Later up in their bedroom. "So?" asked Maya.
Peter knew what she was asking and explained, "I was just getting ready to find me a cab and come home when I heard a child scream. I found the source and it turned out to be a boy surrounded by four thugs. I found out after the fight was over that he had been protecting a smaller girl who turned out to be his sister. I'm pretty sure they wanted her for one of those children brothels."
Maya shook her head. "She is right pretty under all that dirt isn't she? How people can crave children to fulfill their sexual desires is something I have never understood and probably never will."
"Me either," Peter agreed.
"So what are we going to do with them?" asked Maya.
"Well actually did you look at them with your Oversight?"
"No why?"
"Because I think Timmy is going to be a relatively strong Fire Master and Lorena a strong Air Master. If you know what to look for you can tell."
Maya raised an eyebrow at that, but didn't doubt her husband for he had been an Elemental Master longer than she.
"And I also think they may be orphans."
"What makes you think that?"
"Oh just certain things I've noticed. They're dirty, scrawny, malnourished, and the most important clue of all they haven't even mentioned family once and also they seem afraid of their own shadows. Lorena hasn't spoken a word at all. Either she can't or won't."
"I believe it's won't. There is nothing wrong with her throat or vocal cords that I can find. Of course for all we know something traumatic could have happened to her and a lot of times that's enough to make someone lose their voice or then again, she could just be shy and cautious."
"We'll find out more in the morning," said Peter. "For now let's go to bed."
Maya agreed and Peter kissed her passionately. They tumbled onto the bed and made wild passionate love.
"I love you Maya. I always will."
"And I love you to Peter."
~~~Beyond Revenge~~~
The next morning
Peter came downstairs early leaving Maya to sleep a little longer. "Morning Gupta," said Peter.
"Morning Sahib."
"Gupta, sometimes I don't think you ever sleep." Gupta suppressed a smile and did not comment. "So how are our young friends this morning?"
"Still sleeping when I checked on them a few minutes ago," said Gupta.
"They'll probably sleep awhile longer. From what I could tell last night they've been living on the streets for awhile. They're definitely malnourished—" he was about to continue when Maya entered the kitchen yawning.
"Morning," she said kissing Peter on the lips.
"Morning to you too," said Peter. "I expected you to sleep awhile longer."
"I woke up when I realized your warmth was gone."
The comment secretly pleased Peter.
"So sahib, memsahib what are we going to do about the two young ones?"
"Take them in," said Maya immediately. "They have no one and nothing. Besides what is it you told me Peter when we first met? 'You will train the ones you find or the ones who find you.' There is no obligation or repayment only duty to the future' "
"You remembered that?" asked Peter astonished.
"Of course," said Maya. "I don't think I've ever forgotten anything you've told me."
"They have power then?"
"Yes," said Peter. "Timmy is going to be a strong Fire Master and his sister a strong Air Master, someday. I noticed it last night and I'm almost sure that they don't know they are different from most people."
Maya was about to reply when the stairs creaked. They all fell silent as the kitchen door opened and Timmy came through it.
Timmy looked better than he had last night for he had had a bath as well as a descent meal and a night's sleep.
"Good morning," Peter greeted the boy. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mornin'," Timmy responded, trying to hold back a yawn. "I slept ok. We'l per'aps me and Lorena should be goin'."
"Where will you go?" asked Maya gently.
"Do you have any family?" asked Peter. "I'll be glad to take you back to them."
"No," said Timmy. "We have no one. Mom died years ago soon after my sister's birth."
"And you father?" asked Peter.
"I don' k'ow. All I k'ow is that he dr'nk a lot 'specially after mom's death. He used to beat us an' w'en he tried t' sale us for a few b'ttles of ch'ap wine we to'k off. He coul' be dead 'ow for all I know or care."
"Why don't you and your sister stay with us?" Maya offered.
"All right what do you want me to do?" asked Timmy.
"What do you mean?" asked Peter.
"Well I h've t' 'arn me keep don't I?"
Maya and Peter gave each other a look and Peter raised an eyebrow. Maya nodded and although her expression did not change by so much as a hair her body language said she understood and would let Peter handle it.
"Come walk with me," said Peter, putting his arm around the child's shoulders.
~~~Beyond Revenge~~~
They went outside into the cool morning air and walked in silence for a few minutes. At this time of the morning there were very few people about not even many servants. It had rained late last night and that rain had now turned to fog.
Finally Peter said, "Let me tell you a story. There was once a young man much like yourself whose mother loved him, but unfortunately, fate was not kind for she came down with a serious illness and died a few months later.
"The doctors either couldn't or wouldn't do their best to save her for she was just a middle class working woman, no one of importance. She was important to one person however her son who was almost eleven at the time.
