, watching over the two ofthem as Hannibal and Harry unloaded the trucks. Over the next hour and a half,Selina heard the first truck leave and the other trucks come and go along withthe roar of the forklift. The radio continued to echo softly through the house.The preacher preached the mercy of Christ as she purred to keep Mary relaxed.Dennis stopped crying and sat silently next to Selina, keeping eye on hismother. Selina started to drift off to sleep when she suddenly noticed a lackof noise coming from outside.

Selinashook herself to alertness as the front door opened and Hannibal and Harry camein. “Shhh!” she warned as they came in. Both of them walked to the sofa whereMary lay with her head on Selina’s lap, sound asleep.

“How isshe?” Hannibal asked softly as Harry knelt down next to the sofa.

“She’sgoing to be all right. She’s sleeping right now,” Selina purred.

Hanniballooked at Selina with intrigue. “You put her to sleep?” he asked.

“It’s oneof the things I can do,” Selina stated. “My purr is very soothing and relaxing;a natural sedative in a way. I figured some sleep would help this situation.”

“Astonishing…Ididn’t know you could have that effect on people,” Hannibal replied in animpressed tone.

“Do youhave a bed handy?” Harry asked as he gazed empathetically at Mary sound asleepin Selina’s lap.

“Yes,there’s one upstairs,” Hannibal said. “You want to move her up there?”

“Help mepick her up,” Harry ordered Selina, who gradually raised Mary’s shoulders andhead so Harry could pick her up. He put his arms around Mary and gently liftedher off the sofa. Mary slowly shifted position as Harry picked her up. “Show methe room,” Harry ordered.

“Followme,” Hannibal murmured, leading Harry upstairs to his bedroom. Selina and Dennisfollowed close behind.

Hannibalopened the door and Harry stepped sideways to enter the room with his preciouscargo. Hannibal pulled the blankets back and Harry laid her down gently on thebed. Harry pulled the blankets back up to her chest and sat on the edge of thebed, deep grief evident on his face. Mary shifted position again and settleddown, still fast asleep. Harry gently caressed her beaten face with his hand.Tears streamed down his face as he turned to Hannibal. “We can’t let this happenagain,” Harry insisted.

Hannibalput a comforting hand on Harry’s shoulder. “It won’t happen again if I have anysay about it,” Hannibal declared.

Harry gotup and stood before Selina. Tears still stained his face. “Thank you for whatyou did. After what she’s been through...,” he said softly, choking as hisemotions boiled over again.

Selinaembraced Harry, letting him cry on her shoulder. “It’ll be all right,” Selinapurred, stroking his back gently. She stood there for a full minute lettingHarry grieve, purring the whole time in an effort to calm him down.

“You trulyare an angel,” Harry finally said, looking Selina in the eye. “Your purring hascalmed me. Thank you.”

“No thanksare necessary, brother,” Selina purred, smiling warmly. “It’s what family doesfor each other.” Hannibal walked over to them; Dennis moved in, and made it agroup hug.

After thegroup hug, Hannibal became more businesslike. “We still have much to do,” hestated. “Dennis, can you stay here with your mom while we get started on movingeverything to the Temple?”

Dennissnapped to attention. “You bet, Hannibal,” he crowed.

“When shewakes, come get us. We should be outside,” Hannibal stated. “Come on. We haveto move this stuff before they decide to strike again.”

Selina andHarry followed Hannibal back downstairs and into the garage. Hannibal huntedthrough his packs for the special phone and found it. They went outside andHannibal opened the phone, calling the Temple informing them of what hadhappened and what was needed. Selina looked around as they went outside and sawlarge crates and pallets of supplies strewn around the yard. Many chairs,sofas, beds, and tables sat out on the grass wrapped in shrink-wrap. Theforklift still had a pallet of supplies on the forks. Within thirty seconds ofcontact with the Temple, the portal opened up, this time big enough to drivethe forklift through. Nathanael came through and approached them. “Is Mary allright?” he asked with great concern.

“Yes,she’ll be all right. She’s asleep right now,” Harry replied. “Selina put her tosleep with her purr.”

“She hasthat effect on people,” Nathanael stated. “That purr of hers is a naturaltranquilizer when she tunes it right.” As he spoke, Dan and dozen more men andwomen came through the portal.

“Let’s getthis stuff moved before anyone shows up,” Hannibal ordered.

“You have aplace to put all this, don’t you?” Harry asked.

“Absolutely,”Nathanael replied confidently. “The portal chamber is bigger than this yard.There’s plenty of room.”

