The Magic Touch (21 page)

“Yes, sure,” Ray said. He knew he sounded lukewarm, but Guthrie’s words were playing over and over again in the back of his mind.

“If that’s all right, then,” Jeff said, sounding uncertain. “She told me to come here after dinner tomorrow evening.”

“Yes!” Ray exclaimed, then lowered his voice. “Sorry. I’ve got a few things on my mind. That’d be fine with me.”

“No problem,” Jeff said, giving him a friendly slap on the back. “Hey, Ms. Sennett is calling us to order again. I wish our group had some structure. You people are lucky.”

O O O

Ray wondered through the rest of the meeting whether it was possible that he had put his trust in the wrong people. Perhaps Grandma Eustatia had never been robbed of her brownie points. It would take a stronger mind than his to rip off that formidable woman. But he had never seen in anyone’s eyes the kind of furtive look they got when they were ripping a person off. These people were so sincere they’d cheat themselves to help another. Look at the way Rose was always giving up a quarter here, a dollar there, to help put the finishing touches on a wish. His fears gradually tapered off, but did not disappear entirely. Was one gang just like another?

O O O

Speed waited until the meeting had started up again before he slipped away to the telephones.

“Yes, sir, it’s me,” he said, as soon as Froister picked up. There was a pause and a click, as the djinn-master on the other end waved to his cashier to hang up her extension.

“Well?” he said, in his slightly nasal voice.

“They’re still not interested in doing this peaceable,” Speed said. His voice echoed in the small hallway, and he lowered it. “I think that even if the main federation ratifies that paper, they may still refuse to go along.”

“No!” Froister said. “I don’t want to have to go to Milwaukee to connect. We will have to do this the hard way.”

“Good,” Speed said, hearing the call to action. “I’ll get the guys.”

“No. I will send them to you.”

Speed heard footsteps in the hallway. “Someone’s coming,” he said. “I’d better go.”

He hung up the phone, crossed his arms, and blinked himself out of the hall.

“Hello?” Chris Popp walked into the dark corridor. “Are you going to be on the telephone long? I need to make a call.…” He squinted at the telephone. There was no one there. “Funny, I thought I heard a voice.”

Chapter 20

The magical thefts were the subject of conversation throughout the magical community. The Guardian Angels were already in the Magic Bar by the time the meeting broke up. Ray heard them bragging while he waited for Edwin the bartender to pour pitchers of beer and soda.

“Yeah,” said a big-shouldered black man loudly enough to be heard halfway across the room, “we’ve taken care of a dozen attempted robberies. There is some mighty bad magic around here, but we’ll keep it under control.” The others raised their glasses to one another, and they drank. Ray made a face, and Edwin grinned at him.

“Pay no attention,” he said.

“My protective wards at Tiffany’s have shown no fewer than a thousand attempts at penetration,” said a female GA, settling back in her chair and resting her elbows along the top rail. “Those creeps ought to know that they can’t get past the power of good!”

There was a lot of hearty laughter as Ray shouldered the tray of drinks and carried it back to the fairy godparents’ usual table.

Alexandra was talking about the same thing. “… I’ve consulted the other affiliate groups around the area. Urbano of the Tooth Fairies, Froister of the DDEG, Mrs. Washington of the House Brownies, Lucarnoff of the Guardian Angels, Pinkwater of the Sandmen … No one knows a thing. Nor do they know who’s spreading the rumors that the group committing these crimes is the FGU.”

“Huh! At least they’re not doubting our magic,” Rose said, accepting a glass of soda from Ray.

Garner cupped one hand over the side of his face, and glanced back at the Guardian Angels, who were still loudly congratulating one another on their heroics. “You know, if it was me, I’d just make something up, to keep those nitwits running around the city.” He and Ray exchanged a conspiratorial grin.

“So how are you doing, son?” Mr. Lincoln asked, looking up as Ray gave him a glass of beer.

“He’s a prodigy,” Rose said proudly. “I’ve had some good pupils in my time, but this young man! This is a natural wonder. He creates, he has humility, he has empathy, and most important, he bounces back.”

“Aw, Rose.” Ray was embarrassed at her praise, but it meant a lot to him. He felt a warm glow inside, and the wand answered with its vibes of goodness. The others smiled at him.

“You have no idea how important resilience is,” Alexandra told him seriously. “I’ve had fairy godparents turn in their wands when they could not cope with the job.” Ray looked around. All the eyes were sympathetic and sincere.

“You all know about … that one child,” he said. Everyone nodded, still watching him. “I’m okay now.”

“It’s rough, kid,” Morry said, slapping him on the back. “But it’s not all low spots, is it? And it’s worth it. Don’t you feel that?”

Suddenly, the doubt that Guthrie had engendered came back. Ray had to gulp half a glass of cola to swallow his concerns.

“I sure do,” he said. “I wish I could get Hakeem into this. He’s my best friend, and much smarter than I am.”

“I don’t believe
that
,”
Rose interrupted him.

