They had left the reception to discover that they had been downgraded in the limousine department. The car that came around to pick them up was a considerable bit smaller than the one they had arrived in. But it still had a driver who knew where to take them.
Kurt was halfway around the largest bend in the road about forty-five minutes later when the thought occurred to him.
What if that's it? He wondered to himself.
Then, of course, it was a thought he tried to retreat from. But as his eyes searched the horizon he was forced to admit: It could be no place else.
"I can't believe it." He said with an air of understanding in his voice.
Kitty turned to look, perhaps still unsure and perhaps just judging the indignity being heaped upon her friend who came here to be an ambassador of good will.
Alistaire let out a long sigh of agreement.
A distant lightning strike threw an eerie light across the English countryside. Their car was the only one on the road. And the road had grown desolate and isolated long before now as it lazily traced the seacoast.
And now… Kurt's thoughts flowed freely. A macabre calm had fallen over him. It was funny, really. Here he was, one lucky test out of Xavier's mansion and the center of an all out political conspiracy. And now I live in a lighthouse.
"No way…" Kitty smiled in disbelief.
Kurt began to laugh.
Alistaire began to cough. The memories of the hotel suite began to flood over him as a wave of guilt. They never even got to see it… He realized with a gentle blush.
Kurt turned to look at Kitty. She was smiling broadly.
Kurt's mind rolled for a long moment and a few small things became clear to him. He had once seen Kitty wear a lighthouse charm on a necklace. She had a lighthouse pencil cup on her desk. And with that expression Kurt became convinced that Kitty liked lighthouses.
And this was funny to him too. I'm probably cracking under the stress… He realized with a start. But he didn't think much about that – because it was REALLY funny and he didn't think he could keep a strait face.
"I think my new favorite game is going to be shadow-puppet theater." Kurt said with a chuckle.
Alistaire burst out laughing and Kitty gave the two of them a funny look. "That's too weird Kurt." She said with a shake of her head.
"What isn't?" Kurt replied. "It's been that kind of day. Ja?"
"Ja." Kitty agreed, slightly mockingly.
Alistaire continued chuckling. "I think we're all tired." He smiled. "I'm sure it will all look brighter in the morning."
"Ja." Kurt agreed. "Dat's vhen the sun comes up."
Kitty burst out laughing.
Alistaire shook his head and smiled but said nothing.
The car pulled up and stopped. They slowly stepped out and stood before the great stone tower.
Kurt crossed to the door and pulled. It was locked. But around the door handle was a 'key box'. It was the kind used by real estate brokers who wished to store a house key at the home for the purpose of showing it to prospective clients.
"Hey Kitty…" Kurt studied it. "I think we need a hand here."
Alistaire watched her go as he reached for his pocket. I've got the combination…
But he hesitated. What's she…
And suddenly he had to shake his head in curiosity. I must have blinked of something… He realized. She's got the damn key out… He shook his head as if to clear it. A hand… he wondered what it could have meant. Is she a thief? He wondered.
Kurt caught him looking as he took the key from Kitty and unlocked the door.
Kitty waited until the door was open to go through, but once it was she pushed past Kurt and went to look around.
Kurt hung back with Alistaire. "It was a good trick, the thing with the key, hunh?" Kurt smiled.
"How exactly…" Alistaire stared off after her.
"She's got a gift." Kurt shrugged. "Like mine." He smiled. "In fact, neither she or I needed a key to get in. We opened the door for you."
Alistaire wrinkled his brow for a moment. "Well… Thank you… I suppose." He said looking around. "I can't believe they've sent you here. It hasn't even been cleaned." Alistaire lamented.
Kurt shook his head. "I think Kitty likes it." He said with a head-shake. "I don't think she'll even consider anyplace else now."
Alistaire looked perplexed. Sure enough, Kitty was dodging through the lighthouse, exploring in some strange and fascinated way at the structure.
"I… think you're right." He shook his head.
"Tomorrow," Kurt asked softly. "I'll need you to get me the crates Xavier shipped in with us. They contain some equipment we could be making use of."
Alistaire nodded and began making notes.
"And I think we should hold off tomorrow's public appearances until tomorrow night at the latest." Kurt continued. "I don't want to give anyone any more opportunities to discredit me before I can accomplish something positive with my position – so I vant to get right to work. I'll need you to bring me any cases or issues I could get involved with first thing in the morning. Maybe I can get to some of them before the morning papers arrive and I still have some credibility."
"Very good Sir." Alistaire finished writing his notes and smiled. "I must say… I'm glad you're thinking in the long term… That is… I'm glad to see you're going to tuff this out." He extended his hand and Kurt took then shook it.
"I'll see you in the morning." Alistaire smiled as he headed back out the door and then towards the car.
Kurt smiled softly at him. Then he heard a large 'whump' from above and suddenly, lights began powering up and bursting to life above his head.
He turned and looked 'up' to realize that the stairs were rusty and the inside of the lighthouse had obviously been flooded before, as there was a dirty 'water line', traced in slimy green bacteria that ran around the inner wall.
In the mean time everything else seemed to somehow be covered in soot or grime. The railing was so surrendered to rust that it gave way as he pulled and chipped at it.
Suddenly Kitty appeared above him, looking down off of the spiral staircase above. She too seemed to be covered in soot and grime now as she threw herself at the railing and sent rust chips fluttering down at him.
"Kurt, isn't this awesome?"
And Kurt stared up at her. They had been such good friends for so long now. Been through so much together, but rarely had he ever been able to make her smile like that. "Yeah Kitty. Maybe it is."
"Of course we'll have to clean it. Which is to say that you'll have to clean it – because I'm no good at that – and you can stick to walls and everything, plus holding the bucket with your tail – and you can start with the walls, then the floor upstairs because it is soooo totally messy. But then…"
"Kitty!" He burst out. "Come on!" He protested.
"Well…" She considered. "I suppose I can sweep up… some."
Kurt exhaled. Ach! Why didn't I sleep on the plane?
