Daedalus closed his eyes, scarcely breathing, sending thoughts across continents, across time itself?

Cherche nouvtau: Uhistoire dt France.

Sophie tapped the words out on her keyboard, enjoying the instant gratification, the enormous well of knowledge at her fingertips. With every passing age, things became more wondrous. Yes, there were downsides to progress, There were many, many things she missed. But each new day revealed a new wonder also.

"Veux-tu It saumon?"

Manon asked, the phone pressed against her ear. "Pour diner" she clarified when Sophie looked at her,

Sophie nodded. She didn't care what she ate. She couldn't understand Manon's various hungers: food, drink, cigarettes, people. Sophie thirsted for knowledge, for learning, One day, somehow, if she could fill her brain with enough truth and understanding-then perhaps she could begin to understand herself, her life, the lives that were irrevocably entwined with hers. Maybe.

A thin tendril of cigarette smoke floated over to her. Manon was still walking around, phone pressed against her ear, ordering food from the concierge.

The results of Sophies search filled her laptop screen, and she leaned forward. At that moment, with no warning, the words wavered, as if underwater. Sophie frowned, glancing at the floor to make sure the surge protector was active. This computer was practically brand-new. What?

Sophie, my love. Come to New Orleans. It's important Daedalus,

The words resolved themselves on Sophies screen as she watched them, taking them in. Manon hung up the phone and came to see what Sophie was staring at.

"We haven't heard from him in a while.' Manon said unnecessarily.

Sophie said nothing.

'Are we going to go?" Manon asked.

Again Sophie didn't reply. Her large brown eyes searched the room, the air, seeming to stare across thousands of miles, straight at Daedalus.