"I don't know exactly the location of Córdoba. I do know Argentina is a long way from here."

"I want to see her. Talk to her."

Odea does her best to steady her shaking hands, "Why?"

"I want to ask her that very question."

"Why did They, Them, give you this information?"

Ada pull a paper out of the back section, "They want me to find out if there are in fact ratlines."

"Ratlines?"

"The Vatican has set up a system of escape routes for Nazis and other Catholic fascists. They believe that one is being set up in Argentina."

"As incentive they hand you Galina Shikalova."

"Correct."

Odea places the iron safely down and turns to see her wife's face. "Close your eyes."

Ada closes her eyes and feels her wife taste her to understand.

"I do not taste malice, anger or even vengeance. Why do you want to go?"

Ada begins to tear up, "I can't even formulate the questions. I need to speak to her, to understand. This doesn't make sense to me."

"I can taste the confusion and the pain. What if she offers nothing?"

"I want to see her one more time. There is this opportunity I do not want to miss."

Odea unplugs the soldering iron and take her wife's hand down to the living room.

"...a dry, dark cellar or special repository built in a side hill or with double, filled walls, like those of an ice house, may be utilized for wintering bees in extremely cold climates ..."

Odea and Ada go to the shelves to pull out the atlas.

"...the colonies, supplied with good queens, plenty of bees, 20 to 25 pounds of stores each, and with chaff cushions placed over the frames, are carried in shortly before snow and severe freezing weather come..."

Vastra looks up from her correspondence chess watching Odea with Molly, waiting for a sign. Any sign to be useful and focus on other things than what is being broadcasted on the radio.

Jenny and Fiona feel the tension in the room but continue playing their game.

Alaya stops taking notes about bee-keeping. She licks the air. She looks to her wife for a sign. Nothing.

Catherine is engrossed in Erewhon which has her ignore everything, including the program on the radio.

"...When in repositories, the bees have no opportunity for a cleansing flight, nor do they, when the temperature rises outside, always warm up sufficiently to enable the cluster to move from combs from which the stores have been exhausted to full ones..."

Odea grabs her mother Jenny attention with a muted smile.

Catherine turns to the next chapter and finally notices the stress in the air. She closes the book and notices her granddaughter in the room whose eyes red from crying. Catherine gets up, goes to Ada's side and whispers, "What is this?"

Vastra goes over to the radio and switches it off. She can't hear what is being said over this radio frequencies.

Odea says to her mother Jenny, "Ada needs to go to Argentina."

Vastra and Alaya look at each other.

"Argentina?" Alaya quickly seeks clarification, "When? Why?"

Ada sits her grandmother down, "I never asked, because I thought it would be too painful. The time has come for me to ask. Please be brave. Tell me how Ivan, Joanna and August died?"

Catherine eyes squint, "Why do you ask such a thing?"

"It is very important."

Catherine points to the open Atlas, "Does it have to do with Argentina?"

"No and yes."

Catherine sits quietly mustering up her memories, trying to find the words.

Ada asks, "Did they ever go into caves?"

"Da!" Catherine shakes her head up and down. "Mostly Olga and Ivan." She looks to the room, "You might not know it but Olga used to hike all the time. That is where she met Ivan at a hiking club. Such a nice boy, he spent more money on hiking boots than clothing. That is the common core of their love, nature. They hiked all year long, even in winter."

"Was there a time when Olga didn't go hiking with Ivan into a cave?"

Catherine things back, "No. Wait. Yes, that one time she had to go into work. The power plant engineer was drunk and they called in Olga to take over."

"Engineer?"

"Da. Olga has brains like her brothers." Catherine speaks to the room. "She came to London because I wanted to come. She had a good job assignment. But I decided. I chose here."

"We are glad you did."

"I am glad we came," Olga's voice fills the room.

"You are?" Catherine looks to her daughter.

"I am. Why is this room so sad." She looks at Ada with her head down, "What has happened? Is everything alright?"

Silence.

Ada attempts to put the conversation back on track, "We are talking about hiking and you going into caves. Grandmother was telling us the time you were called into work. Ivan, Joanna and August went without you."

Olga leans forward bracing the back of a chair, "I have not heard their names mentioned in such a long time. It seems like another life long forgotten."

"Da! Like a book." Catherine adds.

