The Last Empress of Mars

just perhaps, the young lady could contribute some tidbit that would help him understand and solve this case. At this point even the smallest detail that could help point him in the right direction would be very welcome! At least he would not have to babysit alone, he had been able to speak to Dr. Carazo-Chavarría who expressed that he had been a longtime friend of Dr. Walker and so Dr. Carazo-Chavarría had offered to send his grandson Cid to help him meet Felicity since they were about the same age, and it might make her feel more comfortable in such a difficult time. That was fine with Gunn as he did not imagine he would have much in common with an 18-year-old who was probably a spoiled rich brat. He did feel sorry for her as she was now orphaned and from the information the Ambassador had given him, Dr. Walker had been her only living relative. Yet another orphan because of these murdering bastards! Felicity had taken a short nap as the plane began its journey south, she was now awake and feeling better and decided it was time to do as her grandfather had instructed her and read the diary and then open the Chinese box.Breaking the wax seal on the envelope that held the diary within brought home the fact that her beloved Gramps was truly dead. She had always admired how he used the old-fashioned method of pouring wax on a sealed document and then stamping down his personal metal seal on it to guarantee its privacy, just like they used to do in times past. It was such an elegant method and in fact her grandfather had given her a seal of her own as a present on one of her birthdays. As she pulled out the rich leather covered diary and ran her fingers down the front feeling its supple and soft surface, she unlatched the gold clasp and opened it to the first page and began to read… ¨My Beloved Felicity, if you are reading this then it means that I am no longer among the living and for this I cannot even begin to express my feelings of sadness in leaving you alone and passing unto you this great burden and responsibility along with its inherent dangers as I shall explain in the following pages. You, my beloved, are the person whom I love the most and I wish that I could bestow upon you a normal life of happiness and tranquility but alas this is not to be because our family history is not an ordinary one and above all your duty and honor calls.