Mana in the Modern World non illustrated version (15 page)

Several months after the attempted robbery in
Orange, TX Jack gets called in on another ‘rice husk’ in Alaska.
But for some reason Anna feels she needs to remain in Conroe. “Well
Anna, the way things have been going I say stick with your
intuition to hang.” “You’re right Jack, especially as I feel fairly
strong about this. Don’t forget to put up your mosquito shield.”
“Better believe it will be up. No way will I forget that after
being swarmed in Baton Rouge! I hear tell some of the mosquitoes up
there in Alaska are so big they carry off babies!”

Missing Jack after only a few days Anna is
trying to decide what her intuition is trying to tell her. It is
almost an actual itch inside her head. ‘Or is it something to do
with the Mana Jack and I have been working with so much? Maybe
telling me something. Precognition? Weirder things have been
happening.’ Looking for a distraction she turns on the TV to the
local news station. At the end of the news the station does a short
piece about a young female magician that is mystifying all those
that see her act for the past 4 days. No one can figure out how she
does it and so far she has refused to be interviewed. “OK Anna,
want some cotton candy and go to see a carnie act?” Still
authorized to wear her Ranger badge she decides this is the time to
wear the badge openly again.

After convincing the Carnival owner she had
just turned 18 and showing him her ‘magic’ trick he decides to give
her a try. He set her up in an old 20x30 foot enclosed tent with
chairs for sixteen people for her to do her show on a trial basis.
She insisted no cameras or pictures of any kind be allowed and that
she will wear a full skull face mask to conceal her identity. One
of the carnie women gives Carol a cape with a hood, necklaces and a
bunch of gaudy bracelets so she will look more like a Mystic
Sorceress.

***

Pic here of Sorceress

***

Business was slow the first morning but soon
word of mouth brought in more customers which was good as she
received 50% of her gate. Plus she was allowed to set out a tip jar
for herself and her even younger assistant. After the first two
days business was brisk, tips good and word was spreading about her
act. The carnival was due to leave soon and Carol had been invited
to travel with them. Things were certainly looking up!

Her table was placed at the back of the tent
with the audience chairs in a slight arc and spaced apart to allow
her assistant to move about the audience. He carried a small flat
tray with a blue plastic bowl in the center. The assistant would
ask for a small not sharp item to be placed on the tray by someone
and then used a small flashlight to light the item so everyone
(especially Carol!) could get a good view of the item. He then
asked the item’s owner to cover the item with the upturned bowl.
The assistant then held the tray up high for all to see. Carol then
placed her large red bowl, upside down, over her hand on her small
table.

Pausing for a moment she points to the up
raised tray and, while saying Abracadabra, points to the bowl over
her hand. Carol then lifts her bowl revealing the item in her open
hand, lifting the item to show it is real. The attendant than
lowers the tray and asks the owner to lift the bowl revealing the
item gone. They then reverse the sequence to return the item. She
performs this five times per show, each time with a different item
and person in the audience. Doing a show every hour with thirty
minutes in between shows in about an 8 hour period allowed her time
to rest her head after each performance.

A professional magic debunker had heard of
her and came yesterday and tried but failed to explain how she
preformed the trick. He had even brought a camera crew but they
were not allowed in the tent. But he was allowed to physically
check the tray and bowl. He left still convinced it was somehow
just a trick, tho he admitted it was a very good one. He made a
living proving magic did not exist. Unknown to him his income was
about to take a sharp drop.

Upon buying her ticket Anna learns she has
almost an hour before Carol’s next show so decides to look around.
Now that she and Jack can sense Mana energy being worked she is
always watching for the small, but sometimes bright, flash as the
energy is released. Wandering about she munches on a very good
crunchy corn dog with honey mustard. It was interesting in that
they used a very large plastic needle to insert the mustard inside
the corn dog’s length. No dipping or mess and delicious!

Time for the show so Anna waits as folks
enter, wanting to be toward the back to watch. She also makes sure
her Aura is still dampened all the way down; just in case; and it
is. As Carol enters from the back Anna sees a faint aura around
her. ‘Hum, interesting,’ thinks Anna. Closely watching Carol she
sees her aura dims slightly when the item is transferred. Focusing
on the next item to be transferred she sees a very slight flash
even tho it is covered. Watching Carol’s covered hand the next time
there is another flash. Anna decides she must talk with the girl
and her parents so she buys another ticket for the last show.

