Josh made a face. “Junk. Rusted tractor, broken plow, old bike.”

“Ah… but I see a tractor that was once used to till these fields. I see the plow it once pulled. I see a bicycle carefully placed out of harm’s way under a table.”

Josh slowly turned again, looking at the items once more.

“And I see these things and I wonder at the life of the person who so carefully stored the precious tractor and plow in the barn out of the weather, and placed their bike under a homemade table.”

“Why do you wonder?” Josh asked. “Why is it even important?”

“Because someone has to remember,” Gilgamesh snapped, suddenly irritated. “Someone has to remember the human who rode the bike and drove the tractor, the person who tilled the fields, who was born and lived and died, who loved and laughed and cried, the person who shivered in the cold and sweated in the sun.” He walked around the barn again, touching each item, until his palms were red with rust. “It is only when no one remembers that you are truly lost. That is the true death.”

“Then you will always be remembered, Gilgamesh,” Sophie said quietly. She was sitting on an overturned barrel, watching the king carefully. “The Epic of Gilgamesh is still in print today.”

The king stopped, his head tilted to one side, considering. “I suppose that is true.” He grinned and wiped his hands on his trousers, leaving red streaks on the stained cloth. “I read it once. Didn’t like it. Only some of it is true, and they missed the good parts.”

Flamel pushed the barn door closed, shutting out the sunlight. “You could write your own version,” he offered. “Tell your story, the true story.”

The king laughed, the booming sound setting the doves flapping from the rafters. “And who would believe me, eh, Alchemyst? If I were to put down half of what I know, I would be locked up…” His voice trailed away and his eyes clouded.

Nicholas quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply, an old-fashioned courtly movement. He knew he had to take control of the situation before Gilgamesh began to remember too much. “Majesty, will you keep your promise and teach the twins the Magic of Water?”

Still staring at Flamel, the king slowly nodded. “I will do that.”

Flamel straightened, but not before the twins had seen the look of triumph on his narrow face. “Sophie has been trained in Air and Fire. Josh has no training, so he has no idea what to expect,” he warned.

Josh stepped forward. “Just tell me what to do,” he said eagerly, eyes bright with excitement. He grinned at his twin. “We’ll start becoming real twins again,” he announced.

Sophie smiled. “This isn’t a competition.”

“Maybe not for you!”

Gilgamesh picked up a barrel and set it on the ground next to Sophie. “Come sit by your sister.”