Disclaimer: "Beauty and the Beast" and the character Pascal andall the rest belong to Republic Pictures. No infringement isintended. Max and her ilk belong to me. That and all the rest of thelegal stuff. 'Nuff said.

A Shot in the Dark

by Kayla Rigney

The room was deathly quiet.

The old man hit the table with his fist.Everybody jumped.

"Well?!"

Pascal looked down at his hands flexed them. Ina voice as soft as breath, he sang, "Ain't got time to wonder why.Whoopee! We're all gonna die."

Father shot the pipemaster a withering lookthat left no doubt as to his opinion of Country Joe and the Fish.Pascal crossed his arms and mentally retreated into The Plague andI.

"Perhaps nobody saw the story," Mary said notvery convincingly.

"And perhaps pigs are flying unfettered out ofmy ears," Father snapped.

The headline read: "Local Group Lobbies toFranchise Tours of Closed Subway Stations."

It was Vincent who finally broke the silence."There's no denying the seriousness of the situation," he said. "Ipropose that our first plan of action be to close the upper tunnelsto any but the most necessary traffic. All in favor?"

Everybody said 'Aye' except for Pascal, who wasunconsciously humming The Feel Like I'm Fixin' to DieRag.

"Will you stop that, Pascal!" Fathershouted and slammed the table again.

The pipemaster cringed and wassilent.

Vincent reached over and touched his friend'sarm. "We'll have to relocate the Pipe Chamber down a level --; atleast temporarily," he went on. "The school room has the bestresonance, don't you agree?"

Pascal looked up and nodded. He locked eyeswith Vincent and thought: you know me better than anyone else inthe world. Please stop this. I'm drowning. He knew almostinstantly that his plea had been understood. The pipemaster relaxedenough to stop digging his fingernails into his wrists.

"Good," Vincent replied, and turned to addressthe rest of the table. "It's decided that the upper tunnels are nowoff-limits to any unnecessary traffic." He put specialemphasis on the word 'unnecessary,' which translated to mean Paradisewas still a necessity. "Pascal and I will meet later to discuss thepipe chamber. Now, the next order of business is to brainstorm," hesaid. "All is not lost until we decide it is. I'll speak withCatherine and see what can be done legally to impede thisproject."

"I'll gather the children and explain what'shappening," Mary chipped in. She seemed more at ease, now that shehad a game plan. "We can easily hold classes in the greathall."

"And Mouse must be made to understand that hecannot hang around the closed stations, anymore," William said, withbarely suppressed glee.

Pascal looked over at the cook. He neverunderstood the large man's need to 'put Mouse in hisplace.'

"I'll worry about Mouse," Vincentgrowled.

Jamie shifted in her chair and said: "I'llbrief the sentries and retool their assignment schedule."

Cullen, who'd silently reread the article adozen times, looked up from the newspaper. "Is it just me, or doesanybody else think there's something else going on here?" heasked.

Father shifted uncomfortably in hischair.

Vincent said nothing.

Mary looked like a deer caught inheadlights.

Even William was silent.

Cullen was angry. " Oh, come off it! We're allthinking the same thing!" He turned on Pascal with a deep-seatedviciousness. " It's her," he snapped. "You start seeingthat little historian and suddenly the shit hits the fan!"

Pascal sat in stunned silence. When he'dfinally told his friends about Max, they'd been supportive and kind.He found his voice long enough to say: "She's not an historian. She'sa research consultant. And she wouldn't condone anything that wouldendanger my world."

Cullen jumped up from the table and pointed atthe pipemaster accusingly. "You see?" he asked. "You see? He saysmy world! Last time I checked it was ours, you twistedlittle dwarf!"

"Cullen!" Vincent was standing andpoised for attack.

"Screw you, too!" Cullen spat. He stalked outof the room.

Father restrained Vincent with a gentle hand tohis chest. "Let him go," he said. Once his son was calmed andsitting, Father turned to Pascal. "Cullen is a jealous fool. But hedoes have a point --;"

"Father!" Pascal cut him off. "Maxine hasnothing to do with this. I swear it upon my life!" His silent angerwas so great; it felt like the air was being forced from hisbody.

The tunnel patriarch spoke with authority now."Pascal, I never meant to imply that she did, " he replied. " Thepoint is that Maxine does research for a living."

The pipemaster was now visibly gasping forbreath. He desperately wanted to run away and up to his Paradise.Cullen's words were meant to hurt him --; and they had.

"Breathe, Pascal,' Father said, gently. "Isimply meant that perhaps she could be persuaded to use her skillsfor us."

"I'll ask," he forced himself to reply. Intruth, Pascal didn't want to ask her. He didn't want to tell Maxabout any of this. He didn't want her touched by ugliness or fear orthe dark.

"Why don't you invite Maxine to come Below andmeet with us?" Mary asked. "I'm sure if she saw our way of life andwhat it means to us, she'd be willing to help."

Pascal nodded. He knew if he told her,she would. For him.

'Well, then, we have a job to do," Father said."Let's get to work."

Once the room cleared and they were alone,Vincent sat down on the bench next to Pascal. He deliberatelyunrolled a stack of blueprints on the table in front of them. Then,he leaned heavily on is elbows and looked straight ahead. "You don'thave to ask her, if you don't want to," he said.

Pascal felt a rush of relief. "Thank you," hereplied.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Vincentasked.

The pipemaster nodded.

