28th June,2011
Tuesday

It has been two weeks. I have been digging up all I could on school's past , reading it again and again but I couldn't find any clue regarding the location of document or just what it could possibly contain .Maybe I need someone else too for this. Should I call Claude ? But I haven't called her for like a long time in this timeline. I don't even know how my uncle convinced her to join me in my quest?

Flashback
Year -2008

I had just moved in the new neighborhood when I met Claude . I was really quite amazed to see that she was also able to figure out facts and deduce like me . In the past when I had interacted with others , I made other children well to be put into few words a bit insecure.

So anyway, she was one time in my home . Well obviously! Things started to get a bit boring so we décidéd to play a game.

"The rules are simple. If it is heads, you will figure out anything I choose from here and if it is tails, I will figure out all I can from a place you choose which we both can go to in vicinity. Whoever is able to figure out more correctly wins." I explained.

"What do we get on winning?" She asked gently . Yeah ! Another thing I forgot to mention. Claude's voice was really quite well soft. I don't want to use timid out of respect for her intelligence.

"Well how about the winner can ask for anything from other at any later date ?" I stated as she nodded. So the game went on and on until we were almost even . We decided to end it here with one more deduction.

There was a seat in the park. It was really quite rusted . Neither me nor Claude knew actually what had happened on it . We were supposed to figure out how many people sat on it between morning and evening to best we can and then correlate our deductions by checking with guard sitting outside there.

Well ! Frankly since it was more on the tracks of multistage assumed analogical pattern along with deduction playing a submissive part in it , I lost . Or maybe she was just better than me at time .

Claude couldn't décidé on anything to ask for at the moment so she went back to her home. Several months passed as we continued hanging out with each other having fun and all.

It was about end of the fall when it happened. I was just returning as usual from my school. It was really quite strange that Claude hadn't come. She never missed a single day in school. What in the world happened? Maybe I was just over dramatizing but that didn't turn out to be inadequate when I learned what happened.

About 8:00 am today, Claude's mom all of sudden collapsed and was rushed to hospital . Both Claude and her father were in pereturbed state . By the time I reached the hospital to visit Claude , the dusk was already settling in .

But on reaching the room where Claude was waiting, I already knew . Her mother had already succumbed to her death. Unsure what to do, I stayed out of the room . I wasn't really sure how to deal with this situation. Should I go to her or go away and give her space? Undecided I sat down outside on bench . Few minutes later , Claude came out sitting on bench besides me .

No one said anything as ominous silence was enough .

"Hey Max! Do you remember our promise that we made months ago ?" Claude said wiping her face at last. I looked up .

"Yes! But now .." I began.

"You said winner can ask anything. I don't suppose resurrection was part of the deal ." She tried to put on a smile as she hid her face in hands. I was taken aback. Sorry Claude ! I wish I knew how to comfort you but I just don't. I am not built like that. But my regards to you for trying to smile now.

Soon after just a couple of days , I had to move with my uncle as his job was not exactly feasible to be confined to somewhere then.

"I wish you good luck, Claude. My time with you was truly great. I won't promise to call you back. I am not sure if I can after not paying up my contract. I don't know if that changes anything but I hope that will help you in forgetting about me along with the pain that came in your life during that time. Well! I am really not expert on human feelings nonetheless." That was the last message I sent to her before leaving.

Now

I am not really sure that how will I ask her to come to help me after all that . Like how did my uncle do it when I told him about my plan in timeline A . But I do need to invite her.

"Uncle! I wanted to ask something?" I readied myself. Well no big deal , Max. You are probably top 10 smartest guy on earth I think . You can easily do this.

"Yes! What do you want?" He asked.

"Claude's no." I firmly stated.

"It is there in phonebook." He stated. Wait! Really. That is it .

I quickly dialled on my phone the no as my heart pumped faster or maybe I was just focusing more on it deluding myself into thinking that . This can't be veracious.

"Hello ?" A voice answered. It was firm and yet a bit full of French and English accent probably more developed from the time I left Claude. Well here we go .

"Hello Claude ! My name is Max .." I began.

"Yes ! I know . There is only one Max I know plus you try to act firmer than you actually are ..." She cut in.

"Hey ! That is not true. " Wait ! Why was she acting so casual! As if like there is no awkwardness . Well it is fine for me but still. Stop! Don't think right now. You are still on call and existing in real time.

"I was wondering if you would be free right now since it is summer holidays. I am investigating a case and I could use your help."

"Max! So you want to play a game with me again after 3 years again with no calls or messages at all? " She questioned.

"No ! Of course not . I assure you that this is very much a real case. If you come , I can explain everything to you So how fast can you come " I sighed.

"Funny you should said that . I am close to reaching your home soon."

"Uhmm.. how is that..of course! See ya then." I put down the call.

"So you knew that I was already planning to call Claude, didn't you? Well thanks for calling her on my behalf and asking her to come ." I told my uncle who just smiled.

"So anyway! I have just a bubbling question. Why didn't you give Claude my letter? It is clearly obvious that if you had given her letter, she wouldn't have been acting so ." I asked crossing my legs.

"Aren't you more comfortable right now that I haven't?" He asked.

"Yes! But that is not the point. You can't just amend my life decisions in the past without me even if that leads to convenient outcome for me in present." I bit my lip.

"Why not? Isn't it past self's responsibility to choose the best course of action to make future self's life as much as convenient as he can even if that means not doing what he wants and amending important things." He said gravely.

"I mean you aren't wrong but come on ! You can't just do that. It is..it is.." I struggled to find the right word.

"Violation of your privacy and freedom. Max! You must choose a simple side. Either you must accept that is alright to act irrational and lead your life or act rational as much as you can without wondering about such petty things in face of favourable consequences. Whatever you just argued about was nothing more than an emotional impulse in your brain. Forget it. It will only harm you ." He warned me as I nodded. Phew! Man ! I really can't win against him , can I ? As there was a ring on doorbell.

Thoth's PoV
"Hey Claude ! Just coming " I rose up opening the door.

"Oh gosh! It has been four no three years since I last saw him. I wonder what he will be like! He still sounded like his old self but I don't know for sure. Well I would definitely act firm too. I am not gonna freak out in front of him or all my three years of development would be ruined. He must be expecting me to be more mature and self confident. But would he deduce that I am thinking that way and putting on an act . Should I be naturalistic then? Damn! I am so close to him now and now is the time I am internally freaking out . Get a hold, Claude." Claude took a deep breath ringing the doorbell as it was opened by a boy with bun black hair .

"Uhmm! Are you living with Max?" She asked confused.

"Max? No! I ain't him . That weirdo live next door." As he shut the door. Great! Mistaking a house on your first reunion. Nice going, Claude . She mentally cursed herself. How could she not deduce it already?

"Can I help you?" Max asked seeing a guy wearing glasses looking down at him and a man with a red car outside.

"Max Ryder ! Let's take a ride."

Au revoir readers! Keep posted for the next chapter.