by Joe Corso
Suddenly and unexpectedly, a voice called out, “Sir Looky, Sir Looky.” Lucky looked around, but couldn’t determine the source of the voice. Then a large man stepped out onto the road in front of Lucky’s horse. At first, Lucky thought that this might be a challenge, then he looked at the man’s face and recognition set in.
“Tor! By God, is it really you?”
Tor smiled, embarrassed to be recognized by the great wizard in front of all of these people - people who now looked at Tor in a new light. “Yes, Looky, it is Tor. I hear you come visit village, so I make sure I come see friend.”
Lucky jumped down from his horse and, to the surprise of everyone, he embraced Tor. Lucky waved to Sir Geoffrey to keep the troupe moving, motioning that he would meet them at the inn.
Tor and the man clothed in black walked side by side, taking their time and talking, as old friends will. Tor was the champion that Lucky fought, to earn money to buy the jeweled dagger after discovering the first portal. He defeated Tor, who was the local champion, and because of that, Lucky was invited to fight King Robert’s champion. Tor, without knowing it, was directly responsible for Lucky meeting the king, which led to his meeting, falling in love, and eventually marrying his bride, Princess Krystina. But it was more than that. Lucky felt a kinship for this gentle giant. What cemented their friendship was when, after defeating Tor, Lucky paid him a generous portion of his winnings. Lucky felt that it was only fair to reimburse him for funds he would have won if Lucky hadn’t intruded. Instead of becoming enemies, the two men found a mutual respect, as two combatants will do after a hard fought contest.
“Are you still fighting, Tor?”
Tor shrugged his shoulders. “Sometimes I fight. But my heart not in it now.”
“Why not?” Lucky asked.
“Tor used to be great champion. Beat everyone. No one can beat Tor. Tor felt good - like champion.”
“So what happened to change it?”
Tor looked at Lucky and hung his head. “You happened. You beat Tor. Tor no longer feel like champion. Everybody knows Sir Looky beat Tor. Looky champion now - not Tor.” Tor looked up at Lucky. “But Tor no blame Looky. Tor always know that someday somebody beat Tor. Tor glad it was Sir Looky beat Tor.”
Lucky tried to think of something to say that would lift Tor’s self-esteem a notch. “Look, Tor. No one can beat my magic. Yes. I used magic to win. But you almost defeated me even with my magic. Tor, you are a great champion, and one I’m proud to call my friend.”
Tor stopped walking and pulled Lucky toward him. “You mean what you say?”
“Of course I do. You are still the greatest champion in the realm, and everyone knows it. And they admire you for having the courage to fight a wizard.”
Everyone trailing behind them wondered what they were talking about. Just the fact that the wizard stopped to talk to Tor raised him in everyone’s estimation.
“So if Looky no use magic, then maybe Tor beat him?”
“Yes, that could very well have happened. Now let’s not talk any more of you not being champion. Let’s talk about what you are going to do with your life.”
“What you mean, Looky?”
“Well, from what you just told me, you’re not fighting much, and if that’s the case, then you need a job. Right?”
Tor, being a proud man, just shook his head. “Tor find work. Maybe fight again. But make sure this time, no fight wizard.” They both laughed and Lucky slapped him on the back.
“Tor. How would you like to work for me?”
Tor wanted to ask questions, but the words wouldn’t come out, and Lucky sensed it. “I guess you heard of what happened in Abbotts Crossing.”
Tor had heard rumors about the great wizard almost dying, but he knew nothing more. “I hear something. But Tor not know story.”
Lucky put his arm around Tor, and leaned in closer to him. “You know the people, and the villages. You must have had fights in every settlement in the kingdom, am I right?’
Tor nodded. “Looky right. Tor fight in every village, every settlement, and sometimes fight in field too. Anywhere could make money, I fight.”
“Good, that settles it, then. You’ll be my bodyguard and front man.”
Tor’s face scrunched up. “What means ‘front man’?”
“It means that when I’m going to travel somewhere, you’ll go first and check the village out.”
