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She ran her fingers through her close-cropped hair, closed her eyes for a —The Greater Journey, David McCullough’s book about nineteenth-century Americans ent to Paris They were like her, people in love with knowledge For them and her, to learn was to live

She had, she thought, succeeded in finding the place for her

As a child, Selined a painted portrait of herself, acreature—The Girl in the Front Row With Her Hand Up She had begun as a prodigy, a child who read at two, and kept reading, learning, studying, calculating, and here she was, a master researcher

Catching sight of her reflection in the big shiny surface of theoverlooking the ocean, there she was, a s about that—wo a tie-dyed T-shirt and khaki pants Well, these were Japanese gardening pants, and stylish

She had been working for Sao for quite soht after they had sold their company but before they had built this house Remi had said, “We need somebody to help us do research”

“On what?” asked Selma

Re History, archaeology, languages, oceanography, ames We want somebody ill hear a question and devise ways to answer it”

“I do that,” she’d said “I’ve studied ht a few When I worked as a reference librarian, I picked up some sources and know many experts on the others I’ll take the job”

Sam said, “You don’t even know the salary yet”

“You don’t either,” she’d said “I’ll accept e for three probationary ure I assure you, it will be her than you know You’ll be much more appreciative then than you are now”

She had never been less than delighted that she’d chosen to work for the Fargos It was as though she had never looked for a job but instead was to be paid for being a good Selma She even helped Sam and Remi plan this house She had researched architecture and architects, n, and because she had already studied Sas they liked and would need space to accommodate She had also explained as necessary for a first-rate research facility

The telephone rang, and she considered letting Pete or Wendy, her junior researchers, pick it up The idea lasted a half second before she became, as always, the victio residence Sel”

“Selma!” came the voice “Meine Liebe, wo sind Ihr Chef und seine schöne Frau?”

“Herr Doktor Fischer Sie sind tauchen im Golf von Mexiko”

“Your Ger discovery and I’d like to discuss it with Reht away?”