Once we arrived in the United States, we set our course for Patrick's house. Taking a van and Betsy's car, we made it in time to Patrick's house by the time lunch would start.
"Abigail!"
"Hey, Patrick."
I'm glad to be back!
"Nice to see you two together again."
Ooohhh.
"Yeah, well, we're not."
"Yeah."
"Oh, I was hoping to get some of these boxes out of the house."
Really? You're concerned with that?
We got inside, Riley having more trouble than ever with his large amount of luggage. Betsy helped him while I grabbed my small backpack with basic gear. I don't go anywhere without the basics. We all settled down at the dining table where Patrick looked at the image of the plank on a laptop.
"I can't read the whole thing, but I can tell you that these are definitely pre-colonial Native American markings."
"Easily 500 years old."
"Easily."
Patrick zoomed in on one of the symbols on the plank.
"I can identify one symbol. Look at this. Do you know what that is?"
"Sacred calendrical? I don't know."
"That symbol is Cibola. That's Cibola."
"The City of Gold. The City of Gold."
Well, I'm all set here.
"Not yet, Little Star."
I turned my head to see a familiar Native American.
Firelight!? But how!?
"I am also among the ones you can see. Did you so easily forget that?"
Well, I, uh…
"I thought so. There are a series of tests to find my city."
I know, I know.
"Good. Help them find it. Our culture deserves to have a voice."
He walked out the door. I was unaware that everyone moved to the living room until Betsy put her hand on my shoulder. We all gathered around and looked at the books on American history.
"'In 1527, a Spanish ship wrecked on the Florida coast. There were only four survivors. One was a slave named Estebán who saved a local tribe's dying chief. As a reward, he was taken to their sacred city, a city built from solid gold. Later, when Estebán tried to find the city again, he never could. But the legend grew, and every explorer came to the New World in search of it. When General Custer's search for gold ended with his last stand at Little Bighorn, it became clear none would ever find it.'"
Ben closed the book. Talk about a depressing story time.
"Ben, can you imagine if the Confederates got their hands on the City of Gold... My God."
That just put me down even more. The Confederates with Cibola? The war would be bloodier than how the US History textbooks tell it.
"I'm going to go talk to her. You're coming with me."
"No!"
Patrick moved away, but Ben followed.
"Hey. No one else can translate it."
"There are others. There are several others."
"For ancient Native American? No one better."
"Who?"
Abigail didn't answer Riley's question.
"Look, Ben, I can't go with you. It's been, what? 25 years?"
"Thirty two."
"That long?"
I guess so. But of course, I don't know THAT much of the Gates' history.
"There's a reason why we haven't spoken in 32 years. We have nothing in common."
"Me?"
"Yes, of course. And I'm sure she's just as proud of you as I am."
"Who?" Riley asked again.
"His mom," Abigail whispered.
Ooohhh. We're screwed.
It wasn't long before we dragged Patrick to the University of Maryland. I realized that I only had the rest of the school year and another before I would attend college. I hadn't even figured out what I wanted to major in. I hadn't been to school in almost forever. I was lucky to have leeway at my school for finding the Templar Treasure. They allowed me to take a couple days off for moments including huge discoveries and sick days. We entered the building that had Ben's mom inside. I didn't know where she would be and I didn't want to even see her for the sake of caution.
"Will you relax? It's gonna be fine."
"Sure. Should look at the bright side. Been a long time. Maybe she lost her memory, won't recognize me."
A student came out of the room, stomping her feet after slamming the door shut.
"I hate her!"
We parted to let her pass.
"We're in the right place."
Yep. Definitely don't want to meet her.
"I'm gonna take myself out of the line of fire for this one."
"I'll stick with Riley."
We sat down on a bench together. Betsy had Templar business to attend to and left me, so I pulled out my laptop and checked on emails. I took the PSATs and got a ton of college offers because my scores were pretty high for an average student. I'm quite exceptional smart, as are any Society members. We were educated in history, science, math, and especially languages. The common language we took was Latin, the root of all European languages. Anyways, I was coming down to the end of my junior year and I needed to think about the future.
"So, what are you going to do later?" Riley asked, trying to make small talk.
"Well, I don't know what I want to major in, which also means I don't know what college to go to yet."
"What you chose to do isn't final. At least, that's what my parents told me."
"What did you want to do after high school?"
"I wanted to be independently wealthy, have a house on the beach, no work to go to, etc."
"Sounds a lot like my mom. She says that to her boss in a joking manner."
Riley chuckled a little. I sent a couple emails to my teachers and classmates, telling them I'd be home in about a week. By the time I put away my laptop, Ben, Abigail, and Patrick came out. They weren't happy with only getting half of the map. I knew it from the moment I saw the plank that we only had half of it. Problem: the other half was going to be harder to get.
"At least we know where the rest of the map is."
"What? You know where it is? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because obviously you have a tendency to overreact!"
Clearly! As you ever so pointed out by YELLING, Ben!
"I'm sorry."
"So am l."
I love this family.
"So where is it?"
"Inscription on the statue in Paris said, 'These twins stand resolute.'"
"We think the map's divided between the two Resolute desks," Abigail assessed.
"The Resolute desk. The Resolute desk? President's desk?"
"The president. What president? Our president?" Riley was very antsy.
"Unfortunately, yes," Abigail told him.
"But that means... Wait, so we have to... The White House?"
"The Oval Office... to be exact."
