Seams in Reality
Page 7
The cafeteria had brown tile on the floors and red tile on the walls. Servers stood behind stations where various ethnic cuisines were available. He could pick from American, Mexican, Chinese, Italian, or Polish. Unfortunately, all of it was bland and mushy, and no matter what choice he made, he would be unhappy. He went to the American station because the line was shortest.
Andrew asked for macaroni and cheese, Salisbury steak, and peas. The server plopped the food onto a plate and handed it over without even bothering to appear interested.
After getting a drink, Andrew looked around again. He finally spotted Charley in the corner. He must've missed her before in the crowded cafeteria. Then he realized he could've used his inner eye to locate her. Her sorcerous energy made her stand out like a bright light in a dark room. He went around the tables, chairs, and students to reach her. She smiled at him as he sat down.
He looked over at her tray and saw a bowl of Chinese stir fry with chicken. The meat had an odd grayish tone which wasn't appetizing.
"I'm curious about my grandfather," Andrew said. "What do you know?"
Charley glanced left and right. "Keep your voice down. We're in public."
He looked around. Other students were within earshot, but they weren't paying attention to him. Still, it couldn't hurt to be careful.
"Well?" he said softly.
"I only know what Tonya told me, which isn't much." She shrugged. "He was famous among sorcerers. He died during an experiment which went bad."
"What kind of experiment?"
"I have no idea."
Andrew frowned. He expected Tonya knew a lot more, but she hadn't volunteered any information. He decided to press her on the matter.
"I just realized," he said. "You never told me much about yourself. Now I'm curious."
"My parents are doctors," Charley said. "They met in medical school. They were always at the hospital, and my grandmother effectively raised me."
"That's too bad. I have a close relationship with my parents."
"I don't blame my parents for not spending a lot of time with me. They were saving lives after all."
"True," Andrew said. "How did you end up at Theosophical?"
"I saw the school when I was a little girl and fell in love with the place. I always knew I would go to college here. I thought it was the Gothic architecture, but it was actually the seam. Subconsciously, I felt its pull. When I was a senior in high school, I toured the campus, and Tonya picked me out immediately. She practically ran out of the Fine Arts Building to talk to me. She made sure I was accepted, and she took me under her wing on the day I arrived."
"Why did she wait on me? I've been here for months."
"I'm not sure." Charley shrugged. "It wasn't due to lack of talent. I felt your energy right away, and I'm just an apprentice, but for some reason, she took a 'wait and see' approach in your case."
Andrew liked her and desperately wanted to impress her by saying something clever. He hoped a smart girl like her would be attracted to a man with brains.
He fished around in his memories until he came up with something. "Hey, do you want to hear a joke?"
"Sure." Charley smiled.
"Do you know why it's hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs? Because they always take things literally."
She paused and then chuckled. "That's funny."
Andrew wracked his brains until he remembered another joke.
"The past, the present, and the future walked into a bar. It was tense." He winked at her.
She snorted. "OK. That's enough, comedian. Eat your dinner. We're supposed to meet Tonya for another session."
He ate his dinner. All of it had the same texture, and only small differences in flavor distinguished the meat from the pasta. The peas were like baby food. He wondered if there were actual cooks in the cafeteria kitchen or just big food processing machines.
Andrew and Charley finished, cleared the table, and left. He had lugged around a heavy backpack all day, and his muscles were tired. She had her books in a satchel slung over one shoulder.
"Do you want me to carry your books for you?"
She gave him a look. "Are you serious?"
"Of course," he said.
They walked outside. The sun was setting on a day that had been cool and blustery. Orange light streamed through clouds and reflected from windows. The other students had zipped up their coats, and a few wore knit caps.
"Listen," Charley said as she walked beside Andrew. "Maybe you should think twice before you hit on me. We'll be working together for years. The last thing we need is extra tension and drama while we're trying to learn sorcery."
"You already have a boyfriend?" he said fearfully.
"No, and I'm not rejecting you, but I want you to slow down. We don't know each other that well."
He furrowed his brow. It sure sounded like rejection.
"Don't make that sad face." Charley gave Andrew a playful punch in the shoulder. "You can carry my books if you really want to."
She gave him her satchel. The extra weight was uncomfortable, but he straightened up and pretended it didn't bother him.
They walked along a narrow concrete path towards the Fine Arts Building. He looked around. He hadn't seen Agent Dan since that morning, but Andrew expected he wasn't far away.
"Have you had girlfriends before?" Charley said.
Andrew wanted to lie because the truth was embarrassing, but he was afraid she would see through his act.
"Not really," he said after a long pause. "I was never cool enough. The girls in high school always went for the jocks."
"Girls can be stupid. You're very cool."
He smiled, and he was glad he had been honest. "What about you?"
"Boys chased me because I'm pretty," Charley said, "but it never lasted long. My intelligence intimidates guys. I couldn't make myself act brainless just to have a date."
"Boys can be stupid, too."
She also smiled.
