by Martha Carr
“The Gardener has a way to get ahead of this Frankenstein operation. To at least save a good number of these animals and protect others before they’re taken.”
“Proactive! I like that more than being told the problem without an ounce of good goddamn thrown in to the mix. Tell me the details.”
Correk gave a nod to Perrom and constructed a ball of light sending it into the air over their head, illuminating the area around them. The ground became alive with creeping and crawling insects and reptiles. Small furry animals took cover, waddling and hopping and scurrying back into the shade and insects suddenly appeared in bright shades of color as they burrowed into trees or drank from nearby flowers. The general turned in a slow circle as the light moved around to show different sections. Fuzzy baby birds with new blue and gold feathers squawked in their nests, their eyes shut firmly against the light. A small black monkey with a tan face swung in and out of the light, hanging on to vines that wound around every tree, hanging down at different depths.
“This is all in Texas,” gaped the general, his head back and his mouth hanging open. “Greatest nation on earth. Can take that one home with you.”
Leira looked at Correk and shook her head slightly. “It’s a Texas thing. Just go with it,” she whispered. Leira held out her arm as a cockatoo landed, his tail dipping down below her waist. “Perrom showed me this one the last time I was here.”
Alan flinched as another large cockatoo landed on his shoulder, bobbing up and down. He quickly recovered and straightened up. “All good here.” The bird bobbed and dropped a scattering of broken seed shells on Alan’s shoulder. “Still all good.” He gave a long sideways glance. “Okay, seeds. All good.”
Leira smiled and held out her arm. “We are all standing in a vast sanctuary on Earth that was meant as a safeguard to keep every species alive and intact, hidden from the rest of both worlds.”
“Leave them at peace,” the Gardener said, his voice heavy with emotion.
“But it’s no longer enough. We have the magic necessary to round up the animals but not the space.” Leira put her hand on the General’s arm, filling his mind with images of the animals already contained within the two sanctuaries.
“This is better than Google Glass.” The General took a half step back to avoid a large flamingo running by. A wide grin spread across his face for the first time that day. “Felt so damn real.”
“We need to create at least two more of this same size in other parts of the world.”
“And you need the government’s help to get it done.” The general eyed the Gardener. “Why aren’t you speaking for yourself?”
Correk cleared his throat and put his hand on Perrom’s shoulder. “Wood Elves have a certain innate mistrust of humans. Your kind did their best to kill them off the last time the gates were opened.”
“Sir, our general history is one of major fuckups and glorious achievements in equal measures. It seems hardwired into us that each of us has to make constant choices which direction we’re gonna run headlong into at any given moment. I follow a code that dictates I protect those around me without regard for myself. It’s served me pretty well so far.”
“Take us on a case by case basis.” Leira locked eyes with the Gardener. She put her hand on her chest. “Part human, part a few other things. Kind of a mutt, I know.”
The Gardener held her gaze. “Mixtures make the best of their species.”
Leira raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth, ready to give an answer but the general cut her off, not wanting to know how she’d take it.
“I’ll take that as a positive step forward.” The general rubbed his hands together, excited. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been a part of something massive that was about building something instead of tearing something down, even if it was for an eventual good. Where are these sanctuaries going to be located? I have a million questions.”
“The first is in the northern most section of Alaska abutting the Noatak wilderness. We bought it from an old miner named Craig Martelle who hit it big in his day. He was a veteran of a few wars who wanted a place to live where no one would disturb him,” said the Gardener.
“A frozen river basin at the top of the world would do it,” said Perrom.
“A laudable purpose. Hopefully he knocked off five percent for the cause. No more. Practical in all things.”
“Do you want to go there?” Leira gave a crooked smile and put her hand on the general again, not waiting for an answer, as she reached out with her other hand to touch Alan. The cockatoo fluttered and spread its wings with a squawk, taking off for a higher branch.
Alan gasped as he felt himself pulled through a pinhole, whooshing over lands. He gasped for air as he found himself above the Arctic Circle flying well above a glacial melt atop Mount Igikpak in the Brooks Range out to Kotzebue Sound.
“If the government can see its way to letting us use part of the preserve for a variety of animals…” The Gardener absently stroked the bison’s head as the lion rested on his front paws. “The preserve is perfectly situated in a transition zone between the northern coniferous forests and tundra biomes. The river basin will serve us well for those beings that fly or swim or crawl better in colder climes and already has one of the larger arrays of arctic flora and fauna. There are already caribou, brown bears, moose, wolves, and more than 150 songbird species migrate through the region.”
Perrom looked at his father, surprised. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say so much in one breath. Ever.”
Leira let the energy pull them over the Noatak River as salmon jumped through the air and large bears stood at the curve, swatting large paws looking for dinner. They swooped down over a ring of mountains as a large herd of caribou seemed to sense a disturbance and ran, thundering across the ground, coming to rest in a green and snowy field.
“There’s one last important feature to this part of the world.” She could sense it before she saw the deep inverted dry basin. A kemana. The energy swelled up to meet her. She could feel it come over them in translucent waves.
“Take me back to terra firma.” The general was leaning forward on his toes, his eyes wide open watching the Alaskan tundra below.
