Kanae goes to College

by keithallen

3rd Highland Diclonius story : Little Kanae is grown up and goes to America for college. She is after a good education, also since all the boys in town are afraid of her due to her famous mother Kaede, she's looking for a boyfriend as well. As far as Genra, you pick.

12. Chapter 12

CH 12

As people were done, Uzuki collected up the paper and leftovers, Kanae took mugs back to the bar. Deciding to help, Randy washed mugs for Nana.

Nancy was in a bind. Everyone had paid her for this 'all expenses included' tour, but she didn't have the money to cover the bar bill. Kanae grumbled but covered it with Nana.

Outside, Kanae, Randy and Nancy went to the full picnic table were everyone was sitting and standing around. Kanae checked their footwear. They all had some kind of sturdy shoes or boots on.

Kanae announced, "K everyone, we're takin a hike through the woods. Yer gonna have'ta be careful. Yer gonna see flat ground, it may look easier to walk on, but it's probably peat bog. Ya doan wanna walk on a peat bog. It may hold ya up, it may not. If ya sink in a bog, ain't nothing gonna save ya, so follow me. I'll git ya there an back."

"It's dangerous?" a woman asked.

"Nay if ya do as I tell ya. T'will be if ya strike out on yer own," Kanae stated. "Stay in sight'o each other, doan want anyone gittin lost."

Kanae started out, a string of people followed her.

Walking along, Kanae took them to a bog she knew near the Inn. Skirting the bog, she stopped and pointed. "That flat field ya see is a peat bog. Looks firm, but under the thin ground is water. Already a couple have dropped down in it I know of. That platform o'r there was made as an attempt to retrieve the first poor soul who fell in. That's when the second was lost. See, when ya fall down, the ground above comes back tagether, an ya can't git out, so ya drown in darkness. Doan ever walk on perfectly flat ground."

"That's horrible," Nancy said in a squeak.

"Nay pleasant, so take heed," Kanae said firmly. She led them on.

Hiking along up one hill an down another then going along a side hill, Kanae noticed a couple people were looking tired. She stopped the group on a side hill so they could rest. She took this time to speak to them again.

"If ya noticed, there ain't no one living here. No roads, buildings or even trails. We're entering the area of what ya kin call Pagan holy ground. See the Pagans doan worship some unseen god, but what ya kin see around ya. The land, trees, bushes, the wildlife that lives here. The things everyone needs ta live. Fer example, in the spring when Christians are honoring Easter, the Pagans are honoring the land coming back ta life after the winter. Many celebrate Halloween, the Pagans honor the time of harvest. Christians honor Christmas, the Pagans honor the coming of winter, when the land goes ta sleep ta renew itself for the new year. In Glen Finnen, we have both religions here, so we honor both. We do have a church with a Father, an out here, we have the valley of ritual with a Pagan priest."

"Is that like a Stonehenge they have in England?" the teacher asked.

"Aye, much smaller. I'twas erected to mark the equinoxes and solstices just like the huge one down in England." Kanae explained.

"I want to see it!" Nancy cried.

Kanae chuckled. "Aye Lass, ya will. That's where we're goin. Nay up close though. We'll go down the hill so we kin see it good, doan go out on the flat. There is a bog down there, and very few know exactly where it is."

Denise asked, "If there's bog there, why isn't it marked or filed in or something?"

Kanae shrugged. "It's part'o nature. I've heard that during the spring, someone volunteers ta go inta the Henge. Usually an old person. They get blessed, strip down then go walk inta the bog to give back ta nature what nature give ta them."

Nancy's eyed got wide. "Ritual suicide?"

"Ya kin call it that," Kanae agreed. "Ta them, they are returning to the land some nutrients that the nature provides them. Like I said, I never seen it, only heard bout it. I'm thinking those who volunteer know they ain't got long left anyway, so this way, their death holds meaning. They finish their life by doin something important fer their beliefs."

