Chapter 50 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
It happened so quickly that no one was prepared for it.
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Abigail Soriano, Heiress and Archaeologist
died suddenly of hypothermia at the Skye Fitness Gym in San Myshuno. "She had just reached the door," Madilyn Maldonado reported with a sob. "Two more steps and she would have made it," Stephen Carpenter confirmed.
Dr. Soriano is best known for her pioneering work on the Omiscan culture of Selvadorada, but she also worked on sites in Al Simhara. "She always loved adventure," Ted Lewis, Mayor Emeritus of Pelican Town, reminisced fondly. "Even as a child, she wanted to go explore the mines.
Abigail first came to the public's attention when her father Pierre died, leaving her as heiress to his lottery winnings. "Most heiresses would go to France to buy clothes," commented long-time friend Sebastian. "Abigail went to do research on the tombs of Champs les Sims. She was always an original."
Abigail Soriano is survived by her husband Sam, children Raina and Paul, and grandchildren Cecily, Raymond, Phillip, and Peter. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
"I wish your mother hadn't died," Sam complained to his daughter Raina. "Now that word's gotten out that I'm a wealthy widower, every unmarried woman for miles around wants to help 'assuage my grief.' And some of the married ones, too. Not to mention that I've been getting hints from Dad and Vincent that I might want to share the wealth. I wish your mother had left a will."
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"I wish she hadn't died, too," said Raina. "I've got a few photographs that I took of her, but it doesn't seem like much for Cecily and Raymond to remember her by. And I plan to continue her work on the Omiscans. It seems like the least I can do for her memory."
"You know what?" said Sam. "You and your family should move in with me. You could protect me from all those designing women -- the ones I want to be protected from, anyway."
"Are you sure?" said Raina. "I think Paul would feel jealous."
"We'll give some money to Paul," said Sam. "That's all he cares about anyway."
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The new house was really big, Raymond discovered. It was so big that he got a lot of exercise just trying to find his new potty.
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They forgot to pack her nightlight when they moved, Cecily realized on her first night. And she couldn't help wondering where Grandmother Abigail's grave was. What if the house was haunted?
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"You know what really makes me angry," Paul fumed, "if Amy hadn't moved in that refugee family, we could have moved in with Dad."
"Amy needed someone to look after the children while she was working at the hospital," Raina reminded him.
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"I suppose we're splitting the million fifty-fifty?" Paul asked. "Are you sure Mother didn't leave a will somewhere?"
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"She wasn't even 70 yet, and she didn't expect to die," said Raina. "So it's all Dad's money now. But he's giving you this as a gift."
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"It's only $300,000!" complained Paul. "What about the rest of it?"
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"He's giving some money to his family, too -- his father and his sister...
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...and his brother, Vincent." Paul wasn't happy, but he took the money anyway.
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Besides the money, Vincent also made off with Sam's brand new guitar. At least they assume that's what happened. After Vincent left, the guitar couldn't be found anywhere, and Sam had to buy a new one.
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It wasn't long until Raymond was ready for his birthday cake. Raina was almost as excited as he was because it meant that she could return to Selvadorada.
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The only thing she didn't absolutely love about being an archaeologist was the lack of proper sanitary facilities.
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But Raina loved digging. The temples and their traps might appeal to adventurers like Gus Maldonado, but she preferred the scientific approach, with its meticulous attention to detail.
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Raina's approach was rewarded when she found what Abigail had called "The Lost Island of the Ancients." Abigail had always theorized that a village had existed in the middle of the lake, where the Omiscans could go in case of danger from a neighboring tribe.
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Raina didn't think the village had stayed lost for long, however. She was pretty sure that boat she spotted had an outboard motor attached. Even so, she wished her mother was still around to hear about her discovery. She would have been so proud, Raina thought, sniffing back a tear.
Raina's story continues in
Chapter 60.
