Free Mathieu by Irene Ferris Page A

attention or even worse, control over that power could be lost with disastrous results.
    Jenn saw him hesitate. “Mathieu, nothing is going to happen to you. We need you, remember? We’re not going to break our promise to you.”
    He thought about that for a moment and then nodded. “Forgive my suspicions. I have become unused to trusting others.”
    He climbed in gracefully and tried not to jump when Eddie moved the middle seat back, effectively trapping him. Instead he focused on exploring his area.
    The seats were soft tan leather and individual vents blew cold, conditioned air. He noted he could control the temperature from his seat.
    Marcus had helped Jenn up into the middle seats, where she immediately taken off her boots and peeled off her socks with an almost indecent groan of pleasure. Her feet, blisters and all, were currently propped on the armrest next to the window.
    Eddie climbed into the driver’s seat and Marcus claimed the passenger side. Referring to a map while he turned the key in the ignition, Eddie called back, “Next stop, Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame la Salette, suspended between earth and sky. God, I love this country.”
    “How long?” Marcus leaned over to see the map that Eddie held in his lap.
    Eddie tossed the map at him and put the vehicle in gear. “We have to go roundabout because of the mountains. We’re going to circumvent Grenoble, and any other sizable place. So, that’ll be at least four hours of curvy roads. You might as well take a nap now ‘cause you’re my back-up driver.”
    “Great.” Marcus’ voice made it clear he thought it was anything but.
    “The burdens of leadership are many, my friend. Here’s another one to shoulder.”
    “Fuck you.” Marcus laughed as he reclined the front seat to sleep. He absently reached over to pat Jenn’s leg, and found her already asleep.
    Mathieu hugged himself tightly and watched them all from the back seat as the road unrolled behind them.

C hapter Fourteen
    Jenn woke and looked out the window at the hills and mountains that filled the horizons. There was the occasional farmhouse but otherwise there was no sign of civilization.
    She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and asked, “Where are we?”
    “The middle of nowhere,” Eddie answered cheerily.
    She stretched and looked into the back seat where Mathieu had curled up, knees to chest. He rested his chin on his folded arms while he looked out the window. His eyes were distant, but the sun lit them to an almost amber tone.
    After a moment she spoke, “Does it remind you of your home?”
    He started at the sound of her voice but composed himself quickly. “No, but it is beautiful here.”
    “Are you from around here, Mathieu?” Eddie glanced back into the rear-view mirror to look at his passengers.
    Jenn answered before Mathieu could speak. “No. He’s from further west, around Tours. A sweet little village near the Loire.” She smiled back to Mathieu and shrugged. “I was there, looking for you.”
    With a nod, Mathieu spoke again. “I’m sure I wouldn’t recognize it now. Back then it was really nothing but farms and vineyards. The monks at the abbey made a wine that was served at the king’s table.”
    “ The wine is still famous, you know. And the Abbey is still there.” Jenn spoke casually. “I mean, the monks aren’t there anymore, but the Abbey is. There are some nuns, too. They give tours.”
    Mathieu shook his head. “What a strange thought: tours of God’s house. Not that I would want to see that place again. I have seen enough of that chapel floor to last me for a very long, very unnatural lifetime.” He laughed out loud at that statement.
    At that Marcus looked back from the front seat. He met Jenn’s eyes with some surprise.
    Jenn finally screwed up her courage to ask. “What’s so funny?”
    Eyes dancing with humor in the light, Mathieu leaned forward and spoke quickly, his hands dancing as he spun the tale.
    “We lived near enough to the Abbey as