"Just let me know when I'm allowed to hit on you," he said. "I'll be a gentleman until then."
"It's a deal."
They entered the Fine Arts Building. Andrew felt his power swell as they went down into the basement and approached the seam. His vision actually got sharper, and his brain found a higher gear. After spending the day in boring classes, he was more than ready for a lesson in sorcery.
Tonya was standing in the hallway in front of the seam chamber door. She was wearing a black shirt and gray, stretchy pants.
"Andrew," she said, "close your eyes."
He stopped walking and closed his eyes.
"Can you sense where I am?"
"Sure," he said.
A vortex of black energy swirled around her, and now that he knew what to look for, it was easy to perceive. The same effect surrounded Charley but wasn't as powerful.
"Good," Tonya said. "Detecting other sorcerers at a distance is a survival skill. You have to see them coming. But don't depend on the ability too much. You can be fooled."
Suddenly, the energy around her was gone. It was like she had vanished entirely. Andrew opened his eyes in surprise and saw her still standing there.
"A master sorcerer can hide her power," Tonya said. "It's one reason why we're so dangerous. Beware."
Andrew nodded. "Got it."
"You're going to play hide and seek with Charley. Charley, go hide somewhere in the building, but don't make it too hard. This is his first time."
Charley smiled and ran off. He watched her disappear around a corner.
"You have to use your talent to find her," Tonya said. "Feel where she is and go straight to her. Don't just search the entire building. We don't have that much time."
Andrew liked this game. Chasing after Charley was a lot more fun than being trapped in a machine with sharp sticks.
He waited a minute and then started wandering through the building. His eyes were half-closed as he focused on his inner sight.
The seam was the dominant source
of energy in the area, and it almost washed out everything else. It was like staring at the sun. As Andrew moved away from Tonya, even she became hard to pick out against the maelstrom.
He concentrated as hard as he could. He walked into a wall, shook himself, and kept going. Charley was around somewhere.
He picked out a subtle glimmer on the second floor. He hurried up two flights of stairs and looked around. The offices of instructors and administrators were up here, but they were all dark. Everybody had gone home for the night, which was good because he was acting like he was stoned.
The glimmer became easier to detect as Andrew approached it. He was soon able to make out Charley's characteristic energy pattern. He was learning to recognize her with his eyes closed.
He opened the door of a janitor's closet.
She stepped out with a smile. "That was pretty fast. I'll have to hide better next time."
He grinned with pride.
"Nicely done," Tonya said.
Andrew jumped in surprise. He turned around and found the master sorcerer standing directly behind him.
"I told you to beware," she said. "You could've heard me approach, but you were focusing entirely on your sorcery. What if I had been armed? Don't ignore your normal senses just because they're not as interesting."
He nodded.
Tonya patted him on the shoulder. "No harm done, this time. Let's do it again. Now, I want Andrew to hide."
"We have a show in two hours," Charley said.
"I won't forget. Andrew, go."
Andrew ran off to hide.
Chapter Five
Blake had seen Death of a Salesman performed on Broadway by professionals. He had come into the Fine Arts Building of Theosophical University expecting to see a much inferior rendition, but so far, he had been pleasantly surprised. The young cast was energetic and the set looked good. The acting suffered from a lack of finesse, but the technical flaws were easy to overlook when there was so much enthusiasm on the stage. The kids really wanted to put on a show.
Andrew Kenworthy was far and away the best actor. He commanded attention every time he appeared. His portrayal of the much older Willy Loman was outstanding. Blake could almost believe he was looking at a real salesman at the end of a long, miserable life. Andrew's emotional range was shocking for such a young man.
Of course, his talents went much deeper than acting. Blake could sense sorcerous energy swirling around the boy. His raw, disruptive power promised a glorious future. It was possible Andrew might have even more natural ability than his famous grandfather.
Tonya's other apprentice was standing just off stage. Blake couldn't see Charlotte Lemay with his eyes, but he could sense her location very easily. The energy storm around her was almost as impressive as Andrew's. Without even meeting her, Blake already knew she had the potential to become a master of the dark arts.
Tonya had managed to get control of two freakishly talented apprentices at once, while Blake couldn't even find one worth his time. She had obviously pulled strings within the Bureau of Physical Investigation.
He couldn't sense Tonya, and that worried him. She had to be in the area. He could certainly feel her seam. The beast was raging in the basement like a monster rattling a cage. That incredible power permeated the entire building, allowing him to use sorcery almost anywhere within its walls. The seam here made the one back in his house look ridiculously puny, and it was hard to keep his jealousy in check.
The curtain fell at the end of the first act, and the house lights came up. Members of the audience stood. Blake looked at the playbill to pass the time until the show resumed.
"Hello, Blake," a familiar voice murmured. "Enjoying the show? I wish you had called before coming."
Blake looked up at Tonya. For a woman in her mid-fifties, her skin was remarkably smooth and clear. Her blue eyes gleamed with piercing intelligence. Blonde hair was cut short in a style that was attractive yet dignified.
