by Martha Carr
Bernie let out a loud tsk and started to wade in, but Mrs. Howe took a step in front of him, doing her best to look menacing.
"Great, they're a militia now. I liked you better on brownies."
Toni came down the back steps, a glass of wine in her hand and smiled, waving to them. "Jack! Bernie!" She waved to them to come closer, but they eyed the women holding padded drum sticks and thought better of it. All except for Bernie who plunged forward, weaving among the women and holding up his hand for a high five. Mrs. Fletcher obliged, easing the tension. Jack hustled right behind him, coming to stand next to him.
"We're here to see Maggie." Bernie watched the flicker of tension pass across Toni's face as she blinked several times. "We need her help." He came closer and said softly, "We wouldn't be here if we had any other choices. We're not big on visiting the topside in heavily populated Peabrain areas."
Toni smiled, taking a sip of wine and sat down on the steps. "I knew this day would come. It had to be close at hand. Another flock of gnomes in my yard. You had a similar conversation with me, Bernie, about twenty years ago. Do you remember?"
Bernie smoothed out the front of his sweater. "I remember every second of that day. I was the one sent to fetch Marcus, but I had no idea he was the Elemental. None of us did." The words whistled through his teeth.
"It was the way he wanted it, to keep it a secret. He was protecting Maggie, really. If something happened to him..." She looked off to the side of the yard, pressing her lips together and thinking better of it, took another sip.
"I had no idea the day was going to turn into a battle or..."
"You know, I told Maggie about that day, that you were there. But I left out crucial details. Does Maggie know?" Toni looked up at Bernie and let out a sigh. "No, of course she doesn't. I didn't think she'd remember seeing you bring her father's dying body back to the house. She was so little. And here you are again at my door." She took a slow sip, still looking Bernie in the eye.
Bernie bit his lower lip, hesitating. "It's the trees, ma'am. They're dying from the deepest roots where no one can see but us. The magic is seeping out of them and we aren't sure why it's happening. We have suspicions but without a conversation..."
Toni held up her hand. "I get it. The Elemental, my Maggie is the only one who can talk directly with the trees. The one being on this entire ship who can actually hear them." She brushed a falling leaf off her skirt, picking it up and examining it before crumpling it and shaking the bits out of her hand. "Marcus used to tell me what he heard, and what he saw when communing with the trees. Even second hand it was amazing, but it all came with a cost."
Kathleen came and sat quietly next to Toni. "Why are you looking for her here?"
Bernie gave a small bow to the Fire Elemental even as Jack nudged him hard with his elbow. "Try not to be so obvious."
"There's a crowd of bald, height-challenged men in the backyard and tall, dark and medieval with a bow on his back. What conclusions do you think these ladies are already coming to?"
"That my supplier has gotten better and I should bake more often," said Toni, giving a tired chuckle. She looked past them to the oldest tree in the yard, its limbs stretching overhead, twisting in different directions. Bernie opened his mouth to say something, but Toni cut him off.
"I don't resent the role they both were given. It's necessary and if not them, it would have to be someone else. Besides, Marcus saw it as a calling, and it was part of who he was. Part of why I loved him so much." She put down her glass and reached out, taking Bernie's hand and squeezing it hard. "Take good care of her. Little known fact about Peabrains. We can only take so much loss. Protect her even when she tries to turn away from you and do it herself."
Bernie held still, aware of his breathing and for once, being quiet. Jack looked over at him once or twice, furrowing his brow in surprise.
Toni let go of his hand. "Bring the Elemental home to me, this time alive and intact." She picked her glass back up and swallowed the rest of the wine. "Why are you here? Maggie doesn't live here."
"She left a note for me."
"She was here and gone already," said Kathleen. "You just missed her. She was headed to work."
Wilmark stepped forward, amused. "Maybe if you leave your boy band at home you can approach her there."
Bernie pressed his lips together, his jaw working as he tried to keep quiet. He sputtered, bubbles rolling out of his mouth holding bees, and popping with a noticeable buzz growing in the air.
