in the I.T.C. I’ve got a lot to be thankful to him for. He saved my

life.”

211

“Too bad about Modred, ” Makepeace said.

“Yes, ” said Wyrdrune. “Merlin cremated his body and took it

back to England. I have a feeling Modred would have wanted that.

Merlin wouldn’t say where he was going to bury the ashes, but I

think I can guess.”

“With Morgana?”

Wyrdrune nodded.

“But you said that Modred isn’t really dead? He’s part of you now,

like Merlin is with Billy?”

“In a way, ” said Wyrdrune. “But I don’t think it’s quite the same.

Billy is possessed by Merlin’s astral spirit. There are two separate

personalities there. Modred’s runestone absorbed his spirit, or his

life force, and passed it on to me. I don’t know how that’s different,

but it is. I don’t feel as if I have another personality inside me. It’s

strange, but it feels as if we’re both the same. Don’t ask me to

explain it. I’m not sure I can.”

“Well, you both must be very tired, ” Makepeace said. “I think I

should leave you to get some much needed rest.”

“What about Archimedes?” Wyrdrune asked.

“I think that can wait until you’ve had some sleep, ” said

Makepeace. “Although I think you’re in for a considerable surprise.

Pirate has worked miracles. You won’t recognize the little fella.

He’s all grown-up now.”

“I kind of liked him as he was, ” said Kira.

“You might like him even better now, ” said Makepeace. “He’s

really an amazing little machine. Pirate can take some of the

credit, but Archimedes did the rest all by himself.”

“So you actually managed to crack the data bank security at

General Hyperdynamics?” Wyrdrune said.

“Archimedes did even better than that, ” said Makepeace with a

grin.