“Well, he is,” Ray said. “Boy, the two of us, we could cover half a city at night.” The others chuckled, but Ray started to like the idea. Yeah, that might straighten Hakeem out, having a really good cause to espouse. He already believed in the magic. If Hakeem could be brought into a good gang, not an evil one, then he could belong without destroying himself. He might even get back to the way he used to be. Then Ray remembered Speed’s words, suggesting a pattern of hidden exploitation. He took another sip of cola, and almost choked when he felt his throat was closed.
Stop that
,
he told himself.
Relax.
You’ve got no reason to believe him. He’s sowing discord on purpose!

“How about that lovely girl of yours?” Rose asked, interrupting his thoughts. “Wouldn’t she make a wonderful fairy godmother?” Ray hesitated. “Oh, come on. You were willing to support her so she could finish veterinary school.”

“It’s like this,” Ray said, very sheepishly. “I’m a modern guy, right? But I’m still a guy. It’s okay if we’re not rivals, but if we went head to head on the same job—she’d probably be better at it than me, right away. I’m not sure how I could take that.”

“You need a shot of self-esteem, sonny,” Morry Garner said. “But if that’s the way you feel, then you’re right. But after you’re married and the kids start coming, you’ll have to tell her why you’re going out nights, or there’ll be hell to pay.”

“Oh, I’d
tell
her,” Ray said unhappily. “Ah, damn, I guess I’ve just got to learn to deal with it if she wants to join.”

“There, you really are a modern man,” Alexandra said encouragingly. “I couldn’t imagine my father saying anything like that. My husband has
learned
,
but it took time.” The others laughed.

“I don’t think it’s anything you’ll have to worry about,” Rose said confidently. “Besides, that girl loves you too much to make you take a backseat, even if she was better at something than you.”

“I’ve got to tell you something,” Ray blurted out. “I know who’s behind the burglaries.” And he told them about the genie-Jackals, the stolen box of cigarettes, and the fire on his street. “They haven’t bragged about it when I’ve been around, but I’ll bet anything they’re the ones who are responsible.”

“I told you so,” Morry Garner said, raising his eyebrows at Mrs. Durja.

“I tell you it is only the local chapter,” Mrs. Durja said furiously.

“George would laugh,” Morry said. “The Guardian Angels should have detected something like that, but it took one of our own to discover the truth.”

“You were wise to tell us, Ray,” Alexandra said brusquely. She was upset, though not at him. “Thank you. I’ll take it up with Albert Froister, in person. Damn him for lying through his smooth, slimy teeth. He must have known all the time. I’m going to take this up with headquarters. The Fairy fairies are going to want to gut Mr. Froister.”

“Perhaps he could not control a fringe element of his membership, and was ashamed to tell you,” Mrs. Durja said.

“That’s impossible,” Alexandra said. “You know the terms of Djinn membership. The guildmaster’s authority is absolute.”

“That puts an end to any silly blather about a merger,” Morry Garner said with satisfaction. Mrs. Durja shot him an angry look. “Well, you can’t expect us to condone criminal activity. This has to be straightened out in the DDEG headquarters.”

“I’m still worried about George,” she said. “It is not like him to miss meetings. He’s the most responsible person I know.”

“He’s never missed a meeting,” Mr. Lincoln said. “Not in forty years.”

“Maybe he’s sick,” Mrs. Durja suggested, looking worried. “I will call him at home. His wife, Estrellita, will tell me how he is.”

“Oh, well. He’ll have to conduct the next meeting,” Alexandra said. “I won’t be here. He’s known that for weeks. My family and I are going up to Door County for a week. We leave next Friday at noon. If we drive like the wind, we’ll get there in time for the fireworks. I’d better get going, now.”

“Enjoy!” everyone chorused. “It’s lovely up there,” Rose added.

“That little bit of luck’ll get you there on time,” Mr. Lincoln said, with a wink.

“I hope so.” Alexandra pushed away from the table and picking up her purse. “I’d better get home now. I have a genie to beard in the morning.”

O O O

“There’s one of them now,” Speed said. It was uncanny how the people just kind of popped into existence on an empty street full of vacant stores. He peered at her. “Hey, we’ve hit the jackpot. That’s the chairwoman. Cool. We’re starting at the top.” He signaled over his shoulder at the alley full of shadows.

O O O

“Let me go!” Alexandra screamed. “Let go, you…!”

Her words were left behind on the street with her purse and one of her shoes as she was surrounded by a gang of ill-dressed teenagers. She managed to get a wrist free, and tried to turn and run, but she was no longer on the street. Alexandra was enveloped by a stinking black cloud, then suddenly she was surrounded by brown cardboard cartons printed with codes in black, block letters. She put out her hands to feel them. They were real. She had been kidnapped by magic. But by whom? And where was she?

“Are you all right?” a familiar voice asked. Alexandra spun on her bare foot.

“George!” There he was, little round eyeglasses and all. She limped to him, holding out her hands. His usually neat shirt and trousers were wrinkled, and his beard had grown out, scruffy and graying. He came to meet her, glaring defiance at the pair of juvenile guards who stood on the edge of the cleared space. His handclasp was reassuringly strong.

