Down the gray park strip she came like the last ray of daylight. Her gray sweatsuit was trimmed in yellow; a yellow sweatband held her mahogany hair back from her gray-blue eyes and high cheekbones. The bright flush on her cheeks showed that she was ending, not beginning, her run. Her pace became a jog as she passed his bench. She paid him no attention. He rose and gathered his things He saw her vanish through the tall wrought iron doors of the Grand Arcade. He followed, and as the doors closed behind him, he glimpsed her going down the stairs to the underground shopping. She strode quickly away, her sneakers making no sound as she fled.
Sighing at this whim of hers, he gave chase. Where was she going? He needed to talk to her. The footlocker leaped into his mind, submerging him in panic. Cassie gleamed before him like a lifeline. He bit down on his tongue to keep from calling her name aloud. Clutching his bag and overcoat, he went down the steps two at a time.
She threaded her way through the maze of underground shops and he gave chase. Past the Fireworks Art Gallery she strode, not even tarrying for a glance at the pottery. Wizard sidestepped a couple strolling arm in arm. She was hurrying up the stairs that led back to street level. That particular staircase would let her out in the cobbled square, scarcely a block from where she had entered the mall. Mystified, he raced up the steps after her. He reached the street level landing and stood panting as he stared about.
A door to his left was just closing. He tucked his bag more securely under his arm as he watched it swing toward him. It could not be there. The glass door in front of him revealed the cobbled square. The stairway emerged in the square, well clear of any buildings. There was nowhere for this door to lead. He caught it just before the catch snicked.
It opened onto a staircase, wooden and very dusty. The walls were white, lit by a single bulb that glared down at him.
He thought he caught a whisper of her sneakers far above him.
He panted up the steps, dust coating his mouth and throat. The steps went straight on, and on, with no. windings or turns, lit at intervals by identical bare lightbulbs. The steps became steeper with every light be passed; there were no landings or hand rails to rest on. Wizard tried to calculate how far he had climbed, and failed miserably. He heard a far laugh. Shifting his coat and bag to his other arm, he hurried on. The light changed subtly. The next fixture he passed was a gas lamp in a glass chimney. Six of these he passed, and then he came to a sconce with white beeswax tapers. Wizards face throbbed; he hoped his nose wouldnt bleed. His shirt stuck to him.
The stairs began to be in poor repair. He slipped twice on their worn edges, barking his shins. The wood creaked ominously, and once he snatched his foot up just as a rotting riser gave way beneath him. He passed bare windows, curtainless, with glass shattered away. Outside was blackness and stars; nothing else. He hurried past their empty stares. The lights were farther apart now; he climbed in a dusky twilight.
The walls of the staircase began to show cracks. Some were as wide as his fist. He caught glimpses of cold stars through them and felt the icy breath of night. He no longer dared to rest his hand against the wall. Once a whole step was missing.
In the semi-darkness, he nearly didnt notice. His heart clutched at his throat as he stepped over a black eternity. He glanced back the way he had come. Behind him the lights were snuffed; the staircase down was a black tunnel.
He climbed on. Just as his calves hopelessly cramped, he reached a tiny landing. A door upholstered in red velvet was lit by a small bayberry candle guttering in a yellow glass globe.
Wizard took a deep breath and lifted an ornate brass knocker.
He let it fall twice. The door was opened instantly, and he stumbled in to sink onto low fat cushions.
No wind, Cassie chided him. I keep telling you to get more exercise. You could be a Sunday jogger.
I dont have the wardrobe, he panted. Slowly his breathing steadied. He looked around an unfamiliar chamber furnished with a multitude of red and yellow cushions. Tall windows framed In sumptuous drapes let in the night and the constellations. The ceiling rose in a dome whose interior was calligraphied with gilt characters. Light came from various choirs of candles grouped around the chamber, and from a small bright fire in a squat brazier in the center of the room.
He took the tall glass she handed him and sipped from it.
Clear, cold spring water, icy as a glacier, revived him. He smiled at her gratefully, beseechingly. Cassie, he ventured.
I think Im in terrible trouble.
I know you are, she replied succinctly- She parted some draperies and disappeared. He stared at the banked candles until she returned, clad now in a white gown kirtled with green, and bearing a large tray- Tray and woman sank down gracefully beside Wizard. The tray had short legs that put it at kneeling height. The brazier warmed them born. She did not wait for him, but plunged ravenously into the meal.
Wizard picked up a thick meat sandwich on homemade bread and eyed it suspiciously. You attacked one of my pigeons today, he accused her gravely.