Leira took a deep breath and pulled back on the magic, gradually bringing them back. Alan felt the same whoosh and the wind knock out of him as the dark green of the Texas sanctuary reappeared in front of him. He held perfectly still, taking sips of air, waiting to regain his bearings.
“Best damn trip I ever took!” crowed the general. “Is that what it’s like to have magic?” A look of awe was plastered on his face. “Where exactly is that preserve?”
“About three hundred miles north of Fairbanks.”
“That’s pretty damn remote.”
“Then we have your support.” The Gardener crossed his arms across his chest. The wariness still crept into his voice.
“You already did as soon as I saw that poor animal, but I appreciate the dog and pony show. Not too many people do such a fine job of it. You said you would need more than one. Where’s the other sanctuary? I take it someplace tropical. I’m sensing a practical theme of sorts. I take it even magic has its limits.”
“Always…” Leira gave Correk a meaningful sidelong glance. “If we can place animals in the habitats where they belong, less magic is needed.”
“Arrangements have been made to secure a chain of smaller islands near Kauai in Hawaii. Completely untouched.” Correk kept an eye on Alan as he spoke. Alan was finally taking in a deeper breath, smoothing down his hair as he glanced at Leira. I know that look. Correk arched an eyebrow and lifted his hand ever so slightly, sending a small zing of energy to poke Alan in the back.
Alan started and whipped around to see what was trying him on for size, surprised to find nothing there. “Are there invisible things flying around in this place?”
“Invisible somethings.” Leira glared at Correk. “Play nice with the humans,” she whispered.
Correk
gave a small shrug and let out a satisfied sigh.
“Completely on board with one caveat,” said the general.
The Gardener tensed, his fists clenching.
“We keep this to a small circle. I have some autonomy within the PDF and can give the nod to this project, especially since it involves magic, but this can’t become public knowledge. It would get tangled up in congressional red tape that’s worse than dark magic. Nothing can untangle it.”
Perrom stepped forward putting out his hand, his irises focused on the general. “Then we have a deal.”
The general didn’t waver and shook the Wood Elf’s hand, giving him a hard nod as the scales along Perrom’s hand flipped back and forth to a wrinkled peach and back to a smooth honey brown.
“Fascinating…” said the general. “The world has so much more to offer than we ever realized.”
“And we are the stewards of it all.” The Gardener got on top of the oversized lion as he raised his great head, the antlers raising up, scratching against the bark of a tree stand a few feet away. The Gardener gave the lion a gentle nudge as he turned and took off at a sprint through the woods followed by the bison, rumbling along behind him, the twinkle of light from the machinery in his belly providing a marker until they were completely enveloped by the forest.
“Couldn’t have said it better myself.” The general turned around and took out his phone, checking his compass. “Basic compass was one of the best inventions ever. Made map making possible. Time to head home everyone. We have work to do. Need to double our efforts to stop these bastards in their tracks and dry up their supplies.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“We’re here.” Leira ignored the skeptical looks on everyone’s face as they piled out of their cars, looking up at the tall metal blue, red and yellow sign with a curvy drawing of a woman on the side and two dice in the middle. Casino El Camino Bar and Grille. World Famous Hamburgers. Hagan got out of the back of the green Mustang and looked up at the sign, squinting, a scowl on his face. “I don’t normally haunt the bars on 6th Street. Too many kids and tourists.”
“Give it a chance, Hagan. You’re in the market for a new hang out.”
Hagan crossed his arms over his belly and looked around, still frowning. “That’s not something you take lightly. A man’s home away from home takes years to find. You have to try a lot of places…”
“How about we just go in.”
“You didn’t do anything magical to the place, did you? That’d be cheating.” Hagan wiggled his fingers, both hands in the air.
“Don’t ruin the moment with that. You know how I feel about magic hands.” Leira was resting her hand on the handle of the door, her other hand on her waist. “Come on, we need this after our last attempt at a get together. Besides, I saw how hard you took losing your man cave. That’s what they call that, right?”
“Close enough.”
The sidewalk was filled with people just starting their night, trying to get to the Roaring Fork or the Paramount Theater. Passerby weren’t really giving the Casino El Camino a second glance. Fine by me. Wait till Hagan gets inside… Leira felt a sudden sharp lurch in the center of her gut, knocking the wind out of her. The scar on her belly burned from the front straight to her back. She gripped the handle and gritted her teeth, focusing razor sharp on not letting the slightest bit of energy seep out. Not now. Not… now.
She moved her head slowly, looking around for any telltale signs of the black mist seeping out of the sidewalk or swirling around her feet. The muscles in her neck strained as she worked at keeping at least a calm look on her face, her lips pressed together. I know what the fuck this is. This is gonna be a shit show. Her arm was pinned to her side, the other one still stretched out on the handle. Correk… Correk… His attention was caught elsewhere.
He was getting out of the front seat of the Mustang and was looking back at the regulars parking their cars. He could hear them a half a block away.
Leira turned her head back toward the door to the Casino El Camino and slowly shut her eyes. Please don’t let anyone come out of this door. Not now.