"Exactly like a book I have read many years ago." Olga comes around and becomes more comfortable, she is ready to tell the story. Maybe it is the new position, new friend or maybe she is just getting older. She clears her throat and continues, "They went into a new section of the cave. Usually there is nothing but this time, it was different. Robert took picture. We all were so proud of the discovery. We thought maybe this was the sculptures of Qin Shi Huang's army. In previous caves, we found many Chinese artifacts and some Scandinavian."

Olga pauses as she remembers Ivan's excitement. "Ivan thought we would be rich and we made grand plans. We couldn't wait to see the pictures. Robert developed the pictures at work and showed his peers at Demidov Juridical Lyceum for advice."

"Have you seen the pictures?" Ada quickly asks.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Robert's one co-worker asked to show them to an expert at Moscow State University. Robert told my Ivan that they should keep the location secret and not go until they hear a response."

Vastra and Jenny lock eyes, 'That is the connection!'

"Did they hear a response?"

"Da!" Catherine is irritated with this memory and begins to speak in Russian. "Эти люди пришли в мою пекарню и потребовали, чтобы они увидели Ивана! Я был с клиентом, и это испугало их. Мой первый клиент. Нехорошо не продавать с первым клиентом."

Ada looks to the room and smiles, "My grandmother's Russian passion has returned."

Catherine quickly responds, "I always have Russian passion."

Ada shakes her head with a smile, "Grandmother said people came to her bakery and demanded that they see Ivan. She was with customers, her first of the day. It is bad luck not to make sale with first customer."

Vastra now is all but sitting on Catherine, "What did these people look like?"

"One man and two women."

"Was the man large?"

"Da!"

Ada runs out of the room, "I will return shortly. Don't talk without me. Hi Julia!"

Olga stands as she should have returned to her project.

Julia stands in the doorway, "I thought you were bringing tea?"

"It seems we have a small family crisis."

"I am sorry," Julia's facial expression shows concern. "Is there anything I can do?"

"No. Thank you for your concern." Olga smiles, "Do you think we can finish next Saturday?"

"Same time? Same breakfast?"

Olga face becomes radiant, "Of course."

"Good evening." Julia leaves the doorway reminding her friend, "Contact me at my parent's home if you need me. Please."

Olga looks to her mother, "We are friends."

"Good. I told you."

"Bye Julia!" Ada yells from the landing and rejoins her family. She hands three photographs to Catherine, "Do these looks familiar? You have seen Alexandra Trofimova. But what about ..."

Catherine stands up and her face goes white, "Yes! That man." She quickly sits back down to catch her breath. "Who is he?" She looks that other pictures, "Da! Da! They are the people who insisted on seeing Ivan." She lays down Alexandra Trofimova's picture on the table, "She is evil."

"What about the other woman?"

Catherine reexamines the final photograph. She holds it full arm's length and then closer, "I remember her, I think. She is very nice. She was quiet. She never came to visit me."

"Let me see these photographs," Olga grabs them and looks at them. "I don't remember seeing any of them. Well, except for the woman who spit on my mother. Not a good day." She puts down the photographs on the table.

Ada looks to her grandmother and aunt, "Tell me how about Ivan, Robert and Joanna deaths? What happened after the visit from these three?" as she taps the photographs.

"After the visit from those three Robert warned us to forget about everything. He said that a colleague said that only Robert went into Cave. Ivan was upset, at first he thought Robert was going to try to manipulate him out of money. My brother never would lie to Ivan, he told Ivan that he is like a brother. Ivan calmed down. Two days later Robert told us that they are going to London, Olivia has taken a position. Once they buy a home they will send for us."

"After your mother and my son left Russia we were quite sad. The whole family felt as if a limp was taken." Catherine mimics her arm getting cut off. "I was sad so I kept busy working."

"First it was Joanne. She was attacked by a stranger at the hospital where she worked. It was quite tragic. They never saw the man again. The administration records at the hospital lead to a dead end. It never happened in our town before or after. Technically our homes and hospital are all underwater. But it never happened again."

"What of Ivan and August?"

"August committed suicide. The loss of Joanna was too much."

"Ivan?"

Olga takes a deep breath, "My Ivan was found at the bottom of a river bed. I was told he must have slipped and fallen to his death."

The room is thick with thoughts of loss.

Odea grabs her wife's hand.

That is all the encouragement Ada needed, "Grandmother and Aunt Olga do you believe these deaths were unusual?"

"Unusual? What do you mean?"