Harrynodded as Hannibal looked up at the sky, and then at the tree line around theyard. Hannibal’s expression hardened as he said, “I don’t like doing this outin the open. They may be watching from satellite.”

“Well, itcan’t be helped,” Harry stated. “Though we may just get lucky and they may notbe watching.” Fortune favored Harry’s remark for unknown to them at thatmoment, the sky was clear of spy satellites.

“I hopeso,” Hannibal replied. “Let’s do this. We’ll get this stuff out here and thenmove the portal into the basement to get the goods down there.”

“You can dothat?” Harry asked. “You can move the portal at your leisure?”

“That wecan,” Nathanael said as Hannibal gave instructions to his help from the Temple.

Withinminutes, the forklift began moving and the supplies started flowing into theportal. Hannibal, Nathanael, Harry, Selina, and five others from the Templewent into the house and started gathering Hannibal’s research. After an hour,all the supplies outside had been sent through the portal while Hannibal andhis crew had gathered the bulk of his research into the garage. The walls ofthe house were bare except for Hannibal’s room where Mary lay asleep. Theybarely had room to move around in the garage because of the volume of Hannibal’sresearch materials. A man pokedhis head in the door and announced, “We’re done outside. Are you ready for usto move into the basement?”

“Absolutely,”Hannibal answered.

“Just showus where to set it up and we’ll get moving,” the man said.

“Sure thing;I’ll be right out,” Hannibal replied. Speaking to those helping him in thegarage, Hannibal added, “Keep packing this stuff up, okay? I’ll be right back.”He followed the man out of the room.

“I had noidea that Hannibal had so much junk,” Harry said as he bagged a pile ofnotebooks.

“This isn’teverything,” Nathanael said, pausing for a moment. “He has a massive pile ofresearch at his office at the University that needs retrieving as well.”

Hannibalreappeared and surveyed the situation. “Looks like we’re ready to move thisstuff too,” he observed.

“Yup,”Harry agreed, scanning the garage. “Looks like it.”

Dennissuddenly appeared and announced, “Mom’s awake. Come quick!”

Hannibal,Harry, Selina, and Nathanael looked at each other for a split second and thenfollowed Dennis upstairs to the bedroom. Mary sat on the side of the bed,propping herself up with one arm. Her demeanor appeared much calmer; her faceless swollen. She looked up as everyone gathered around her. Harry and Hannibalsat down either side of her while Selina and Nathanael squatted down in frontof her.

“Goodness,”Nathanael purred, grimacing at her beaten condition. “They sure worked youover. How are you feeling?” He reached out and put his hand on her knee.

“Absolutelylousy, but I’m feeling better than I did when I first got here,” Mary admitted.All she saw initially were figures gathered around her. Slowly her visionimproved and she was able to focus on Nathanael, being he was the first one whospoke. “Nathanael; what are you doing here?” she asked bluntly.

“I’m hereto see if you’re all right,” Nathanael replied. “I’m also here to help Hannibalvacate this place in case those goons who worked you over decide to come heretoo.”

Marygrasped Nathanael’s hand. “I’m glad you came,” she said gratefully.

“I’m gladto be here,” Nathanael answered softly. “You’re my friend.”

Harry puthis arm around her and squeezed gently. “I’m glad you’re all right,” he said,relief evident in his tone. “For a moment there I thought I might lose you.”

Mary lookedaround at him with her bruised face and embraced him. “So did I,” she repliedsoftly. Then turning toward Hannibal, she gave him a hug too, sayinggratefully, “Thank you for sending Harry to get me. Who knows where I’d be ifyou hadn’t been sent him when you did.”

Hannibalsmiled pleasantly, saying, “It’s the least I could do. I knew there was somepotential for them to act this way. I just didn’t think they were going to actthis brazenly. It was cowardly for them to have done this.” His face becameetched with grief. “I didn’t want this,” Hannibal admitted. “You were to livesafely while we searched for Amacia, not become a victim of a pointlessvendetta against me.”

Maryreached out and placed her index and middle fingers to Hannibal’s lips. “Don’tbe sorry,” she said. “You’ve always been there for us. And your offer the otherday to provide for us while you and Harry were gone really proved it to me. Weall knew the possibilities of what the government would do if they found outwhat you were up to. All they’ve done has shown their hand too quickly. Whilethey beat me, they kept asking where it was, but I had no idea what they weretalking about because they wouldn’t say what it was. Every time I asked what itwas they wanted, they beat me mercilessly without telling me. But they weredefinitely looking for something specific because we had jewelry, money, guns,and electronic equipment that was very expensive and they didn’t take any ofit. The only thing I saw them actually take was Harry’s computer. Whatever itwas must have been on it because that’s what they grabbed first beforeransacking the house.”

