The eye of the lion

The stone tower topped with a steeple rose majestically in the dusky light.

Inside the RV, parked in the square, we all looked at it in silence. Disconcerted.

It was just how Aeesha had predicted it: Traveling four hundred and fifteen miles south of the Eurotunnel in Coquelles, we would arrive at our destination, in a town with a Gothic-looking stone tower with a steeple. Now we were there, looking at the vision which had become a reality.

The town was Aurillac, a settlement of about 30,000 inhabitants, 270 miles south of Paris, in the department of l’Aveyron. Majestic tree-covered mountains overlooked the town from the north-east, giving it an enchanting view.

The statue of the Saint or holy person in the small square was also there, just as the black girl had foreseen.

Mark was still skeptical, and I must confess that I was too, but I was impressed by the girl’s disconcerting ability.

“Perhaps she saw this place before, on television maybe,” explained Mark.

Aeesha shook her head.

“I’ve never left England in my life, and I never watch television. I don’t know why I talked about this place - I’ve never even heard its name before.”

Doctor Cole patted her hand affectionately.

“That’s alright, my girl. It’s as good a place as any other, under the circumstances.”

“Well, the important thing is that we’ve gotten far enough from Paris and for the moment far enough from danger,” declared Jessica, looking at us. Then she looked at the girl again. “What do we do now?”

We all looked at her. Aeesha felt intimidated.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” She smiled nervously. “I don’t know what’s going to happen now!”

Mark drew an ironic smile.

“We have to give her time...” said Marina by her side. “I know we’ll soon know what to do.”

We looked at each other in silence for a moment. We’d heard the news on the radio while we were on the road and the situation

had become alarming. There were even unconfirmed rumors of evacuation plans in effect in some cities in the United States and Russia. The tense climate was even evident in the town we were in now. The streets were almost deserted.

“We need to prepare ourselves for the worst,” I said, trying not to sound like an alarmist. “Use our common sense. Think that the unthinkable could occur. We can’t take any risks.”

“What should we do, sir?” asked Jessica.

“Buy provisions for several months: enough water, food, medicines, batteries, gasoline...” I said. “Stay away from big cities, stay up to date with the news.”

“We can’t do that,” said Jessica. We don’t have enough money and we can’t use our credit cards. As soon as we use one, they’ll immediately know where we are.”

Doctor Cole got out his wallet and looked through it. We all rummaged through our bags.

“I only have ten Euros left,” said Cole with a worried expression. “The rest went on fuel.”

The rest of us put our cash on the table. We hardly had twenty-seven Euros in total. Hardly enough for dinner. We looked at each other in silence.

“This will help,” said Marina’s voice breaking the silence.

Her hand put a check on top of the money. A cashier’s check

for twenty thousand dollars.

We looked at her, stunned. My mouth was open. Jessica picked it up and examined it. She looked at the Netgen logo printed on the document.

“My God... Twenty thousand Euros,” she murmured. “Who gave you this check, Marina?”

The girl looked uncomfortable.

“The man from the factory. The doctor...”

“Waiss?” inquired Mark. Marina nodded.

I looked at her gravely.

“We can’t use it, Marina. This money is for your father’s situation. It’s very generous of you, but...”

“Don’t worry,” the girl interrupted, smiling. “He won’t need it any more, and we will. Take it.”

I looked at her, intrigued.

“He won’t need it?... I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

The girl smiled happily.

“I’ll soon see my father again.”