The Arkana Mysteries Boxed Set

by N. S. Wikarski

  He nudged her toward the refreshment counter. “Do you like popcorn?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” she replied. “What is it?”

  “It’s corn that’s popped.”

  “Oh, just like it sounds.”

  Zach ordered a large bucket of popcorn and two sodas from the attendant. “We can share,” he told her. “That way if you don’t like it... more for me.”

  She giggled at his ungallant explanation. He colored in embarrassment, wishing he could snatch the words back. Only a knuckle-dragging mouth-breather would say something as lame as “more for me.” Duh!

  Hannah jumped slightly when the popcorn maker started shooting kernels into the bin. She pressed her hands against the glass, entranced by the process.

  The boy chuckled at her amazement. He handed her a soda and balanced his own soft drink and the bucket of popcorn, all the while steering her to the correct theater.

  She glanced up at the dozen marquees. “You mean all these different movies are playing here at the same time?”

  “Yup. Here’s ours.” He ushered her through a semi-darkened doorway.

  She had a little trouble figuring out how the seat worked and stood puzzling over it.

  “It collapses, see? Push on it.”

  She did as he instructed, and the seat dropped down. When she released her hand, it popped back up again. Hannah jumped back, startled, then tried again. And again. And again. This went on for several seconds.

  “Hold the seat down and then sit on it,” Zach urged, once her giggling subsided.

  “Your grandmother doesn’t have chairs like this at home,” Hannah confided as Zach slid down beside her.

  “Nope, it’s a movie theater specialty. Want some corn?” He extended the bucket toward her.

  She reached in tentatively and selected three kernels. Cautiously putting them in her mouth, she chewed with great concentration as if she were analyzing the taste. Her eyes flew open in surprise. “This is good. Buttery.”

  “I ordered extra butter.”

  Hannah didn’t need any more encouragement. She dove into the bucket and scooped up an entire handful.

  The theater lights dimmed.

  “What’s happening now?” she asked in alarm.

  “It’s show time.” Zach leaned back in his seat. “Oh, I almost forgot. When the movie starts, put these on.” He reached into his pocket and retrieved a pair of glasses with tinted lenses.

  Hannah took the object and examined it warily. “I can see the screen just fine from here, Zachary. I don’t need glasses.”

  “These aren’t ordinary glasses. You use them to see the 3-D effects. This movie was filmed with special cameras so sometimes it looks like the action onscreen is actually jumping off the screen in three dimensions.”

  She stared at him blankly.

  “Don’t worry about it. Just remember to put the glasses on when the movie starts and don’t take them off til it’s over, OK?”

  “If you say so,” she agreed, sounding unconvinced.

  The previews rolled—one action scene after another accompanied by the blast of Dolby Surround Sound. Zach snuck a look at Hannah to see how she was enjoying the experience. She sat gaping at the screen, a handful of popcorn suspended between the bucket and her mouth.

  “And this isn’t even the main attraction,” Zach leaned over and explained. “Wait til you see that.”

  She nodded mutely as a sign that she’d heard him—but only barely. She seemed mesmerized.

  Zack congratulated himself on choosing to take her to the movies. He knew she’d be talking about this for weeks to come.

  Then the music of the overture swelled along with the waves of a storm-tossed sea. The pirate movie had begun.

  “Put your glasses on,” he reminded her.

  She shook herself out of her trance and slipped the frames over her ears.

  The plot involved the usual buried treasure, damsel in distress, and good pirate versus bad pirate but Zach was seeing it all through Hannah’s eyes. He guessed this was what new parents must feel like when their kids were old enough to experience their first Christmas.

  Hannah was completely lost in the story as if she were living it herself. He could feel her hand grip his forearm tensely when the damsel was captured by the evil pirate.

  The sword fight between the hero and villain was filmed entirely in 3-D. When the evil pirate lunged, his sword popped out of the screen and hovered threateningly over the audience. Hannah actually shrieked.