The two friends communicated in a complexlanguage of questions and gesture. Because of his empathic abilities,Vincent knew when not to push Pascal --; and in return, Pascal toldhis secrets. Had anyone looked into the library, they would have seentwo men hunched over blueprints, seemingly absorbed in technicaldiscussion.

"She gives me sanctuary," Pascal said,simply.

Vincent dug through the stack of blueprintsuntil he found the one for the main living area. "Here it is," hesaid. He pointed to the schoolroom and tapped it with his claw. "Whatdo you give her?"

Pascal took his wire-rimmed spectacles out oftheir case and put them on. He looked at the blueprint closely.Moving the pipe chamber was going to mean days and possibly weeks ofbackbreaking work. "The same, I think," he replied. Pascal could notadmit the truth aloud, even to Vincent. I give her myself, hethought. A shortcut suddenly leapt from the page. "We'll add a singlelead there. I can connect with most of the boroughs thatway."

Still focused on the task at hand, Vincent madea light mark to indicate Pascal's revision. "Which do you love more,the books or their owner?" he asked, lightly.

Pascal raised his eyebrow and looked over hisglasses. "Both, equally." He replied.

They silently mapped the changing the pictureof their world, moving the population ever downward and away fromdanger.

Vincent shifted a little on the bench.Everything in the world was too small for him. He constantly had toadjust his body to fit benches and chairs that were designed forsomeone else's definition of comfort. "Is there any truth whatsoeverto Cullen's implication?"

"No!"

"Pascal, what does Maxine do for aliving?"

"She's a research consultant." The new pipechamber began to take shape in his mind. Vincent was right; it onlytook a few changes to make the school room a command center. "She's aresearch consultant who preserves things."

"What kind of things does she preserve,Pascal?"

"Books, music," Pascal replied. Me, hethought.

The pipemaster looked long and hard at Vincent.This man was his lifelong friend. They'd been through so many thingstogether --; good times and bad. They carved out their lives as theycarved out tunnels. Pascal had to decide whether to tell the truth orto lie. If he lied, then he would be as hurtful Cullen. When Vincentturned and looked at him, Pascal saw him in many layers; mostly hesaw the scared little boy who tried so hard to keep up with Devin andended up failing.

"What does she preserve, Pascal?"Vincent asked again.

"Time," Pascal replied. He hadn't known theanswer until he actually said it. Once voiced, he knew for a fact itwas true and correct.

"What?"

"She preserves time."

"But that isn't possible."

"Well, neither are you."

They laughed uneasily; but deep inside, Pascalwas relieved. Lately, he'd been noticing things about Paradise --things he couldn't explain, like the fact that more than a few of thebooks and CDs had copyright dates from the next millennium. Theycouldn't all be misprints. Could they? He reached inside hisvest pocket and pulled out a book he'd found in the box marked:"General Silliness&endash;Q-Z." He put it on the table in front ofVincent.

"Look at the copyright date," he said. It wasnew. It still had that new book smell.

"What?"

"Just look at it."

Vincent picked up the paperback. Hecarefully opened it and read the date. "It's an obvious misprint,Pascal," he said. "I'm sure it should say 1989."

"That's what I thought, too," Pascal replied."At first. Only there's more where that came from. Boxes and boxesmore." He crossed his arms. "And when I went Above and tried to lookit up in Books In Print, To Say Nothing of the Dog isn'tlisted. It doesn't exit."

Vincent flipped through the book. "This isfluff. Why would anybody save fluff? Wouldn't it make more sense tosave learned texts?"

"Probably; but that's not the point,"the pipemaster said, impatiently. "The point is that I justfinished reading a piece of fluff from 1998."

"What does Maxine have to say aboutthis?"

"I haven't asked."

"You must ask her, Pascal," Vincentsaid.

Pascal stared at the blueprint. They were nolonger talking about the book. "I could sleep in the little annex offthe schoolroom," he said quietly.

"If this book is what it appears to be, thenMaxine knows what becomes of us."

"I'm not a complete idiot, Vincent."

"You have to ask her." The growl wasunmistakable. Vincent meant business.

Pascal forced his voice to remain calm, eventhough he was very afraid. Not that it mattered that much. He knewthe Beast could smell fear a mile away. "I love this woman," he said,evenly. "She's the only person who accepts me, no questions asked."The forced calmness made him feel better. "I do the same forher."

The thing sitting next to him was no longerVincent. Its claws were dangerous. "Ask her."

"The answer I get might not be the one you wishto hear," Pascal replied quietly.

"I know where you go at night. I follow youthere sometimes."

"And I know where you go at night,too."

"Is that a threat?"

"Try me." The pipemaster knew he was deep intodangerous territory. Physically he was no match for this thing.Nobody was. On the other hand, the Beast was intelligent. It knewthat if anything happened to Pascal, Paradise might not be waiting atthe end of the tunnel.

The standoff worked. The Beast backed down, andVincent reappeared behind his eyes. He turned back the to blueprintsas if nothing had happened.

Pascal smoothed the section that lay in frontof him. "We'll move the general dormitories down to the old tunnels,"he said. "At least, there are bathing facilities on thatlevel."

Vincent picked up the book and stared at it."It looks so innocent."

"Yes."

"Pascal, what are we going to do?"

"We're going to move the pipe chamber and carveout deeper tunnels."

"What are you going to do?"

The pipemaster took off his glasses. He putthem back into their hardcase and snapped it shut. It sounded like agunshot. His head ached and his heart hurt. Vincent could not survivewithout the tunnels. Sometimes, the ugly choice is the right choice.To save one life is to save an entire world.

