by John Sharp
Chapter 8 – Getting Answers
A few hours later Sarah leaves, eager to return to her standard life. I can see that, despite everything that happened she is beginning to pull away from the truth. I’m not surprised. It’s not that she doesn’t believe, it’s more that she doesn’t want to think about it anymore. A standard trick that just about everyone uses at some point in their life. A wife ignoring a husband’s infidelities, a poor man ignorant of his own mounting debt, and apparently police officers discovering that multiple worlds exist. She does insist that I return her to the normal human world. While Sarah was baffled by the events surrounding her I see it clearly. This Solarkar is a shifter, and not just a weak shifter like Brick, but someone on my level. With eyes similar to mine…
Who is that man? What does he want? Despite Sarah’s belief, he had no need of wealth or power to gain whatever he wants. The bag of money under my bed is a testament to that. No, something else is going on and it revolves around this drug, vision. Sarah described it as a yellow crystal but I see something else entirely. This happens occasionally. An object or creature can be radically different when viewed at different levels of reality. What is its true nature? More importantly, why would a powerful shifter even bother?
I express these concerns and conclusions to Sarah but it does no good. The foundation of her reality won’t let her truly believe that this case is literally out of this world. I play with the idea of searching for evidence to convince her of the truth, but really, is it any of my business? Sure, my mother was killed because of this drug but in all likely-hood if vision didn’t do her in, then another narcotic would have. She had been slowly dying for a long time. I hope she is finally at rest.
More pressing are the two men that were waiting for me at home that night I escaped. Now I can conclude that they must be human agents of this Solarkar, working for him without knowing his true nature or intention. Eclipsing everything is this name, Melephos. A shiver runs up my spine at the mere name. Is this some forgotten horror dwelling in the other world?
Sighing, I sink deeper into my sofa, my mind racing as I look to my front door, wishing Sarah would return. But she won’t. She’s back to her normal life, leaving her experiences and me behind. Well, maybe not entirely. My eyes drift down to her business card still in my hand.
“What should we do?” I say to Whisper, who’s laying on the floor batting a large spider he found. The spider makes a desperate dash for freedom only to have Whisper cover it gently with a paw, dragging it back to him his tail twitching.
“We should help her,” he says, never taking his eyes off his prey.
“I don’t care about her,” my shadow offers from his ceiling perch. “We should take more money. ”
“We should offer our services as private consultants,” Brick says, getting excited. “It would be just like a TV show! The paranormal investigators! Featuring Jerry Price as the spooky psychic kid with his trusty sidekicks. Whisper his ever faithful companion, the annoying, ill-tempered shadow, and most importantly the dashing, brilliant, ladies’ man, with the face of an angel, voice of a siren, the all-knowing Gandalf of the world, Brick!”
Whisper and I laugh and my shadow scowls at Brick’s rather impressive self-flattery. Still, it has merit. I do need to get a job instead of becoming a lifetime thief and Sarah will never be able to apprehend this guy without me. How can you stop someone that can shift away from reality unless you have someone on your team that can do the same?
“It’s an interesting idea,” I concede.
“We would need a building to work out of,” Brick says. “I would also need my own office.”
“Your own office? What would you do with an office?” I say, amused. He is stationed right above me, his face protruding from the wall with a happy, childish grin.
“Why, I would look down my secretary’s blouse part of the day while giving out dictations for the rest. Every other week I would head out on assignment.”
“Now we need a secretary too?” I laugh at the mental image. “How about Whisper be the secretary and shadow be the muscle. I’ll give thoughtful monologues somehow relating the weather to the dark gloomy mood of our cases.” We all laugh and I even get a small chuckle from my shadow. “Tell you what, Brick,” I say. “Let’s give Sarah a week or two to digest everything before we ask her about hiring us as supernatural consultants. In the meantime, let’s walk the street and talk to some familiar faces after we do some shopping.”
Three days later I stand outside the police station in a long, black trench coat with a large brown leather satchel holding Whisper under my arm. Glancing at the building, I stroll casually down to the side of the building, away from prying eyes. Laying a hand on the wall I send a small ripple across realities. Moments later Brick appears in the wall before me. “Ok, Brick. Go get your contacts before the police come by and arrest me for being a psycho right outside their station.” Brick’s features blend smoothly back into the wall, leaving no trace behind. Nervously I glance around, making sure my instructions to Brick weren’t overheard.
