Then, Dimitrios had questions of his own. They talked about the school and the classes Charles would need to sign up for before school began. Dimitrios talked to Charles about being his personal tutor and said that they would meet every day after school to complete his homework, unless otherwise scheduled by Cassia. Dimitrios asked Charles if he planned on playing sports during the school year.
“I haven’t thought about it.” Dimitrios encouraged him to participate. “All right, I will tryout for basketball.”
Dimitrios nodded in agreement. Basketball would benefit Charles by teaching teamwork, improving his coordination and social skills, plus adding to his physical fitness. Finally they discussed a foreign language class for Charles to enroll in. Dimitrios encouraged him to continue with his Spanish classes at school. However later he would be given private lessons to learn several languages.
Charles thanked Dimitrios and handed him a thank you note for the gifts. Charles started to ask him questions about the mysterious gifts but Dimitrios held up his hand. He told Charles that when the time arrived he was sure Charles would learn the benefits of each gift. He smiled at Charles and patted him on the shoulder. By the look on Dimitrios’ face Charles knew that was the end of the conversation. They ended the meeting and left to find Bev and Carson.
Dimitrios thanked them for coming, and informed Charles that Cassia would be scheduling their next meeting. Charles opened his appointment book and sure enough she had already scheduled it. Dimitrios abruptly excused himself, said his goodbyes and left. Charles invited Fiona to have lunch with them. She thanked him and told them she had a lot of work to catch up on, but maybe some other time. They thanked her for the tour and left the library.
As they walked out of the library Carson asked Charles, “Well, how did it go?” Charles told him what they had discussed. Carson said, “I liked playing basketball.” Then he turned to Bev and said, “I think we ought to invest in a basketball goal near the driveway.”
“I think that is a good idea. It will be fun for both of you.”
Then Carson asked Charles, “Did you ask Dimitrios about the gifts?”
Charles nodded. “I tried, but he said I’d figure them out when the time was right.” He shrugged.
“Hmm. That is interesting.”
Airabelle said, “He must have his reasons.”
“Something tells me, we may have been right about him,” said Charles
Carson laughed. “Why is that?”
“I don’t know. I just have my suspicions.”
Airabelle said, “Well, one thing is certain, Dimitrios is definitely a secretive person.”
They spun their flying disks and headed to the Hub. Once they landed, Carson asked where they wanted to eat lunch. Bev suggested they go to the new restaurant.
“You mean Quarters?” Bev nodded. Charles agreed so they headed in that direction. When they arrived there were approximately twenty people already waiting in the lobby. Charles approached the hostess to put his name on the list. As he was giving his name he saw Cassia out of the corner of his eye making her way toward them. He smiled at her as she neared. She walked up to the hostess stand and greeted him.
Then she turned to the hostess and said, “This young man has priority from now on. The people in his party are with us.”
The hostess said, “I will get more chairs for your table, Cassia.” She thanked her. Charles waved to Carson and Bev to join them. Cassia made her way through the crowd back to the table she shared with Dimitrios and his daughter.
He stood when he saw them. “If I knew you would be dining out I would have invited you to join us. I am so glad you chose to come here.” He took the chair from the hostess and placed it for Bev at the table. She thanked him. Then he and Carson assisted with the rest of the chairs.
Dimitrios said, “I think everyone knows about this new restaurant. The food is excellent.”
The waitress came and took their order. The manager came to the table and introduced himself to Charles and his family. He and Dimitrios talked for a few minutes, then he left. Charles looked at Dimitrios.
Dimitrios waved his hand and said, “This is one of your perks. Think of it as having a personal reservation.”
Charles thanked him, but felt uncomfortable not waiting like everyone else. Cassia gave Dimitrios a quick smile as she looked at him from over her menu.
Natalie shook her head and rolled her eyes. She turned to Charles and asked him, “How did you like the library?”
“It is awesome.”
“I like to go there to study. Fiona picks out the best books for school research.” Dimitrios had been talking, but this grabbed his attention. He joined in. “The two of you will BOTH be spending time in the library.”
Natalie playfully said something in Russian to him. Whatever it was she said must have satisfied him, because he went back to his conversation with Carson.
Charles asked Natalie, “How many different languages do you speak fluently?”
“I speak seven languages, six fluently.” Charles nodded. She nodded in her dad’s direction and said, “He’ll make sure you can as well. He may even teach you more. Six is enough for me.”
The waitress served their food. They continued the discussion as they ate their meal. When it was time to leave, Natalie told Charles she would also be attending his next meeting with her dad. They talked for a moment longer before they left.
Airabelle asked Charles, “How would you like a tour around the Hub?” Charles said he’d like that.
Carson took out the Hub map. They looked it over and decided where to start walking. They began walking toward the east end of the Hub. Bev remarked on several of the differences in the area that had taken place over the years. Charles noted how the crowd changed as they went from one side of the Hub to the other. They made their way deeper into the crowd before Carson took hold of Bev’s hand and the two of them stood together discussing if they should return using a different street.