“What means ‘check out’?”
“Well, ‘check out’ means that you’ll travel there ahead of me and make sure it’s safe for me and the princess to visit the place.”
Tors face lit up with a big smile. “Good. Tor like that. He make sure town safe for princess and baby, and you too, Looky.”
“Good, that’s settled then. Come on. From now on, you are part of the royal party.”
Tor stopped in his tracks again, almost colliding with the people following close behind. “Me? Tor, part of the royal party?”
“Sure, and I’ll make sure the king gives you a monthly stipend. This way, you’ll never have to worry about money again.”
Tor was about to stop again and say something. But Lucky grabbed him and pulled him forward. “You can’t keep stopping abruptly like that, if you continue doing that, people will stumble over you.”
“Looky.”
“Yes.”
“You good friend to Tor. Tor be good bodyguard for Looky.”
Lucky didn’t really need a bodyguard, but he liked the big guy. He sort of reminded him of his friends back in the 21st Century. The thought of the 21st Century brought the realization that he had so enjoyed his princess and baby son, that he had completely forgotten about his obligations to his friends. The thought of his friends convinced him that he needed to return to the present and see how things were. He thought that maybe he would take Tor with him. He’d have to condition him for the future. Maybe he would take him. He’d give it some thought and then make up his mind.
The rest of the trip to King William’s castle was uneventful. Lucky bought Tor proper clothes, fitting for the wizard’s bodyguard, and everyone began to look upon him as someone special because he was a friend of Lucky’s, and since he was the recognized boxing champion, he was a celebrity in his own right. Although Tor, a simple man, never thought of himself as a celebrity, but one thing was certain, he took his duty as Lucky’s bodyguard very seriously.
CHAPTER 5
A wonderful year had passed with Lucky always by her side. So it was no wonder that Princess Krystina was terribly disappointed when Lucky informed her of his plans to return to his time and he couldn’t take her and the baby with him. He had considered taking Tor with him, but after thinking it through, he felt that it made more sense for Tor to remain behind to protect the princess and his son. He thought the danger to him and his family had passed, and he couldn’t think of a single reason why anyone would want to harm the princess or the baby, but why take chances? He had already witnessed the inquisition putting his wife on trial, and it was still a fact that they were still actively murdering and torturing people in Spain. He knew that there was always the possibility that they would send others to investigate the disappearance of Bishop Pranley, and cause mischief back here in England. No. Even though King Robert had men assigned to protect Krystina and the baby, it still made sense to have someone he could trust watch the princess and his son while he was gone - and he could think of no better man for the job than Tor.
While walking with Krystina through the botanical gardens, behind the castle, he explained his plans to her. “Princess, I would love to take you to my time, but that is impossible.”
She looked up at him with tears welling up in her eyes. “Why is it impossible, my love?”
Lucky held Krystina close, and he felt her trembling in his arms. He felt terrible having to leave his wife and baby behind, and he hated his enemies for forcing him to do this, but he really had no choice. He couldn’t explain why, but he knew, even while holding his wife in his arms, tha
t at this very moment, sinister forces were at work. “Krystina. I have enemies that would hurt my family to get to me. I can’t allow that to happen. Surely you can understand why I can’t take you with me.”
“Yes, I do understand. But being separated from you is so very painful to me. Promise me that you will return to me soon.” She looked up into his eyes expectantly. “Promise me, wizard.”
Lucky knew that when she used the word “wizard,” she was serious, and meant every word that she said. “Don’t worry, princess. I will count the minutes until I return to you, and little Robert.” The couple had decided to name their son Robert, after her brother-in-law, the king. King Robert beamed when they told him that they had named their son after him.
He held her close and whispered in her ear, “I love you very much, my princess. I have traveled through time to find you, and I will not lose you. If you die, I die. You and little Robert mean the world to me, and because of that, I want you to promise me something.”
Krystina looked up into Lucky’s blue eyes as a tear rolled down her cheek. “What is it that you want me to promise you, my love?”