Pascal reached over and put his small hand ontop of Vincent's large one. "I'm going to ask her," he said. "I'llask her tonight." Even if it costs me everything, he thought. Like ashot in the dark.

Pascal felt the beat before he turned thecorner to Paradise. It was definitely pop, definitely not his taste;and he smiled in spite of himself. It was exactly the kind song Maxplayed when she thought no one was listening. Whenever Pascal foundher playing the Ronnettes or Belinda Carlisle, she always acted alittle flustered and offered to put on something more "serious" --;like Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Very early on, Pascal teased her about herdefinition of "serious." He was merciless about it, too. Finally, Maxsaid 'enough' and played Kurt Weill's Youkali Tango. Shetranslated the words from French slowly and deliberately.

Life, tedious and banal, drags usalong.

Yet the poor human soul, seeking completeoblivion,

Had to let go of earth, to find themystery

where our dreams are buried

In some Youkali.

Youkali, it is the land of our desires. It'shappiness, it's pleasure;

It's the place where we leave our caresbehind

It is the beacon in our clouded night, the starwe must follow…

There we keep our promises. It is the land ofshared love

It means hope for all human hearts, thedeliverance we all await.

Youkali is the land of our desires.

It's happiness, it's pleasure.

But it's just a dream

A fantasy

There is no Youkali.

Pascal was floored.

Even as a young man, the pipemaster was proneto bouts of depression and self-doubt. He never spoke of it. Heaccepted the fact that he was neither attractive enough norintelligent enough to win attention; and by the time he was in isearly twenties he'd settled into a life that revolved around mostlyaround his job. It honestly hadn't occurred to him that beautifulpeople were touched by any pain at all; and he told Max as much.Pascal was deeply shocked when Max replied it never occurred toher that he wasn't beautiful.

He rather respected her choice in music afterthat.

Standing in the dark outside Paradise, hepushed the day's events down deep inside and told himself that hedidn't have to do anything he didn't want to do. Tonight, Max wassitting cross-legged on the futon furiously sorting through a box ofCDs, her foot tapping in time to a tolerable song called ThisKiss. Pascal didn't say anything. He silently slipped into theroom and sat watching her without speaking. Max was one of those rarewomen who looked sexy in patched jeans and a sweatshirt. Pascalcontentedly watched her until she sensed him sittingthere.

Max didn't look up from under her jumble ofauburn curls, when she said, "Hello, Just Pascal. I'll only be a fewmore minutes. I promise."

"I have all night," he replied.

Finally, Max found the one she was looking for.She put it in the CD player and turned the sound down very low. "Onelisten, and I'm all yours," she said. She flashed him a devastatingsmile. "I swear."

Pascal answered by joining her on the futon.Max listened intently, as though imprinting the song on her mind.When the CD finished, Max shut off the player and smiled athim.

"Well?"

"That's a hideously bad song, Max," Pascalsaid, laughing aloud. "The possession of five different edits in twolanguages has got to violate some universal law."

She pretended to be horribly offended. "I haveit on good authority that in the future, Marc Anthony is a god andYou Sang to Me is considered the height ofsublimity."

"That's not even a word."

"Yes, it is --; and you know it." Max, nolonger able to contain her laughter, fell back into Pascal's arms.She rolled over and rested her head on his chest. "Oh, all right.It's an awful song," she said. "But I like it. It makes me happy. Andhow are you today, my fine bald hobbit?"

"I'm all right," Pascal replied, even though hewasn't. He was very tired and looked it. He gently pulled on one ofher curls just to watch it bounce back. He wished he could bounceback as easily.

"Like hell you're all right," Max replied,smiling. She didn't push it, though. Instead she kissed him softlyand settled herself into the crook of his arm. "We make a nice fit,Pascal," she murmured. She placed her hand over his heart and verysoftly tapped her fingers against his chest in time with itsrhythm.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"No problem. Let's just be still for awhile."

When he came to Paradise, the pipemaster wasoften tired or in pain from his hours on the line. Almost from dayone, Max understood and accepted this. She never took his exhaustionpersonally. Many nights, they just talked quietly until he driftedoff to sleep in her arms.

Pascal was very aware of the tender way shetouched him. He lost track of himself, holding her; it was veryintense. Sometimes, simply lying next to Max was as connected and aserotic as making love; and nothing could touch him. Other times, itrelaxed him to a point where he couldn't keep anything hidden.Tonight was like that. Without warning, Pascal thought of his world,and he felt like a raw wound. He sighed.

"What's wrong?" Max asked, her voice veryrelaxed and low. "You want to talk about it yet?"

"I think so," Pascal replied. He shifted hisbody so he was almost facing her. "Max, may I ask you aquestion?"

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him."Of course, you may," she said.

"What time is it, Max?"

"I don't know," she replied, laughing. "You'rethe one who always carries a watch."

Pascal put his hand on the small of her backand rolled her so she was looking him directly in the eye. "Whattime is it here in this room?" Her entire body tensed. So I'vehit a nerve, he thought. The pipemaster had been in enough fights toknow when he was up against a formidable opponent.

Max did not answer.

"I read copyright dates, Max." Pascal told her."I want to know what time it is in this room. This is not a difficultquestion."

Her violet eyes flashed fire. For an instant,he thought she was going to strike him. "It's no time at all,"Max snapped. "Happy now?" She did not move from his arms,though.

"Is it the place or is it you?"