Another woman said, "In a way, it's quicker and easier than dying a long slow death by cancer or some other disease."

"That makes sense," Nancy said thoughtfully.

"So the bog down in that valley is full of rotting corpses and skeletons?" Randy asked.

"Nay, there ain't no oxygen in a bog. Whoever went in, is still down there, perfectly preserved," Kanae told him. "Everyone ready ta keep goin?"

People got up from sitting and leaning against something.

Going around the hillside, Kanae led them closer to the bottom of the hill. Looking out between the trees, She changed her path lower until flat ground was a few yards from her. She stopped and pointed.

"Look out there, ya kin see the henge on that small rise. Ta this side ta the right ya kin see the only path in the whole area. That's the path out, where there ain't no bog so people can walk out safely."

Cameras came out and everyone was taking pictures. Nancy insisted on Randy taking a picture with her and Kanae. Of course, Nancy put her arm around Kanae for the picture.

Once the picture taking was done, Kanae led the group up over the hill and back to civilization. Getting back to the Inn, Kanae urged them to drive down by the Loch to see the statue for the Highlander. She also ensured they had reservations at Duncan's hotel (Which Nancy has insisted on).

The tours next stop was a tour boat ride down the Loch. Nancy insisted Kanae and Randy come with them.

The boat was a multi seat open tour boat with a small wheelhouse on the back, again already paid for by the tour group. Kanae got seat closest to the port side, Randy beside her. Looking out over the water, Kanae would rather be in it that riding on a boat on it.

The tour guide, a lad from Kanae's high school class, stood on front of everyone and explained how Loch Sheil was once an arm of the Irish sea, many millennia ago and still had sea animals living in it. Kanae sat watching the water wishing she was in it. She did note when they were coming up on Scamdale. The boat moved over to give it a wide berth.

From the water, a light brown head popped up. "Kanae? WHAT ya doin on a boat?"

Kanae stood up and waved. "Gene? Hey, how ya doin?"

"We're gonna collect some fish, wanna join us?"

It took two seconds for Kanae to decide. "Be right there!" She kicked off her boots, pulled her socks, hat and light jacket off and handed them to Randy. To the tour guide, she said, "Pick me up on the way back!"

People were up now and taking pictures of Gene and Kanae as she got up on the railing.

"Selkies?" Nancy cried happily.

Gene grinned and dove back under, his tail flipped up briefly. Kanae called, "See ya later!" and jumped in to disappear under water with a splash.

Cameras were still clicking away, trying to see the forms racing off below.

The tour guide said, "That's a first time a Selkie ever caught a boat ride."

Everyone watched where Kanae had dove in. She didn't come back up. The tour boat moved on. Randy folded her jacket and socks on her seat. A couple people looked at him as if he could explain it. He shrugged. "Kanae's a fish herder."

"She's not coming back up," Denise said. "I wonder how long she can hold her breath?"

.

Kanae swam following Gene's shadow, a pair of mind hands were her tail. Soon, they were in the spread out group behind a large pack of fish. The noise of the boat motor was receding into the distance.

Finding her place in the disk of Selkies, Kanae swam easy, helping to keep the fish headed for the nets. A couple times she swam to intercept a fish going the wrong way to guide it back in the right direction. Seeing they were going over the nets, she popped to the surface and waved with a couple others. The nets were pulled up.

Kanae noticed Gretchen and swan over to her. Seeing her, Gretchen smiled. "Kanae! When did ya git back?"

"Yesterday. Got a tour group from me college came ta visit. We got summer break. I was bored wit the tour, so I came ta help."

"Good ta have ya! Right timin too! Found a large school's fish an I think we got all the biguns."

Kanae helped lift the capture net up over the cage. They poured the fish into the cage. Shut the top hatch then lowered the cage back fully into the water. With the fish now corralled, the herders went over and up onto the shore.