Moments later Brick reappears with three other faces lined up in a row beside him. Each one is distinct just like human faces with their own personalities. The only universal characteristic is their love of gossip. The face farthest on the left has a square jawline with a squashed nose and eyes like quartz instead of Brick’s granite ones. The face on Brick’s immediate left has a hooked nose that would not be out place on a witch including what appears to be a wart on the chin. Although I can’t be certain this one looks female. The last face on Brick’s right is elderly, with deep wrinkles all over and several missing teeth, giving him a whistle when he speaks.
“Guys, this is Jerry and Whisper,” Brick says.
“Hi!” Witch face says excitedly.
“Greetings,” quartz eye says.
“It was mentioned that you have some quartz for us in exchange for our information,” old man face says, sounding hopeful. Grinning I reach into my pocket, drawing out a handful of the crystals and giving several to each, including Brick.
Addressing the faces I say, “What can you tell me about vision and those that run it?” These faces are full-time residents in this building and have nothing else to do other than spy and gossip.
“Don Martian is cheating on his wife with his male bowling buddy” old man face offers.
“Cindy from the reception desk has a potent yeast infection. Everyone calls her ‘sour dough’ behind her back,” witch face says.
“Most of the men can’t hit the urinal. The floor is discolored and sticky,” Quartz eye adds.
“I don’t think this is helping,” Whisper says. I sigh, clutching my head. Reaching into my pocket again I show them a hand full of mica. Their eyes glisten.
“Tell me about vision,” I say slowly and clearly.
“It started showing up a year ago,” witch face informs me.
“A lot of deaths at first. Then it slowed down and they went nuts instead,” old man face adds.
“They weren’t getting anywhere with the case. So, four months ago they made a huge task force,” quartz eye says. “Still no real progress that we can see.”
“How about the junkies that use it?” I ask.
“Those guys are messed up!” witch face says excitedly. “I watched a few try to kill a bunch of people.”
“Did they look human?” I ask.
“Depends,” old man face offers. “From the human world they look mostly normal. Eyes blacker than normal and sickly skin but otherwise ok.”
“But when viewed from other levels of reality they change a lot. They look messed up with shrunken noses, large black eyes and fingers melding together,” quartz eye says.
“The change seems to depend on how much they take,” witch face offers. “Lower doses have several of these effects but don’t cause insanity. Take a ton at once, and BAM! A few hours late
r, full cannibal snake men. If they survive they space out full time.”
“There are several groups that hang out all around town,” a new face says, appearing in the street near my feet. This face is almost twice as big as the others, with larger eyes and sharper teeth.
“Get out of here ground eater!” witch face says.
“Eat dog feces, rock face!” quartz eye says.
“Beat it, homeless tire streak!” old man face declares. Brick is silent.
“Knock it off,” I say, kneeling down to address the new face. “Can you tell me what you know?”
“Sure,” street face says. I’ve always liked the street faces, they are much less gossipy than the others. Maybe it’s because they have more freedom to move around and aren’t usually hanging around a single building. “There are plenty of large drug dens that offer refuge to the groupies scattered around downtown. I don’t know much about it, due to the instability in the area. I can’t approach them.”
Instability? I am about to ask about it when witch face spits directly on street face, hitting his eye. She gives a bark of derisive laughter. I turn angrily toward her, only to dodge just in time as all three faces open up a spitting barrage at the street face. It’s utterly disgusting. Wads of mucus and spittle soak the area that I was just occupying along with the wall as street face returns fire. My shadow who had been quiet until now, laughs at the onslaught, encouraging both sides. I quickly distance myself with Brick trailing along.
“What the hell was that about!?” I ask.
“Wall dwellers hate street folk,” Brick says simply.
“Why?” Asks Whisper.
“Prejudice is not just a human trait.”
“You don’t share this prejudice?” I ask.
“No,” he says and for once does not volunteer additional information. Maybe it’s a personal subject for him. Heading toward the alley exit we leave the faces spitting and cursing behind as I exit to the street.
“Now what?” Whisper asks.
“Let’s go eat,” I say. “Then head home.”