"It's me," she said, quietly. "Just me, JustPascal. Now can we talk about something else?"

"No." Pascal hated what he had to donext.

Max tried to pull away, but he wasstronger.

"I have ask you something," he said. "And Ithink you already know what it is."

To his surprise, Max started to cry. Her tearswere silent. "Please, Pascal," she pleaded. "Pleasedon't."

The pipemaster felt a part of himself die deepinside. "Max, I don't have a choice."

"I can see that," she whispered.

Pascal cupped her cheek with his hand, lettingher tears wash over his palm. "Does my home survive?" He tried toignore the obvious fact that his hand was in the same position thatlanded a slap.

Max took a deep breath. "Pascal, you're notgoing to like what I have to say."

"Tell me anyway."

She lowered her eyes. "This room is an officeon the third floor of a building in Nevada," she said. "Two doorsdown is a collection of personal papers confiscated from the libraryof Dr. Jacob Wells." Max tried to push away again. "Pascal, don'tmake me tell you."

He put his hand under her chin and made herlook at him. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "But I'm afraid I haveto."

Max looked at him with her violet eyes that nowseemed as bottomless as the ocean. "It happened a long timeago."

"What?"

"The Trust for the Preservation of UndergroundNew York," she replied.

"They found the tunnels, didn'tthey?"

"Yes," Max said. "That and more."

Pascal could not speak. Too many thoughts ranthrough his head. He rolled over flat on his back and stared at theceiling.

"The Trust was a ruse," she told him. "It wasby design a trap for the Company to get its hands on Vincent Wells.God, it was clever, too. They even got Catherine Chandler to do thedirty work."

"What?"

"Am I being unclear?" Max askedicily.

"No," Pascal whispered.

"I thought not," she said. "Anyway, because thesubway stations were declared historic sites, there was a tenuousexcuse to push deeper into the underground. That excuse was all ittook." Max stretched like a cat and rolled over on her stomach. Shepropped her chin on her hands. "Pascal, it happened so fast," shesaid. "In less than six months, it was simply gone --; your world,the people, the dream."

"When did this happen?"

"Now."

Pascal tried to understand what she was saying.It was strange to hear events in her past referred to as now."You know this to be a fact?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, softly.

"What happens to us?"

"Well, everybody was --; will be --;forced Above," Max replied, deliberately using the future tense.Clarity was important. "Mostly, they adapt --; thanks to the kindnessof Helpers. William gets a job in a deli. Jamie goes to college." Sherubbed her forehead, as if she was thinking very hard. She wasn't.Pascal knew her well enough to see that she was fighting tears."Kipper gets married way too young. Father disappears. Maryteaches."

"Of course," said Pascal, dully. "Vincent? Whatabout Vincent?"

Max closed her eyes. "Vincent is put into alab, where he can be 'studied,'" she said. "The project is stillclassified, so I don't know any details. I've heard rumors. They keephim alive. For a while, anyway." She tried to form the words in a waythat didn't sound hateful. It wasn't possible. "Vincent won'tcooperate. They do horrible things to him. I don't know, Pascal. Isimply don't."

The pipemaster was silent. What would he doAbove? He was 41 years old. All he knew was the pipe chamber. "Whathappens to me?" he asked.

Max shook her head. "That's all she wrote," shesaid.

"I want to know." He had a strange memory ofhot water and blood.

"Remember, you asked," she said, sadly."I didn't want to tell you."

"Tell me, Max."

Max lapsed into the past tense. "You wentAbove," she said. "But you never really adjusted. You committedsuicide sometime in the early 'nineties."

Time passed --; or did not pass --; in silence.Finally, Max spoke. "I cannot allow this to happen again."

"Again?" Pascal asked. He felt weak.

Max lowered her eyes. "It hasn't happenedyet," she said with conviction. "I've read every single thingin that archive, Pascal. I decided a long time ago. I'mstopping it this time."

"Why?" Pascal had a sick feeling in the pit ofhis stomach.

"Because of you," she said. "Don't you see?Without Below, Above is thrown out of balance. I must fix theequation. You're part of that." It wasn't exactly a lie.

Pascal looked away. He couldn't bring himselflook at her. In his mind, Cullen's twisted little dwarfmingled with her nickname for him bald hobbit. Pascalsuddenly wondered if he was just part of that equation to Max. Maybeshe wasn't attracted to him at all? Ugly choices are sometimes theright ones. In one night, Paradise turned to pain.

He felt Max's fingertips under his chin. Hereluctantly let her turn his face to hers.

"Pascal, don't even go there," she said,evenly. She wasn't crying anymore. She looked angry. "I can read youas easily as I can read a book." She caressed his face, traced hislips. Very softly she made her fingers glide and soothe. "When youfell, I fell, too."

Pascal reached over and touched her facesoftly. "How?"

"Well, for starters, this is a reallyold office." She looked towards the wall and pointed with herindex finger. "The walls are paper thin," she said.

For the first time, he noticed a slight defectin the hole. It seemed to flicker and shimmer a little, as if lightwas reflecting off mist.

Max turned back to face him. "Okay; so I wascareless," she said. " I left an opening. I didn't mean to. Ormaybe I did. Hell, I don't know."

Pascal knew. He knew for certain.

"My job is to pass through that door and getthings," Max said. "Things we lost." She took another deep breath."Things we need in order to be whole again. Nobody said those thingscan't be alive."

"You did it on purpose," he said. "You left thedoor open on purpose. Admit it. You lured me here with books andmusic." And you, he thought.