Kanae had a good time talking to her Selkie friends. She told them about college an the great lad she met there. She explained Randy was by her and supported her when many other wouldn't give her the time of day and some tried to get her in trouble.

Too soon, someone called, "Boat's comin!"

Those who still had their tails went back into the water. Kanae ran over on the dock. Seeing the tour boat plodding along, she ran to the end and jumped in. She swam fast to get in front of the boat. Watching for the bottom of the hull, she timed her jump up to land in her seat.

She didn't quite make it. She'd jumped to soon and was coming down right on the railing. She grabbed the railing and flipped herself on, right in front of the surprised tour guide.

"I'm back!" she announced. Many clapped and cheered. Kanae waved happily to them, then sat down and put her socks and boots back on.

A tap on her shoulder, and Kanae looked to see Denise watching her.

"When did you come up for air?" the coach asked.

"When we got the fish o'r the nets, wasn't that long." Kanae replied.

"But no one saw you, when we left or came back," Nancy said.

"Oh, I seen ya coming. I was on the beach, so I ran off the dock and swam back. I was trying ta be fancy an land in me seat, but I missed."

"You were herding fish," Randy said with a chuckle.

Kanae beamed him a smile. "I was! We got a net full too! Got fish fer the town fer at least a week."

"You got the whole school of fish?" Denise asked.

Kane explained, "All the ones worth keepin. See the web in the nets are large enough fer the small ones ta wiggle through. Same with the cages. Only the ones big enough, and nearly big enough to keep were caught. That way, the young ones will keep growin and keep the species goin. If ya fished them all out, there wouldn't be any left."

"Managing resources," Denise said with a nod. "And they have been fishing like this for a long time?"

Kanae planted her hat back on her head. "Fer centuries. Ya can't stop thinking at what ya need now, but keep in mind what ya'll need fer the future."

"Yes, that's a lesson many should learn," Denise agreed.

A tap came on her other shoulder. A boy asked, "What are you? You've got horns on your head. Are you one of these selkies?"

Kanae chuckled. Seeing everyone was looking at her, she turned to the tour guide. "May I explain?" she asked.

He held out his mike. "Please do."

Kanae got up and took the mike. Facing the tour group she said, "As some can guess right now, I'm not human. The French call us elves. Where me Mom and Dad are from in Japan, they called us Diclonius. I can swim like a selkie, because they are the ones who taught me ta swim. Ever since I was a wee lass, I spent much of me summer down there in Scamdale swimming and learnin how ta heard fish. I got many friends there, ya seen one, Gene. The thing is, all who ain't quite human usually avoid er hide what they are from humans due ta the bad reactions we git. Selkies are nice people, but if they git caught by humans, they git poked at an prodded on. The reason me folks left Japan was the fact upon finding out they weren't human, the Japanese put'em in steel vaults and experimented on'em. That turned out very badly." She paused briefly and said, "The wisest thing I've heard is from our Pagan Priest and the Father at our church. They each word it differently, but it means the same thing. Treat others like you like to be treated an show everyone respect."

"YES!" Nancy cried and began clapping heartily. The applause spread. With a blush, Kanae handed the mike back and sat down.

She hadn't meant to give a sermon, but that was how it ended up.

Getting back to the dock, Kanae was now popular with everyone in the group. The tour group was headed to the hotel to get their rooms and dinner. Kanae and Randy walked back for the inn until they were out of sight, then Kanae had Randy get on her back and flew him home to the castle.

.

Duncan had been checking on his hotel when the tour group came in. In the main office, he checked figures and looked at the few things that needed work to be done on. He had enough employees and enough guests that everything was balancing out well, and he and Amanda were making a profit. He went though the lobby on his way out and noted a group checking in.

A woman all but screamed, "It's Duncan McLeod!"

"huh?" He looked over at the group. A few young women, one he recognized, ran over to beam bright smiles at him. Remembering the brunette's name he said, "Nancy, right? Welcome to Glen Finnen."

"Ohhh, this it too special!" a smaller blonde said.

