The Crabbit was last in line. He shook my hand in both of his, then inspected my bleeding palm. "I've learned that time can heal a' wounds, Zachary, even history's bloodiest affairs. One day soon, Scotland will achieve her true independence, an' on that day, yours an' mine will present the Braveheart tae her people. Until then, guard its secret well."

"Yes, sir."

"So, then, I understand ye asked my daughter for her hand."

"Stop pressurin' the boy, Crabbit," Angus bellowed, bulldozing his way into our conversation. "It's no' like he knocked her up!"

It took both True and I to separate them.

I guess some wounds take longer to heal than others.

* * *

Angus and I were the last pair to ascend.

"I take it Alban decided to reinstate you after you located the Braveheart?"

"I'm sure it influenced his decision. But it wis his idea tae welcome ye intae the Order, one I embraced."

As we approached the top of the shaft, the light from the study shone on my face.

Angus noticed my perturbed expression. "Wis there another loose end ye needed tyin'?"

"Just one. You knew Johnny C. had been bribing the local EPA officials, just like you knew it was the dynamiting at his resort that was driving the creature mad."

"So?"

"So, the Sargasso Sea incident happened back in January, which means you knew about my night terrors a good month before you confronted Cialino at Urquhart Castle."

"Whit's yer point?"

"Was it really an accident, or did you condition the monster with bait so it would be in the bay the evening you struck Johnny C.?"

"Condition the monster? Whit a clever idea. Wish I'd thought o' that." He gave me a wink, then stepped off the dumbwaiter into the fireplace where Brandy was waiting. "He's a' yours, lass. See if ye can get him tae relax a bit an' start enjoyin' his life. The laddie thinks way too much."

He waved, then strolled out the front door to the castle driveway, where Theresa Cialino was waiting for him in her Porsche.

It follows that any being, if it vary however slightly in any manner profitable to itself, under the complex and sometimes varying conditions of life, will have a better chance of surviving, and thus be Naturally Selected.

—CHARLES DARWIN, THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES, 1859

Evolution is not "of a very mystical nature." It depends on accidents. In numerous species these accidents happen often enough to give rise to statistical certainty.

—J. B. S. HALDANE, A DIALECTICAL ACCOUNT OF EVOLUTION, 1937