"After her death the young man wondered what to do for he was too young to even be considered for odd jobs except maybe newspaper boy and the like, but the jobs he could get wouldn't bring in enough money to live on. And so it went for a while. A few months later the boy was on the midst of starvation when he was drawn as if by magic to the sea. He had always enjoyed going down to the harbor and looking at all the ships. That day he signed onto the first ship that felt right as cabin boy.
"The captain was a kind but stern man who treated the boy like a son and taught him everything he knew about the sea. The captain was like a father that the boy had never known for he and his mother had lived alone for as long as he could remember. Finally, when the captain retired he made the boy who was by that time in his early twenties captain. His last words to the young man were simply this: 'If you ever see someone in need of your aid, do what I did all those years ago and take the child under your wing. Treat them with kindness and that kindness will be returned a hundredfold. Make me proud to call you my son.
"Yes captain," the young man replied saluting, watching as the older man strode down the gangplank and onto the dock for the last time. "The young man didn't know it, but this was the last time he would ever see the older man alive and vibrant. He died less than a year later.
"That young man was me more than fifteen years ago.
"Do you see the point of my story Timmy? I took Captain Emerson's advice to heart and tried to become the kind of man he wished me to be. In honor of his friendship to a lost and lonely little boy and also too honor his memory."
Timmy had been listening intently the whole time Peter had been speaking and when Peter didn't say anything for a full minute Timmy said, "S' you're sayin' t'at your tryin' to be the kind of man Cap'tain Emerson wanted you to be? 'nd that's why you are willin' to ta'e me and Lorena in?"
"That's a large part of the reason yes," said Peter.
"'nd your w'fe?"
"Maya?" asked Peter with a twinkle in his eyes. "She's been through her own battles like me, but she'll have to give you her reasons for agreeing to take you in, in her own good time. Come on let's go back it's time for breakfast."
"All right," Timmy agreed still trying to absorb Peter's story. His stomach growled as if agreeing with Peter's statement that it was time for breakfast.
~~~Beyond Revenge~~~
They entered the house a few minutes later and headed to the kitchen where they could smell something delicious waiting. As soon as they entered the kitchen Maya gave him a look and Peter nodded slightly. Maya smiled and said simply, "Breakfast is ready sit and eat."
Lorena was already at the table and looked up to give her brother a shy smile before turning back to her plate.
Maya placed plates heaped with eggs, bacon and toast all of it still hot in front of both her boys. "Eat up," Maya said, joining them at the table.
The two children ate in silence while the adults talked about their plans for the day. Timmy listened in fascination as Maya said that today was her day to work at Royal Free Hospital. Peter accepted this and said he would see her at home that night.
Timmy didn't say anything but his thoughts were in turmoil.
Most women that he knew about especially among the privileged were not allowed to do anything except what was considered proper for a woman to do, but these two seemed to have a totally different relationship.
"Maya" was apparently allowed to have career and do basically anything she wanted while "Peter" didn't only not object he seemed too approve of what she was doing. It was very rare to find a man who actually let a woman be herself.
~~~Beyond Revenge~~~
A few days later
Timmy wandered into a part of the house he had never been before and came to an archway. Inside was what Timmy supposed was a gardener's delight. There were plants everywhere and vines clinging to the walls. Timmy walked inside amazed that he hadn't discovered this part of the house before now.
He saw several chairs that looked like they were woven and a table between them. Suddenly he saw something move in the bushes and he took a step back as what appeared to be a monkey stepped out.
"That's Charan," said a voice behind him. "He's a Hanuman Langur." Timmy yelped startled and turned to see Gopal standing behind him.
"Sorry didn't mean to startle you," said Gopal putting a steadying hand on Timmy's shoulder. "Memsahib brought him and six others with her when she came here from India. They used to belong to her mother and then when her mother died to her. Charan was just checking you out since you have never been in the observatory before."
" 'hecking me o't b' scarin' the life o't of me?"
"He didn't mean too did you Charan?" Gopal asked the monkey.
As if understanding and agreeing Charan approached and stopped no more than a foot from Timmy.
"Rub his head," said Gopal. "He loves to be scratched behind the ears."
Timmy did as he was told and Charan closed his eyes in bliss.
"See what did I tell you?" said Gopal his usually stern face softening. "He wants to make friends."
Timmy nodded and sat down in one of the chairs to where Charan immediately took possession of his lap.
"How did all this get here?" asked Timmy gesturing around the observatory.
"Oh memsahib had it built on when she and sahib bought the place. There's another one only smaller on the back of her surgery which is where they were living till eight or nine months ago."
That was only part of the story, Timmy knew but Gopal refused to say another word on the subject.
~~~Beyond Revenge~~~