“Can we get pizza?” Whisper asks hopefully.
After a trip to the pizza place where I feed Whisper two whole slices on the seat hidden from view we make it back home late in the day. The sun hasn’t set yet and the sky is a brilliant orange, quickly fading to black. Walking up to the main entrance I leap back in alarm as Brick’s face suddenly appears in the wall next to me.
“Jerry!”
“Damn it, Brick. Don’t do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack,” I exclaim.
“You can’t go in there!” Brick says seriously. “Now what?” I say as Whisper pokes his head out of my satchel, listening in.
“There are two man-like creatures in our home!”
My stomach falls. “Man-like? You mean they aren’t human?”
“Yes. In the human world they appear mostly human except really tall and dressed in business suits that don’t fit them. But they exist beyond this world, definitely not human.”
I nod, considering. These must be the tall men from the other world Sarah encountered. Creatures shifted here to play the part of enforcer for this Solarkar. What should I do? Various scenarios play through my mind. I could simply leave, get a new home and move on. But that would only delay the problem and I wouldn’t get any answers. How did they find me? What do they want?
“Whisper, I’ll shift them to your world and we’ll get some answers. Shadow don’t kill them.”
“Sure,” Whisper chirps, his blue eyes eager for the challenge. My shadow just laughs. I take that as a yes. Only Brick seems concerned.
“Jerry, this is serious. We don’t know anything about these guys.”
“Come on Brick. What would Dirty Harry do?” I urge.
“Do you feel lucky, punk?” He says, a slow grin crossing his features. He gives me a nod as I enter my apartment complex.
No sound of life greets me as I walk down the hall my sharp footsteps echoing loudly in the confined space. Whisper, now perched on my shoulder, stretches his long neck in every direction, sniffing the air. My shadow looms around me, my own personal angel of death. Stopping just outside my door I wait. Moments later Brick’s face appears next to mine.
“They are in the far side of the room just standing there like redwoods,” Brick says in a hushed tone. I nod and open the door slowly, letting it swing by itself.
I feel like a gunfighter entering a saloon, ready for the showdown. Just as Brick foretold they stand unconcerned at the far side of the room, and I feel a jolt of fear run down my spine. They are tall, everyone had described them so, but it didn’t do them justice. Towering monolith seems more appropriate. They stretch to the ceiling and actually lean a bit forward so their heads don’t rub against the plaster above. Dressed in gray business suits that don’t fit them, their long limbed bodies are skeletally thin, sticking far out. They have the look of people who smile as they inform you that someone close to you had died. Their jackets end at the elbows and their pants at the knees. It reminds me of an adult dressed in clothes meant for a six year old. It should have looked funny but it doesn’t. They have no shoes and their large, bulbous heads appear to be too big for their narrow frames. They don’t move or make any sign that they are aware of my approach but I can feel them glaring at me. I swallow hard, taking a few more steps forward, committed to my course of action. Perspiration breaks out on my forehead as I wonder if I have been foolish and perhaps fatally arrogant.
“Hello, my tall guests. Tell me what does Solarkar want from me?” I ask trying to sound more informed than I am. Whisper is more direct, hissing at them.
Unconcerned with the angry ferret on my shoulder they make no attempt to move or acknowledge I had spoken at all. Great they probably don’t understand English. I am about to try my repertoire of foreign curse words to get a response when the one on the right speaks. He has a soft, harmonious voice that is in direct contradiction to his threatening presence.
“Are you human, Jerry Price?” It asks, making my blood turn cold. This was definitely a stupid idea.
“Yes,” I stammer, cursing my inability to lie on the spot. As if this was the answer they wanted the left one raises a black stone in his left hand. I tense, unsure what is going on. Is he going to throw it at me? He does no such thing, instead he points the stone in my general direction and a bright, pure white light pulses from the stone, illuminating some type of sigil carved into its black glassy surface. Again my muscles tense, waiting for something to happen. No flash of blinding pain racks my body, no disintegration of my atoms, it doesn’t seem to do anything at all. The two tall men are unconcerned or expect this as the right one speaks again.
“You lie. A mere human cannot shift. Tell us what you are.” Then, without waiting for my response, he charges me.
