The Museum of Soulmates

2.

It is two o'clock in the morning. A man advances in the barely lit rooms of the museum. His shadow glides over each painting, the night visitor is not worried. The establishment is equipped with a very basic video surveillance system. In any case, the man is not there to commit any theft. He simply and calmly looks at the paintings. From time to time, his silhouette becomes clearer. His hair are long and slightly wavy. He is dressed all in black and has kept his raincoat, although he has been in the museum for a long time. He seems to be talking to himself, but this impression is the consequence of the new technologies, which make cell phones almost invisible.

- The messenger has arrived.

- I count on you to take good care of him.

- I am only waiting for your orders.

- The mission begins.

The caller had been waiting for this sentence for a long time. Three words have just triggered a cascade of events that begin tonight and that no one can stop. The woman who comes to meet the enigmatic man in room number five also knows what "mission" means. The visitor is not surprised or disturbed by this female presence that kneels before him.

- Master, I was not informed of your arrival, please excuse me.

- It's nothing, Agent Monot, my visit was decided at the last minute.

- What can I do to serve you?

- I had a vision during my daily meditation. I had to come.

- Did you find what you were looking for, Master?

- No, I can't see it.

- See it?

The Master is the number one of a more or less secret organization, whose full name is: the Guild of Saint Dibutades. Like Freemasonry, this is a structure that the public has hearsay about, but only the active members know how it really works. The Guild, so named for convenience, broke its ties with the Church at the end of the sixteenth century, when its members canonized Dibutades, against the advice of the papacy. Even today, the power of the organization extends to the entire planet. Only the Master and his close associates know the true extent of its power.

- My reign is coming to an end.

- Already?

- It's not my choice, you know that. According to the message sent to me, a woman will soon replace me.

- Can't you see it in the paintings?

- I had hoped for a confirmation. But only the chosen one will be able to observe her own reflection.

- Will you stay with us and wait for her?

- I will indeed extend my stay in Strasbourg.

- I am watching and you will be informed as soon as something comes up, Master.

At this last word, the woman bows her head in respect. When she looks up, the Master has disappeared. She looks around, no one is there.

- He does this every time!

It is now the woman's turn to look at the works. She calmly observes each painting, one by one, staying a few minutes to stare at the abstract canvases. But nothing. She does not lose hope. If she sees nothing, there is little chance that she is the chosen one. She is nevertheless happy since her role within the Guild has just taken on a new dimension. She will be the first to see the heiress.