Charles silently asked Airabelle, “Do you notice anything strange happening?”
“I certainly don’t remember it being like this. It feels ominous.”
Charles took in a deep breath before slowly exhaling. He looked around and noticed several observers standing in the shadows were watching them. Charles noticed one man in particular who was paying close attention to them. He was leaning on the side of a wall with his arms crossed. He was average height and had a muscular build. The young man was very tan and dressed in a thick black leather jacket and pants that made him look even more intimidating. His hair was like nothing Charles had ever seen before. It was pitch-black with startling red wisps. He had it cut short and spiked all over. His brown eyes were glaring at them while chewing on his top lip as he was watching them. Charles looked away, breaking the glare he was being given. He turned to Carson. “I think we are being watched. Any ideas?”
Charles’ spectacles became blurry as he looked back over at the guy watching them. The glasses appeared to x-ray the man’s body. Charles noticed the man carried concealed weapons. He had a knife in a holder strapped near his sock, and a small gun concealed on either side of his ribs and something that looked like a star in the pocket of his black leather pants. Charles thought how odd that his spectacles allowed him to see that. He wondered if they were in for trouble.
Carson drew Charles’ attention and motioned they were heading back. Charles looked back in time to see the man turning his back to them revealing a small coin tattoo on the back of his neck.
Charles silently said to Airabelle, “Do you see what I am seeing?”
“I do. Now is a good time to be leaving before his gang comes around.”
They turned to leave. As they did the man spun his black flying disk and followed them. Airabelle alerted Carson that they were being followed. He informed Bev that they were being watched. They made their way to the edge of the Hub Market and decided to stay there, hoping he would go past them.
He hovered nearby
and was soon joined by more of his kind. Charles was beginning to wonder if they were in a safe place because the longer they stayed the more of these gangsters gathered together. They were a menacing-looking group.
Carson had a plan and led the way, trying to get out of that section of the market.
The owners of the carts were either turning away from them or shaking their heads as they too realized what was happening.
It isn’t looking good for us: Charles thought.
The gang continued gathering more of their kind. There must have been ten or more now. The leader of the group called out to them and asked, “Hey, I’m talking to you. What are you doing here on our turf?”
Carson stopped. He turned and replied, “I didn’t know the Hub was divided into turfs young man.”
The punk’s face twisted and he snarled. Then he approached Carson in a belligerent way. Carson stood his ground. Charles moved closer. Bev got behind them. Words in a foreign language were exchanged between the gang members. They snickered. The leader put his hand on Carson’s arm. Carson didn’t move. He just stared the man in the eye.
The leader said, “I’ll tell you what old man, we will let it go this time, but if we ever…”
Then a familiar commanding voice, speaking the same foreign language, came from behind his gang. He rolled his eyes and turned around. She was forcing the others to move aside. Charles thought he recognized her voice instantly--Natalie. One of gang members touched her and she forcefully elbowed him in the stomach.
The leader said, “You have to be quicker than that to touch that venomous creature.” He made hand gestures outlining her. “She’s like one of those netherworld demons, existing beyond this dimension’s eternal borders.” The gang laughed uneasily as their buddy was still reeling from the blow she had dealt him.
She stood as unmoving as a statue, staring at the Passage Seeker. They stared at each other defiantly waiting for the hooligan’s next move. He finally relaxed and moved toward her.
She raised a hand and demanded, “Cease what you are doing, and inform me what your business is with these Sojourners.”
“I don’t have to tell you anything.”
Her eyes grew wide. “Oh, I think it is in your best interest Maximus to do just that.”
He shook his head slowly and said, “This is none of your business.”
She cautioned, “Passageway officials ARE my business.”
He whipped his head around and looked at Charles, then Carson. He turned back to Natalie and sneered, “I don’t see a badge.”
Natalie said to Charles, “Show him your badge.” Charles pulled his badge from his shirt.
The Passage Seeker came closer and looked at it. He flipped it from Charles’ hand. “Trouble maker.”
Natalie moved closer and he waved her off saying, “All right! All right! I’m not going to do anything…”
Natalie motioned for Charles’ group to follow her. The gang moved out of their way.
Maximus called to her, “Give my regards to your dad, Princess.”
Natalie growled as she kept going. Charles heard her grumbling to herself. Then she brusquely stopped, turned to them and said, “I am so sorry about that. They should be disbanded but the current Council will only give them boundaries.” She turned to Charles and asked, “Do you have a boundary map on you?”
Charles shook his head and said, “No, I don’t think so.”
Carson asked Natalie, “When did it happen that the Hub has been divided into boundaries?”
Natalie looked at him and said, “It hasn’t been officially.” Carson nodded as if he understood. She continued, “At the next meeting I will bring you a current map. They have to respect the badge or they will have severe consequences. So, if you must go through their area you should leave it visible. I guarantee they know you now. That won’t happen again.” She hugged Bev and talked to them briefly, walking them to a designated area. As soon as they reached the area, Natalie said she had to leave.