Fast. He is so goddamn fast that he’s more of a flowing blur than a humanoid creature. Before I can move or even give a cry of protest his strong, long-fingered hand wraps itself entirely around my head, lifting me effortlessly off the ground. Panic floods my system as an intense pressure tries to collapse my skull. How can something so thin be so strong? I’m barely aware as Whisper launches himself from my shoulder, sinking his teeth deep into the offender’s hand. He releases me and I fall on the floor, my head throbbing in pain. Looking up I see the tall man fling Whisper off his arm, sending him flying across the room.
“Whisper!” I scream in terror.
Twisting in mid-air Whisper recoils harmlessly off the far wall, landing on the sofa and hissing his fury. Furious, I turn my attention to the tall man, ready to shift him to the most horrible level of reality when my shadow descends upon him. Shrieking in terror at such a high octave that it could shatter glass, the tall man thrashes as my shadow covers his eyes. Focusing all my attention on the remaining tall man I get to my feet, starting toward him. I no longer care about gettin
g answers. As I near him he pulls a long, thick sword from behind his back, where presumably he has a scabbard. I freeze, gawking at the ugly blade held at the ready in an alarmingly professional grip. The sword is unlike anything I’ve previously seen or even imagined. It’s wet and glistening in the evening light and the color of a bone, like it was freshly pulled from some large animal. The blade is over four feet long with a wide base ending in a jagged tip that resembles a serrated hook. To me it’s a monstrous two-handed long sword but to the tall man it’s more like a pocket knife.
Adjusting his position the tall man crouches, readying himself. Taking a deep breath I focus my panicked thoughts away and shift myself…or at least I try too. The moment I leave reality behind I feel a bone-jarring push shoving me back to my reality as the stone in the tall man’s left hand flares brightly. Fear grips me as I desperately fight against this alien force holding me in place. Again I shift, only to find myself repelled back once more as the sigil on the stone’s surface flares brightly. I swear the tall man smirks at me as he rushes forward, blade at the ready.
Like his companion he’s was impossibly fast and the moment he is in range he swings his sword in a blurring arc right at my torso. I can’t dodge. He’s just too goddamn fast. Pushing myself to the limits I shift just as his blade descends. Instead of being cleaved in two the blade sails harmlessly through the reality I was just occupying. The tall man stumbles in its wake at the unexpected lack of resistance. A wave of exhaustion pulses through my body as the stone in the tall man’s hand flares and I am once again roughly shoved back into my reality, collapsing to my knees. I don’t even feel it as my knees hit painfully on the shag green carpet, my hands coming to rest near the tall man’s feet. Blood pounds in my head and I can feel every vein in my head ready to explode from the extreme pressure but I push myself for one last action. If I don’t stop him the tall man will kill me and then Whisper. I can’t allow that, even if it kills me. Gathering what little of my strength remains I shift a small patch of floor under the tall man’s feet, my vision darkening for a second as I fight the stone’s power.
I always wondered what would happen if I screwed up when shifting. If I shifted an object that occupied the same place as another would they crack from the force or simply shove each other aside? I never knew that answer. My skill in shifting is so strong that as long as I look where I’m going there is little danger. Now, looking at the mess of the tall man I realize how perilous it could be. Whatever force prevents my shifting it can’t stop me from doing it for a second or two. As it turns out, that’s plenty of time.
With no resistance beneath his bare feet the tall man falls in eerie slow motion, arms cartwheeling for some unseen ledge only to have the floor return abruptly to this reality in the middle of his chest. Like a twisted piece of art the tall man’s torso protrudes oddly from the middle of the floor just below his arm pits melding flawlessly with the surrounding green shag carpet. His left arm merged with the floor just below the shoulder. A short distance away, sticking out of the carpet all by itself is part of his hand, the black stone still in its grip. I think the worst part is that there’s no blood or sign that he had been harmed. It’s like he was always there, part of the décor, only just now noticed. The stone is likewise partially merged, with half of the sigil hidden in the floor. It no longer pulses with unearthly energy, instead it’s lifeless with large cracks crisscrossing its surface. Horrified at what I had done I give the torso a pathetic kick, backing away as it sways back and forth, held in place by the merged flesh beneath. Exhaustion suddenly slaps in the face, sending me into darkness.