The air just got colder in a mere few seconds.
"Why would I overreact to that?"
I laughed. It didn't surprise me that we would have to do something so crazy and dangerous because we already did that a year ago. We headed back to Patrick's house to do research on the Oval Office so that we could think of a way to sneak in, check out the desk, and get out before anyone would notice. I was an expert at stealth, but I had to leave most of this legwork for Ben. He needed to redeem the Gates family name, not me. As Riley sat in front of the computer looking up information, Patrick came over with a book filled with pictures on the Oval Office.
"The Resolute desk is near the south wall in the Oval Office. Look at this. Look."
"Small door on the front of the desk."
"FDR had that put in so guests couldn't see his wheelchair."
No one in America at the time knew that FDR had polio, so duh!
"Guys, take a look at this."
Riley pointed to an event on the website.
"This could work."
"Why, Abigail. I believe it's time for you to make a date with your new boyfriend."
"I think you're right."
Wait, you're going to call Connor and go to the Easter Egg Roll with him? I might as well go to Communist China and do something stupid and illegal!
Abigail talked to Connor and agreed to meet him at the event somewhere. I forgot where. I went shopping for some Sunday best clothes: a pale pink tiered maxi skirt, a lace multi-color tank top, and a white tie-in-front short sleeved cardigan. Betsy would be so proud of me. I took a picture of myself in the outfit and sent it to her by email.
The Easter Egg Roll was on a very bright and sunny day. Abigail and Ben walked side by side. I wandered the area, checking for blind spots and possible adversaries. Mitch wasn't around, so I joined the couple. It made me happy to see the two together. Not officially, but together nonetheless.
"We hope you're enjoying the White House Easter Egg Roll. Face painting continues at 2, near the south fountain."
"That Connor in the bunny suit?"
The rabbit handed Abigail a stuffed bunny.
"Thank you. I've never been to an Easter Egg Roll. It's kind of sweet."
"Yeah, I love it."
Just then, a little boy approached Ben.
"I know you. Your great-great-grandfather killed President Lincoln."
"No. That would be John Wilkes Booth."
"Eisenschiml says that Booth was a tool in a greater conspiracy that involved men in Lincoln's Cabinet."
"Absurd. Eisenschiml's book is filled with spotty research and false assumptions."
"Oh, yeah? Explain why Lincoln's bodyguard left his post that night?"
"Because President Lincoln was never accompanied by guards when attending the theater. Listening? Especially on Good Friday."
"Explain why all the bridges out of Washington were closed except one, the one Booth needed to escape?"
"OK, run along now, you impossible child. Run along. What is going on with the education in America?"
I have no idea, but Knights Templar Society is a lot more careful than that pathetic excuse of a teacher's pet.
"Hey! Hey!"
A man came our way. It was him.
"Connor!"
That's his name! Why did it slip from my mind?
"I'm so glad you decided to come..."
"Hey."
"...with Gates."
"Connor."
"We just ran into each other."
"Oh."
Awkward silence. Love it.
"Well? Aren't you going to ask him?" Ben started.
"Ask me what?"
"Nothing."
"No, really. What?"
"I really wouldn't want to impose."
Abigail would make a terrible professional actress, but she's pretty good at faking.
"Well, what she means is she doesn't think you can."
"Doesn't think I can what?"
"She wants to see the Oval Office."
Blunt. I love it! I'm getting tired of beating around the bush! It's only fun when you're toying with your victims. Did I think that out loud?
"Yes. You did, Essie."
Alex! I had no idea you would be around.
"Nice try. You're verbal escape methods won't work on me."
And I thought I was that talented.
"No. That is way too much to ask."
"No, it's, uh... I can do that."
"Really?"
"You see?"
"You can?"
"Yeah."
"That is so cool, Connor. I have always wanted to see the Oval Office."
"Connor rocks," Ben concluded in a sarcastic way.
I snuck away from the trio, allowing things to cool off as MY couple went looking for the missing plank. Ben and Abigail are my couple, not that-guy and Abigail. I was in a sudden mood for match-making. Just then, a pair of girls came up to me.
"Are you Bellator Eget Christi?"
"And if I was?"
"We were wondering if we could have your autograph. I'm Tammy Johnson, 4th year Templar. This is Gabriella Logood, also 4th year Templar. We've seen your competitions and awards. They're amazing!"
I pulled out a pen from my purse as Tammy gave me a photo of when I held wore my graduation robes. I signed my name on it and did the same with Gabriella's. They were so young and eager. Did Teacher see them?
"What names do you want, when the time comes?"
"I want Gladius Flammas."
"Sword of Flames? That's a little strong for someone like you."
"I want Mirificus Venator."
"I could see you as Adventure Hunter."
I gave them the photos.
"But it's not my call to say what names you get. It's the headmaster's. Got it?"
"We know. Thanks for the autographs."
"No trouble. Oh! And as a tip when doing the final exam next year, throw in your own style. It makes the routine look more original."
"We'll remember! Bye, Bellator!"
I waved at the girls as they ran to their friends and began gabbing away. They were young and had so much time. A lot of my life was wasted when I agreed to that stupid contract in my 3rd year. Don't get me wrong: the Society was a great group of kids that I got along with very well. But that contract I signed up for made my life miserable. Those girls didn't deserve that kind of life. I thought about reforming the Society's program when Ben and Abigail came to pick me up. We walked to the gates and left the White House.