"That's new," muttered Jack, nervously, looking back at all the Peabrains behind him.
The women relaxed, finally dropping their looks of concern and uttering, “oh's” watching the bees swirl and head toward the bushes.
"We'll have to remember that for next time," said Jack. "They like magic tricks."
"They'll have spun an entire back story about what it all means in no time. Something to do with the moon or success headed their way," said Toni. "Go, find Maggie. I remember what Marcus said about the trees. That will put us all in danger."
"In about five different ways," chimed in Jack.
She pulled Bernie closer one more time and leaned in so only he could hear her whisper, "Please forgive me."
The memory of a younger Toni Parker standing over her dying husband flashed through Bernie's mind. She had grabbed at his arm yelling, "Why?" over and over again, but he was unable to find the right words. All he could say to her back then was, "He fought valiantly." It was the greatest tribute one could give to a Huldu mechanic.
She had slapped him hard across the face and he had recoiled, stunned. He knew how unpredictable Peabrains were, but this was the first time it had ever gotten to him. That was when he saw the two small girls in the windows of the house. He had never forgotten but placed it all away as part of the cost of keeping the ship running. Everyone had lost someone.
"I'm sorry. I broke my word to you. I couldn't keep him safe," Bernie whispered to her, his eyes growing wider. He wanted to say more, after all these years, but knew better than to open that old, unpredictable wound.
He swallowed hard and pulled back, surprised, smoothing the front of his sweater. "I'll bring her back. The past does not predict the future. A good man once said that to me."
"That's what I'm holding onto."
The gnomes quietly filed out of the yard and back into the alley where they could disappear underground with a little less fanfare. The first gnome went last this time, swirling the bubbles to hide their exit.
"I'll set out alone from here," said Bernie solemnly. His hands were laced in front of him and he looked determined.
"Are you okay?" Jack knit his furry brows together, studying Bernie. "What did she say to you?"
"She gave me a gift," he said, his voice cracking. "Go on, tend to the trees. I'll be back with Maggie Parker as fast as I can."
Jack gave Bernie one last look but knew that determined stare. Bernie was digging in his heels. "If you need us, send up a signal."
Bernie nodded and Jack blew out a stream of bubbles, digging through the ground below and back into the workings of the Earth.
The others disappeared one at a time leaving only Bernie standing there, clenching his fists. The old battle was fresh in his mind again, with the image of the Peabrain being struck down.
A garbage can down the alley rolled forward and Bernie was snapped back to the present, a scowl on his face. "Who's in there?" he bellowed, in no mood for a prank, hoping for an enemy.
Jake stepped out slowly, his hands up, keeping his distance. "I was trying to see Maggie."
"From behind the neighbor's trash cans? You're spying for the Kashgars still, aren't you? Tall bastards!" Bernie marched forward, his muscles tense, looking for an excuse to lay Jake on his back.
Jake flinched but held his ground, his hands still up in the air. "I never was spying for them."
"I don't believe you. Why choose her, out of everyone in this city? You were targeting her." He spit out the words
, his voice a low growl.
Jake dropped his hands, rubbing his hand through his thick, brown hair. "How to explain this? I was assigned to Maggie Parker..."
"Enough said." Bernie held out his hand, blowing across his palm, but Jake surprised him and countered the move. "Protectio veritas eius." The bubbles flattened out in Bernie's hand and turned into water, running through his fingers. Bernie looked up surprised.
"That should prove something," said Jake. "That spell only works if someone is telling the truth. I'll tell you whatever you want to know, but I'm not working against Maggie. I wouldn't do that."
"Why did you agree to get close to her?"
"It was an assignment I couldn't turn down. I didn't think it would add up to anything, and then I met her."
Bernie could see the pain in his eyes, but he didn't care. Lying comes too easily to Kashgars. Maggie is all that matters. "If you care about her, you should have backed away from her."
