Well done!

“It’s from Grandpa” Julien said a little unnecessarily relieved that the letter was printed in his clear familiar hand and did not need to be translated or decoded.

"Well done!" Julien read the letter aloud, "If you are reading this you have made me very proud of you." Julien's chest tightened as he read the words left to them by the only father he had ever known. Taking a deep breath he continued.

"If my plan worked, you have proven yourselves worthy of the journal that accompanies this letter. (If you found this journal by accident, then I accept that as the will of whatever gods there may be that watch over our poor lives). The tasks you accomplished demonstrate to me that you have the patience, determination and love of discovery needed in order to take advantage of this information. Most of all the two of you have learnt to combine the best of your talents. If ever there were a pair fit to follow the path that I have set then it is you."

James and Julien exchanged awed looks as they realized the magnitude of their grandfather's skill. Even after his ****, the trail of clues had tested many of the skills, attitudes and characteristics that the determined old man had drilled into their young heads as being critical for their education.

"He must have spent months putting this all in place." Whispered James as they thought over all the different tasks that they had had to perform. "No wonder he left such strict instructions about not disturbing anything in his lab."

"Or for that matter the house." Added Julien looking around the once familiar fencing hall wondering what other mysteries the house still hid. His attention returned to the letter.

"In the front cover of the journal you will find a letter for my sweet Gemma. Please deliver it to her (if she is still alive). In addition to some private words for her it contains an appeal for her to let you boys follow your hearts. She loves you dearly boys and after your father died so young trying to succeed where I had failed, she has little sympathy for Vaults or anything to do with them."

"Your parents would have been proud of you as well; you two share the best of their intelligence and determination. My only wish is that I were standing by your side to hug you as I did when you first arrived on our doorsteps orphaned and despondent. You brought such joy to Gemma and myself that the gift of this journal is but a tiny fraction of what we owe to you."

"He signed it 'With all the love of my heart, Grandpa Wilhelm'." By the time Julien finished the letter he could feel tears forming in his eyes, and was relieved to see his brother was also struggling with the emotions and memories the letter had exposed.

"Oh" added Julien, "there's a post script, he suggests we start with Uncle Davy."

James was barely listening to him as he lifted the leather bound journal from its hiding place for the past five years. Inside the cover just as had been indicated was a sealed envelope addressed to their grandmother.

"We should go see her." James said as he held the book tightly in his arms.