The conductor of a world-renowned orchestra announced her intention to retire at the end of the year; the search for a new conductor began in earnest with the outgoing conductor herself taking part in the interviews and selection.

Many observers and commentators considered the orchestra’s assistant conductor to be a shoo-in. She had worked under the supervision of the conductor for the last ten years and had arranged many of the pieces the orchestra had performed over the last seven. Her years attending prestigious universities studying music theory, the resulting degrees, and her years conducting smaller orchestras further made her the obvious choice.

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As she neared the end of her teenage years, on the verge of becoming a woman, Eva had a falling out with her parents. She wept hot, angry tears as she stuffed some belongings into a backpack and stormed out of their home. Theirs—not hers any longer.

Her parents and older brother, Albert, watched her go with no fewer tears. “She knows her way back, and we’ll see her again soon,” they told each other.

But days lengthened into years until Albert told his parents, “I will find Eva and bring her back.”

Albert first tried tracking her down using the Internet, but Eva’s social media accounts had long since gone silent. He sent messages to all of the mutual friends he could, but none of them had heard from her.

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History on Flynn’s ancestors seemed hard to come by. For example, his grandfather had passed away before his great-grandfather, and Flynn’s own father couldn’t remember much about either of them. All the family had about Great-Grandfather was an early journal he had written. They enjoyed reading it, and they wished he had written more. They longed to learn more about his life and personality.

One day, Flynn’s father found a key in some old things with a tag bearing the name of a bank and a number. He gave Flynn the key in case he could track down what it was for. Flynn conducted some research on the Internet and traced the key to a bank in a distant city. He called the bank and was told that a safe deposit box with that number still held some items belonging to Flynn’s great-grandfather.

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On completing some reconnaissance, a certain army platoon was headed back to base when the lieutenant received word that enemy forces had attacked a village and taken civilian prisoners. This platoon’s current location was nearest the village. The orders came for this platoon to engage the enemy as quickly as possible, rescue the captives, and bring them to base.

The lieutenant gathered the platoon and gave them the news. Many eyes gazed back at him steadily. He laid out a plan for engaging with enemy forces and rescuing the prisoners. Then he asked, “Who believes we can accomplish this mission?”

Many of the steady gazes faltered. But one of the sergeants stood. “I do, sir.”

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