by Geof Johnson
“Well, hello, wet-head.” Rachel patted Sammi’s dripping hair. “Did you forget what the towel is for?”
“Sammi!” Fred called from upstairs. “Get back up here and get some clothes on!”
“’Kay!” Sammi yelled back, then she squeezed Rachel again. “Gotta go. Bye!” Rachel and Lisa watched Sammi fly away, the ends of her towel flapping behind her.
“There goes my wet kitten.” Lisa smiled whimsically, still staring at the stairs where Sammi had disappeared.
Rachel nodded. “Carl did some checking today, and so far, nobody has reported Sammi as being missing.”
“Sammi told me that the Gundys won’t do that, because they’re afraid of losing custody of her. Sammi got a new case worker in Bicksby, and Sammi thinks that lady doesn’t like Mr. Gundy. Sammi has overheard them talking.”
“With her magic?”
“No, the old-fashioned way, when she was still living with them.”
“I find myself worrying that she might be listening to me all the time.”
“She promised to stop doing that,” Lisa said, “though I don’t think she can help it, sometimes. But it’s a good thing she overheard Mr. Gundy talking about her yesterday, and Jamie’s glad Sammi overheard the mayor.”
“That man is aggravating. Jamie’s going there tomorrow to have a word with him. I hope Jamie can get those councilmen to stop trying to meddle with the school.”
“Me, too. Sammi seems to enjoy going there, and she’s already made a friend, a girl her age named Leora. She’s invited Sammi to come to her farm and visit sometime.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“I think Sammi misses her best friend back home, Libby.” Lisa held up one finger. “Wait. You’ll love this.” Lisa went to the kitchen and came back a moment later with an envelope in her hand. “We’re sending money to Libby to pay for the bus ticket that she and her brother bought for Sammi. Sixty-five dollars, cash.” She flapped it a couple of times. “That’s why it’s covered with Scotch tape. Larry’s worried about somebody opening it and stealing the money, so Sammi put all this on it.” She touched the clear strips of plastic that layered the envelope like shiny armor.
“Did she address it? It looks like it.”
Lisa chuckled and pointed at it again. “Look here. She put little hearts in all the corners. Isn’t that adorable?” She smiled wistfully again. “I remember when Fred used to do stuff like that.”
“Well...I’m glad Sammi made a friend, even if she does live thousands of light-years away.”
Chapter 6
Jamie stood with his grandmother and Sammi in Fred’s living room the next morning and drew the glowing outlines of a magic portal, then opened it, revealing the school in Rivershire. He bowed and swept one arm out. “After you.”
Sammi took Mrs. Wallace’s hand, and Mrs. Wallace looked at her and said, “Are you nervous?”
Sammi shook her head. “Not anymore. I’m used to it.”
They stepped through and Jamie followed, then he closed the portal with a small gesture. He put his hands on his hips and surveyed the area in front of the school while his grandmother put the key in the lock and Sammi ran off to inspect a wildflower that had bloomed in the grass nearby.
“Jamie?” his grandmother said. “Before you go, I have a favor to ask. I want to take the kids from this school to your house sometime. Could you make a doorway for us?”
“Okay, but why?”
“Most of them don’t believe there’s another Earth, and there’s been a lot of bickering going on, especially between Aiven and the other kids. I want them to see it with their own eyes so they’ll understand. I think seeing a television and a car or something will convince them.”
“A car? You’re not going to take them out front, are you? We don’t want the neighbors to see them.”
“No, no. We can watch from the living room or the guest bedroom. I figure one look at a car going down the street will prove that it’s another world, and it will be a big help to Aiven. The other kids think he’s crazy, or exaggerating.”
“I’ve got to make a doorway for Uncle Charlie anyway, probably around lunch time tomorrow. How’s that sound?”
“Perfect. Can the kids play in your backyard a little bit before they go back?”
“Fine with me. If that’s all you need me for right now, I’m going to go to the courthouse.”
“Are you walking?”