"They all happened around the same time."

"Three days."

"Three days in a row?"

Olga shakes her head, "Three days apart. It all started three days after Robert and Olivia took a job in London. In that order Joanna, August and then my poor Ivan."

"Da!" Catherine interjects, "My neighbors asked who was next me or my daughter. The town took bets who was next."

"We were a mental wreck watching the days. When three days passed, the death stopped. Then we mourned."

"That is quite unusual," Odea responds while nodding her head and pulling her wife close.

Olga shakes her head slowly, "My Ivan did not like hiking near cliffs ..."

Catherine scolds Olga, "Not this again. The authorities told you what happened. Do not bring these good people into your fantasy."

Ada looks tenderly into her grandmother's eyes, "This needs to be heard. Please indulge my curiosity."

"Da!" Catherine sits back and folds her hands over her chest in protest.

Olga didn't hesitate to continues, "We liked caves. We like to explore where many don't dare. We like it because caves were quiet, dark and peaceful. I never understood why he was found along the river. Also, my Ivan rarely went on a hike without me and if he did, there was always a map to guide me if he did not return within a reasonable time. But we almost always went together, it was our hobby."

"Da!" Catherine shakes her head in agreement, "I always got a map when Ivan and Olga went on a hike." Catherine's brow bends above her eyes, she unfolds her hands and looks at Olga, "You did not get a map?"

"No, which is why I was surprised. Also, the river bed is nowhere near his post. The authorities told me that he was washed downstream, but even upstream there was no place Ivan would have gone. He likes the unknown. He knows that river because it was his youth. He knew every rock, every curve of the river. Frankly it bored him." Olga smiles, "He was only sentimental about three things: his first hiking boots, his collection of flashlights and his wedding ring."

Ada lays out the folders with the tabs 'Joanna Mosin', 'August Mosin' and 'Ivan Yunevich'.

Vastra's curiosity leaped her forward to grab Joanna's file.

Catherine pick up her son's with shaking hands.

Olga simply stared at the folder.

Vastra is pacing, flipping the two pages back and forth. "There must be more!"

"That is all that I have been given."

"Why did they give these to you?"

"I have research assignment in Argentina. I believe this is their way of encouragement."

"You shall not go alone."

Ada eyes perk up for the first time but the seriousness of her employers has her cautious, "Before you assign anyone to accompany me to Argentina, I have professional priority."

"Of course," Vastra bows her head. "Do we get to know who, what or why you are going to Argentina?"

"The Vatican."

Vastra doesn't hesitate, "Julia, Jenny and myself will be accompanying you."

"Why not me?" Odea stands up from her seat. "I should go."

Vastra looks at Odea, "I am sorry."

"Please allow me," Odea begs and turns to her sister and softly make a plea. "Alaya you must allow me to go. If not I will take a boat, fly." She looks to her mother, "It doesn't matter I will follow."

Jenny pulls Odea towards Vastra and herself.

Jenny caresses Odea chin with her hands, "Your mother is correct. You do not have to like her decision, but you work for the family business and you have responsibilities."

Vastra does her best to console her daughter with a hug.

Odea catches Alaya's sad eyes.

Vastra pulls back and looks into her daughter's eyes, "My beloved Odea, I want nothing more than to grant your wishes. I must have you here. If you feel that I am being unjust, unreasonable or lack of sympathy believe as you wish. However, those emotions are a heavy burden to carry yourself. I am justified, I am not unreasonable and ... my heart is breaking at your pain."

"Allow me to heal your breaking heart," Odea softly places her hand on Vastra's chest. "Would you allow Mirum because she looks more Human?"

"No, I would not send Mirum. I am so sorry." Vastra pulls her gentle daughter close. She feels Odea whimper in her arms and her scales soften, "I am truly sorry."

Vastra releases her daughter, "I would suggest that you find strength in yourself and look to your sister Alaya to aid in your adjustment."

Odea nods her head in agreement and goes to her wife's side.

Vastra asks softly, "When do we leave?"

"As soon as possible."

"Olga?"

Olga turns to Fiona, "Please contact Julia to return. If necessary by taxi. There is much to plan."

Alaya playfully points to Olga, Ada and Odea, "Come with me into the kitchen."

Fiona turns on the radio to keep Vastra from eavesdropping on Alaya's conversation.

Catherine looks at the Atlas, "Vastra? Where is Argentina?"