She lowered her eyes and shrugged. He verydefinitely saw her blush.

Pascal hugged her tight against him. "I justwant to hear you say 'I admit it,'" he said.

"Oh, all right! I admit it!" Max snapped. "Iliked your journal, hobbit! And maybe I was isolated as you were. Didyou ever think of that? This is a really lonelyjob."

The pipemaster felt a laugh begin to rumble inhis belly. He knew. He knew, and he didn't care. Pascallaughed joyously. "You read my journals," he said. He laughed sohard; he couldn't catch his breath. "You read them and you liked whatI had to say. And you fell for a dead man."

Max was completely baffled by his reaction."That's about it," she said, dully. "Except you left out the partwhere I fell in love with your words."

Pascal continued to laugh.

"This isn't funny," Max said. Pascal could seeshe was still on the verge of tears.

"Yes it is." Still laughing, he took her in hisarms and rolled them both so he was on top of her. He smoothed herhair out of her face and softly brushed the tears away with hisfingertips.

"This is not funny," she saidagain.

Pascal did not speak with words. Instead, hesoothed her with his touch and the movement of his body. He let herinitiate the next kiss. She was tentative and afraid. He could tastethe difference in her body chemistry. He liked it. "Can you save myworld?"

"I think so," Max said. "Yes."

"Am I part of your job?"

"Pascal," she said. "For the last and onlytime, you are not a part of my job. You're a part of mylife. No matter what you think, I didn't initiatethis."

"No?" he asked, softly, softly kissing herlips. She was trembling.

"No," Max said, her words themselves becomingthe kiss. "You did."

"If you say so," Pascal whispered. He put hishand beneath her chin and guided her mouth to his. He kissed hervery, very deeply. He kissed her for a long time. "We make a goodfit," he thought or said or thought.

"Pascal?"

"Yes?"

"I have something to tell you," Maxsaid.

"What?"

"I love you."

Her words overwhelmed Pascal with undeniableneed. His heart felt like it would burst and his body ached for achedfor release. "I love you, too, Max," he whispered, roughly. He tookher hands and guided them under his vest. The coolness of her touchburned through his thin T-shirt. More than anything, he wanted her tolose control before he did.

Her hands seemed to be everywhere at once."Lose the vest, Pascal," Max whispered.

"You do it," he replied. Pascal closed his eyesso he could fully experience every sensation as Max slid the garmentoff his shoulders and down his arms. She moved against him, using thevest as an excuse to caress every inch of his upper body. He held herloosely. "Kiss me, Max," he whispered.

And Max kissed him. She kissed him so tenderly,that Pascal shook deep inside. She wrapped herself around him andkissed him with her mouth and her hands and the building rhythm ofher body.

She undressed him boldly.

He returned the favor slowly and very gently.He pulled her down to him. He cradled her chin in his hands; and ashe looked into her eyes, he could see it. She wanted him. "Oh, Max,"he said, softly. "I never thought anyone would look at me likethis."

"Like what?"

Pascal felt himself start to blush.

Max kissed him very softly. "Like what?" sheasked again.

"Like you want me," he whispered. Pascal knewthat he wasn't much to look at. Max was so beautiful. How could shewant him?

"How could I not?" she asked. And Maxkissed him.

Pascal felt his control slip away. "Please,Max," he whispered. "Take me."

Max was very tender with him. She moved withhim and not against him.

God, we're a good fit, hethought.

In his heart, Pascal knew that whatever wasasked, no matter the question, the answer would be 'yes.'

Pascal found Vincent in the library. He wasstill pouring over blueprints.

"Maxine said she would meet with theCouncil."

"Oh, that's such good news." Vincent looked upat him and smiled. He's such a gentle Beast, Pascal thought. "As wespeak, Catherine is busy putting together an injunction on thegrounds that the closed stations are historic sites."

"I'll bring Max down tomorrow morning afterbreakfast," he said and turned to leave. Pascal paused at the doorwaywith his back to his friend. "Vincent, what if Catherine is wrong?"Pascal asked.

"She rarely is," Vincent replied. "ThankGod."

Pascal had never been to Paradise during theday before. The upper tunnels smelled different in the early morning.There was a definite aroma of coffee and bagels and lox. Everythingseemed edgy and strange. Even familiar sounds took on newmeaning:

It's a Shot in the Dark

But baby I'd like the chance

Fate ain't working

So I'm taking it in myhands….

The pipemaster slid through the portal quickly,before he lost his nerve.

"Good morning," Max said, smiling. She wassitting on top of a box labeled PERSONAL RECORDS, TAX RETURNS, &EPHEMERA 2003. "Don't look so serious, Pascal. Everything will be allright. This is what I do. As soon as my assistant arrives withsome last minute specs, we're copacetic."

"Assistant?" Pascal asked. He was profoundlyand acutely ashamed of his ragged appearance. Next to Max, he reallydid look like a hobbit.

"Addie's great," she replied. "She was up allnight double-checking my calculations. This is just too important toleave margin for error."

"I'll just go back outside. " Pascal startedfor the wall.

Max reached out and stopped him with a touch onthe arm. "No," she said, softly. "I want her to meet you. She needsto see that there's a face to the work. Please do this one thing forme." She looked up at him with eyes that reflected the fear in his."She's my sister, Pascal."

Until this moment, it had never occurred to thepipemaster that Max might have family. She was so rare and special tohim that she seemed to exist in a continuum of her own making. He'dnever loved anyone much as he loved Max; it made himselfish.

