Algorithm - Book 1 - The Medallion

Chapter 3

Young men and women garbed in undershorts and nightgowns began appearing out of the twilight mist and smoke. Prodded from their dry dormitory hollows, they meandered toward McArdle Hall, transfixed by the siren call of the alarm bells. On the bright side, the rain had ceased by the time Adam and Linda reached his Pathfinder.

***

Adam's mother finished pouring coffee. Linda nodded thanks. Her cup shook in her hand as she turned to Adam. "Look at me. I'm shaking."

"Maybe you're drinking too much coffee." 

They both laughed. Adam placed his arm around her shoulders and their eyes met. Her straight dark hair was wet, the ends curling up. She had an ethereal glow.

Maybe that's just the wet hair.

Adam's mother said, "Oh dear, it's a bit chilly in here this morning. I'll get a blanket for you."

"Oh, no. That's quite alright Mrs. Dove. The coffee'll warm me up."

Adam rubbed Linda's shoulder. He could feel the tension dissolve as they huddled together.

"You can relax now. We both had a close call."

"What happened back there?"

"It looks like something in the analytical lab blew up."

"But there was no one working there this morning, was there?"

"Not that I noticed. The lights were off when I arrived. I was in that lab last night, hmm, actually, earlier this morning. We had a number of instruments running."

"We? What were you doing there so late?"

Adam wasn't sure how to answer. His natural inclination was to remain secretive, sensing that the less people knew about his medallion, the better. Although with what had just happened, he felt closer to Linda than to anyone else.

"I was down there with George. We were running analyses on … on a coin I had found a few years back."

Linda pursed her lips and asked, "Was there anything you did that could have set off such an explosion?"

"Far from it. It was just some analytical work George was doing on this."

Adam pulled out the medallion and held it out to Linda. She moved her head closer for a better look.

"Wow, it's beautiful. What kind of coin is it?"

"Well, actually, I'm not so sure it's a coin. In fact, that's basically what we were trying to find out."

"And, did you?"

"Yes and no."