"And let them send in someone else." He screwed up his face in frustration, shutting his eyes, searching for the right words. "The truth! I'll tell you the truth! At this point, it's all I have anyway. I've been turned out from my clan." The color drained from his face. "You know what that means. No protection from them anymore."
Bernie shook his head in disgust. "Kashgars will say anything. You're ruthless cousins." The words whistled through his teeth in anger.
"Blow your worst at me, see if the magic doesn't protect me. Maggie matters to me." He pounded his chest with his fist. "I care about her and I would protect her with my life." He was practically shouting, drawing some of the women to the gate. Bernie glanced toward the fence and pushed Jake away from Toni Parker's fence.
"Quiet down and get a hold of yourself."
"There's a price on my head. The Kashgars think I know more than I'm saying and they're not wrong. They said no half breed should have been trusted with the assignment. They still don't realize how important she is to all of it. Protect Maggie and let her know I want to tell her everything, if she’ll listen."
There was a squeal of tires as a car at the end of the alley hit its brakes and honked at something in the distance. Jake startled and looked around as if he just remembered he was exposed where he stood. "I have to go but tell her. I'll do what I can to help her with her quest. I know... I know she's the Elemental. I could feel the signature of her energy when I held her close."
Bernie looked at the half Kashgar, confused. "That's not possible."
"Yeah, well tell it to my body." He sliced through the air with his arm. "My clan doesn't have confirmation about the compass. They don't realize she's the key to everything." His voice rose as Bernie looked around to see who was watching but they were still alone. "They're still only guessing about everything, covering their bets," said Jake. He nodded his head, his eyes shining. "They think she'll lead them somewhere. They don't understand, she's the destination. I'll protect her from them, I swear on my life. Please, you do the same."
He turned and jogged down the alley without waiting for a response. Bernie stood there, shocked. "I think he might have meant what he said. Maybe. Too much at stake to find out the hard way if even a half Kashgar can be trusted." He waited till Jake was around the corner and followed him, watching him get in his car. Time to see if Jake goes running right back to his clan, and if I have to, I'll take him out if he does.
He blew out a small, glowing tracking bubble and watched it zip across the open space, ducking under his back fender and disappearing out of sight. "I'll protect her, even if she doesn't ask me to. I gave her mother my word. Hell, I swore to Jake. I won't break that promise twice in this lifetime."
6
Jake made his way back to the CVS store, hoping to meet with his elders and convince them he had learned nothing. Maybe even plant a few lies. There was no point in running to his destination. No one would be happy to see him. Suspicions had been running high about him for a week. He heard the whispering in the aisles when he was straightening the toothpastes and he noticed a few Kashgars turning the other way when he was headed to his office. The note on his desk only increased his suspicions.
Your days are numbered. That was all it said.
It could have been taken so many ways, but the counsel made it clear when they pulled him away during the afternoon rush. He was disowned and no longer considered part of the clan.
He got to 30th Street and parked his car a block away, walking around to the back of the store. "Apertum in concilio. Kashgar Jake." He felt a flood of relief when the passageway still appeared and the bricks pulled apart, revealing another door. "Just one more step." He put out his hand to pull the door open, ready to get blown back a few feet. The door pulled easily, and he stood there, surprised, in the doorway. There were no wards against him, blocking him from entering. He slipped in as the entrance disappeared, the bricks sliding back in place behind him. He turned around in time to get a last glimpse of sunlight, wondering if it would be a while before he'd see it again. "Maggie..." he whispered, heading down the stairs into the long, dark passageway lit by torches that flickered with a blue light.
He got to the chamber room and found the council seated and in session, all dressed in their CVS shirts and khaki slacks. He stopped at the doorway. This is trouble.
"You passed the first test," said Iliad, the oldest member on the council. "Frankly, I didn't think you would return." His voice came out in a low, menacing grumble. His usual way of speaking to anyone. "Come all the way in and take a seat." He gestured to the one chair pulled in front of their curved table.