This time Anna lags behind as the audience
leaves and, as Carol gets up to leave, Anna allows her aura to
shine brightly as she approaches her. Carol, seeing Anna’s bright
aura gasps, removes her face mask and starts sobbing. Unnoticed,
the young assistant hurriedly leaves. Anna goes up to Carol and
hugs her, both now crying. Carol whispers, “I thought I was a
freak.”

After a minute Anna holds Carol back a bit
and quietly says, “No Carol, you’re not a freak, just gifted. Let’s
go talk to your parents. This is very important.” “I have no
parents. My father is dead and my mother offered me to her drug
dealing boyfriend for drugs. I refused and when he tried to rape me
I ran away,” whispers Carol.

Opening her vest to show her Ranger badge to
Carol, Anna says, “Then we will get your things and I promise to
keep you safe.” “No Ranger, I cannot lose my job. I need the money
and have been saving for an old truck I saw. Besides the carnie
folks are very nice and they protect me too,” replies Carol.

Out of the corner of her eye Anna has noticed
a small group of carnie people entering the tent, gathering around
them and that they looked somewhat ‘ticked’. Anna turns to face
them and displays her badge saying, “I am Ranger Anna Stone, is
there something I can do for you folks?” “Yes Ranger, we want to
know what are you doing with Carol?” asks a very large older man,
maybe 6’6, big belly but still well muscled.

“She is underage and coming with me. I
guarantee her safety and now I need you to back off.” Carol says,
“It’s OK Mike. I think I need to go with her. I thank all you
carnie folks for taking me in. You have been like family to me. Can
I get my pay from you and my things?” “Sure Carol if that’s what
you really want but we all will miss your smiling face. But
remember; you have my number so don’t hesitate to call me if you
have any trouble,” replies Mike as he turns to look sternly at
Anna. Carol went over and got her almost full tip jar and, over his
objections, gave a handful of the bills to her assistant Jim giving
him a lite kiss on the cheek causing him to blush like a red beet.
After Mike paid Carol they went to her tiny trailer to retrieve her
few possessions.

Suddenly Carol stopped and stared at Anna.
“What?” says Anna. “Why do you no longer glow Ranger? “O; I can
tone my aura down and even to completely off. See? You will be
learning to do that and more exciting stuff. It is just one of the
many things that I, and others, will be teaching you. I take it you
have not heard much about magic returning? Anyway, I still have to
contact your mother first. And I; without a doubt; intend to pay a
fairly painful visit to her boyfriend.” “O God, I will not go back
Ranger!” “Calm down Carol, you will not be going back to her,
period. I will personally see to that. My visit to your mother is
simply to make sure she hands custody of you over to me. And please
call me Anna.” Then, with a huge grin and a laugh, adds, “Always
wanted a semi-daughter!” “Hey, a Texas Ranger semi-mom at that!”
shouts Carol!

Carol is chewing her lip and is very quiet on
the drive to Jack’s place. “Not to worry Carol. We are going to my
friend Jack’s home just west of town and he has plenty of extra
room while we get this all straightened out. His place is probably
the safest in Texas. Besides, I think you will like Jack, he’s
pretty cool.” About then Anna turns into a narrow curvy road.
“Watch this Carol,” Anna says as she pulls up to a massive gate.
Anna leans out her window and looks into an eye scanner and says,
“Open sesame.” And the gate opens with a loud creaking groaning
sound. “O so cool,” Carol whispers. “Yes, I think he added the
creaking and groaning sound to the gate because he really, really,
likes the old Adam’s Family TV show.”

Coming around the last curve Carol sees a
very large domed shaped building and two smaller ones, one up
against the large one. “O my,” whispers Carol when the large dome
home comes into better view she stares, mouth agape. Anna says,
“It’s almost earthquake and tornado proof too. “This guy must be
really, really mega rich. Why would he be willing to help me?”
exclaims Carol. “Well he does have a few dimes as he is prone to
say and he is a dear friend. Currently he is in Alaska on a case
but he will be happy to meet you. And before you ask, no, he is not
a Texas Ranger. Why would he help you? Cause he is a very nice
person.”