"Of course, Max," he said. "I'd be honored tomeet her."

She laughed nervously. "I wouldn't go thatfar. This is Addie we're talking about." She scooted over andmade room for him on the box.

Pascal sat next to her, making sure to touchher shoulder with his. "What makes you more nervous --; talking tothe Council or me meeting Addie?" he asked.

Max rewarded him with a laugh. "Addie, Iguess," she replied. "I'm very good at my job."

"How did get into your line of work, anyway?"Pascal asked.

"You really want to know?" She sounded verysurprised.

"Yes."

Max sighed and leaned against him. "I was borninto the business," she said. "My family has done it for centuries.Eons, probably."

Pascal reached over and ran his fingertipsalong her arm.

"Remember your Fairy tales?"

The pipemaster groaned.

She ignored him. "I'm talking about theunsettling ones," she went on. "All those stories about changelingsand men disappearing into a world beyond the mist and 'whatever youdo, don't eat the food.'"

He nodded.

Max looked at him from under her eyelashes."Well, they're about my ancestors and others like them," she said."They call us Archivists and Librarians; but we call ourselves techs.Guardians of time would be closer. And by the way, most of us areunder five feet five, which probably goes a long way towardsexplaining the whole Celtic little people thing."

Pascal took her hand in his. He shuddered withhappiness when she entwined her long, slim fingers with his. "Doesyour entire family work with time or whatever?" he asked.

Max shook her head. "Not everyone can do it --;or wants to," she replied. "A tech works one project his or her wholelife. It can get pretty boring and very lonely. A good tech getsinvolved."

"Are you a good tech?"

"Yes." She sighed and leaned her head on hisshoulder. "I am now."

Together, they sat staring into the portal,while the CD player ground through Belinda. It wasscratched.

"Is there something behind the wall I shouldworry about?"

Pascal and Max both jumped.

"Addie!" Max said. "I wish you wouldn't sneakup on me like that!"

"And I wish you wouldn't send me on pointlessquests for lox in the middle of the desert." Addie Seaton lookednothing like her sister. She was very small, very round, very blonde--; and very scary. She ignored Pascal and handed Max agreasy-looking paper bag. " All I could find was Cajun smoked salmonchunks. No bagel," she said. "This is B.F. Nevada, Maxine. Air isn'tup yet. You're lucky I found the store." As an afterthought, she tossed a bound report into Pascal's lap.

Max laughed and said: "Pascal, this is mysister, Addie Seaton-Deiter. Addie, this is Pascal." She quickly atea handful of salmon chunks.

Addie's demeanor changed completely. Suddenly,she was all smiles. She shook Pascal's hand warmly. "I'm so happy tofinally meet you! I heard absolutely nothing about you until twoo'clock this morning. Before that, I was too busy researching thesewers of New York to listen."

The pipemaster grinned and replied: "And I knewnothing of you until thirty minutes ago."

"If you hurt my sister, I'll have you hunteddown and killed like an animal," Addie said, pleasantly. "And thenI'll sell your desiccated body parts to science."

"I'll keep that in mind." For reasons he couldnot explain, he liked this woman.

Max took the report and gave it the once over."This is excellent work, Ad," she said. "Thank you."

Addie smiled at her sister warmly. "You'rewelcome." She looked at her watch. "Max, you'd better getgoing."

Max sighed. "Yes, you're right." She didn'tmove from the box. In fact she inched closer to Pascal.

"Max," Addie said, standing almost toe to toewith her sister. "Just go."

Max stood and clutched the report to her chest.Pascal stood next to her and marveled that for the first time in hislife, he was the tallest person in the room.

"It's a shot in the dark," Max said. She hadlittle beads of sweat across the bridge of her nose.

"But you're taking fate into your hands," Addiereplied, her voice the absolute definition of calm.

"Do I look all right, Ad?"

Pascal thought Max looked wonderful. She waswearing a simple black dress that made her seem slim and very tall.It swayed with her body. She looked more like a dancer than she did atech on her way to meet with a council of strangers.

"You look gwaugeous, Max." She took off asilver crescent pendant she'd been wearing and put it around hersister's neck. "For luck."

"It's time," Pascal said.

Pascal helped Max through the portal. For somereason, they both turned and looked back into Paradise. Addie wassitting on the box labeled PERSONAL RECORDS, TAX RETURNS, &EPHEMERA 2003 eating Cajun salmon chunks. And she wascrying.

"She loves me," Max said, simply. "She's afraidI won't come back."

"Is that a possibility?" Pascalasked.

Max just smiled.

"Let's go," she said.

When Max stepped into his world, Pascal thoughthe felt a shift in the atmosphere. The constant tunnel draft seemedto disappear. He felt impossibly safe.

"Well," Max said. "This is it." Without lookingat him, she took his hand in the dark.

"I can't believe you're actually here,"Pascal whispered. He was very aware of her warmth and her physicalpresence.

"In my mind, I've walked these tunnels amillion times," she replied, softly. "But it feels so different withyou."

"Yes."

The pipemaster allowed himself the luxury ofreally looking at Max. In the reality of his world, her features weresharper and somehow elongated; and like an animal, her violet eyesseemed to focus and deflect light. Her skin had a definite olivecast. Pascal pulled her to him just to feel the soft angles of herbody beneath her thin jersey dress.

"You are so beautiful," he said.

"So are you," Max replied.

"Are you scared, Max?"