He smiled to hide his disappointment in getting caught. He had clamped down his energy to an undetectable level to avoid being noticed. Apparently, Tonya had done the same because he hadn't sensed her coming. She was already making him look like a fool.
"The show is delightful," Blake said.
"Let's talk in the lobby."
He got out of his seat. A BPI agent accompanied him as usual, and this time it was a Mexican man with broad shoulders. His blue suit was tight around his chest.
Blake followed Tonya to the lobby. She was probably furious, but she appeared perfectly composed. Control was the hallmark of every great sorcerer.
The lobby was a big, open space which extended upwards to the roof of the building. Chandeliers shaped like globes hung from the high ceiling and produced plenty of white light. The carpet had a red and black crisscross pattern. A couple of student ushers in tuxedos were standing around. Dozens of people were lined up in front of the concessions stand.
Tonya led Blake to a quiet corner where they could have a little privacy.
"Would you like to explain yourself?" she said calmly.
"I came to meet the boy wonder. I knew his grandfather after all, and I was curious."
"Who told you he was here?"
Blake made a flighty gesture with his hands. "I sensed a disturbance."
"From your house in St. Louis? Bullshit." Tonya glared. "You have somebody spying on me. How very typical of you. Always looking for an edge over the competition."
He couldn't deny the obvious truth, so he changed the topic. "Speaking of spying, how did you catch me? I thought I was doing a good job of blending in."
"The BPI told me you were here." She glanced at the federal agent standing behind Blake. "Unlike you, I'm on good terms with our friends in Washington. We actually help each other. I need not tell you that approaching another sorcerer's seam without an explicit invitation is an aggressive act. This could be considered a violation of your parole."
Blake was angry at his own stupidity. His relationship with the BPI had been so adversarial for so long, he had forgotten it could be any other way.
He put up his hands. "I didn't go into the basement. I meant no harm."
"Then why did you sneak in here like a thief?"
"Old habits. I apologize profusely. Please, let me meet Andrew for just a few minutes. We have some shared history after all. I just want to exchange pleasantries, and then I'll be on my way."
Tonya narrowed her eyes. "Considering your checkered past, you'll understand why I'm hesitant."
Blake just maintained an innocent smile. He had hoped for a conversation with Andrew which didn't include Tonya. Obviously, that plan had failed. She had the right to send him away in disgrace, and she could even ask the BPI to step in. He had clearly violated protocol.
Fighting over the issue wasn't a good option. She had stopped hiding her power, and it was as impressive as he remembered. The black storm cloud surrounding her was so dense, he almost expected the ushers to see it with their untalented eyes. She also had the advantage of fighting on her home turf. She knew every nuance of the local seam which would make her attacks much more efficient.
"Fine," she said finally. "I'll let you speak to Andrew. The experience will teach him a valuable lesson in what happens to sorcerers who flaunt the rules. I'll have to supervise, of course. Return to your seat and stay there. Stop hiding from me. Meet us backstage after the show. If you're not on your best behavior..." She didn't need to complete the sentence.
Blake was surprised she had agreed. "Thank you."
He hurried back to his seat.
* * *
The actress playing Linda faced the audience and said, "We're free... We're free... We're free."
Andrew watched from the wings as the show ended. The lights came down, and for a moment, there was silence in the audience. Then the applause started, and the stage became brightly lit again. All the actors except Andrew walked out for their final bows. The volume of applause went from polite to enthusiastic.
He had done so despite a significant distraction. Another sorcerer was in the audience, a powerful one, and the energy pattern was unfamiliar. Andrew had detected the intruder during the second act. Charley had exchanged anxious glances with him, so she had also felt it, but neither of them could deal with the issue in the middle of a show.
Andrew left the stage even before the applause died down. He had to talk to Tonya immediately.
She was backstage, already waiting for him. They couldn't talk with the other actors around, so she stood politely as a number of people congratulated Andrew on a great performance. Even the usually surly and disinterested stage hands came up to him. Andrew became impatient with all the fawning. Charlie came over after her stage manager duties were complete, and she had an anxious expression.
Finally, the commotion died down, and they had a little space and privacy.
"Somebody is out there," Charley whispered.
"Yes." Tonya said. "His name is Blake. He wants to meet Andrew."
"Why?" Andrew said.
"He knew your grandfather, and he claims he's curious about you. I suspect ulterior motives."
"You don't trust him?"
She shook her head. "There is a thing called the Sorcerer's Tribunal. It has six members: three sorcerers and three representatives from the BPI. I'm part of the Tribunal, and so is Frank Webster. We judge errant sorcerers and hand out punishments."
"Oh." Andrew furrowed his brow. "So, if I do something wrong, you'll judge me?"
"Yes, and the verdict is final. No appeal. You signed away your right to a regular trial the other day."
He contemplated the disconcerting revelation. "I guess you're mentioning this because Blake went before the Tribunal."
"We sent him to prison for five years, and he's been on permanent probation since. The BPI has a team watching him at all times."