“I thought I’d translocate. It’s faster.”
“Don’t you think that’s lazy?”
“Gramma, I’m going to run eight miles with Bryce when I get off work today. I don’t think I need any more exercise than that.” He started to do the spell, but paused when another thought crossed his mind. “Gramma, I’m not sure how to handle this meeting with the councilmen today. I know you want me to be respectful because they’re adults, but it sounds like these men don’t respect me, if what Sammi says about them is true.”
“Don’t let them walk all over you, whatever you do. I know you can be firm and respectful at the same time.”
“I’ll do my best.” He gestured with one hand and vanished, reappearing in front of the Rivershire courthouse. It was the largest building in town, a grand, two story structure with white columns, and tall, narrow windows all the way around. Seven broad stone steps led to the front door, and Jamie walked up and let himself in.
The entry hall had high ceilings and a dark, polished marble floor. A secretary sat at a desk nearby, and she rose to greet him. “Hello, Master Jamie. Good to see you again.”
“Hello, Mrs. Stewart. Are the councilmen in today?”
“They are expecting you.”
Jamie excused himself with a wave and walked down the hallway. Small statues and vases on pedestals were set at intervals between the windows. Paintings of prominent citizens and former civic leaders were on the opposite wall, and Jamie slowed as he passed one of Mayor Duncan, heroically posed on the steps of the courthouse, looking thirty pounds thinner. I wonder how much that portrait cost the town.
The door to the council chamber was near the end of the hall. Two guards in dark blue uniforms waited out front, and they let Jamie in without knocking.
The council chamber was an opulent room with windows on two sides, and sunlight streamed through, illuminating the room brilliantly. The floor was the same dark marble as the hall, and the walls were paneled in golden oak.
The five men — four councilmen and the mayor — sat at a rectangular wooden table, the mayor at one end and the others on the two long sides.
“Master Jamie,” the mayor said, and the other men nodded. Jamie had met them before, so there was no need for introductions. “Won’t you sit down?” The stout politician gestured at an empty chair.
“No thanks, I think I’ll stand. I’m only going to be here a few minutes.” Jamie gave each man a quick look in the eye before continuing. “Why don’t we get right to the point? You want to talk about the school, right?”
Mayor Duncan blinked hard a few times, seemingly surprised by Jamie’s brusqueness, then said, “We have some concerns that we’d like to share with you.”
“If it’s about giving you a say in how the school is run, you can forget it. We’ve been over this before. The school is private, paid for by me, and you have no reason to expect to have any voice in its operation.”
Councilman Stennis, a sour-faced fellow with white hair, leaned forward in his chair and rested his hands on the table top, his fingers interlaced and his thumb tips touching. “Master Jamie, we only want what’s best for the community. Surely you understand that.”
“It’s what I want, too, only I want to make it more egalitarian, and you seem to only want schooling available to the children of the rich.”
“That is not true. We had a school here for quite some time, and all local children were welcome there. Unfortunately, our teacher left and we’ve been unable to find a replacement.”
“I can find a replacement for you. I
’ll start a search today.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he said quickly. “We have tried ourselves, and I assure you there are none available.”
“Except for the tutors who teach the children of the other rich people.”
“Those families have more resources than the town does,” Mayor Duncan said. “We haven’t the funds to attract a qualified teacher.”
“You had enough money to pay me to clear boulders from the river so that Mr. Whelan can get his lumber to market easier.”
Councilman Whelan, sitting on the mayor’s right, opened his mouth as if to reply, but said nothing.
“And the teacher you had before,” Jamie said. “I heard you cut her salary in half so she’d quit, because Mr. Carlson wanted the school building for a warehouse. Isn’t that right, councilman?”
The lanky gentleman on the far side of the table shook his head with a sharp frown. “That is a vicious rumor. No truth to it at all.”
“Really? That’s not what I heard. I bet it wouldn’t be hard to find out the truth. In fact, my father is a professional investigator. He could get the real story, I bet, and if he couldn’t, I know some witches who could. Their magic can do some amazing things.” Jamie smiled with his lips together.