“Tor will be your protector while I am gone. He is to accompany you wherever you go. Promise me that whenever you leave the castle, you will always have him by your side. Promise me now.”
She knew that this was important to Lucky, and it would give him peace of mind while he was away. She knew that he’d worry about her if Tor wasn’t with her, and if he were worried, then he might make a mistake that could cost him his life. She nodded her head, knowing it would give him peace of mind. Besides, she would rather die than live a life without her wizard. “Yes, my love. I will make sure that Tor is with me whenever I leave the palace. But why are you worried? The inquisition will dare not harm me for fear of what you will do to them.”
He looked into her eyes. “I don’t trust the inquisition to keep their word. But even if they never return, there are others who, for whatever reason, would do you harm.”
Anger flashed in her eyes for a moment. “No one would dare harm the princess, the queen’s sister, and then have to face the wrath of King Robert. They would have to be insane to even think of such a thing, but . . . If you feel better having Tor protect me, then of course I will agree.”
“Good. That’s settled, then. Now I can leave with peace of mind.”
That night, as Lucky lay in bed, he thought about the promise he made Krystina to return soon. Would he be able to keep it? He could if there were nothing to hinder him from coming back. He hoped that that was the case.
He turned to go to sleep when the door to their bedroom opened and Krystina, wearing just a thin negligée, walked to his side of the bed. The negligée dropped to the floor, then she climbed into bed beside him. “If you will be gone from my bed on many of the coming nights, then tonight I want to give you a night you will long remember. One of my ladies-in-waiting has given me a book with pictures in it. It is called the Kama Sutra and I have studied it. Now that I have my figure back, tonight I want to try all of the positions in that book - and even some that are not in it.”
Lucky rose early, exhausted but happy, and went down to the large kitchen located in the rear of the castle where the cook had orders to boil water, then place a large quantity of the ground coffee that Lucky had given him in it. Lucky didn’t want the bread and milk, or ale, or any of the weak beer that was usually served to him with his breakfast. He made sure to bring a fifty-pound sack of ground coffee with him on one of his trips back to 12th Century England. He took his jug of coffee and went out to the stable to look for Tor, who had been given the large room built into the rear of the stable. It was clean; it had a bed, sparse furniture, and was larger than any place Tor had ever lived in before. Instead of walking through the stable, Lucky went around to the rear and knocked on the door. The door opened and a smiling Tor stood in the doorway. “Sir Looky. Come in; we have wine.”
Lucky raised his jug. “No thank you, Tor. I have my drink, but get some for yourself.” Which is what Tor did. Because of the bacteria in the water, most people drank watered wine, or ale, or a weaker form of beer than the 21st Century beer.
“Is everything all right, Looky?”
“Yes, Tor. Everything is fine, but I need you to do something for me.”
Tor’s eyes lit up, because to do something for Lucky meant that he would be useful - and if he was useful, then he was earning his wages. “Yes, Looky, anything I can do, you just ask and Tor do it.”
Lucky sat down at the table and took a sip from his mug before continuing. “Tor, I will be leaving to go back home in a little while. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, so I need you to protect the princess and little Robert, my son. The king has assigned men to protect her, but I would feel better with you as her protector.”
Tor’s eyebrows lifted and his eyes sparkled. “Me? Tor? Protector of princess. Looky, you give me great honor. Don’t worry. Tor watch. Tor protect princess and little boy. Tor die before he let anyone hurt them.”
Lucky patted him on the arm. “I knew I could count on you. When I come back to this castle, I will bring you back a special gift. Something that no one in this world will have but you.” Then Lucky regretted saying that because he had no idea what to bring him. He scratched his head and then asked Tor. “What exactly is it that you never had, but you always wanted?”
Tor was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Tor is simple man. No need much - no want much. But as young man, Tor good hunter, good fisherman. Love to hunt and fish. But he grow older, and not have tools to do this.”
Ahaa! Lucky thought. I’ll bring him the best fishing rod and crossbow money can buy.
