Mira's Diary by Marissa Moss Page A

prejudice, the government will collapse and the military will never recover. The direction of France, of all Europe, will be changed. Intolerance will breed more intolerance, which will breed violence. All because of how this one man is unjustly accused.” Morton cleared his throat. “That’s your mother’s opinion, not mine.”
    â€œSo how does she know what has to be changed? What will turn history down a different path?”
    â€œShe doesn’t. None of us do. We guess, we try, and we try again.” Morton’s voice got lower and lower, turning into a whisper. “But it’s dangerous. You might think you’re doing the right thing and do completely the wrong thing.”
    â€œAnd what about the people who try to stop you? Like the woman who followed you into Notre Dame? How dangerous is she?”
    â€œWhat woman?” Morton looked terrified. “Describe her!”
    I told him what she looked like and what had happened after he vanished that day in the cathedral. I was going to add the scene from the racetrack, but he interrupted me, wringing his sausage fingers together in worry.
    â€œThis is dreadful, just dreadful! She knows what Serena is doing. She knows what you’re doing. Maybe it’s best to forget about all this. Yes, just forget about it. Don’t try to do anything! Find a touchstone and go home!”
    â€œBut then she wins! Mom said we have to do this—it’s really important. She said this affects my future, so it’s not a vague problem but something very specific. Besides, we can’t let the bad guys win.” I was surprised Morton would give up so easily. Could I really trust this man?
    â€œShe told you that!” Mr. Walrus squealed in panic. “She shouldn’t have!”
    â€œWhy? What is she really trying to stop?” I pressed.
    â€œThis, the whole Dreyfus mess,” he insisted. “Which will lead to the collapse of the French government and to some other issues that are all connected. Maybe something that happens in your future, but I don’t know anything about that. And you shouldn’t either!”
    Obviously he knew a lot more than he was admitting. “What about that woman? Who is she exactly?”
    â€œSomeone you should avoid at all costs!” Morton snapped. “Stay far, far away from her!”
    â€œBut who is she?”
    â€œI can’t tell you any more. I really can’t,” he said. He looked scared and miserable at the same time.
    â€œCan you at least tell me what happens in 1894?” I asked. “What am I supposed to do?”
    â€œYou can stop Dreyfus from ever being accused. A French spy, working in the German Embassy as a cleaning woman, will find a torn-up note that lists military information passed to the German military attaché. That’s the note Dreyfus will be accused of writing. Your mother wants you to find it before the cleaning lady does.”
    â€œMe? How? And if it’s so important, why doesn’t she do it herself?”
    â€œI’m just passing on the message.” The man looked anxiously behind us as if the woman he was so afraid of would appear at any moment. “But if you don’t want to do this, just go home where you belong. That’s my advice. Your mother can change things all by herself without involving you. If she really thinks she has to.”
    â€œAre you a friend of Mom’s or not? You tell me what she wants, then tell me to ignore it. And I’m supposed to trust you?”
    â€œDon’t trust me! I don’t care! I did what I said I would and that’s it! Sometimes I think your mother is crazy. Sometimes I know she is!” Morton stood up, wiping his sweaty face with a large lavender handkerchief. “Good day, mademoiselle!” He stuffed the kerchief back in his pocket and hurried off.
    I wanted to chase after him. He was the only link I had to Mom. But was he a good link