  A few patrons turned around in their seats to glare at her. Others chuckled.

  “I’m sorry,” she confided in a mortified tone. “You must think I’m a terrible coward, but it’s so real!”

  “That’s OK.” Zach patted her arm. “If you get scared, you can hold onto my hand.” Smooth, he told himself.

  The drama intensified as the forces of good and evil squared off in an epic sea battle. Pirates hurled themselves from ship to ship. The camera made dizzying cuts from one pair of duelists to another. At one point it looked like the hero got skewered.

  Hannah buried her face against his jacket. “I can’t look,” she moaned.

  Zach took the opportunity to slide his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m here to protect you.” Even he had to roll his eyes at his transparent motive, but she didn’t seem to notice.

  “Thank you,” she murmured simply.

  After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and dared to peep up at the screen. Zach noticed that she was still leaning in close to him. He kept his arm wrapped firmly around her.

  They sat huddled together all the way through the stirring conclusion. Evil vanquished. Good triumphant. Full orchestra accompaniment while the credits rolled. Then lights up and people scurrying for the exit.

  When the theater cleared, and Hannah took off her glasses, she was speechless.

  Zach stood up and held out a hand to help her to her feet. “So, what did you think?”

  “It was... it was...” She looked at him helplessly, groping for the right word. “That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”

  He beamed at her. “I’m glad you liked it.”

  “Do we have to go home? Can we stay to see another one?”

  Everything in Zach’s nature wanted to stay all night and watch movies with her until his money ran out, but he shook his head regretfully. “Gamma would kill me if I kept you out late. I promised we’d be home by eleven, Cinderella.”

  “Cinderella?”

  “I’ll tell you that story another time. Hey, there’s even a movie about it.”

  ***

  They stood on the front stairs to Faye’s farmhouse for several awkward moments, neither one speaking.

  “So, I guess this is good night,” Zach ventured. A tiny voice inside his head was screaming, “Kiss her, you moron!”

  “I guess so,” Hannah agreed uncertainly.

  He had a brainstorm. “It’s a custom out here in our world that after a first date the couple swaps a goodnight kiss.”

  Hannah took his statement at face value. “Well, if it’s customary then we should do that. I want to fit in.” She leaned toward him and closed her eyes.

  He leaned toward her. Just before their lips met, he lost his nerve. Pecking her timidly on the cheek, he said, “Good night, Hannah.”

  Her eyes flew open. “Oh, I see,” she said. Grabbing him by the shoulders, she planted an enthusiastic kiss on his cheek. “Goodnight, Zachary. I hope we do this again.”

  He grinned. “Count on it.”

  As he turned to go, he caught a glimpse of his gamma peeking at both of them from behind a lace curtain in the parlor. She seemed to be chuckling.

  Chapter 13—Traveling Worst Class

  “I just don’t understand it.” Cassie wheeled her suitcase through the door of the Margaret Ekpo airport in Calabar, Nigeria. “It’s not like we left the continent
.” She gave a martyred sigh.

  Her two male companions exchanged wary glances but offered no comment.

  “I mean, first we had to fly from Botswana to South Africa and then all the way to Cairo just to get a flight back to Nigeria. And even then, we had to take another flight from Abuja to Calabar.”

  “This isn’t like the States, toots,” Erik admonished her. “They don’t have airports every fifty feet. Get used to it.”

  “Remember what Griffin told you back in Botswana. I’ll never get used to it.”

  “Didn’t that sleep mask you bought help?” Erik asked.

  “I felt like the Hamburgler wearing it,” Cassie growled. “And no, it didn’t help. My bloodshot eyes should tell you that.”

  “You’re gonna be a real treat to be around for the next couple of days,” Erik muttered.

  The trio took up a position on the sidewalk outside the baggage claim area, waiting for their contact to arrive.

  Griffin tactfully changed the subject. Turning to the paladin, he asked, “Have you checked in with Maddie yet?”

