Missy frowned, leaning down over Pam's shoulder. "There actually was a Bronze Age and and Iron Age. We studied those in middle school-seventh grade world history, I think." She reached out. "Try 'P' for 'prehistory.'"

"What about the other two?"

"Umm. I thought it was a Stone Age before the Bronze Age. Not a Silver Age. I don't remember a Silver Age." She turned around. "Mrs. Bolender, can you come over here?"

After she had read the letter from the scholar seeking knowledge, Elaine Bolender laughed. "You're not going to find dates for the Age of Gold and Age of Silver in the encyclopedia. Try…" She looked around at the shelves. "Over there. Bulfinch's Age of Fable."

A few days later, Pam stood outside her apartment, looking blankly at the envelope she had just pulled out of the mailbox. What on earth? Why would Mom be writing her a letter? Mom hadn't written her a letter since she got married-again-last fall and went off to the Netherlands. Her stomach tied itself in knots. Her hands shook as she opened it.

" Dear Pam,"

At least it wasn't "Pammie." That nickname had always been a bad sign.

" Since you were working at the library anyway, last time I heard, please see if you can find an article about making lava lamps and send me a copy. "

Lava lamps? Lava lamps?? Lava lamps?!?!?

" It can't be very complicated. There was one in the Science Fair the year you were in seventh grade."

Little did Mom have any idea how elaborate and complicated some of those science fair projects got. Especially those brought in by kids whose parents helped them. Parents who weren't like Velma.

" It is very flat here. "

What was she thinking? Almost anyplace was flat compared to West Virginia.

" Love, Mom.

"PS. Please mail the article to Jean-Louis LaChapelle in care of the University of Leiden. He is Laurent's nephew. I'm sure that I wouldn't understand it myself. "