Time passes as I wait in the darkness, but I’m not completely alone. A soft presence is near me, desperately trying to get my attention. My head throbs painfully and I keep my eyes closed, trying to regress back into the comfortable void. But the soft presence at my side is persistent. Why won’t it let me rest? A purring thrums loudly in my ear like thunder as a soft wetness strokes my cheek followed by the soft weight of fur on my face. I blink once and even that takes more effort than I thought possible.
“He’s up!” A familiar voice calls out followed an indistinct reply as sounds begin to drift away once more. The furry mass settled on my chest begins rubbing against my face, more insistent than before. “Wake up! Shadow can’t hold him much longer!”
Shadow…that’s right… my shadow was doing something important. But what? He… he was protecting me and Whisper… Whisper…Whisper! At that thought everything comes rushing back to me. My eyes fly open and in the light of the setting sun I find myself starring into Whisper’s furry face, his whiskers twitching in agitation. I feel a weight leave my chest as Whisper leaps off me, nudging my head roughly. With a groan I sit up, looking around the room. I must have blacked out for only a minute because the tall man is still thrashing on the floor tryingto peel off the offending darkness.
“Hurry up, fool!” My shadow says from the dark figure. “I can’t do this forever.”
Shakily I get to my feet, swaying a bit as Whisper prances around, eager to help in some way.
“Jerry, over here!” Brick calls out, his eyes darting to me then to the sword resting on the carpet a few feet from the dead man protruding from the floor. I take a single unsteady step toward the weapon, my knees almost buckling, and then another. The third step comes more easily. By the time I reach down for the sword I am once again in full control. The blade is surprisingly light and doesn’t have the feel of a weapon forged with heat and metal, no… this feels almost alive. Like it was grown. With a firm grip on the hilt I stride up to the thrashing tall man, pointing the tip in his general direction. At once the darkness withdraws, pooling at his feet before moving a slight distance away. The tall man stays huddled on the floor shaking slightly. Pushing aside all emotion I take two steps forward, leveling the blade directly at his face.
“Who are you?” I ask, my voice cold.
No answer.
“Things will go easier for you if you cooperate,” I say.
Still no reply.
“Where is Solarkar?” I ask, a hint of anger creeping into my tone. Nothing. Hard to be scary when your half someone’s size.
“Let me have him if he doesn’t talk,” my shadow says, a pool of darkness off to my left. I shake my head. “We can’t give him to shadow,” Whisper says. “Killing in self-defense or to feed is fine, but anything else is wrong.”
“We aren’t killing anyone…yet,” I say, hoping to intimidate the tall man a bit. He just glares at me.
“We are missing the important part here,” says Brick, appearing out of the wall near the tall man. “Hey, you dick-less bastard, how did you find us here?” Surprised I look down to see that Brick is right, the tall man’s clothes having been too small to fit him properly had ripped in the struggle, laying everything bare, or in this case the lack of anything. This is the same creature Sarah saw and I’ve seen one before also, the day my mother died. They’re from Whisper’s world. The tall man glares at Brick, his eyes narrowing at the insult but doesn’t respond. So he can hear and see Brick huh? He has senses that can reach across realities… at least a bit.
“That’s a good point. How did he find us?” Whisper asks.
“I have no idea, and I doubt no-nuts here will tell us,” I say.
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” My shadow says. “The human female told him. No one else knows we are here. You should have let me break her mind.” Could that be it?
“No, Sarah wouldn’t do that to us,” Whisper says immediately.
“Perhaps she did in a fashion,” Brick says, chewing thoughtfully on his lower lip.
“What?” Whisper and I say at the same time.
“Just hear me out. We know Sarah had evidence disappear before and they know that she works for the task force. Hell, they even found her home address. The fact that most of these agents of Solarkar are from the o
ther world, including himself, means it’s unlikely they could figure out all this by themselves. So from my extensive TV knowledge I must conclude that there is a double agent in the police department! Someone that knows you rescued her along with our location!” Brick says, giving a large grin at his own logic.
“Damn Brick. Ok, you get your own office,” I say smiling.
“We should call Sarah,” Whisper says. “She might be in danger or will be soon.”
I nod. “You’re right.” Thinking back to what Sarah told us I have one more question I desperately want answered.
“Who or what is Melephos?”