  Erik shot him an exasperated look. “Yeah. I’m half a world away, and she can still manage to yell loud enough to make my ears bleed. At least the one that Cassie wasn’t already yelling into. I swear when I get back home, the first thing I’m gonna do is buy Maddie a pack of cigarettes.”

  “Oh no!” Griffin gasped in alarm. “I’d completely forgotten. Is it...?”

  “Yup,” Erik cut in. “It’s that time again.”

  Cassie looked at her companions doubtfully. “Time for what?”

  The scrivener rolled his eyes. “Time for Maddie to repent her evil addiction and give up smoking. She does this without fail every two years.”

  “And it’s not going well?” Cassie offered tentatively.

  Erik snorted in disgust. “It never goes well. You should have heard her today.”

  “What’s she on about now?” Griffin sounded mystified.

  “She read me the riot act that if we don’t pick up the pace, Daniel will get the jump on us.”

  “Surely, she knows we’re doing the best we can,” the scrivener protested.

  “Sane Maddie would know that,” Erik retorted. “Nicotine-deprived Maddie needs a reality check.”

  “So, she does this every couple of years?” Cassie was still trying to process the concept.

  “I circle the date on my calendar,” Erik said.

  “As do I,” Griffin added glumly. “Not that it does any good to brace oneself for the inevitable.”

  “Jeez!” Cassie exclaimed in wonderment. “I had no idea.”

  “Not to worry though,” Griffin replied. “She’ll realize her folly and resume smoking in a few weeks. We just need to stay out of the country until that happens.”

  “So, the idea that she’s inviting lung cancer is supposed to comfort me?” Cassie asked incredulously.

  “Some people are meant to smoke,” Erik observed through gritted teeth. “Maddie is one of them. Her lungs must be made of titanium. Every time she goes for a check-up, the doc can’t find anything wrong. Not so much as a smoker’s cough.”

  At that moment, a silver Corolla glided up to the curb and parked. The driver got out and walked around the vehicle to meet the Arkana team.

  She was a middle-aged African woman of medium height and ample proportions. Everything about her seemed sturdy. From her broad features to her square build. Her close-cropped black hair was shot with streaks of grey.

  She held out her arms expansively and walked straight up to Griffin to embrace him. “Welcome to Nigeria, my dear boy.”

  Griffin stooped to return the hug. “We’re very glad to be here, Oluoma. It’s been a long flight.”

  “I’m sure it has,” the woman nodded, transferring her attention to Erik. Her brown eyes twinkled with mischief. “My daughter sends her regards,” she said as she hugged him.

  Cassie darted the paladin a swift look.

  He flushed with pleasure. “How is Amaka? I’ve haven’t seen her in a long time.”

  “She is quite well but sorry to have missed your visit. She is out of the country at the moment.”

  “Too bad,” Erik said. “Tell her I’ll give her a call when I get back to the States. It would be great to get together and catch up.”

  Cassie felt unaccountably irritated by Erik’s fascination with somebody named Amaka. She tried to hide her annoyance, but her scowl caused the paladin to cock an eyebrow in amusement. “Amaka and I started out as tyros at the same time,” he explained. “We went through orientation training together.”

  “I know she would welcome a call from her old chum,” Oluoma remarked and then turned abruptly toward Cassie. “And you!” she exclaimed, drawing Cassie into an enthusiastic embrace. “I have been looking forward to meeting our new pythia face-to-face. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend your investiture ceremony last month.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you too,” Cassie replied uncertainly. “Are you the trove keeper here?”

  “Forgive my manners.” Their contact chuckled. “My name is Oluoma Okoli. I am working with a task force on special assignment in the area, but since I’m a native of Nigeria, I volunteered to be your guide while you’re in the country.”

  Cassie noticed that the woman’s accent was a mixture of exotic West African and flat American English which implied she had spent a good deal of time in the States.

