Jane and the Guardians: Sword of the Lady

Chapter 8

Einstein is just a theoretical physicist, so he can't build a bomb. Hans ponders his plans while looking out the window from his seat on the trans-Atlantic flight. But this Fermi Nobel-winning guy is probably a better lead, especially with him working at Columbia with all these other physicists. Hans smirks at the thought. What did Klaus say about American university building a bomb? We'll see if that's possible. Then again, if I have anything to do with it, they will never finish the bomb at an American university.

Sipping Champaign at the thought in amusement, As long as I am in the area, I should pay a visit to Albert. If nothing else, just to say hello to an old friend.

#

"How is everyone back there?" Jane already knows the answer but figures she needs the conversation to break the hours of silence. After an agonizingly long pause, Donnie replies in a still weak voice, "fine." Another coughing fit.

"Sorry, no more talking," Jane apologizes quietly and focuses on their thoughts, eyeing the ring on her finger. After another silent pause, Jane pleads, "Please stop thinking about my safety. I know it's your priority. But now, I need to know how to help you guys get better. Please think about that so I can know what to do." After another pause, "Please, if you guys don't get better, who's going to help me? I need you guys to stay alive."

Jane pulls the car over to the side and turns to face them in the backseat. "Look, I don't care what you think. You do what I tell you. That's your job! Now your job is to help me to help you to get better." Reluctantly and intermittently, as her waning strength allows, Marie tries to walk through the simple version of how Jane can help them heal in her mind. Jane pays attention intently even though most of Marie's instructions are very faint and scarcely comprehensible. She stops Marie before long, not wanting to strain her further. "Okay, I think I get the idea. Now, we need to find a quiet and insolated place where we won't be interrupted for about an hour."

She looks up and sees the New York skyline in the not too distant horizon. It's not going to be easy with all those people around.

#

"Hello, Mr. Einstein, Sir," Jane says apprehensively as the door opens and a silver haired man stands in the doorway. "My name is Jane. My friends and I have come a long way to see you. Can we perhaps have a few minutes of your time?"

"Oh certainly Jane, please come in," Albert smiles and waves the girl in.

Awestricken, Jane walks into the house to find a homey and simply decorated home. Wow, this place reminds me of Mrs. Smith's house.

"I know, it reminds you of Mrs. Smith's home," Albert says unexpectedly.

Jane turns to look at Einstein with eyes wide open, "How do you know?"

"Ah, come into the kitchen. We can talk about that over a cup of tea. Oh, and don't worry about your friends in the car. They are already upstairs."

"Thank you," Jane says absentmindedly as she walks into the kitchen, eyes open even wider. "It looks exactly like Mrs. Smith's kitchen, even down to the tea cups."

"Yes, Margaret and I always liked the same sort of simple homey domiciles. I guess after years of being one of her Palace Guards, I've simply adopted her home as mine." Albert reminisces as they sit at the kitchen table where mugs of tea hot were waiting.

"You knew Mrs. Smith and you are a Guardian!" Jane feels calmed and refreshed after a few sips and blurts out the obvious.

"You catch on quick," Albert teases with a wry smile.