"Can I have your autograph?" a taller blonde asked.

"Can we get a picture with you?" a brown hired girl asked with a blush.

Taken back by this sudden popularity, Duncan offered, "Ladies? I'm in a bit of a rush. Can we do this tomorrow?"

"OH yes," Nancy assured him.

The short blonde held up her key card, her cheeks were blushed. "I'm in room 114, you can visit me later if you want."

"OK, later. Sorry, but I do have to go," he offered and walked around them.

Going out to his car, Duncan wished he could find all those books and burn them.

.

Kanae landed in the courtyard. They went inside to smell something cooking. Going in the kitchen, Inari and Kaede were making dinner.

Kaede asked, "So ya have a good time?"

"The best!" Randy cheered. "We went down to the Inn, had fish and chips, Kanae took us out to see the Pagan Stonehenge, and we went with the tour group on the Loch," He put an arm around Kanae, "and Kanae got to herd fish!"

Inari chuckled. "Aye, she does love swimin down there. Dinner will be ready in about an hour."

Kaede raised an eyebrow. "Give yerself away a bit?"

"Aye," Kanae said with a sigh.

"Gotta be more careful lass," Kaede told her.

"Aye, Mom. Gonna go git cleaned up." Kanae lead Randy back out.

Heading up the stairs, Randy said, "Yer mom didn't look happy you left the tour boat to go herd fish."

Kanae replied quietly, "She'd be less happy if I admitted what I told everyone. Fer many years, people constantly came after mom and Grandpa. She insists we doan tell anyone where we live er anything about us. I know she's got her reasons, an they ain't trivial."

Randy saw Kanae had fallen out of her high spirit. "So, can I scrub you down in the shower, make sure you're all clean?" he asked with a grin.

Kanae giggled. "Aye Lad, if I kin return the favor."

Yes! Kissing and playing was on for tonight!

.

In the shower, Kanae and Randy washed each other down, played and ending up having a good romp. Dressed again, they went down to dinner. Duncan came up with a bottle of Glen Finnen. Seeing Kanae and Randy he said, "We're split on Paris, or Denmark. Which would ya go like ta see?"

"I'd like to see Paris again," Kanae said.

Randy nodded. "Yeah, Paris is fine with me."

Kaede smirked. "Then Paris wins. We kin go see Denmark later, all the flowers will be in bloom towards the end o'summer."

"That is a beautiful sight," Inari agreed. "Paris does have many sights. Jus doan go spittin off the top'o the Eiffel tower." She glanced at Duncan.

Duncan replied, "Nay, we was dancin."

Inari eyed him. "Right, up on the highest beam ya could reach. Amanda told me bout it."

Randy eyed him. "Wow, that was brave! What if you fell?"

Duncan huffed, "I went up there wit her ta keep'er from jupmin."

"She was going to commit suicide?" Randy asked.

"Nay, just make a spectacle'o herself."

"Splattered Amanda," Kaede said, then giggled.

Kanae showed Inari the recipe for speedies she'd gotten. "Gramma, I found a new tasty food when we was at Randy's house. They're called speedies I think cause it doan take long ta make'em. It's marinated chunks of meat, where Randy lives they use pork or chicken. I doan see why we can't use mutton though."

Inari looked at the paper Kanae gave her. "We kin try it. These are good?"

"Yeah, they're real tasty too," Kanae said eagerly.

"Richie can even put them on a pizza," Randy offered.

Everyone looked at him then burst out in laughter.

Randy was loving the fun they had here.

.

It was time to get their 'sea bags' together. Duncan made sure Kanae knew Randy was going to need topside shoes and a life jacket when they got down to Brightsea. Kanae also noticed he hadn't brought a raincoat with him.

"Ya also need a rain hat," she told him. "We'll git those down at the marina too."

"A rain hat?" Randy asked.

"Aye, umbrellas doan work very well on a boat," Kanae explained. "Specially of ya hafta grab on ta somethin."