This finally gets a response from the tall man. A feverous madness consumes him like an insane zealot.
“THE ANCIENT ONE SHALL RISE UP, TAKING THIS WORLD FOR HIS OWN! MAY HE DEVOUR ALL OF YOUR UNWORTHY KIND AS HE FEASTS ON YOUR SOULS FOR ALL ENTERITY!” The tall man shouts, spittle running down to his chin as he trembles in righteous fury.
“Well, not what I expected,” Brick says looking concern.
“Yeah,” I agree. “So what shall we do with him?”
“Kill him,” my shadow says to no one’s surprise.
“He’s been defeated and we should leave here anyways. Let him go,” Whisper offers.
“I don’t want to let him go since he could warn them, but killing a helpless being is not right either…” Brick says, not really giving me anything to go on.
“Whisper, I think this is the same tall humanoid creature I’ve seen in your world. What can you tell me about them?”
Whisper sniffs the air deeply. “Yes, he does smell like one of them.” He gives me a concerned look. “We call them the Hivetung. They are colony creatures and can be more troublesome than watchers when acting in large groups. They live in vast underground catacombs and breed lesser creatures to serve them. This one here is either a soldier or a worker. I don’t think he’s intelligent enough to be a higher caste.”
The tall man glares at Whisper but doesn’t respond. “Soldier and workers, you mean they are like ants?” I ask.
“A bit. They have more free will than ants but their desires align themselves with that of their leader’s, essentially forcing them to obey. If this one is here that means an entire colony has allied with this Solarkar. Send this one back and he’ll tell all to his colony.”
I stand there considering as my arm trembles slightly from the effort to holding the sword. “I will shift him back to his world. That will give us plenty of time to leave here and talk with Sarah.”
“Are you sure you can do it right now, Shifter?” Whisper asks, his voice laced with concern.
“I think so. I feel better already and that strange stone is broken.”
“I like this plan,” my shadow says, giving a dark chuckle. I give him a surprised look. Since when does he approve of mercy? Realizing he’s going to live, the tall man doesn’t fight me as I lay a hand on his out-stretched leg, shifting him to his level of reality. Exhaustion tugs at me but I no longer feel that heavy resistance. Directing my sight into that level of reality I see him sitting in a jungle canopy. I am about to turn my sight back home when I notice an inky darkness slipping into that reality. It’s my shadow. Before I can think he engulfs the tall man. This time the struggle is brief as my shadow, much stronger in the other worlds, consumes him, leaving nothing behind. Rage burns white hot in me as I watch my shadow return with a huge grin on his dark silhouette.
“Why the hell did you do that? We agreed to let him go,” I say hotly.
“What happened?” Whisper asks.
“He killed the Hivetung,” I say, glowering at my shadow.
“I only did what you secretly wanted. Besides he’s basically an ant,” my shadow says, grinning even wider at my mounting anger. “I couldn’t take him here but there I’m so much stronger.”
Take him? I shake my head, seething in anger and then in exhaustion. Too much is happening too fast.
“Go away,” I say with no real strength as a deep weariness sets in. I go to the counter where Sarah’s business card waits. A small white card of sanity in my world of madness. My shadow gives me a mocking bow before leaving. I pick up the phone, dialing the listed number while looking at the tall man imbedded in my floor. I don’t think I’m getting my deposit back.
The next day I am sitting on a park bench with Whisper on my lap, enjoying the warm sun on my face. The days are getting cooler as fall takes hold, leaves just starting to change. Reaching into the bag I withdraw a piece of sliced ham, giving it to Whisper who purrs in delight. Not many people are about but those that are regard me curiously and a bit warily. It only takes a crazy grin from me to end their curiosity and send them on their way.
I feel fairly content when Sarah arrives. She has none of the markings of her profession on her, although I have no doubt she has a gun on her somewhere. Dressed in faded blue jeans she has a loose fitting red sweater on that reads ‘Touch My Coffee and Die’ in black letters across the front. I decide to obey the sweater’s advice and not touch the large coffee in her left hand. Her cheeks are a bit rosy from the cool air and her white blonde hair is neatly tucked away by a black wool hat. We sit in comfortable silence as the last person in sight leaves the area. Turning toward me Sarah has a friendly smile on her face.
