Fifty-Two
Nelson told me that he intends to undertake instruction in meditation and the martial arts from you,” Hannah said.
She sounded resigned, Joshua thought, but at the same time accepting. They were in his study. He was propped against the edge of his desk, his cane close at hand. Hannah was at the window, gazing out into the small garden. She had arrived on his doorstep a short time earlier. One look at her face had told him that Nelson had spoken to her of his plans.
“I made it clear that he would have to inform you of his decision before I would begin the lessons,” Joshua said. “But it is his decision, Hannah.”
“I know that. I’ve always known it. I wanted to protect him.”
“I understand. But he has become a man. You cannot protect him any longer.”
“You are right, of course.” Hannah turned to face him. “Beatrice and I talked. She said that the most generous gift I could give Nelson would be to remove the chains of guilt that I have placed on him. When he told me of his decision, I tried to do that. I said I understood and that he had my blessing.”
“I’m sure he appreciated that.”
Hannah smiled faintly. “I also told him that I could not imagine a finer mentor and teacher than you.”
Joshua hesitated. “I’m surprised to hear you say that.”
“Beatrice pointed out the obvious to me. She said that Nelson had clearly inherited the Gage talent and that the most prudent thing to do with such a gift was to learn to control it and channel it in a responsible manner.”
“It’s not the Gage talent that Nelson inherited. It’s the Gage temperament.”
Hannah smiled. “Call it what you will, I certainly do not want Nelson to continue down the path he has been following for the past few months, gambling and drinking to excess.”
“You knew about that, did you?”
“Of course. He is my son. At the rate he was going he would have come to a bad end, just like Papa.”
“Nelson is not like our father, Hannah. He is his own man. He needs to discover what it is that he was born to do.”
“But what is that?”
“I don’t know,” Joshua said. “But in time he will find his own path.”
Hannah turned away from the window. “Will you find yours now that Victor Hazelton is gone?”
He tapped his fingers together, wondering how much to tell her. She deserved the truth, he thought.
“I have been approached by the people to whom Victor once reported,” he said, “people at the highest levels of the government.”
Hannah was appalled. “They want you to take his place?”
“Yes.”
Hannah closed her eyes. “I see.”
“After discussing the matter with Beatrice, I declined the post. I do not want to return to a life in the shadows. I want to walk in the sunlight with Beatrice and—if we are blessed—with our children.”
Hannah frowned. “Somehow, I cannot envision you turning your back on what you do best—finding that which is lost.”
He sat forward. “Beatrice said much the same thing. You are both correct, of course. I intend to become a private consultant who specializes in finding people and things that have disappeared. But I will choose my clients with great care. Not everyone who is lost wants to be found.”