"No. I'm with you. Everything will be fine."She sounded so certain that Pascal believed her. "We need to go,Pascal. They're waiting for us."

He released her from their embrace reluctantly.In his whole life, he'd never felt so complete.

The pipemaster led Max down the windingpassages slowly. As they neared the main living area, there was morelight. The sentries at their posts acknowledged their progress. Theysent signals down the line: they're here/they're on the way. Maxsmiled and nodded and held on to Pascal's hand very tightly. Sheseemed to be taking in every detail of his world with the sameconcentration she usually reserved for music.

"Would you like to see the pipe chamber?"Pascal asked, almost shyly. "Take a fast look?"

"Yes," she replied. "I'd like that verymuch.

Pascal led Max down the main corridor, past hisown small chamber and into the heart of the tunnels --; and thecenter of his universe. He built or helped to build every level ofthe network. In spite of his fear of heights, Pascal designed acomplex system of pipes that spanned the length of three walls and aheight of three stories. When he thought about his pipe chamber, hefelt deep pride. This was Home.

"You built this?" Max whispered.

Pascal nodded.

"It's amazing, Pascal."

The pipemaster came alive inside simply havingMax here next to him. Pascal began to sway unconsciously to therhythm of the pipes; and the words flowed through him. Part of himwanted to grab a pipe and relay. The pipes sang with news ofMax.

High above them, Kipper was furiously workingthe upper platform.

"They're talking about us," Pascal toldher.

"I hope it's good," Max said.

Pascal smiled and motioned to the door. It wastime to leave.

Mouse was waiting outside the pipechamber.

"Hello, Mouse," Pascal said.

"I wanted to see the fairy," Mouse blurted. Helooked shyly at Max.

Max extended her hand. "I'm not a fairy," shesaid" I'm Maxine Seaton. And I'm very glad to meet you." Her voicewas gentle, the way Vincent's was whenever he spoke toMouse.

"Glad to meet you," Mouse said, rocking fromfoot to foot.

"I've heard a lot about you." She took Mouse'sone hand in both of hers and held it.

"All good?" Mouse asked, veryworried.

"All good," she assured him. "One hundredpercent, definitely Good."

Pascal had of course carefully prepared her forVincent's appearance; but he'd told her nothing of Mouse, except thathe'd been responsible for his landing in Paradise. He guessed she'dread about him in Father's papers.

"Okay, Fine. Mouse must leave now." He slippedhis hand out of hers and disappeared.

"See you soon, Mouse," Max said. She turned toPascal and smiled. "You have no clue who that man is. None atall."

Pascal laughed and said: "Do you intend toenlighten me?"

"It would take too long to explain," shereplied. "And you'd never believe me, anyway."

Finally, they were standing outside the GreatHall, where the Council was waiting. Max leaned back against the walland sighed. "This is it," she said, locking eyes with Pascal. Shetapped the report against her leg. It made a soft, sharpsound.

"Pascal?"

"Max?"

"You understand that this really is ashot in the dark, don't you?" she said. "Just because I know in mygut that I'm right and your world must exist, doesn't mean that it'ssupposed to exist. There's a slight possibility that eventsare set."

Somewhere, deep down Pascal knew and acceptedthis. But he also sensed that Max had never been in his life beforethis --; that she'd watched this unfold countless times and yet hadnever physically intervened. He stood very close to her as ifshielding her with his small body. "If it doesn't work, then youtried," he said.

"Will you kiss me once for luck?" sheasked.

"You bet."

Pascal gave her a gentle kiss and then leanedin so his mouth was next to her ear. "It's going to work," he toldher. "This is and we are."

Max flashed him her smile. "Thankyou."

"I mean it, Max."

She pressed back hard against the wall andclosed her eyes. Pascal watched as her demeanor changed into one ofcomplete control. Suddenly, Max seemed physically more appealing andeven more beautiful --; as if that were possible. The pipemastergasped. "It's called glamour, Pascal," she said, laughing. She wastruly striking with her auburn hair and violet eyes. "It's showtime."

Max took a very deep breath and entered theGreat Hall in front of Pascal. With remarkable poise, she walked tothe head of the table and stood next to Father. "Hello, everyone,sorry I'm late," she said, in a voice that meant Business. "My nameis Maxine Louise Seaton. I solve problems. It's myjob."

Introductions were quickly made all around.Pascal took his usual seat next to Vincent.

Max did not sit. Instead, she stood besideFather. "I have two conditions," she said. "One: no guarantees. Someevents cannot be changed."

Everyone was deadly silent.

"Two: if you do as I say, then everything willbe all right." She smiled a smile Pascal had never seen before. Maxleaned over and put her palms on the table. "And the first thing youmust do is drop the injunction."

A gasp went up from the room.

"Has it been filed?"

"No."

"Then don't go forward with it," she replied."Drop the injunction."

"What on earth are you talking about?"Vincent asked. "Catherine says it's the only way."

"Well, Catherine is wrong," Max replied."If any part of the underground is declared an historic site, you'reup shit creek. Do you understand?"

"Her logic is flawed," muttered Cullen, justloudly enough to be heard. He was itching for a fight, but knewbetter than to turn on Pascal.

"Excuse me, sir. But if you wish to addressmy logic, I'm standing right here."

Cullen said nothing.