Craig, Mike, Scott and Paul piled out of Mitzi’s small car stretching their legs.
Paul arched his back, wincing. “Pretty sure something poked me in the back and laughed.”
“That was me.”
“What the hell were you poking me with?”
“Like a damn clown car.”
A sharp wind came up blowing dust and grit into Correk’s eyes as he squeezed them shut, rubbing them with his hands. A man in an expensive tailor-made suit brushed past Craig, shoving Mike to the side with his shoulder as he kept walking, his cufflinks glittering in the early evening sun. Charlie Monaghan was making a beeline up the street to the Driskill Hotel. His eyes were a dark black and his expression was blank as he marched toward his destination.
“Hey, watch where you’re going!” Mike raised his arm, but Charlie kept going, not even glancing back at him.
“Some people…”
“Let it go. He looks late for an appointment.”
“Still no excuse.”
Leira felt the darkness ease as the pain along her stomach faded and she could loosen her grip on the handle of the door. What the fuck was that? She looked back at the street, shaken at the thought of the dark mist finding her out in the open.
The regulars were still arguing amongst themselves as Mitzi locked the car with a loud beep, doing her best to ignore them. “I played Abba the whole way so I didn’t hear them in the back.” Correk nodded trying to smile as he wiped his eyes again. He turned to look at Leira, the smile fading from his face. He stopped himself from running to her side and drawing attention to her. Instead, he focused on her energy and felt the traces of dark magic and the glittering trail it left, stretching up 6th Street, following the older man in the suit. Something about him looks familiar. Charlie was in the distance and didn’t look to either side. All that could be seen was his bobbing head and dark suit as he got further and further away.
Correk looked at Leira as he worked on an excuse to break away and follow him to someplace where he could use magic, and learn more but Leira shook her head hard, staring resolutely into his eyes. Never wanted Perrom’s four-eyes so much before this moment.
Just up the street an older Chevrolet pulled up to the curb and parked, doing a perfect parallel park on the first try. The door opened and the young Wizard, Ernie stepped out, the silver streak cutting a large swath through the middle of his dark hair. An older Wizard got out of the passenger side and looked around, taking in Correk and Leira down in front of the bar. “We need to get going. Our target is not far but we could lose him if we don’t hurry.”
“Hang on, they’re calling. Hello, this is number two hundred and one. Yep, we saw him. There’s others in the area. Leira Berens is here. No, no shit, Peter. You’re not supposed to talk like that over official airwaves. I don’t think she wants your number. Besides, she’s with that tall, geeky Elf. You know, the one from the bowling alley. This is how you got yourself stuck on answering phones in the first place.”
“Hang it up!” The Wizard was getting testy. Never easy training the new ones even if they did survive the world in between.
“Gotta go! No, I’m not getting her picture. Hanging up now.” Ernie hung up, sliding his phone into his pocket and glanced back at Correk and Leira as he took off after Charlie Monaghan, the older Wizard right behind him.
Craig gave a shudder and pulled his vest’s collar closer around his neck. “Whew! Just had a chill run down my back. That was weird.”
“It’s spring, dude. Cold happens.” None of the others seemed to notice the remains of the darkness.
“You need to air out those dogs of yours once in a while. I could smell your feet the entire ride.”
“That was not me.”
“Quit your complaining. You guys could have driven yourself.” Mitzi’s mouth was pulled up on one side and she was busy giving all of her p
assengers the side eye.
“Mitzi, we’re buying your beer tonight.” Craig grabbed her by the shoulders, smiling. “Thank you for driving us.”
Scott elbowed Mike. “Right, yeah, we’re buying your beer.” He put his hand up to his face and whispered to Scott. “But I’m taking an Uber home.”
The women got out of Cassidy’s blue Dodge minivan, parked just down the street clapping their hands and chattering amongst themselves.
“Love road trips.”
“Not much of a road trip from Rainey Street. More of a short jaunt.”
“Take my picture under the sign. Can you get it all in? Stand further back.”
“Oooh, let me get in there too.”
Estelle slid out of the front passenger seat and walked up, taking a long look around as she lit a cigarette and stood near the curb.
Correk watched the street as the other men gave up and went on inside. He saw the two Silver Griffins and felt himself tense. This is getting to be a crowded street. Who was that man?
“I can use a beer and a burger. After you…” Mike held open the door, waving in his friends as a couple holding hands slid in behind them. The man had a tattoo of an ancient battle down both arms and the woman had roses tattooed along her neck.
Leira waved at the women, trying to get them to move along. “It’s like they’ve never been on 6th Street before.” Correk stayed by her side, a wave of anger rolling through him. I failed her. I didn’t even sense it.
“I’m fine, really. Let it go. We’re here to have a good time. Whatever it was, it’s passed.” Leira watched Estelle blow perfect round O’s as she looked up the street sensing the trail of dark magic that still lingered. Can’t check it but I know you’re there. Leira shook out her hands and brushed her bangs off her face. “No work tonight if we can help it. I’m going to have to insist on that. Besides, too many regulars hanging nearby.”
Estelle looked up at Leira and gave her a wink as she blew out a long stream of smoke.