  Oluoma placed an arm around Cassie’s shoulder. “Poor dear, you look very tired. Such dark circles under your eyes.”

  “That’s really considerate of you to notice,” Cassie said pointedly for Erik’s benefit. “I don’t sleep well on planes.”

  “Nor do I,” their contact agreed. “Come, we’ll go straight to your hotel and get you checked in. It will be an all-day trip to the monoliths tomorrow, so you’ll need your rest.”

  Shepherding her charges into the Toyota, she sped away from the curb and took the exit that led to the center of town.

  From what Cassie could see out the car window, Calabar seemed like a prosperous modern city. The streets were bustling with cars, mopeds, and trucks. The sidewalks were thick with pedestrians who spilled out into the road, causing Oluoma to slap on the brakes repeatedly.

  “There sure is a lot of traffic for this time of day,” the pythia ventured.

  Much to her surprise, Oluoma threw back her head and laughed. “You consider this a lot of traffic? My dear young lady, you should try driving in Lagos and then talk to me about the traffic.”

  “Lagos?” Cassie repeated.

  “It’s the largest city in Nigeria,” Griffin offered from the back seat. “And Nigeria is the most heavily-populated country in all of Africa. I believe Lagos alone accounts for fifteen million people.”

  “That’s one big town,” Cassie remarked.

  “It isn’t actually,” the scrivener retorted. “In terms of land mass, Lagos isn’t nearly big enough to accommodate that many people.”

  “The traffic jams are infamous,” Oluoma said. “People think nothing of sitting in their cars for three hours or more to get anywhere. The capital, Abuja, is much nicer. Of course, Calabar is the nicest of all.” She smiled. “I may be slightly biased since I was born right here in Cross River State. People say it is the most beautiful part of Nigeria.”

  After several more minor traffic snarls, the Arkana group managed to arrive at the upscale hotel which Maddie had booked for them. Like many of the other buildings they had passed, compound walls surrounded the structure. It was a one-story U-shaped building framed by palm trees. A fountain splashed exuberantly from the center of the tiled courtyard where Oluoma parked her car.

  She took charge of checking them in and then left them to get settled, cautioning them that she would return to collect them at eight sharp the following morning. “I will enjoy showing you the Ikom monoliths,” she said in parting. “I’m quite sure you’ve never seen anything like
them before.”

  Since by now Cassie had spent the better part of a year examining boulders, she decided to reserve judgment. After Oluoma left, she told her teammates, “Don’t anybody wake me til it’s time to stare at some more rocks.”

  Chapter 14—Who’s Who?

  Leroy Hunt jammed his thumb into the elevator call button for the third time. It was already lit, but he thought he’d give it another poke since he’d been waiting for that blasted contraption since Hector was a pup. He was standing in the lobby of a high-rise apartment building which he’d visited one night about a year before.

  Leroy thought back to the chain of events that first brought him to this place. It all started when Miz Sybil, the antique store lady, met with her unfortunate accident. She wouldn’t tell him where she hid the preacher’s stone key. Then she tripped, bumped her head and went to glory. After that, Leroy started tailing her little sister Cassie which led him to a flat on the fourth floor of this very building. That was where he nicked the key that had caused all his misadventures since.

  Leroy reasoned that since the preacher’s runaway wife had got enough information to find her way to Miz Sybil’s antique shop, she might have got a line on Miss Cassie’s apartment too. Of course, Miss Cassie wouldn’t have been here since she met with an unfortunate accident of her own on the island of Crete. All the same, he figured to go upstairs and ask around. Maybe somebody had seen something. He pushed the elevator button again. This time he could hear gears grinding which meant it was on its way down.

  As he waited, a tiny blue-haired lady with a paper sack of groceries came to stand beside him.

  “Afternoon, ma’am.” He tipped his hat and smiled down at her. His momma had taught him to always be polite.

  She squinted up at him through her bifocals. “Good afternoon.”