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“I'm going to ask a rather odd question," said Islington. "It is not very like me to give credit to such things, however -" and he made a motion with his fingers that tied the four of us together. "What do you make of this?" He was right about there being something, what I had sensed at dinner a few weeks back. Remembering the very thoughts I had after our dinner weeks ago, I glanced from face to face. Pierce shrugged. Islington waited. It was Hawkes who gave voice. “Alchemy.” I shivered. That mythical pursuit that turns disparate elements to gold. None of us questioned the veracity of his statement. We stood in the dark, feeling that something beyond the ordinary was working on our behalf. "Alchemy," murmured Islington. Pierce added nothing, but the lights of the Cleopatra were bright enough to show a curious smile. They looked towards me. "So heaven has thrown me in with you lot?" Islington said he wasn't certain my coming into his life was the work of heaven, Pierce made some comment under his breath as to weather it be heaven or fate, and Hawkes, well, he simply lifted an eyebrow and said "Good night all."" ― Beth Brower, The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 4” — Beth Brower