Felicity dutifully went to the local government offices, persevered before a daunting bureaucracy, found the right person and lodged her complaint about the absentee landlords and her urgent repair problem. It must be attended to immediately since she was soon to leave on an extended trip. She was, however, somewhat skeptical that these simple people would get their sums right and conclude that her landlords and the unidentified accident victims were one and the same. For good measure, to account for the often unusual density known to afflict much of officialdom, she asked if they could not please do something about the awful noise and smell the proprietors left behind when driving their aged van. And what colour is this van Madame, the clerk asked, all the while staring at the accident report in the local paper conveniently spread out on her little desk? One moment please, she barely had time to whisper, now much in awe of this potentially famous foreigner, as she jumped from her chair and furtively disappeared through a little door behind her. As expected, she rushed to telephone the police to suggest that the unidentified bodies might be the Malvue boys.
A closer inspection of the vehicle’s remains confirmed that it was the same model they had been driving and the case was closed. It was deemed an unambiguous accident and Felicity was assured there would be no need for further follow up. She and her companions could leave at any time. The house and broken window would be looked after by a local official until next of kin could be notified. Bon voyage.
Chapter XI
The non-interference rule
The Perfect Human: An Abelard Chronicles Book Page 32