“Did younotice anything about them?” Hannibal probed.

“Yes, theones that ransacked the house were speaking in a foreign language and the onethat interrogated me spoke perfect English without any kind of accent at all,”Mary answered as she rubbed her throbbing head. “Do you have any aspirins? Myhead is killing me.” Hannibal’s eyebrow rose slightly as he glanced at Harry.

“Yes, Ido,” Hannibal answered. “I’ll go get some.” He rose and left the room in searchof the aspirins.

Mary lookedat Selina, who had just taken Hannibal’s place at her side, and asked, “Whatdid you do to me, Selina? The last thing I remember was laying down with my headin your lap and you gently stroking my hair and purring.”

“I used mypurr to calm and relax you,” Selina purred as she put her arm around Mary. “Youwere worked over pretty badly so I thought that a little cat nap would help.”

Maryembraced Selina. “You were right,” Mary replied gratefully. “I was physicallyand emotionally exhausted from the beating when I got here. I actually restedand my mind is now fairly calm, though I’m still terribly sore.”

“You’regoing to be sore for several days,” Harry declared. “Can you get up and walkaround?”

“I thinkso,” Mary answered. Slowly through the pain, she heaved herself onto her feet.Nathanael stood very close by; ready to catch her if she fell. She staggered abit as she slowly made her way around the end of the bed. The more she walked,the more balanced and stronger she became. “Gosh it still hurts,” she hissedthrough her teeth as she returned to the bed where she had been sitting. Justas she sat, Hannibal reappeared with some aspirins and a glass of water.

“Here, takethese. They’re high powered aspirin that I keep on hand in case ofemergencies,” Hannibal said softly, handing her the glass of water and twoaspirins, which she promptly took.

“Thankyou,” she said with a pained smile.

Hannibalturned to Nathanael and asked, “Can you go supervise the clean out of thegarage. They’re almost done with the basement.”

“Sure,”Nathanael replied. Then to Mary he said, “I have to go now. If you needanything, let me know.” She nodded and Nathanael left the room.

Dennis, whohad been standing at a distance, moved in and gently hugged his mother. “I’mglad you’re all right, mom,” he murmured.

Marygrimaced through a surge of pain, and then smiled as she returned the embrace.“Yes, I’m okay, sweetie,” she stated.

“He watchedover you the whole time you were asleep, Mary,” Hannibal reported. “He neverleft your side.”

Mary lookedat her son and hugged him again with tears of love and gratitude beginning toflow. “My little man,” she said emotionally, “my precious little hero.”

“Aww, itwas nothing, mom,” Dennis replied modestly.

Mary thenturned to Hannibal, who had pulled a chair up in front of her. “What’re wegoing to do? I’m afraid to go back home now. The next time they might dosomething worse than beat the tar out of me,” she asked fearfully.

Hanniballooked at Harry for an instant, and then looked Mary square in the face. “Youand Dennis aren’t going to be able to go home. You’re going to have to comewith us to the Temple. You’ll be safe there,” Hannibal said firmly, yet gently.“We’re setting up living quarters so that everyone that’s there will have amuch better place to stay.”

Mary lookedat him blankly as she winced through another surge of pain. “The Temple?” shefinally asked. “Is it safe? I remember what you told us about the Temple.”

“Yes,”Hannibal replied. “It the safest place on the planet now. The traps andmonsters we found in there have been dealt with and neutralized. There’snothing to fear. The living quarters that we’re setting up are near the Librarywhere most of our research is going on. It’s perfectly safe. The only areasthat are dangerous at this point are the outer areas that haven’t been fullyexplored. There you won’t have to worry about the goon squad making a surprisevisit like they did today.”

“You’resure it’s safe?” Mary asked Harry bluntly, who nodded yes.

“Yes, Mary,it’s perfectly safe,” Selina reported. “Nathanael and I have lived there sinceHannibal rescued us and that’s been almost two years. The living quarters werea bit Spartan but Hannibal is remedying that as I speak.”

“You’regoing there too?” Mary asked intently.

“Yes, I am.In fact, I’m moving my entire operation there. The masters of the universe havemade a terrible mistake by attacking you. Now, the technology they hoped tosteal from me they’ll never get,” Hannibal declared.

“So that’swhy there’s so much going on here today,” Mary surmised.

“Yes, I’mnot going to leave anything here. Everything’s going. If there’s anything youwant from your house, we’ll get it after we get done here,” Hannibal stated.

“Well,”Mary thought aloud. “We do need our clothes and some other things.”

