by Katz, Gayle
zzz
Sergeant Bourne and Jane watched as a small hatch in the floor popped up.
“I didn’t even know that was there!” said Jane.
There must have been steps beneath, as the first zombie easily stepped up and onto the floor. It peered around the hall.
“This way!” said Sergeant Bourne. “We are to meet in the main boardroom.”
A set of six zombie soldiers came marching first. They were neatly in line and didn’t even look at him. Bourne stood by the door as they filed into the room.
The next set of zombies seemed to be the administrators. They held notebooks and laptops in their arms. They filed into the room next and sat down where Marta directed them.
Marta laughed and smiled. She hadn’t had this much fun since Jane had been called out on a rather large entertainment budget, which had basically been for a Fourth of July party at her house that had nothing to do with the city.
“Are they just going to sit there?” asked Charlie.
“I think so,” replied Owen.
“They aren’t going on a rampage and trying to eat everyone, like the last time there were zombies at City Hall?”
Owen shrugged. “They must have eaten before coming here.”
“Gross,” said Charlie, sinking down in her chair a little bit more. “But I’m prepared,” she said, patting her pockets. “I have both daggers.”
“Good,” said Owen. “Any sign of Zan yet?”
Charlie shook her head. “They’ll probably bring her in last, along with Rina Orzola or Dr. Arora.”
“Rina Orzola is the zleader,” whispered Owen.
“Yeah,” said Charlie.
“No, I mean, she’s the boss of Dr. Arora.”
Charlie turned and looked at him. “So, there was someone?”
“Yes, but little did she know, it was actually the other way around.”
Chapter 18
________________________________________
Julian didn’t know how much time he had left. He didn’t know how long the effects of the booze would last. He’d surreptitiously checked his dad’s liquor cabinet. There were still five bottles in there. But he didn’t know if they had the same efficacy as the first bottle he had drunk. For all he knew, the other bottles didn’t hold the same magic. But just the same, he’d taken all the other bottles from the cabinet and hid them in his room.
zzz
Stewart cursed the traffic on the way to the downtown liquor shop that specialized in dated liquor. Finally, he found Ye Olde Liquor Shoppe. They would be the ones who could answer his questions.
He got out and slammed his door. He walked inside the building.
He felt a bit thwarted when he saw that all the liquor was locked behind antique display cases. There would be no reading of labels here.
“How may I help you?” asked the woman behind the counter.
“I’m looking for this old whiskey that a friend of mine has. He bought a case lot. It contains whiskey from 1776, apparently.”
“Whiskey won’t last that long. It would go bad,” she stated.
“I know, but I think the recipe is the same. Something about it being brewed to honor the Founding Fathers of America.”
“Oh. OK,” she said. “We do have that one.” She grabbed some keys and then looked around the small room. “There it is.” She walked to the display case and pulled out the bottle. She carefully placed it on the wood counter.
Stewart read the label. “Originally brewed in 1776 in celebration of our independence from Great Britain. Today’s current recipe is as authentic as the original, with a dash of flavoring taken from the original barrel. This recipe is available in limited quantities. Yes, this is it,” he said.
“This appears to be our last bottle,” she said. “It’s thirty-six.”
“Thirty-six dollars?” asked Stewart.
“Thirty-six hundred. Three thousand six hundred dollars.”
“Oh, that’s beyond my budget,” said Stewart. “But most interesting.”
“Yeah, sorry. It’s definitely a one-of-a-kind bottle of whiskey. But I can show you something else.”
Stewart smiled at her. “That would be great.”
There was a call from the back. “I’ll be right back.” She turned and went to see what her colleague needed.
Stewart grabbed the bottle and ran.
zzz
“Look outside,” said Charlie, nodding in that direction.
“Creepy,” said Owen. “It’s like the fog is settling even deeper over the city.”
“Oh look, something’s happening,” said Charlie.
zzz
Zan was tied to her chair, panicking. “Make them stop!” she cried out at Rina.
Rina was swatting at them. “Dammit! I thought I could control them.”
Zan felt some of the Shredders cut her face. “Shit! Invisibilia, what the hell is it? Invisibilus? Invisibilitas?”
Zan was fortunate that magic was strong in the room, as normally an invisibility spell would never work. But in that moment, she suddenly disappeared from the room.
“What the hell? Where did you go?” called out Rina, slapping her face, trying to stop the Shredders from scratching her.
“Il returno di etherium,” she called out.
It worked. The Shredders gathered together and zoomed back toward the center of the pentagram and the candles. Then, they were gone.
“Thank goodness,” said Rina, sitting back down on the ground.
“So stupid,” said Zan’s voice. “Don’t play with what you don’t understand. Those things could have gobbled you up and sent you back to the ether.”
“Yeah, thanks,” said Rina. “I was hoping to use them for something else. It didn’t work out as I expected.”
“No kidding,” said Zan. “Hey, am I still invisible?”
“Rina!” called out a voice in the distance. “Where are you? The meeting has long started.”