"To keep from kissing the ceiling?' Randy asked with a smirk.

"Ta keep ya ON the boat if yer topside and we git good sized waves," Kanae told him. "Sailin's fun, but ya gotta be careful."

"From your stories, I gathered that," he agreed.

On the list of who was going, besides Duncan, Inari, Kanae, Randy, Kaede, Kouta, Nana, Jeff, and Mayu, and Uzuki, Mike and Amanda were coming along. Randy also found out he was going to be the 'mast watch' for leaving and pulling into port.

Kanae explained that the main mast was a place he could easily see the whole boat and since people topside would be working, it would be his job to watch over everyone to make sure if anyone fell overboard, he would call out 'man overboard', even if it was a woman, point them out and keep track of them.

Making sure they had everything, their group got a train ride south to Brightsea. One thing Randy was sure to bring was his camera. They changed trains twice on the way. After the last train station, they were in Brightsea, so they walked to the marina.

Kaede registered as Duncan led them down to the boat. Before Kanae and Randy went down, she took him to the nautical store there, got him the boat sneakers and a good long raincoat and hat. Then they went down to the boat.

Seeing it, Randy noted this was a nice boat. It looked clean and shiny and the golden mermaid under the forward mast sticking out made it look perfect. Getting on board, he noted the spoked brass wheel and several screens right above it. The stairs down into the cabin was a dark wood, so were the floors and walls on the inside. Kanae showed Randy their bunk and the storage space below it. Above was a hammock.

Motioning to the hammock, Kanae told him, "The hammock is a little more comfortable, but only fits one person, so we're taking the bunk below it."

"That the hammock you pasted your face to the ceiling in?" Randy asked.

"I'tis. The boat rose so fast, the hammock stretched down, the atop the wave the boat fell down and I got tossed up into the ceilin. Doan wanna do that again. Least I wasn't tossed outta me bunk to land in someone else's atop of'em like Mayu was," Kanae said in a giggle.

Randy noted as things were put away, people were headed back topside with their boat shoes (light blue sneakers with ridged soles) on. Looking at the soles of his, Kaede said, "They're made at grip the rough paint on the topside deck fer better traction. Great on a boat, but slippery as hell off the boat."

"I'll remember that," Randy replied.

Going topside they saw Kaede was standing by the helm with everyone around them. "OK guys! Me, Duncan, Inari, Kanae, Jeff and Amanda are the helm watches. Jeff, engines good?"

"Aye, all good and the fuel tanks and fresh water tank's full. Nay leaks."

"Mom, we set in the kitchen?" Kaede asked.

"Aye, Captain," Inari beamed, "Stores loaded and put away." Inari replied.

"Kanae, start up the engine, get ready to remove shore power."

"Aye, Captain mom!" Kanae replied and went over to the helm. She started the engine and the screen flashed to life. She called back over her shoulder, "Boat's on internal power, ready to remove shore power."

"Kouta, disconnect shore power. Nana, Mayu, forward line. Mom, Jeff, aft line. Get ready to cast off," Kaede announced. "Randy, you an Uzuki are the mast watches, Uzuki, show him how."

"Aye Mom," Uzuki said and grabbed Randy's hand. She took him along the side of the cabin and climbed up on top right in front of the mast.

Randy watched the activity on deck. Duncan went over and shut the bulldog off to the cable going to the ship. He announced power off. Kouta then disconnected the cable and rolled it up as he walked back to the dock. A cap was put on the end, then the men came back on board.

"Stow the brow!" Kaede announced. Duncan and Kouta pulled the aluminum walkway to the dock on board and store it beside the railing.

"Cast off all lines!" Kaede announced.

Inri and Nana pulled the ropes holding them to the dock off the cleats. Jeff and Mayu pulled the ropes onto the boat, and laced them into the deck compartments and closed the compartments. Inari and Nana jumped back onto the boat.

