This is what happens when you just disappear from work.

[thruthemagnifyingglass]

[It has taken some time for her to gather everything that is needed for the site. Terrance, the young boy who has been working on this project, has been kind enough to summarize the reports that have yet to be submitted to the university. Terrance is brilliant and while horribly blunt, he is also kind. He’s doing well and his thesis, once proven, could change the way the world looks at the planet. Alice doesn’t want to stand in the way of that so she has come to the historical site with the intent to let Terrance have the flexibility he needs for his final tests and remain close by as an aid. She had a feeling that he doesn’t need it but she knows enough should he run into difficulties.

The truth is Alice is a fan of Professor Fitzmarcus’s work. She has followed the research at Stonehenge since she was young and it’s an honor to be able to work on it now. Her thoughts drift away while the wind tugs at her long hair. Terrance is sitting a few yards away working on his machine. She finds the soft whirling of the fan mixed with the smell of smoke and earth comforting. It reminds her of her father.

She takes a seat on the grass with a battered field journal in hand. A pen rests in her hands and after a moment she begins scratching an imagine of the ruins and notes about its structure, formation and age on the blank page.

She wonders what happened to the professor before her. She isn’t in a position to ask with her own career and difficulties but she can’t imagine a reason to ever want to leave Stonehenge. Alice, though currently working as a professor, has traveled all over the world. She’s interested in different sites and the mark they’ve left on the planet. She’s rarely home and so she finds comfort in her books and notes, and then the earth.

A light smile teases her lips as she works, her fingers rising only occasionally to push back her hair.]

Comments

[rockcollector]

[Terrance frowns and then closes his laptop. He places the small device on his make shift desk and then turns to face Corbin.]

I have time.

[He then proceeds to pull his tobacco from his pocket.]

[nogiftedone]

[He breathes a sigh and, for the first time in a very long time, pulls out his pipe and his own tobacco.]

It all started with a visit from my father, if you can believe that.

[rockcollector]

The guy who came into the office?

[It doesn't take a genius for someone to tell that they were related. Though Terrance has that advantage plus knowing Corbin well. He hadn't only gotten a glimpse at the man but the marks were undeniable.]

[nogiftedone]

[He nods, packing his pipe with tobacco.]

The same. His name is Johnathan. I've...always known that, though I didn't know his face.

[rockcollector]

[Terrance frowns, his eyes watching Corbin carefully.]

He came to find you?

[There might be a hint of envy in his voice.]

[nogiftedone]

[He scoffs.]

Yes, but not out of any sort of benevolence, or even guilt.

[rockcollector]

How do you know that?

[Terrance is trying so hard to keep himself composed. He isn't an overly emotional person, there aren't many reasons to be emotional and yet somehow with Corbin involved and Corbin's father... he can't help the twisting of emotions in his chest.

This sucks.]

[nogiftedone]

This is where the story becomes more fantastic.

[He pauses for a moment.]

And I say that, knowing full well I can manipulate the life energy of the planet.

[rockcollector]

[Terrance flashes Corbin an expression to suggest he isn't amused. He's annoyed that his professor left but he'll wait to the end of the story. He can do that much.]

What's that?