Mr. Carlson shrank in his seat and cleared his throat. “I...shall be abstaining from any discussions on the school.”
“There shouldn’t be any discussions,” Jamie said firmly. “It’s none of your business.”
“But Master Jamie,” Mayor Duncan said with a mulish look in his eyes, “we still believe that something as important as educating our town’s children should be handled by someone from our community. You are, after all, an outsider, as are your grandmother and your aunt.”
Jamie ground his teeth and took a calming breath. Now I know why Mrs. Tully can’t stand him. “I may not have grown up here, but I have the memories of Eddan the sorcerer, over two hundred years’ worth. That’s almost as much as all of you gentlemen put together.”
“That may be true, but Eddan was a recluse, from what I have heard.”
“Not always. He only became one later in life. He knew lots of people. In fact....” Jamie eyed the mayor. “Your grandfather...no, your great-grandfather, was Ezra Duncan, am I right? A chubby little guy, about this tall.” Jamie held his hand out at shoulder height. “A farmer, but not a very good one. Ran up a lot of debt, had to sell off some of —”
“Yes, yes,” Mayor Duncan said hastily, “we get the idea. Eddan knew my great-grandfather. What of it?”
“Eddan knew plenty of people in this community, back when it was nothing more than a village. And he was born on a farm, too, and lived there ’till he was about fourteen, so he knew all about what it was like for those people. How hard it was.” Jamie nodded once. “I know what these people are like, and I know they deserve to be educated just like the people in the big houses. I’m going to make that happen, and you can either help or get out of the way.” He narrowed his eyes. “But please don’t interfere.”
The mayor and the councilmen still stared back at him stubbornly. They’re going to do it anyway. I can feel it. If Renn were in my place, they’d be shaking in their shoes. He clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes even more. Maybe if I scare them a little.
Jamie raised his left hand slightly and stared at it, then slowly closed it into a fist and made it glow. Then it burst into flames. Jamie looked back at the councilmen, all of them wide-eyed and open-mouthed. “Have I made my point?”
“Uh, yes,” Mayor Duncan said.
Without another word, Jamie gestured and translocated from the room.
Evelyn was putting workbooks in a cabinet in the school when Jamie suddenly appeared in the middle of the room. “Oh!” She put her hand to her chest. “You startled me. How did it go?” Jamie told her about his meeting with the councilmen and she listened patiently.
“So you don’t think that was too much, Gramma? Making my fist look like it was on fire?”
“Not really. Maybe they’ll get the hint and back off.”
Jamie turned to Sammi, who was sitting nearby with Aiven and Leora at the little desks. “Can you hear anything from them?”
“Hold on. Let me try.” Sammi closed her eyes and her little face lined with concentration, but after a few moments she shook her head. “They must not be in a shadow.”
“There was a lot of sunlight coming into the council chamber from the windows. How were you able to hear them the other day?”
“They were in a carriage and it has a top. They must’ve been riding in the sun, and it made a good shadow.”
“Dang.” Jamie put his hands on his hips and frowned. “Wish I knew what they were saying right now. I still don’t trust them.
“Me either,” Evelyn said, “but there’s nothing we can do about it at the moment. I was just about to take the kids to see the clinic. Do you want to come with us?”
“I need to get back home and go to work, but say hello to Dr. Burke for me. I’ll see you in a little while.” He traced the outlines of a portal, stepped through it, and vanished.
Leora gaped at the space where the magic portal had been and Evelyn said, “Would you like to try that sometime? Go through a magic doorway?” Leora shook her head quickly and Evelyn chuckled. “Well, tomorrow you might have to, if you want to come with us. We’re going to Jamie’s house for recess.”
“We’re going to Earth!” Aiven crowed. “Then you’ll see, Leora. Everybody will know I’m telling the truth.”
“Do you want to come with us to the clinic, Aiven?”
“I’ve seen it. Can I stay here and read instead?”