“Hi, Jerry,” Sarah says as she reaches out to scratch Whisper’s head. “And hello to you too, Whisper.” He purrs at her touch, getting off my lap and climbing into hers.
“Can he understand me?” She asks.
“Yes, but you can’t understand him unless I shift you a bit.”
She nods but does not indicate that she desires to do so. “Is the other one here?” She might be referring to Brick who is out on an assignment I had given him this morning, but from her expression she could only mean one thing.
“My shadow is always around. I think he’s annoying some squirrels at the moment.” Indeed an angry chattering from a nearby tree shows that he’s already at work.
Sarah takes a long draft from her coffee before continuing. “You were rather cryptic in your call yesterday. So, what’s going on?”
“Listen, you need my help with this vision mess. There are forces at work here you aren’t prepared for. You can’t stop Solarkar without me.”
She just looks at me for a long moment then bursts out laughing, tears of mirth welling in her eyes. This might be harder than I thought. I let her laugh, getting it out of her system and trying to keep my annoyance in check. This is not unexpected but I had hoped for better.
Her mirth ending, she faces me once more with a friendly but patronizing smile. I feel the first stirrings of real anger. “Cute Jerry, but his isn’t a game and you’re still just a teen. Go to school, get a part-time job and a girlfriend.”
“I’m trying to help,” I say calmly, ignoring the anger building in me along with the girlfriend comment.
“Help by taking care of yourself. Go get a job flipping burgers and messing up people’s orders. I’ll come by to see you often, plus I tip well.” She gives me a wink. I feel myself redden with anger or maybe from pleasure at her wink, I’m not sure which.
“What if I find the double agent for you?” I say bringing out the big guns.
Her amusement vanishes at my words and she finally gives me a serious look. “What double agent?”
I have her attention now. “The one working for Solarkar in the police force. I can find him for you along with Solarkar himself.”
She stares at me for a long time. “How?” She doesn’t bother to deny the double agents existence. It’s refreshing to see Brick’s logic hold true.
“Do you agree to let me help?”
“This isn’t a game, Jerry. Tell me,” Sarah says her temper also rising. I just shake my head.
“You can’t do it without me and I need a job. I know you see me as some kid playing detective but I’m already involved, whether
you like it or not.” And so I tell her. I tell her what my uncle had said along with the two Hivetung waiting for me at my home. Her eyes grow wide in surprise at their demise.
“You killed them…” she says once I have finished.
“Well, mostly. My shadow killed one and I did the other. Both were in self-defense,” I lie.
“You need to report this. You can’t kill a person and not take responsibility.”
“It wasn’t a person,” I counter, feeling defensive. “It was what Whisper calls a Hivetung. A sexless soldier drone and you better wise up because this Solarkar could have thousands or more at his command.”
Sarah shakes her head. “The body…”
“It’s gone,” I say a bit harshly and she flinches at my words. “I shifted it away along with the floor it was stuck in. The only thing left is a hole in my floor. Besides I’m not living there anymore.” She gave me a startled look. “I left this morning. It’s stupid staying where your enemy expects to find you. I’m sure it says that somewhere in the Art of War, if it doesn’t it should.”
“Jerry, this Solarkar wants money and power. It’s all his kind ever wants. Nothing more.”
“Dammit, Sarah!” I yell, my anger finally exploding. “He doesn’t care about money and he has more power than almost anyone alive. He can take as much money as he wants at any point. I know. I did it already shifting myself right into a bank vault and taking some. This is much bigger than green paper.” I say, using Whisper’s description for it.
For a moment I wonder if I went too far. She looks at me for several long minutes as I calm myself, waiting for her response.
“Ok,” she says.
“What?” I say, not daring to believe.
“You’re right. I can’t do this without you. I’ll hire you as a private consultant. Too many things are falling into place and I’ve been a fool for not accepting the reality you’ve shown me. Besides, I’d rather you work with me than become a common criminal.”
“I want that as well,” I say, extending my hand to her. Whisper leaps off her lap and nimbly jumps on my shoulder, also waiting. Sarah stands, taking my extended hand. As we shake Whisper climbs down my arm to add his furry paw on top of our grasped hands. Sarah blinks in surprise and then we both burst out laughing.
