Sailing the Last Voyage with Newton and Pascal
Bell unexpectedly ended his class a few minutes early, but he tipped his hand when he said, “I would like to see Mr. Arnold and Miss des Cieux after class.” Denise smiled as she left, leaving Madeleine and Jack to go up to the front desk. “Do you understand why I threw you out of …
Continue reading "The Ten Weeks, 25 January, Leakers are Always a Pain to Those in Power"
Pierre came into the office the next morning to find one and only one piece of paper in the central part of his desk. It was a telex from the home office; rendered in English, it read as follows: WLL RCVD YR SPCL TLX DTD 21 JAN 71. WLL CNTCT GVRNMT N RVRT ASAP. TKS …
Continue reading "The Ten Weeks, 22 January, The Telex That Changes Things"
It seemed that divine impulse was percolating throughout the entire des Cieux family. Pierre got up early and, getting dressed, skipped his usual breakfast and went off to early morning Mass at the Cathedral. This was a rushed affair, with no music. It took only thirty-five minutes from start to finish. The sacred mysteries for …
Madeleine was decidedly nervous about returning to Bell’s Political Science class Wednesday morning, but return she did. She eased into her seat as Bell began to pontificate. Towards the end of class, Bell got off the subject of the basic structure of the legislature and started talking about the nationalisation of health care in the …
Continue reading "The Ten Weeks, 20 January, When the Rector Doesn’t Drink, You Know It’s Trouble"
The next day was moving from classroom to athletic field as Madame Seignet sat in the faculty lounge, looking at the Paris-Match she had extracted from her box. “Classes going well?” a voice asked. She turned up from her reading to find it was Hancock. “Very,” she replied. He sat down next to her. “And …
Continue reading "The Ten Weeks, 19 January, There Are Many Things That Are Hard to Understand"
Madeleine’s first period class was Political Science, a one semester adventure taught by a young Brown graduate born and raised in Collina named William Bell. About half way through the class, the Headmaster’s secretary crept in, came up the side of the classroom, handed Bell a note, and left as quickly as she came. He …
The Arnolds’ Daimler Majestic Major was the appropriate car for them to arrive at Christ Church on Point Collina for Morning Prayer at 1100. Although not the cathedral church for the Anglican Church of Verecunda, Christ Church was certainly its flagship parish, and being its Rector was a plum appointment. The only two churches on …
The next day Claudia came in excited. “She’s going to Dillman-Arnold the first of February!” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe it! Thank you so much.” “Just don’t forget my coffee again,” Pierre reminded her. “Yes, Monsieur,” she replied. She left and returned with the usual service. Pierre gulped down his first cup and went out …
Continue reading "The Ten Weeks, 15 January, A Little Influence Goes a Long Way"
Events played out pretty much as Pierre said they would. The ophthalmologist reported that Carol was capable of sight, although he prescribed corrective lenses for near-sightedness. He gave no explanation for her sudden change, although he heard Claudia’s story, as did just about everyone else she encountered. Less able to come up with a response …
Continue reading "The Ten Weeks, 14 January, The Bureaucrats Are Caught Flat-Footed"
Dinner at the des Cieux was a strange affair that night. Yveline found both her husband and daughter totally uncommunicative from the time they entered the door onward. They passed the food and poured the wine—and little of that—in complete silence. Attempts by Yveline to make conversation met with one dead end after another. Finally …
Continue reading "The Ten Weeks, 12 January (Part II), One Miracle Leads to Another"
Positive Infinity 