"I thought so," Max said, icily. She turned herattention back to the Council. "Here's the deal, people. If you donothing, the funding falls through and the Trust for the Preservationof Underground New York ceases to exist." She waited for that idea tosink in, then she said: "But, if you choose to go forward withhistoric status, this place will be crawling with architects andhistorians. Within two months, they'll find the pipe chamber. Thenthey find the remains of the upper level baths." Max tapped thereport against the heel of her hand. "The public becomes enchantedwith the Underground and makes it into something like the City UnderSeattle only couth."

"Oh, Lord," Father said, rolling hiseyes.

Max looked at Pascal and smiled briefly, thenher expression was deadly serious. "If it goes that far, and it will--; bank on it --; the Trust gets massive government funding. Fourmonths later, a hand-picked team breaks through whatever barriers youerect and the jig is up."

"How do you know this?" Fatherasked.

Max stepped back from the table and walked overto Pascal. She rested her hands on his shoulders. "What I say cannotleave this room," she said.

"You have our word."

Pascal alone knew Max was trembling. He placedhis hands on hers and said: "Tell them, Max."

She stood, pulling herself to her full height,which admittedly was not all that impressive. Her hands remainedfirmly on Pascal's shoulders. "Time exists in layers," Max said. "Itflows and ebbs in a circle. I come from the world that runs parallelto and ahead of yours. There are those, like me, who have theresponsibility to correct the mistakes of the past so our jointfuture can continue. It is my belief that when your world wasdestroyed my world was thrown out of balance. There are things thatare supposed to be but aren't. Yet."

Pascal placed his hands on top of hers andremained that way.

"Please," Vincent said. "How can you be socertain?"

Max took a deep breath. "Because I'm a tech andI'm responsible for the study and continuation of Jacob Well'svision," she said, deliberately. "The Trust is not what it appears tobe. It's a front for something called the Company, whose soleobjective is the capture and study of one Vincent Wells. The push toopen the closed tunnels is merely a step in a carefully laid outdeception."

The quiet was deafening.

"Inside this folder is proof of my story," shewent on. "These are not fake articles and briefs. This is the recordof the deliberate destruction of your world and all the livesdependent upon it." Max leaned heavily on Pascal, but she didn'tfalter. The pipemaster held her hands with absolute tenderness. "Ifyou believe me, you will survive," Max said simply.

Father sat open mouthed at the head of thetable.

Vincent stared dully.

William flipped through the folder with a lookof absolute horror on his face.

"I don't believe a word of this," Rebecca said.She glared at Pascal with undisguised hatred.

"Well, I believe her," Mary replied, her voicethe model of controlled hysteria. "I think she's talking about theCIA, and I think she's right."

"She has honest eyes," Vincent said,softly.

Max walked slowly towards the head of thetable. Pascal watched her skirt swing with her stride. All eyes inthe room were focused on her alone. Max looked strong and smart andbeautiful. It's called glamour, Pascal, she'd said, laughing.She wasn't laughing now. She stopped and stood to Father's right."The ball is in your court, Father," she said.

"Contact Catherine as soon as possible,today," Father said. "Tell her to drop theinjunction."

"Wait."

All eyes turned to Vincent.

"Pardon me?" Max asked.

"I said, wait," Vincent replied. He turned toMax. "What happens to your world if we do this?"

Pascal hadn't thought of that.

Max smiled and gave a little shrug. "Absolutelynothing," she said.

"How can that be?" Vincent asked. "It makes nosense that we change something so fundamental now and yetnothing happens then."

"What's done is done," Max replied. "My worldstays the same."

"And ours does not." There was a Mouse in theroom.

"Good for you, Mouse," Max said,laughing.

"Care to let us in on your little joke?" Fathervery annoyed.

Mouse wasn't a Council member. He had no rightto be there.

Mouse boldly walked over to the table. He tookthe empty seat on the bench next to Cullen. "Okay, fine," he said."Door opens, door closes. Doesn't mean the tunnel isn't thereanymore. Just means Mouse can't see it."

"Exactly," Max said, smiling.

"Will Paradise still exist?" Pascal asked. Hefelt as though he was going to suffocate. He couldn't live withoutthe succor he called Max

"Always has, always will," Max replied. "That'sone door that will never close."

"And you know this because?"

"Easy," Mouse said, as if he were sitting at atable of dunces. "Door doesn't close unless somebody closesit."

Max seemed to glide as she walked back over toPascal. This time, she leaned over and wrapped her arms around hisshoulders. The pipemaster blushed. "I don't want to close that door,"she said. "Do you?"

"No," he whispered. He wanted to hold her inhis arms. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to take her back to hischamber and make love to her until he passed out from sheerpleasure.

"The ball is in your court, Father," Maxsaid.

"Stop the injunction," Father saiddecidedly.

Vincent was gone in the blink of aneye.

Everyone was so still, as if waiting to be toldwhat to do next. Pascal motioned for Max to sit beside him at theCouncil Table. She fit in easily, as though she belonged there. Forall anybody knew, maybe she did. It was not his imagination;the atmosphere in the Great Hall had subtly changed. He felt withcertainty that this place, this world, would continue to exist for along, long time.

"I did it," Max said, quietly, as if she didn'tquite believe it. "Everything's all right now."

"We're all right now," Pascal said withequal gentleness, taking her hand in his.

Max turned and smiled for him alone. "Sometimesa shot in the dark is the best you get," she said.

Unable to resist, Pascal leaned in and kissedher. He loved the way she tasted and the way she blushed when hebroke the kiss. The world felt different, somehow. His burden waslighter.

"Well, now that that's settled," Fathersaid. "Next order of business…"