Authors: Ahmad Ardalan

The Clout of Gen (16 page)

Other than being happy for Adam, John wasn’t happy being back in the States. His life on American soil had died over two decades ago—the day he found Susan in bed with another man. He had a few years left, and he wanted a peaceful end. He had plenty of money, and all he had to do was take a plane to Kyoto. In order for him to begin a new life, he had to end what was left of his old one, and there was nowhere better to do that than the beautiful place he’d claimed as his home so many years ago.

Again John found himself standing on the edge of a familiar cliff. Nearly twenty-three years ago, that cliff had changed his life, mostly for the better. Had it not been for that odd octagonal leather box, he would have taken his life from that very spot. He was standing on the threshold of where it all started. He had done his best to change the world with what he found in that box, but in the end, he’d failed. He took the notebooks out and began tearing them apart, throwing them into the salty tumult page by page. He then took out the three rings and tossed them into the depths. Looking at the rings sink into the abyss, he still couldn’t believe what a coincidence it all was. Out of all the people in the world who might have happened upon that box, the box had managed to find him and change his life, even if he wasn’t able to change the world.

Sergi turned his back to Hitari. “Udachi, my friend. A small favor, please. There is a Bulgarian lady in the States called Onishka Lechkov. Please pay her a visit in six years. Tell her where she should invest. My heart tells me she will be very helpful later in serving a great purpose, for a better cause.”