They were now on the West side of the Hub close to their primary Passageway. Airabelle said, “That was a brilliant idea I had wasn’t it?”
Carson said, “How could any of us have known that Passage Seekers would be given their own section of the Hub?” They walked to their Passageway and made their way back to the office.
Charles had an uneasy feeling that wouldn’t be the last time they saw Maximus.
CHAPTER 45
Once they were in the office, Bev sat down. Carson and Charles put the flying disks and the rest of their Sojourner items away in the vault. Once they were in the vault Charles said to Carson, “Did you know Maximus had weapons when you stood up to him?”
Carson looked at him and said, “Charles, how do you know he had weapons?”
“My glasses visualized them through an x-ray.”
Carson’s eyes got wide and he asked, “You saw the weapons through his clothes?” “I did.”
Carson walked out of the vault and over to Bev. Charles kept his spectacles on and followed him. He turned to Charles and said, “Charles, I want you to tell Nana what you just told me.” Charles told her what he saw earlier.
She turned around to Airabelle and said, “Airabelle, did you see the same thing?” “I did. Charles has the capability to see concealed weapons that are carried by other Sojourners while wearing his glasses.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Charles said he would.”
Bev turned back to Charles and said, “That is scary and amazing all at the same time.”
“Sojourners are not allowed to have weapons in the Hub,” Carson stated the obvious.
Airabelle said, “Somehow Charles is able to channel the Prime Minister’s abilities through his Sojourner tools. He just has to learn what abilities he has access to and how to use them. It is kind of trial and error. Dimitrios must not have thought he’d need to tell him at this point.”
“Hopefully we won’t run into those Passage Seekers again,” Bev said. Charles could tell she was upset when she added, “I’m just glad we are all okay. I’m going to the house and rest.” She put her things away and left.
After she walked out the door, Charles withdrew his crystal from his pocket, reached for his journal and sat at Carson’s desk to work. He wrote intently about the meeting and the events of the day. Holographic images sprang up above the journal.
Carson turned the bookshelves around. Carson took his crystal from his pocket, pulled one of the Caperson journals off the shelf and sat down to read. He alternated his time between reading and watching Charles from his chair. He enjoyed watching Charles recreate his adventures. It was very entertaining. Carson was proud of the fact that Charles had taken so easily to Sojourning. While he watched Charles, Carson thought back to his teens and the first time he was introduced to Sojourning. To him it didn’t seem like all that long ago.
When Charles finished with his journal entries he closed the book. He placed it on the shelf and sat in the chair next to Carson. Airabelle and Airasten were perched on top of their birdcage.
Carson said, “I was just thinking back to when I was younger. The first time my father and I stepped through the Passageway I was amazed not knowing such things could exist.”
Charles nodded. “I know the feeling.”
“In just the short time you have been Sojourning, so many things have happened. It almost doesn’t seem real.”
Charles stared across the room as he thought back to his recent birthday, and how his life had changed since then.
Carson scooted to the edge of his chair and paused before he stood up. He picked up the Caperson journal from the table, walked over to the shelf and put it back in its place. “It won’t be long until Nana has dinner ready. Do you want to continue to work?”
Charles contemplated his answer. “I’d like to continue studying.”
“Let’s work for a short time, then they can go to the house to eat. If you are still in the mood to work we cou
ld come back and stay as late as we want.” Charles nodded in agreement.
Charles went into the vault to get his manual, and checked his appointment book. He thought he should try to check it often just to be safe. He checked--no new entries. He picked up his manual and went to sit down. After he read two chapters, he closed the manual and stood up to stretch. Carson got the hint. They began putting their things away. They secured the library before going to the house.
Bev was in the family room. She had decided to read a book when she woke up from her nap. She was still reading when they walked in. They went into the family room and sat down. She asked how their work was going in the office.
Carson told her, “I have been working on a Caperson Journal. Charles has been concentrating on writing in his journal and studying his manual. We may be going back to the office to work after dinner. Would you like to join us?”
“Yes, thank you. I might bring my book and read while you work.” Then she got up and motioned for them to follow her to the kitchen for dinner.
After dinner Bev and Carson had a cup of coffee and dessert. Charles was too full from dinner to have dessert so he just sat and enjoyed their company. When they finished they cleaned up.
Bev grabbed her book on the way out the door. As they entered the office, Airabelle was chattering a hundred miles an hours. Charles let her out of the birdcage and she dove for a stack of mail that was lying on the floor. She managed to lift the bundle into the air and dropped it in the center of Carson’s desk. The twine holding it together untied and the mail scattered across the desktop. She sat on the lectern, insisting Carson come and sort through it. Carson and Bev looked at each other. Carson sat down and began looking through the mail. Charles stood behind Carson watching. Bev sat down with her book and found where she previously left off. She began reading. She figured they would let her know when the mystery was solved. Carson sorted the mail until he came across a reply from the petition he had sent for Catherine’s auction records. He held it up over his head and startled Bev with a loud, “Bingo!”
The Xidoran Prophecy Page 50