She looked around at the wall of boxes surrounding them. They were arranged to leave a large, empty square. To one side was a small cot and a tray table. A pair of shoes was neatly placed underneath the cot. Alexandra glanced down. George was in his stocking feet, and his toenails were beginning to show through the thin, knit fabric.

“How long have you been here?” Alexandra asked, astounded.

“Since the night of the last meeting,” George said. “I couldn’t fight them off. Too many of them. They wanted the membership list from my briefcase, but they got me along with it. Where did they get you?”

“I was kidnapped right outside the bar,” Alexandra said. “They were waiting for me. I can’t believe the Guardian Angels didn’t sense a thing either time!”

“Well, Alexandra,” George said, and she saw a glint of dark humor in his eyes. “I told you those damned gas-bags weren’t any good.”

“That’s exactly what Morry Garner said you’d say,” Alexandra said, reassured that his imprisonment hadn’t done him any harm. “Who are these people?”

“The DDEG,” George said, with a sigh. “Looks like Morry was right again.”

“What? What is this place? What’s in all those boxes?” Alexandra asked.

“Lamps,” George laughed bitterly. “Appropriate, isn’t it? Welcome to Enlightenment. Genie Central.”

“What do they want with
us
?”

“They want brownie points,” George said wearily.

“What?” Alexandra exclaimed. “They don’t get brownie points for kidnapping.”

“No, they want
ours.
”

Alexandra put her hands on her hips. “What for? Their magic is intrinsically more powerful than ours. They grant three wishes at a throw … Oh,” she said, light dawning. “They want to wish themselves free of the lamp. Not in the ordinary way, but with all the fringies still attached.”

“Exactly,” Albert Froister said, appearing in a puff of smoke beside them. Alexandra coughed and batted a hand to clear the air. The guildmaster smelled terrible. It was the stench of evil. Young Ray Crandall had given the FGU an important piece of information, but too late to do her any good. “And the sooner you and your members turn yours over to me, the sooner you can leave.”

“Oh, nonsense,” Alexandra said, picturing an infinity of empty suns in her mind. There wasn’t enough in the whole union pool to even start the process. “Do you know how many brownie points it would take to break the fundamental agreement between a genie and his lamp? Even
one
genie?”

“No,” Froister said. “Tell me.” He leaned closer, his eyes gleamed with a frightening light. Alexandra was terrified. The man had gone absolutely mad. Then her native obduracy took over, and she crossed her arms in defiance. She only looked like a fashion doll. She was not malleable by threat.

“I won’t tell you,” she said, her voice very calm. “That is not a legitimate question. And this is not a legitimate way to ask me. Mr. Froister, if I had to think of one way which would be unconducive to getting my cooperation, this would be close to the top of the list.”

Froister had evidently come to the same conclusion. He took her arm, led her to the cot and gestured for her to sit down. She frowned as he knelt beside her.

“Mrs. Sennett, as you have guessed, we need your union’s pool of free magic to liberate our membership from our traditional bond,” he said, sliding his cuffs down over his wristbands. “It has become onerous, and we crave relief. I am making a formal request for cooperation between two affiliate organizations.”

Alexandra laughed. “That’s impossible. Why, it would take—” She stopped short as Froister held up a warning hand.

“Just one moment, please,” he said. He turned to the young, apple-cheeked guard and taller, broader, rougher-looking guard standing close by. “Leave us now.”

They vanished in puffs of smoke, wafting upward into the rafters of the high ceiling. “All the way!” Froister shouted. In the corner of the room, Alexandra saw the two small clouds start with surprise. She hadn’t spotted them, but Froister must know all the tricks of his trade. The two youths vanished completely from the warehouse, and Froister returned his attention to his captives.

“Please go on,” he said.

“Not a chance,” Alexandra said, folding her arms. “Section 119 of the manual says that we cannot be coerced out of any benefit which may accrue naturally in the course of our duties, and RULE ONE says magic cannot be used for evil.”

“What makes you think we’d use magic for evil?” Froister asked nervously.

“Because this place stinks of it,” George put in. “As I have been telling you for a week. In fact, it’s getting worse. If you were ever doing your job properly, you’re not now. I bet you’re behind all those robberies. And rumors!”

“He is,” Alexandra said, as Froister pantomimed innocence. “I’ve had information from … a reliable source. Whether he is aware of it or not, he’s accruing their form of brownie points, and they smell of evil!”

Froister was not inclined to implicate himself. He smiled nervously, and stood up. “Well, you’ll stay here until you cooperate,” he said. “I can’t let you go now.” He vanished in the characteristic roiling fume. Alexandra jumped up to look for him, but he had disappeared thoroughly. In his place, the two young guards rematerialized, and took up sentry posts at opposite corners of the square. Alexandra approached the younger of the two. He looked as if normally he was good-natured, and he seemed frightened.

“Young man, let me out of here.”

“I can’t, ma’am,” he said apologetically. He stuck a hand out to her. She reached for it, but her hand bounced off an invisible barrier. Perhaps it was only at shoulder level. Alexandra tested the air at different heights, reaching up on her toes, but the invisible wall extended everywhere.