“Remember I said that Jack, I and others,
have a lot to teach you? Well, the learning will be exhausting, but
you will usually have fun doing so, well mostly. I will call Jack
and brief him on the situation. Once he gets back, we will work
together on your mother to get you set up with us.” “Anna, she’s a
druggie and was selling me to her drug dealing boyfriend for free
drugs! I’m really not sure you understand! She is really looking
physically bad and believes I am her only way to score more drugs!”
Now pulling into the garage dome aside the main dome Anna says,
“Carol, is there simply no way we will let you go back to your
mother.”

Carol is even more impressed with the insides
of the home. Entering she sees a spiral staircase going up and down
around inside against the outer wall and, in the center open area,
what looks like an elevator. “An elevator Anna?” “Yes, for some of
the heavier items that went upstairs or to the basement. Why don’t
you go on up to the second floor; there are several empty rooms so
pick out a room. We can maybe redecorate to your tastes later. Then
do a quick shower while I make us some cold cut for subs. I’ll also
call Jack to brief him so he will know we have a guest and what I
hope to accomplish.” After Carol went upstairs Anna made a quick
call to inform her mom the news that she was ‘with’ child.

Her mother, Beth, screamed loud enough that
Anna thought her eardrum would burst. “Who’s the father Anna? You
didn’t even tell me you were dating again! Is it Jack or another
Ranger? What… why are you laughing?” Still laughing Anna manages to
cut in saying, “Mom, let me get in a word or two. I didn’t mean to
get you so wound up with my joke.”

“A joke Anna,
a JOKE
? You’re not too
big to put over my knees young woman!” loudly says an irate mom.
“Sorry, I just could not resist and really didn’t think my
statement through before I called. The child I am with is almost
16.”

“Remember I told you about Jack? Well he and
I will be taking custody of her from a very bad situation and for
her own safety. Anyway, as you are retired and always complaining
about how you are SO bored, I thought you might like to move in
here with us as a surrogate mom or grandma. That should help your
boredom especially with everything happening now. So please think
it over and let me know. OK? O and mom; if you decide to come there
some things you need to know about what Jack and I are doing now
but you cannot talk about them. At least for awhile,” said Anna.
“OK girl, mum’s the word. You know me, I love a mystery almost as
much as a new insect. No need to think it over so I will be there
in three or four days. I assume then you are still living at Jack’s
place so email me directions,” Beth replies.

Anna calls Jack with a “Hi Jack! Something
interesting is happening …..again.” “Not again Anna, you’re gonna
get worse than me. What’s up? By the way, I should be back tomorrow
or the next day. As expected, another burned rice husk but it looks
like it was dropped from a plane. This time there still is a
strong, but fading, residue of the energy on the body. The Mana
residue feels dirty as we say.” Anna fills him in on what has
happened and what she thinks they should to do plus that she asked
her mom to come up and help. Jack thinks those are excellent ideas
and agrees with everything saying, “Later Anna.”

The cold cut sub materials are all laid out
when she hears Carol singing as she comes down the stairs. The
singing is suddenly cut short by a scream! Grabbing a small
revolver attached under the counter Anna heads for the stairs and
Carol. Anna sees Carol standing on top of the coffee table,
whimpering and pointing around at the floor.

“GGG Ghost, there are ghosts!” Anna starts
laughing so hard she drops her gun, falls to the floor rolling in
laughter and gasping for air. “Anna, are you crazy? There are one
or more ghosts moving stuff! I set my backpack down by the stairs
and when I came down just now it was moving toward and into a door
that was opening all by itself!”

Catching her breath, feebly trying to get up,
between gasps Anna says, “Well that closet is where we keep
backpacks and coats! O Lord I can’t breathe.” Dropping back to the
floor she continues, “Not ghosts, just something like you do in
your act. Only a bit more advanced. Told you we had lots to teach
you. Now come down here and help me up; I seem to be a bit weak in
the knees!”