Melissa hesitated for a long time. In the end, her desire for Beyonder powers and her love of machinery won out, and she accepted Mr. Brain's proposal.
But she and her brother had only just moved to Backlund. She had not yet been admitted to Backlund University of Industry and Technology, so she could not use the university's materials or laboratories to make her own creations.
Abner had already thought of that. He wrote Melissa a letter to give to Bishop Linton at Lever Church, knowing she would arrange a suitable place for Melissa to work.
Bishop Linton was one of the great detective Isengard's friends. Before leaving Backlund, his teacher had asked her to look after Abner. And just before going to see Dunn, Abner had visited her at Lever Church himself.
After Melissa took the letter and the Projector plans, she and Benson said goodbye to Detective Braine and left his villa. Benson chose his words carefully before gently telling his sister:
"Mr. Brain is handsome, knowledgeable, and good-natured. He's well-off, too... But I think he's better suited to being just a friend."
Benson put particular emphasis on "just."
Melissa knew what her brother was thinking, but this concerned Beyonder matters. Until she understood what precautions she needed to take, she had no intention of telling Benson more. "I know... Don't worry," she said vaguely.
Noticing her attitude only made Benson more worried...
At eight that evening, in Babel Valley along the Tussock River, more than a dozen people stood apart from one another, badges in hand. Each had disguised themselves to a different degree, and all seemed to be waiting quietly for something.
Only one of them, a handsome young man with black hair, green eyes, and the air of a poet, made no attempt to