“Fine. Come on girls, let’s go.”
Sammi and Leora followed her out of the school and across the field to the new two-story yellow building that served as the medical center for the school and the town. Evelyn didn’t bother knocking on the door. She opened it and they all filed inside.
The front area was a small waiting room with a few padded chairs. A man in rough woolen work clothes was standing there with Dr. Burke, Evelyn’s retired friend from Hendersonville who had agreed to run the clinic. The man had his right arm in a sling, and he tipped his cap to Evelyn and the girls with his left hand and said, “Good morning, ladies.”
“This is Mr. Harris,” Dr. Burke said to Evelyn and the girls. “He had a nasty fall from his horse, but nothing seems to be broken.” She touched his shoulder gently. “Take the pills I gave you if it hurts too much to sleep, and come back to see me in a few days.”
He said he would, handed her a few coins, tipped his hat again and left. Then Dr. Burke turned her attention to the girls and Evelyn introduced them.
“Well,” the doctor said, “come on in and I’ll give you a little tour.”
She led them into the main part of the clinic, a large room that had wide windows on opposite walls with cabinets, and an examination table and more equipment at the rear. Overhead were four fluorescent lights and a ceiling fan. The room smelled of rubbing alcohol.
“This looks like the clinic I used to go to,” Sammi said.
“It’s a pretty modern facility, all things considered,” Dr. Burke said. “I don’t have an X-ray machine or any other energy-hogging equipment, but I have most everything else I need. Besides all this, I have a room in the back with a bed if a patient needs to stay overnight.” She pointed her finger at the ceiling. “My apartment is upstairs, and it’s quite comfortable. I’ve got a little kitchen, and Jamie and his father put in a refrigerator and a gas stove for me, so I’m all set.”
She slipped her glasses off her nose and let them hang from the thin chain around her neck. “I could use some help around here, though. The locals are about to work me to death.” She sighed and leaned back against the counter behind her.
“Do you think we can find another doctor who’s willing to come here?” Evelyn said.
“Maybe. I’ve got some contacts I can try, a couple of ladies who worked in Kenya with m
e.”
“You have a phone here, don’t you?”
“Jamie installed one two weeks ago, but I’ll wait to call them until I go back to my condo in Hendersonville. I have to make a trip there, anyway, to pay some bills and things. I want to go to the grocery store, too. I like the fresh food you can get here in the market, but it takes so much longer to prepare my meals, and I’m so busy I hardly have time to breathe.”
“Well, I hope you get some help soon. I had no idea you’d be so popular.”
“I’ve seen nine patients already today, and it’s not even eleven o’clock yet.” She rubbed her temple with the fingertips of one hand and winced.
Sammi and Leora had wandered to the far side of the room and were looking closely at a tray full of instruments. Sammi reached for the stethoscope and Evelyn said, “Girls, look, but don’t touch. Okay?”
Evelyn turned back to Dr. Burke, who had pulled open a drawer beside her. She dropped the coins from her last patient into it and pushed it closed. “There’s a lot of money in there now. Jamie and I expected this to be a free clinic, but most people around here want to pay something, even it’s just a few coppers.”
“These people are proud folk. Hardworking, too, from what I have seen.”
“Yes, and they don’t want handouts.” She laughed again. “Though sometimes they like to barter, with vegetables and eggs and such. One family tried to pay me with two chickens.”
“Did you take them?”
“Of course, but I insisted that they butcher and pluck them first. It’s a good thing Jamie got me the refrigerator, isn’t it?”
By this time, Sammi and Leora had come back to Evelyn’s side of the room. Leora looked at Dr. Burke and said, “Are you a witch, too?”
“No, just an ordinary doctor.”
“But how do you heal people without magic?”
“I do it with science.” Leora’s brow wrinkled and Dr. Burke said, “Years of studying and training, that’s all. No magic necessary.” She put her hand on Leora’s shoulder. “Are you going to be attending Mrs. Wallace’s school?”