"Helm, get us out to sea."

Randy watch Kanae spin the wheel and give gas to the engine. The back of the boat pulled out. Kanae spun the wheel the other way. The boat out in clear water, she backed them out between the other boats to each side. Getting to clear water beyond the docks, she spun the wheel again, slowed the engine down as they turned, then added power again as she spun the wheel the other way. The boat kept turning to point at the harbor entrance.

Seeing the smooth moves the boat made, Randy called, "Kanae, that was good!"

"Aye, Mom taught me!" she beamed and drove them out into the bay.

"Haven't lost yer touch," Kaede agreed with a smile. "Let's see how ya do when we rig the sails.

The straps holding the main sail were removed and stored. Up on the front of the boat, Nana announced, "Fore'sle ready!"

"Main'sle ready," Kaede said.

Everyone was watching Kanae. Kanae was studying the screens in front of her.

"Wait till we're clear o'the bay," Kaede coaxed.

"Away from land," Kanae agreed with a nod. "We're on course, 8 knots."

"How's the wind look?"

"Gusting, five ta seven knots southeast," Kanae said, studying her screens. "It'll probably change when we're pointing more east. The land is affecting the wind too, right?"

"Aye lass."

Randy watched out ahead of them. They were moving along in nice smooth water. As the land dropped away to the sides, he noticed there were small waves ahead. He saw the boat turn more to the right.

"Wind's steadyin up, coming from 105, a solid eight knots," Kanae said. The then called, "Hoist the main'sle!"

"Aye!" Uzuki replied. "Randy, gimme a hand."

Seeing the rope she was pulling on, Randy reached above and pulled down on the rope. As they pulled, it was getting harder to do so. The sail was going up. The boom also drifted out to the right side of the boat.

A moment up hauling on the rope and the sail was up. Uzuki said, "Randy hold'er up while I tie it off." He did and watched her make figure eights on the cleat.

"Main'sle raised!" Uziki called.

Kanae studied her screens. She move the boom in a bit, then called, "Raise the fore'sle! Boom at 30 degrees starboard!"

"Aye!" Nana called back. She and Mayu got the sail in front raised up and the boom out to where Kanae said. "Done, Fore'sle up, boom 30 starboard!"

"Tis good fer now," Kanae called out. She then lowered the engine to an idle. "Screw clutch disengaged, we're running on sails," she told Kaede.

"Perfect!" Kaede beamed. "Port watch secured." Looking up at Randy, she added, "That means ya kin git down now."

Uzuki giggled and went back down to go down into the cabin. Nana and Mayu went down the forward hatch.

Randy did go down and see what Kanae was doing. Looking at the screens and all the information she was watching, he said, "Wow, that looks complex."

"Kanae, shut down the engine, we doan need it."

"Aye Captain Mom," she said and shut the diesel off. She glanced at Randy. "There is a lot of stuff here to watch," Pointing out the displays, she said, "This is the engine panel. Engine speed and temperature, fuel level, a bunch of alarms if anything happens to it. Next here is the wind direction information. Real, apparent and effective wind direction and speeds, speed through the water. Down here is the kneel angle indicator. This one's the navigation panel. Course, GPS location, speed across the surface of the planet, and the maps of the area we're in, I can call up. This last one is radar information and weather advisories. I can also call a weather map up on this one."

Randy chuckled. "I can see why you're so good at studying, learning all this."

"Tain't hard once ya know what yer lookin at," she replied with a grin.

A soft breeze was blowing, and with the diesel off, the only noise was the flutter of the sail and the small waves slapping against the boat. "This is peaceful," he noted.

"Aye. Nice way ta travel. Beats drivin er takin public transport," Kanae said. Looked at the wind indicators, she used a winch to let the main sail a bit farther out.

"How do you know where to put the sail at?" he asked.

