Casimir

CHAPTER 5

Kingston's black Audi pulls up outside the Hotel Mersey. Xavier notices Kingston in the back and is being driven by someone up front but Xavier could not make out the diver. Xavier approaches the car only to find out that the door opens itself. Xavier gets into the car noticing a petite female in her early 30's in the passenger seat. Xavier steps into the black leather interior admiring the stitching on the doors and seats. Kingston looks to Xavier "looking forward to tonight." Xavier smiles at Kingston "yes l am still little shocked l am getting this award l was certain you would have gotten it." Kingston nodded "l thought l would have gotten the award but they chose knowing that his mentor was to receive an award on his work into the study of solar winds on the earth's atmosphere. On the way to Regents Hall. Xavier notices his hands were shaking and was uncertain whether his Speech would go down well. Xavier hated public speaking and would much rather be in his own laboratory working or fixing something.

An hour later, the car pulls up into Regents Hall on the edge of Cheshire. Xavier looks out of the car window noticing the moonlight shimmering on the lake as the Audi snakes up the long drive stopping outside the 18th Century hotel. Xavier steps out of the car noticing the long Georgian façade and appreciated the narrow and slender Windows. Butterflies developed in Xavier as he realised that the award was real and no longer the letter that had dropped into his home 3 months earlier. The reality dawned on Xavier as he stepped into the hotel recognising familiar scientists and old colleagues from a dozen countries. All looked at him smiling saying 'hi' as he walked through into the main reception of the hotel. Kingston falls behind Xavier taking a drink off one of the passing waiters and walks over to Xavier noticing his tension "Pinot Grigio Xavier." Xavier quickly accepts the drink thanking Kingston for the drink and drinks it admiring the quality of the wine "2005, Dolomiti Northeast Italy, good vintage". Xavier appreciated good wine and was the one thing he thanked his father for teaching him and could tell the difference between wines whether they were French, Chilean or Australian and secretly kept 4 bottles of 1980 Vermentino in a private cellar in his house in La Paz knowing how he liked the acidity and the rich flavours of the wine.

Xavier looks out on the lake of Regents Hall breathing and trying to relax. His attention turned to a reflection he noticed on a window, a face, "could it be" he thinks "my mind is seeing things." Xavier turns around to see a face not seen in many years since he was a teenager in La Paz. Shock and surprise overwhelms Xavier as thoughts of his youth flooded his mind. Before him was the man who was an uncle and had taught him so much about science and the history of Bolivia. Without thinking, Xavier walks over to the man blurting, "Devante is that really you." Devante smiles at Xavier as he sees the look of shock in his eyes "It is me Xavier you don't think l would miss out on you winning the award not after all the work you've done. Your mum would be so proud of you." Xavier shook Devantes hand and both looked at each other as if all those years apart had ended and the connection that Xavier had with Devante came back instantly. Devante notices the small wooden cross around Xavier's neck "You still have the cross your father gave you when you were eleven years old." Xavier nods "l wear it all the time because it reminds me of home and what l believed." Xavier noticed a changed in Devante and sensed his being at the awards ceremony was part of something else. Xavier knew something was up he didn't want to push it knowing that he hadn't seen Devante in years and that any such questions could wait until later.

Devante looked at Xavier intensely studying him, he was his father's son in looks and attitude. Devante stepped a little closer to Xavier "There is a reason l am here and l need to see you if you can spare a couple of days". Xavier looked at Devante knowing that his suspicions were correct and that there was a reason that he was here. Xavier did have a couple of days free in his diary as he had a Speech to make at John Moores University. Xavier agreed to meet Devante.

Devante looked at him "It is vital you come soon, this is my house in Shrewsbury and l will be in my house over the next couple of days. l cannot stress enough the importance that you need to come soon." Devante walked away before Xavier could have a Chance to respond. Xavier studied the address that Devante had given him and bit his lip knowing, sensing that something big was on the horizon but that Xavier did not know what and the thought gnawed at him.

Xavier's name is mentioned for the Science Institute Award for Physics altering Xavier's

focus. Xavier heads up the podium as envious eyes beamed at him but there were equally

many who were glad to see him on the podium. Xavier looked to the crowd emotion welled in him "l am not good at Speeches, but l thank you for this prize, my parents would be proud of me". Xavier stepped from the podium noticing Devante at the back of the hall clapping at

Xavier his smile and eyes beaming with delight. Xavier looked over to Kingston before looking back over to Devante but had gone in a moment.

At the end of the ceremony, Kingston drives Xavier back to the hotel and knows that the

ceremony had been more than his mentor could handle. What he did not realise was that

Xavier was in another world thinking what Devante wanted him for.