Jake felt a prickly heat all along his skin and realized he had made a terrible error, but it was too late. He walked over and sat down, calculating best case scenarios. Save Maggie, and get out of here alive, if I can.
"Get comfortable, you're going to be here for a while. We're going to need better answers than we got the last time." Iliad's silver head caught the overhead blue lights, casting a shadow over his face, making him appear even more menacing.
Jake sat down and slid back into the seat, doing his best to look unconcerned. "Ask me anything." Save Maggie.
Bernie arrived at the back of the CVS just in time to see Jake step into the opening and watch it close behind him. He went running up to the back wall, pressing with his thick, calloused hands but nothing happened. He looked around, not sure what to do next. He took in a deep sigh, narrowing his eyes and blew a stream of razor-sharp bubbles but all they did was imbed themselves in the bricks. The back door of the store clicked as someone pushed it open.
"I hear the dude came back. That is some cojones, man." Two employees were almost out the door and would soon spot Bernie standing there. In his haste he blew out bubbles, torn between leaving and finding a way to stay longer and see if he could find out more. The bubbles encased him, spinning around him and blowing away just in time.
"Hey, there's a raccoon back here wearing a sweater!" The skinny young man with a greasy mullet pointed and laughed, a cigarette stuck between his fingers.
"You think it's somebody's pet?" The older employee drew in a deep huff, blowing out a coconut scented vapor.
"I don't think he got himself into that thing. Who keeps a raccoon for a pet? Shoo, shoo, get away from that trash."
"Leave him alone, he's not bothering anything. Look, there's an old pair of overalls." He picked them up in front of him, holding them out and tossed them into the trash.
Bernie snarled and hissed. The spell had not gone as intended at all.
The young man lunged at Bernie, waving his arm and spitting. "Yeah, but if he tears the bag open guess who'll get to clean it all up? Go on! Get out of here!" He stomped his foot in Bernie's direction.
The raccoon hissed at the young employee and dug his claws into the toe of the shoe, eliciting a sharp yelp. The older employee let out a laugh, choking on the vapor and bending over to catch his breath. Bernie was tempted to stay and take a nice nip out of both of the Kashgars but settled for scurrying
into the bushes and waiting for Jake.
There was a loud scraping noise and the bricks pulled apart again, the entrance appearing as a Kashgar came out and looked around, spotting the two taking a smoking break.
"You two, follow me. The council needs witnesses."
The young man nervously dropped his cigarette, grinding it out with his foot and blowing the smoke out of the corner of his mouth. He smoothed back his dirty hair, tucking it behind his ears and glanced at the older employee as he followed the Kashgar into the opening. The other man turned off his e-cigarette and pocketed it, stepping through.
Bernie saw his chance and dashed in behind them, keeping to the shadows and waiting for the door to close again, reducing the amount of light. He didn't need to worry. They were all focused on where they were headed. He waited till they went through the second door at the bottom of the stairs before going down and posting himself just outside, leaning his furry little head against the door.
The second door was not as fortified as the first. No one was as concerned once a Kashgar had managed to get past the initial security.
Bernie rubbed his paws against his face in delight and peered through the slight opening in the door and spotted Jake. He was sitting upright, his hands in his lap and his face set in a determined grimace.
"I have no knowledge of a compass," said Jake. "She doesn't know anything. She doesn't even know how her father died."
Iliad slammed his fist onto the thick oak table, half rising out of his chair. Bernie could barely see Jake, but he saw the brief flinch in his arm. Still, Jake didn't say anything more. He looked straight ahead at Iliad, letting him make the next move.
"Maybe I was wrong about him," muttered Bernie, his whiskers twitching.
"He's lying!" bellowed another council member. Everyone started talking at once until Iliad slammed his fist down again. Bernie was sure he felt it, even at his perch by the door. He smoothed the front of his sweater with a paw, catching a claw briefly in the yarn.
