In Brightest Day, In Darkest Night...
A Gabriel Knight Mystery
Epilogue
"That is not dead which can eternal lie
And with strange eons even death may die."
-- Olaus Wormius.
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Excerpted from
The Journal of Lucien de Carnay, Comte de la Roche-Mortain.
10 November 1540
Today I discovered a new compound. I believe this may be the answer I have been seeking. If I am right, then the plague will never afflict our people again. Already, I have outstripped my teachers at the university. Their narrow minds cannot comprehend the breadth of my vision.
3 March 1541
How extraordinary! At last, a new discovery. Today I am renewed in purpose. Let the fools scoff if they will. I will silence them once and for all. The secret of eternal life and health may be within my grasp. Who would have thought that old Templar text, so long forgotten, would yield such a rich treasure!.
13 May 1542
The days grow long and weary. I tire of my researches. Even the Jesuits cannot help me. Prating priests, the lot of them. Their so-called wisdom is a sham. All the Moorish texts that I bought and studied, every obscure text that I have acquired, through fair means and foul... Tantalising hints, and nothing more. Must I search forever in vain?
23 October 1543
My travels have been in vain. No one knows what became of Alzhared's lost books. A fortune spent in vain. Yet I would gladly squander all my wealth to gain a single glimpse of the forbidden secrets. Must I retrace that cursed Moor's footsteps all the way? What was he, this small, obscure, man, that he was granted the knowledge that is denied me?
2 Feb 1544
Success at last! Jerusalem finally yielded the secret I have sought for so long. I regret that I was forced to kill the old man, but he should not have tried to deny me, after I have searched so long. I shall return to France at once. I must prepare.
23 June 1544
Tonight I shall achieve the dream. And all the world shall know that my vision was the true one! All men will thank me. I, Lucien de Carnay shall be the saviour of mankind.
(Not dated, in broken script)
God forgive me! What have I done? The old man was right. I am lost, and no one can help me...
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Gabriel sat at Michael's bedside, waiting for the nurse to leave them alone. When she was gone, he silently handed back the Seal of Solomon to its rightful owner.
Michael accepted it with a smile. "What about Ascalon?" he asked, with a quizzical look.
"I put it back," Gabriel said. "It seemed like the right thing to do," he explained, in answer to the raised eyebrow.
"I think so, too," Michael agreed.
"What, no questions about what happened down there? The Commissaire was full of them," Gabriel grinned.
"Well, can you blame him? He wasn't there, after all. Missed all the excitement."
"So did you," Gabriel pointed out. Then he directed a very narrow look at the painter. "Or did you?"
"What do you think?" Michael asked, a mischievous gleam in his eye.
"You were unconscious in hospital through the whole thing."
"I know. But I had these strange dreams..."
Gabriel nodded in complete comprehension. "Yeah, I'll bet you did."
Grace came in to join them. A warm light sprang into Michael's brown eyes at the sight of her. Gabriel noticed, and became acutely uncomfortable. He got up to leave.
"I'll be seeing you. Get well soon."
"Leaving tonight?" Michael asked.
"Yeah. Listen, if you ever get into something like this again..."
"Yes?"
"Don't call me, man. I've got enough problems of my own." He grinned.
Michael returned the smile, and held out his hand in farewell. Gabriel took it in a firm clasp.
"Take care, Gabriel."
"Yeah, you too."
Grace sat down by the bed, taking the chair Gabriel had just vacated.
"I just came from Father Jean. He'll be up and around in a couple of days, the doctor said."
"He's a tough old man," Michael said, studying her face.
There was a brief silence. Grace fidgeted, and looked down at her entwined fingers.
"Grace."
"Yes, Michael?"
"Are you going back with Gabriel?"
Such directness could not be evaded.
"Yes, Michael. I'm afraid I am. I'm sorry."
"I see."
"He needs me, Michael."
He digested this in silence. "And you need him." She met his eyes. "Don't you?" he smiled.
"Maybe." she admitted. "I'm sorry, Michael", she repeated.
"So am I, Grace." His brown eyes held a world of regret.
She bent to kiss him lightly, a salutation he accepted passively.
"I'll never forget you, Michael."
"Nor I you, lovely lady."
When she left, he lay back on his pillow and stared at the ceiling in silence.
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*Schloss Ritter, Wednesday, 25 June.*
Gabriel joined Grace on the bench in the garden, to look out at the spectacular view as the sunset painted shadows across the valley.
"Gracie?"
"Hmm?" she murmured absently.
"I'm glad you decided to come back."
She looked at him, and he shifted uneasily under her gaze.
"I know," she said finally.
They fell silent. Gabriel contemplated the view, feeling strangely content and at peace. After a while, he broke the silence.
"Gracie?"
"Yes?"
"Are you doing anything tonight?"
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"In brightest day, in darkest night,
We are the Champions of the Light.
Steadfast our will 'gainst evil's might
We keep our Oath, we keep the Right."
-- Maya
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