Chantry shook his head, tears still falling.
"What about Maria? She could do it. Indeed I've set her up to take over for me for years now and she's passed every test that I've thrown at her." Chantry stated hopefully.
"I know she has Chantry. I've been watching, but she is still as much a mystery to me, as when I steered her to your door and told you to hire her so many years ago. I could take a gamble on even her, but Chantry in my heart I feel that it's just time for the Agency to come to a close. I have received nothing from my prayers to counteract that notion."
Chantry nodded resignedly, "I have had much the same result in my prayers."
"Then you should stop resisting what you know God has in mind to do."
Chantry nodded, but then gave Elon a curious look, "You said Maria is still a mystery to you? Did you not see?" Chantry asked genuinely puzzled, as he gestured to his head and Elon's earlier probing of his thoughts.
"The revelation of the future that you have been given by God is barred from me. It would seem that you have a secret old friend. You wouldn't mind sharing it with me would you?" Elon asked, as for the first time a smile played about the edges of his mouth.
Chantry outright laughed, "Not on your life boy! You know how long I've waited to know something that you didn't? I'm going to cherish this secret for as long as I can!"
Elon far from being rankled by Chantry's refusal to share; now openly smiled letting the old man have the best of him. When Chantry's merriment had sobered some Elon rose to go, before we went though he said, "I'll see you in eternity brother, if such things are permitted."
"Goodbye Elon. Thank you for letting me have the Agency for all these years!"
Elon shrugged, "I only enabled what it was already in your heart to do Chantry. A small enough service to do. Your good works Chantry follow you into eternity into the presence of the Father, as it is written. May you be justly rewarded for all your many good deeds upon this Earth." Elon left then fading away swiftly into the evening countryside.
After Elon was gone the advanced security features of the estate started to work again having been halted by the force of Elon's mind upon them. A man of mystery that one was, Chantry mused to himself.
Speaking of mysteries, Chantry turned to see Maria step out of the shadows of the house some distance off and make her way toward him. She stared off after where Elon had disappeared to and asked, "Who was that?"