So what? Cassie asked around a mouthful. We all have to eat. Besides, I just rumpled his feathers. This meat isnt squab, if thats what youre worried about. Eat now, talk later.
Youre as skinny as a pile of kindling.
Wizard ate. He never asked her where she got things from.
Beside the sandwiches were slivers of smoked salmon poked into cream cheese balls, crisp sour tiny pickles, cashews and almonds, and small pastry rolls with a mysterious spicy filling.
As he ate, he felt his strength and calmness expanding to fill him. His fear had hidden inside him all day, nibbling away at his power. But at Cassies he was safe, and the food she fed him gave him back his mind. With a sigh, he finished and leaned back to look at her.
Tonight she was young, perhaps in her early twenties. Her hair was caught back in a loose roll at the nape of her neck, but tendrils of it had pulled free to soften her grave features.
She lapped cream cheese off a fingertip, and caught his eyes on her. So? she asked, wrinkling her nose at him.
So, he agreed. The weight of his worry pressed down on him again. I had a visitor last night, Cassie. An unpleasant one. It calls itself Mir.
I know. She stopped his voice with a look. I overheard it. Anyone with a shred of Power must have felt it last night.
I imagine people had nightmares for blocks around here.
Sorry, he murmured, feeling guilty about the overflow.
Dont be. They should consider it fair warning. If you fall to it, not a street in the Ride Free Area will be safe. So it concerns them as much as it does you. What you are going to do about it?
He shook his head slowly, haying no answer. The Pimp entered, slipping between me drapes like perfume, strolling across the room with his orange tail held high. He glanced with green eyes at the ravaged tray and leaped to Wizards lap, purring loudly. Wizard stroked his sleek sides, and the big cat stood up against him to rub cheeks with him. Sitting down fat on his lap. The Pimp gave a quick scrub at his face with one paw and uttered a questioning meow-
Sony, Wizard laughed gently. We ate it all.
The Pimp was not slow. He sank his claws into Wizards thighs and burned out across his chest, leaving clawmarks instead of smoking rubber. Wizard gave a yell and fell away from him as the angry cat vanished. Cassie only laughed. You see where he got his name. Bring him something home and hes your sugar man. But greet him empty-handed. -.. Thats The Pimp.
Black Thomas lost a paw last night.
Cassie flinched. I didnt pick up on that. Do you think hell be all right?
I did what I could for him. Thats how Mir got me. reached after Thomas past my own shield, and couldnt pull back fast enough.
I had wondered what made you go out there naked. Well.
I suppose you want me to look into it?
Would you?
Why do you think I changed? I wasnt about to play seer in a sweatsuit. It would be akin to a priest granting absolution-, without a stole. I guess theres no sense in putting it off. Come on,then.
Cassie wiped her fingertips and mouth with a napkin and dropped it on the tray. Wizard rose slowly to follow her- As he picked up the bag and his coat. she focused on the bag.
Whats that?
I found it in a dumpster, with my name on it. He held it out to her. As quickly as she had put out her hand, she drew it back. Wonder and dread mingled in her voice.
Theres power there, but not for me to touch, nor use- Its harmless right now, but the right spark
Just like plastic explosive.
If I were one to give advice on things that arent in my realm, Id tell you to leave it in that bag until the moment comes. Dont touch it until then. Dont mantle yourself with its power until you are ready to pick up the gauntlet.
Is this a Seeing?
Dont tease. No, its just my opinion.
If I didnt know better. Id say you knew what was in the bag.
Well, I dont. And I dont want to. Not any more than I want to ask you this. But I dont dare do a Seeing without knowing. Have you broken faith with me magic?
Wizard stared at her, feeling slashed that she would even ask him such a thing. Did she suppose that he had forgotten the rules, unique to himself, that he must obey to retain his own special powers? He shook his head numbly.
Are you sure? Not even by accident? Have you spoken the Truth when it was on you? When people ask, and you Know, have you always answered? Have you kept your pigeons safe and secure?
He bobbed a nod at each question, but as she pressed on, he felt his control break. When she paused, he asked in a cold, uncertain voice, Arent you going to ask me if Ive carried more than a dollar in change? If Ive turned my strength loose upon others? If Ive been with a woman?
An abyss of dread opened in Cassies eyes and was as quickly masked. Do I need to ask those things? she inquired evenly.
No! Because you know I havent. Cant we get on with this? That damn thing up in my den I know its from gray Mir. I Know it.