Lucky said his goodbyes to the king, queen, Sir Geoffrey, who he had become quite friendly with, and his beautiful Princess Krystina, and left quickly, before he changed his mind.
CHAPTER 6
Lucky materialized in the Astoria safe house. But to his surprise, no one was there. He looked around for some clue as to what had happened to everyone. Nothing struck him and he was about to leave. Then he thought of the safe room and decided to check it to see if there was anything there that might give him a clue as to where everyone might be. Certainly one of the guys should be here to watch over things. He pressed the proper sequence and the wall swiveled open. Lucky walked in and found Mickey, his face a mess, battered and bruised, fast asleep on the couch. He walked over and kneeled beside him, watching as he slept fitfully. Mickey usually slept like he was drugged, and nothing as a rule bothered him, but Lucky could tell that sleep for him, this time, was troublesome. He nudged Mickey and backed up a step, knowing what his reaction would be whenever he was awoken unexpectedly. Mickey sat bolt upright and threw a right hand at what he thought was an intruder. “Mickey - it’s me, Lucky. Relax. Come on now, wake up and tell me what happened and why you look as if you fought five guys in an alley.”
Mickey ran his fingers through his thick curly black hair. “Come on and let’s go out to the diner and get a cup of coffee, and I’ll tell you all about it. I ran out of coffee the other day and I was just not up to going out and buying some.”
“Hold onto my arm and I’ll take us to the airport diner.” Lucky tried to create a portal, but nothing happened. “What the hell just happened,” he said out loud. He tried again but he failed to create a portal a second time. “Oh my God,” he said. Lucky never panicked, but for the first time in a very long time, Lucky was scared. “Mickey, I lost my ability to create a portal. I’ll never see my wife and child again. What am I going to do?”
“Wife and child?” Mickey asked. Lucky nodded. “When did all this happen?”
“My son is three months old, and he’s a great kid. You’ll love him - and he’ll love Uncle Mickey. If only I could get back there.”
“Come on. Let’s walk up Ditmas to the El, and we’ll find a place that serves coffee, and since you can’t disappear on me, we’ll and sit and talk for a while.” Lucky followed Mickey out of the s
afe room and sat down at the table in the living room. “How could this have happened to me, Mickey? I always knew this could happen to me, but I had no signs that I would lose my ability to create portals in the time it takes me to snap my fingers. One minute I can create them, and the next, it’s gone, all gone.”
“Maybe you were just tired. Why don’t you try it again and see if maybe this time it’ll work?”
“Yeah! You’re right. Let me try again.” Suddenly, a portal appeared. “I did it, Mickey. It’s back. My ability to create a portal is back.” Then he absently rubbed his chin. “But why couldn’t I do it in the safe room?”
Mickey shrugged. “Beats me. Let’s go back in there, and you can try it again.”
“Good idea.” The two men walked back into the safe room, and Lucky attempted to create a portal, but again, he had no luck. “No good, Mickey. I can’t do it in here.”
“Okay. Let’s try it again outside the room.” When Lucky tried to create a portal in the living room, he was again successful. “What are the walls and ceiling of the safe room made up of Mickey? Do you remember?”
“Yeah, I remember. I know the guy started partitioning the room with 2 x 4’s, then he lined it with titanium and finished it with sheetrock.”
“It must be the titanium, and if that’s the case, then titanium is my kryptonite. It must render me powerless. I just hope that my enemies never find out about this.”
Two men sat inside a black van with dark tinted windows that was parked around the corner, three houses from the safe house, monitoring a sophisticated electronic listening device.
“Did you hear what I just heard?”
“I sure did. I can’t believe that after all this time we finally got something.”
“I hope you recorded it.”
“Don’t worry. I got it all.”
“Play it back, just to make sure.”
The two men wore headphones and were giddy as hell as they listened to the recording they captured. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I can’t wait to give this to our contact and complete this damned job. Now maybe we could live a normal life again.”