“Oh crap,” said Rina, standing up. “Soon Dr. Arora will be back and she’ll be mad.”
A figure stepped into the small room. “Where is Zan?” he asked.
“She’s right there. She’s invisible,” said Rina.
“Uh, that’s not going to go down well,” he yelled. “The rule is to exchange Zan for control of City Hall!”
Rina threw a rock at him. “I know that, you imbecile! Do you think I made her invisible? She made herself invisible!”
Zan managed to get her hands untied, even though she couldn’t see what she was doing. But she was able to untie the ropes that secured her legs to the front of the chair. She stood up and laughed. “This is great,” she said. “I should have made myself invisible a long time ago.”
“Hey! Turn yourself back,” called out Rina.
“Say pretty please,” said Zan.
“OK, fine. Pretty please,” said Rina.
“Where is she?” asked her zombie minion. “I can smell her. I think she’s over here.”
“Hey!” exclaimed Zan, trying to use her invisible hand to brush his hand away.
“I got her!” said the zombie, pulling her to the other side of the room.
“Well, an invisible hostage is better than none,” said Rina.
“Can’t you utter a spell to turn her back?” asked the zombie.
“Uh, invisibilus non,” said Rina. “Nope, guess not.”
“Fine, I’ll go with you,” said Zan. “Anyway, Stewart will know how to turn me back.”
Rina led the way. “It’s as good a plan as any,” she said, walking down the damp hallway.
Zan walked behind the zombie who had a hand on her arm. “I’m right here. Anyway, it’s not like there is anything else to do today.”
zzz
Stewart took the bottle of booze and opened it. He sniffed it. It was like any other bottle of whiskey. He put the cap back on, then propped it up against the passenger seat. “Ostende mihi magicae,” he said.
The bottle glowed green.
<
br /> “Interesting. I think I have an idea.” He grabbed the bottle and tucked it inside his jacket pocket. It was a bit bulky, but would have to do.
He hoped that nothing much had happened at City Hall. He started the car to return there.
zzz
“You’re leaving, now,” said Sergeant Bourne to Jane and Marta. He pushed them out of the room and down the hall.
“But I really want to see what happens,” said Marta in protest.
“Trust me, whatever happens won’t be good.” He led them to the main entrance. Outside, he waved to two of his deputies. They nodded and escorted them out.
“But what about the press?” called out Jane.
“They can take care of themselves, but we’ll make sure to keep an eye on them,” he said, waving. He turned and went back inside the building.
zzz
“Hey! Where were you?” asked Charlie.
Stewart sat down. “I had to go get something,” said Stewart. “It’s part of this idea that Sergeant Bourne and I had.”
“Good,” said Owen. “It’s getting a bit boring though. The zombies are getting restless.”
In front of them, the zombies were whispering to each other, then looking around the room.
“OK. I’m here,” said Rina, walking into the room. She took her spot by the podium. “Where is the mayor?”
“She’s gone,” said Bourne.
“Gone? That’s not the agreement,” said Rina.
“It is. She left you in charge,” said Bourne. “She’s left the building. She is relinquishing control of Portland to you.”
Rina smiled. “I see.”
“And where is Dr. Arora?” he asked her.
“Oh, she’ll be here soon,” said Rina.
“Where is Zan?” he asked. “She was supposed to be brought here. That was the deal.”
“Oh, Zan. She’s right here,” said Rina, motioning behind her. One of her zombie minions came forward, with his right hand held in the air. “There.” She nodded toward him.
“Is this some sort of joke?” asked Bourne.
“No. She’s invisible.”
He laughed. “Invisible?”
“Yes, she uttered a spell to protect herself from the Shredders.”
“Shredders?” Charlie whispered to Stewart. “Those are things in the ether that tear your soul apart.”
“I know what they are,” he said, whispering back.
“Zan?” said Owen out loud, looking around, trying to hone in on her location.
“Right here,” said Rina, patting the area where Zan’s arm should be.
There was an “oof” heard.
“I think that is Zan,” whispered Owen to Charlie.
“That is a relief,” Charlie whispered back.
“Is there a Stewart here?” called out Rina.
“Why?” he asked.
Rina turned to look at him. “Because Dr. Arora is going to be here soon, and when she comes, she is going to be very, very angry that we have not secured City Hall for her, or turned Zan over to you, as per the deal. Now, I might add that doing deals with zombies is always one hundred percent guaranteed. Zombies don’t have the capacity to lie or deceive. So, let’s get this done.”
“Just do it,” said Owen to him.
“Is she really there?” asked Charlie, squinting her eyes at the space where Zan should be standing.
“Yep,” said Owen.
Stewart went to stand at the front of the room. “Zan, are you there?” There was silence. “Come on, Zan. There are people here who are worried about you.”
“Great, this has turned into the Zan show,” said Rina, complaining. “Hurry up! Dr. Arora is scheduled to put in an appearance at 2:30. It’s almost that time.”
