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Chapter or Story 
Chapter or Story
Part 34
"Stone walls do not a prison make,
Nor iron bars a cage;
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for a hermitage;
If I have freedom in my love,
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone that soar above
Enjoy such liberty."
Richard Lovelace. 1618-1658.
Rejoicing
February 7, 2002
"Hello, this is Cerberus. How may I help you?"
"Could I speak to Mrs Gates, please?"
"Certainly. I'll put you through immediately."
There was a pause, with the necessary awful musical accompaniment, until the phone clicked.
"Hello?"
"Good morning, Mrs Gates."
"Jarod! I knew you'd call!"
"Well I had to, didn't I? The one year anniversary of the takeover, and the start of the great changes that took place."
"All thanks to you."
"Please, credit only where credit’s due. I couldn't have done it on my own, and I wouldn't have attempted it."
"But it was all your idea..."
"Which is, I suppose, why you used one of them in the renaming of the place. Cerberus. The last of Hercules' twelve tasks and the most difficult."
"But it's been achieved, finally."
"And with a lot of very good work. I'm impressed at the way it works."
"Yes, I suppose it has gone well."
"And how is the new member of the family?"
"Wonderful! I never knew how good motherhood was! She's a perfect angel."
"With a perfect angel for a mother."
"Stop it, Jarod. You know I don't like flattery."
"At least not from me."
"Not from anyone."
"Except Thomas."
"I'm not going to comment on that."
"Because you know I'm right - again."
"No comment."
"Okay, I'll change the subject. How’s Lyle?"
"Not too bad. I suppose he isn't going to get any better. At least, that's what Sydney said."
"A nervous breakdown can leave permanent problems."
"When I think of what he was..."
"What? A psychopathic killer?"
"Well, that wasn't exactly what sprang to mind, no."
"And Ethan?"
"Sometimes I can still see a shadow of what he was before we got to him. But Momma can usually make it vanish."
"How is she?"
"Wonderful. Especially when Ben's around."
"So finally the Centre is a good place to be again?"
"Most definitely."
"I'm glad. You deserve it, Parker."
"How's...have you heard anything more from your family?"
"Not much. A few leads but I live in hope."
"I'm sorry, Jarod. It seems unfair that I should have so much..."
"Parker, if I hadn't wanted you to be happy, I wouldn't have given you everything I did. It's proof that you should have a wonderful life. And I know you will."
"I have to go. Thomas is calling me. Goodbye Hercules."
"Goodbye Athena."
