MISC: The Girl Who Saved the World 41

[George Phillies]

Morgana Lafayette would be available as a presenter.


The wind gusted, hard enough that the shutters rattled. “However, I am 
keeping you up late,” Morgana continued, “I still have a paper to write, 
and I’ve given your children their grades.  They are all Excellent. Your 
meal was wonderful, and most appreciated. So far as I can tell, you five 
are not in any particular danger. I should be on my way.” Morgana stood, 
hugged Abigail, and took Patrick’s hand. “Next time, I should bring some 
of my cooking.  I have, after all, had some thousands of years to figure 
out how to recognize boiling water.”

“Thank you for everything, Morgana” Abigail said. “You’re sure you don’t 
want to borrow a coat for the flight back? And you do get a box of my 
cookies. And some of the fudge, for all that the betting pool that 
Patrick had told me about is foredoomed to failure.”

“I’m not planning on flying,” Morgana said, “but I would love some of 
the cookies, and some of the fudge.”

“Thank you for backing up Janie, Morgana” Patrick said.  “Matters could 
have been much worse.  However, the Tenure Committee really does look at 
publications.”

“Yes, Professor Wells. Publish or join the glorious dead. Patrick, call 
at once if Janie disappears. She won’t.  Krystal North had the fear of 
the Goddess put into her. It was a delight to have dinner with you, and 
your children are wonderful as students.  With that I must bid adieu.” 
He figure became transparent and vanished from sight.

* * * * *

Great Dome of the Capital
Washington, Federal District
January 12, 2018

The atmosphere under the Capital Dome was even frostier than the 
Cambridge blizzard.  Speaker Ming, three Gamesmasters, and Krystal North 
stood in a circle.

“The notion that this slip of a girl can come up with such a move is 
absurd,” Supreme Gamesman Kamensky announced. “She must have backers, 
backers she failed to divulge.  That’s lying to this inquiry, and 
grounds for more rigorous interrogation. Under the Tsar, she would be 
removed to the tender graces of the Okhrana until she revealed who her 
backers are. This could still be arranged.”

Grandmaster Kurchatov’s face stiffened. “Fortunately, Kamensky, this is 
a civilized country, so such things do not happen here.”

“Alexander Vladimirovich,” Krystal repeated, “Cambridge is in the United 
States, so such an outcome does not arise.”

“Miss North.  Really. I would not dream of violating your quaint local 
customs,” Kamensky answered vociferously. “Though Miss Wells’ second, a 
charming college professor a third my age, would hardly have been a 
serious threat to my escorts. ”

“Alexander Vladimirovich,” Krystal said, “That young lady, as you put 
it, is a first-line persona. I can name three times she had a serious 
brawl with a Lord of Eternity.  She came out on top all three times. In 
case you haven’t noticed, the Tsar’s Persona Corps has no one who can 
stand up against an Eternal, one on one. If your unseen Russian Elite 
Persona Team had tried what you suggested, Baron Supreme Gamesman 
Kamensky, they would now be toast.  Charred toast. It was painfully 
obvious Professor Lafayette could tell where your team would be 
appearing, to the inch, and was ready to eliminate your precious 
national team as they arrived. That’s before my League rode to the 
rescue.  That’s Janie’s rescue.  Also Professor Lafayette’s rescue, not 
that she would have needed it. Indeed, my League’s major task on arrival 
would have been to sweep up the ashes. If you’d been a co-conspirator, 
we would be sweeping up your ashes, too. With modest luck, the Federal 
Senate would later have agreed that you had acted on your own, not on 
behalf of your government, in which case America would not be ending 
January by going to war with the Tsar. I hope I have made this point 
adequately clear?”

Kamensky turned on Speaker Ming. “I must protest these idle American 
threats.”

“Supreme Gamesman Kamensky,” Ming answered.  “Miss North was simply 
clarifying the political situation for you.  I believe she is in error 
on only one point. In my opinion, it would have been impossible to 
convince the People and Senate of the American Republic that you had 
been acting on your own.”

“In that case,” Kamensky said, “I prefer to return home.” Kamensky vanished.