“Zan?” asked Stewart again.
“Fine,” said Zan.
Stewart uttered a long spell.
“Did it work?” asked Zan, standing there.
“Yep.”
“Good, now get back to your seat!” yelled Rina.
“Zan, you’re here!” said Bourne, rushing over to her, noticing the cut on her face. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said, giving him a brief hug.
“Please, may we get a picture?” called out one of the reporters.
They stood there while the reporter snapped a photo.
“Enough!” cried out Rina, pushing them to the side. “Dr. Arora will be here soon. We have to secure City Hall.”
“City Hall is yours,” said Sergeant Bourne. “Now, if the press wants to take more photos, I suggest you do so, then leave.”
Some of the reporters quickly left, while others milled around, wondering what would happen next.
“Go out into the hall and stay there,” said Sergeant Bourne. He stayed near the podium next to Rina.
“It’s happening!” cried out Rina. “I’m changing!” A bright green light lit up her body. “Possession!” she screamed. Her body shook and jerked, like she was having some form of seizure.
Then the green light cleared. The woman standing there appeared to be more confident and happy.
“Hello, everyone,” said Dr. Arora.
“Dr. Arora, is that you?” called out a reporter. “We heard you’d be visiting us today.”
“Why, yes,” she replied. “It’s me. But I can only stay for a few minutes. My hold on the present is difficult. Rina Orzola has kindly allowed me the use of this body for a time.” She peered around the room.
“I see that City Hall has been secured for me. Good. I shall move into the mayor’s main office.”
“Will you be the new mayor?” asked a female reporter.
“Yes, you may call me Mayor Arora from now on, as I’m obviously no longer a doctor. I think that’s a fair trade.”
“Mayor Arora, where have you been all this time?” called out a voice in the audience.
“Right here,” she replied. “Just hidden in the ether.”
“What is the ether?” another voice called out.
“It’s the in between,” she explained. “Anyway, I want to get settled into City Hall. And my zinions need desks too. Thank you all for coming today. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get to work at organizing this place. There’s a lot to do.”
Dr. Arora stepped away from the podium, and then left the room.
“Is that it?” asked Charlie.
“I guess so,” said Owen.
“So anticlimactic.”
“I know, right?”
“Bourne is signaling to me,” said Stewart. “Now we can put the next step of our plan in place and take action.”
“Cool,” said Owen. “I’m kind of getting tired of these zombie guys.”
“Yawn!” said Charlie, stretching.
“Let’s get everyone out of here. When the big shit goes down, I don’t want any civilians in here,” said Stewart.
Chapter 19
________________________________________
“Everyone meet me at my car in five,” said Stewart, whispering to the teens. “I have to go tell Bourne that I found something.”
The three teens looked curiously at him.
“Charlie, you have your two daggers?”
She nodded to him.
“Good. Keep the special one handy. Do not mix them up!”
Stewart went off to speak to Sergeant Bourne, who was out in the hallway directing the zombies to specific rooms, since he was familiar with the layout of City Hall.
“Let’s see. You look smart. Head to the security room at the end of the hall. You, your head is half gone, you stand by the front entrance on guard.”
“Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt,” said Stewart, watching as the three teens quickly left City Hall.
Bourne looked relieved as Zan left.
“What is it?”
“In private, quick.” Stewart led him to the men’s bathroom across the hall. “I think we’re alone,” said Stewart, checking all of the stalls.
/> “Looks like it,” Bourne replied.
“Let’s synchronize watches,” said Stewart, looking at his. “I have 2:31.”
“I have 2:29.”
“Close enough. OK, about five minutes before three o’clock, I want you to get that shrunken head mask out of the display case.”
“But it’s locked,” said Bourne in protest.
Stewart handed him a key. “I grabbed it from Marta earlier.”
“You know it just jumps back in, right? I’m not going to be able to hold onto it for any length of time.” He frowned.
Stewart smirked and laughed. “It will let you take it, because we are going to solve her problem.”
“What her? You’ve humanized a dead object?”
Stewart laughed again. “Have you looked at it recently? It’s definitely a woman.”
Bourne’s eyes opened wide. “I’m horrified that a tribe would do that to a woman.”
“Yes, and I do believe it’s the key as to why we’re here this afternoon.”
“Weird,” said Bourne. “OK, count me in. Once I have the thing, err, her mask, where do we meet up?”
Stewart whispered the final details to him. Bourne’s eyes opened wide.
zzz
“Good, I’m glad you’re here.” Stewart clicked the fob to unlock his car. He opened the back door and pulled out the old wooden case.
“Wow, that looks older than you,” said Charlie.
“It is. Probably a few centuries older.” He pulled it out and placed it on the front hood of his car. He flipped it open.
“Wow, nice,” said Owen.
Stewart pulled out the dagger from the second slot. It was gleaming. He handed it to Owen. Then he pulled out the third dagger. This one had several red jewels in the handle. He handed it to Zan. “This is the first time it’s let me remove both remaining daggers.”