Kanae explained what each wind speed meant and why there was a speed through the water reading. "An ya trim the sail by the apparent wind reading. That changes wit the boat's speed through the water. Right now, we're doin seven knots, but the true wind is coming from mostly east an a bit south. See the true wind speed is a bit faster than the apparent wind speed?"

"OK, I see, that makes sense now," He agreed.

Randy had fun staying by Kanae as they sailed along. After her 'helm watch' was over, they sat on the back deck on one of the couches. It was a nice sunny day and Randy drifted off and took a nap.

.

Upon coming back to the US after their tour, Nancy went straight to the campus library to look up Scottish and English history. Having her beloved romance novel there for reference, she tried to find out what was real and what wasn't. She was sure Kanae was hiding things from her. She did find a list of Queen Mary's court, on it the Advisor from Scotland was Duncan McLeod. Quickly, she looked up that section of the book, not just to see who the woman was Duncan was romancing at the time, but verified the book said the same thing. He had been part of Queen Mary's court.

A tall dark haired man sat across from her. "This is the first time I've seen anyone look up history in a romance novel," he said curiously.

Nancy looked up at him. The man was handsome, and bearing a smirk. "I'm looking up all I can find about Duncan McLeod," she told him.

He raised his eyebrows. "Really? And why do that? Those novels do use names they find. It doesn't mean he's real."

"He is real," Nancy stated. "I've seen him, his grand daughter Kanae goes to college here. I've gone to Glen Finnen and saw his sword hanging on a post at the local Inn. I know he's real. And this list of Queen Mary's advisors proves he was there!"

Sporting a grin, the man asked, "So, the author picks a historical figure to write about. That doesn't prove it's the same Duncan McLeod."

"It does when Kanae, who's never read this book, provided the SAME details as what's in it," Nancy stated.

"Really? What details?" he asked.

"Not only verifying where he, and she was born, but also the Amanda this books talks about. She wanted to know how I knew Amanda. When I asked her about Duncan being this tragic, romantic figure that was indeed cursed to walk the Earth forever, she became very evasive. She tried to laugh it off and assured me that couldn't be true. I could tell she was lying."

"And you believe he is?" he asked with a grin of amusement.

"Yes! He looks exactly as the book describes him, Late twenties, maybe early thirties, and he's a grandfather! No grandfather I ever saw looks that young," Nancy stated. "Her grandmother is getting grey hair and looking older, why isn't he?"

The man looked to the sides and asked, "So, you are convince everything in that book is true?"

"As far as Duncan McLeod is concerned, yes. I have yet to find anything on the Clarence Coventry it describes. I did find out Richard, Kanae's Uncle, died in Florida years ago, but he was there too."

"I see," the man said, eyeing her. "And you want to know all about Duncan. I do have to ask why."

"Because I want to know the truth!" Nancy stated. "Don't you think a man who's lived for 500 years so far is worth knowing about?"

"So you can take your proof to the press?" he asked.

"No!" she hissed as loud as she dared here in the library. "So his life can be recorded. To know, if all of his family are like that, to ensure all the things he must have done, all the strife and times he's lived through are recorded as history and not just fiction," Nancy stated.

The man put a hand over his mouth as he eyed her.

"You don't believe me, do you," she asked.

The man took his hand down and eyed her. "So you do want to record history. What if I told you there's someone doing that right now? Recording the history of those who live … extremely long lives?"

Nancy gaped at him. "There are? Where can I find them?"

The man grinned. "Tell you what, how about if you practice recording Kanae Kikumura's life while she's here at college. What she's studying, what she does, who she hangs around and where she goes? Do that for a month, then we can talk."

"Why record what Kanae does?" she asked, frowning slightly.

"To see if you're serious about recording history," he said and got up. "I'll be in touch."

"I didn't get your name," she said quickly.

He offered her a smile. "I didn't give it."

Nancy watched him walk out. Who WAS that guy? Why did he want her to record what Kanae did? Unless, Kanae was like Duncan, and would live for a very long time. That got her thinking.

..