“We’ll getthem. In fact, we’ll sanitize your house just like I’m doing here,” Hannibaloffered. Noise rose from downstairs as the crew moved the furniture out of theliving room and kitchen.

Nathanaelabruptly walked in, announcing, “We’re almost done. The garage is cleaned outand now we’re moving the downstairs furniture. We’ll be up here in a couple ofminutes.”

“Wait anddo this room last,” Hannibal ordered. Nathanael acknowledged the order and leftthe room. Hannibal gazed intently at the people around him, saying, “We’regetting close to being done here. The movers will be here as soon as theyfinish cleaning out the other rooms up here.” As he spoke, a crowd of peopleled by Nathanael rumbled by the open bedroom door. “Can you walk?” Hannibalasked Mary.

“It maytake me a little longer but yes,” Mary answered, nodding. “I can move aroundunder my own steam.”

Hannibalflashed a relieved smile. “Good,” he replied. They sat there for severalminutes, listening to the banging of the furniture. The radio continued to playsoftly throughout the house. Hannibal abruptly rose, heading to the closet andopening the doors, turning on the light. The closet was full of radioequipment: ham and short wave receivers that were lit up. “Well. I guess it’stime to shut this thing down,” he said as he threw a switch and the preachingon the radio ceased.

Harrylooked at the set-up and whistled softly. “That’s an impressive rig,” hecomplimented.

Hannibalstarted unplugging and disconnecting the antennas so the equipment could beremoved. “Oh, it’s just a tiny rig compared to what I’ve been playing with hererecently,” he said over his shoulder. He turned around with a small portableshortwave radio in his hand, which he turned on and sat on the windowsill. Thesame preaching once again filled the room.

“You listento his guy a lot don’t you?” Harry asked as Hannibal stood by the window.

Hanniballooked out the window with a distant look. “He’s the real deal: a true prophet.I pay very close attention to him. He’s also about as popular as I am.”

Harrylooked at Mary, and then at Selina. His puzzlement over Hannibal’s comments couldnot be hid. “You mean he’s different from all the other charlatans who claim tobe prophets and preachers?” Harry asked bluntly.

Hannibalglanced at Harry, saying resolutely, “Yes, I’ve actually met him several timesand each time he told me not only things that only I knew, but also that I mustgo forward with the expedition. The weird thing about it is I never told himanything about Amacia, my research, or the expedition.”

“Whoa,”Harry replied with intrigue. “You never told him?”

“Nope,”Hannibal answered with a shake of his head. “It was only after he told me whatI was doing in detail that I shared it with him. He also said that I wasn’t todoubt the Lord for even an instant in this endeavor.”

As Hannibalfinished speaking, Nathanael re-entered the room again. “It’s time,” Nathanaelannounced. “All the rest of the house is cleaned out. This is the last room.”He went to the wall at his right and promptly removed several pictures. Hestood back, handed the pictures to Selina, and then pulled out a smallcommunicator that resembled a handheld CB radio. “Okay, everything’s clear. Open iton the east wall,” he said into the communicator. The wall shimmered anddisappeared as the portal opened. Mary watched in fascination as she lookedinto the portal. She thought she could see activity on the other side of theportal. “Come on in,” Nathanael called out into the hall and six men came inand began removing items from the room.

Marywatched in fascination as the men went in and out of the portal as if it were nomore than a door between two rooms. “Come on,” Harry said to Mary. “Let’s getout of their way.” He helped Mary up as Selina gave the pictures to some of themen who had just come through the portal. Harry and Selina helped Mary move tothe window where Hannibal stood watching. Mary leaned heavily on Harry’s arm asshe watched the crew empty the room.

Hannibalnudged Harry, saying, “I’m going to take a last check of the house.” He slippedout of the room with Nathanael following him, checking every room, closet, andcorner. They stopped in the living room and Hannibal sighed. “It’s hard havingto leave this place…so many memories,” he murmured.

Nathanaelput his large feline hand on Hannibal’s shoulder. “It’s always a hard thing tohave to leave one’s home like this,” he replied solemnly. “But what you’redoing is the right thing.”

Hannibalturned to Nathanael and patted him on the shoulder. “Yeah,” Hannibal agreed. “Iknow it is but it doesn’t make it any easier. Come. Let’s leave this place.” Hepaused and gazed at the vacant room one last time, and then went back upstairswith Nathanael. Hannibal re-entered the bedroom to see it stripped ofeverything that was there except for the short-wave radio on the windowsill.Harry stood by the radio letting Mary lean on his arm. Dennis stood with them,holding his mother’s hand while Selina leaned against the wall next to thewindow.