Chapter 27: Audience Participation

One of the weirder adjustments had to be their audience. On days when they experimented, they closed the brewery. After the first few times they stopped warding off people, they drew the attention of the people of Harper Valley. They gathered around the property, watching from the other side of the fence as Wil moved earth around for hours on end.

After reshaping and connecting the two leylines on the property, the property was an incredible mess. Grass and growth were gone, replaced with disturbed dirt and exposed stone. There were hills and dips and a weird obelisk looking pillar of hardened earth in the middle of a small island inside of a ten foot dip. It didn’t make sense to Wil why those shapes were necessary for the shape of the leyline. No doubt it made even less sense to the spectators.

Sense or not, they came every day, open or close. When open, they’d walk around, whispering to each other. A few had asked Wil why he did what he did, but the wizard just shrugged and said it was classified. That had been fun the first few times. Now, on a day when they were hard at work trying another shape, an audience hovered around the fences.

“I could get rid of them,” Isom offered from atop the obelisk, which he considered his new bed. “I wouldn’t even have to hurt them. A bit of stinky breath, a devastating roar and they’ll scatter. It would be so fun.”

Wil paused his efforts. A wave of loose dirt spilled over, losing its shape. The leyline ran lower, invisibly brushing up against the earth instead of floating above it. If nothing else, he could take a few days and see how it would affect plant growth. It worked on Mr. Carrey’s farm, with all the beanstalks now tied to the leyline.

“Maybe if I eat in front of them. Just give me some delicious beef ribs with some sauce. I’ll eat, really messy-like, so they stop watching.” Isom wasn’t going to drop it.

“That’s really not necessary,” said Wil, brushing sweat from his brow. “When we close up for the day, we’ll put the wards back up. No one’s breaking in when we’re not around.”

Isom slipped off the obelisk, landing with a heavy thud in the dirt. “How do the wards not affect the Beefy One?”

Wil took a deep breath and sighed. It wasn’t going to happen today. Not with all the distractions. Between Isom, the sound of distant conversation, and the strain of throwing so much earth around, working didn’t sound too appealing. “They don’t affect him because of a charm I made for him that’s tied into the wards. Makes him immune. Do you really want to terrorize people so badly?”

“Well,” said Isom, licking his chops, “I’m bored. I need to hunt, eat, or sleep, and I’m not tired. Fix this!”

“It does seem to fall on me to make sure you get enough enrichment,” said Wil. “Every responsible pet owner needs to take care of their cute widdle pets.”

Isom went from playfully insolent to snarling in seconds. Wil burst out laughing and launched himself at the cat. Isom reared up and caught Wil with his middle set of legs. The two collapsed to the ground and wrestled around. Isom snapped dangerously close to his neck and ears while Wil scratched every spot he could reach.

A minute later they were sprawled out on the ground, distant laughter in the air. Wil laughed breathlessly, patting the wampus cat on the side. “Let’s stop for now and get some food. And you can come too, if you can agree to behave in public.”

“Beef ribs?” he asked hopefully.

“Even better.”

After a long shower, he, Bram, and Isom drove over to Mack’s Shack. Mack was one of the many business owners in the Le Guin Basin who needed to expand their operation after the treaty was signed. His long, sprawling diner now had two more wings built on either side of the original, curving around. As busy as it was, there was always a place for Wil and friends.

Candy led them all the way around the side to the corner, where the fewest people would bother them. Mack himself came up to shake Wil and Bram’s hands. “Gentleman,” he said in his gravelly voice. “Where’s your better half, Mr. Wizard?”

“She’s working with Thomas on integrating the battery with one of the cars,” said Wil.

“We split up into two teams to get more done,” Bram added helpfully, pushing the table out so he could fit in the booth. “They’ll be in before too long.”

“You know pets aren’t allowed in here, right?” Mack joked, pulling out a pad and paper.

“You’re free to try to remove me,” purred Isom from the ground.

“I like living too much. What can I get you?”

“Monster Burger,” said Bram, rubbing his hands together.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Monster burger and a steak if you have it. Extra rare.” Wil peeked over the half wall into the kitchen. “We’re actually working on something that might interest you, Mack. How’d you like to have magic equipment?”

The middle aged cook stroked his salt and pepper beard. He was a powerfully built man, with a neat white apron covering the start of a belly. “I mean, I wouldn’t necessarily be opposed. What would make it better than what I’ve got already?”

“You wouldn’t need to buy firewood anymore,” said Wil. “We could make you a new grill that takes up half the space and burns cleanly without any waste. And we could get you a new, better icebox. No more ice shipments. You’d have everything you need to be self-sufficient, for the most part.”

Wil wasn’t one hundred percent sure they could deliver on it, but something they had discussed had been needing a direction, a smaller deadline ahead of the big one. The deciding point for him was the leyline about twenty yards away, in the middle of trees and grass where nothing had been built up. Whenever they succeeded at their goal, it would make it easier to replicate it here.

“Well,” said Mack after thinking about it, “I’d be willing to give it a try, but only if it’s reversible. If it turns out old Betsy’s better than whatever you’ve got, I won’t want to keep it.”

Bram sat up straight with uncustomary pride and said, “Of course. But you’ll want to keep this. If we can finish this and it works, you’ll be the first person in the world to be using our new system.”

Mack tapped the pen to his pad of paper. “Then I’m looking forward to it, boys. I’ll send Candy over with some sodas and get started on your food.”

Bram waited until they were as alone as a crowded diner could get before saying, “I’ve been working hard at tweaking the runic configurations to work better, and I think I have a couple of really promising options. The hardest part is the moving parts for dials and making sure the runes complete and trigger when aligned properly.”

“You’re doing a great job,” said Wil. “This is where my brain goes fuzzy and I have a bit of trouble following along. A good chunk of building my Thunderhawk was learning what all I didn’t know. Still took three out of the four months I was there. What we’re doing might be smaller and less complicated, but we basically have to reinvent the wheel to make it work.”

Bram bloomed with pride. “Thanks, Wil. I’m trying. This has been really hard, but also some of the most fun I’ve had in a while. More than just your deadline, I want to think that maybe I have a future in this. Even with no magic.”

Candy came by with an orange and a grape soda, setting them down with a friendly wink. “Any chance of seeing Syl anytime soon?” she said hopefully.

“He should be this way in a month or two,” said Wil, taking a sip of orange soda. “He’ll be happy to stop in for a ‘borgor’ or two.”

Candy laughed. “He does like his borgors. Holler if you need anything!”

Returning to Bram, Wil said, “I think it’s possible, even without magic. You’re going to have a harder time of it, but…What?” Wil cocked his head to the side. Slowly Bram’s gaze slid off WIl and to something behind him.

“Those three people,” Bram said with an odd expression on his face, “they were at my place. They’ve been coming to my place to watch, occasionally.”

Paranoia gripped Wil instantly, before he laughed it off. “A lot of people have been watching us lately. What’s so special about them?” He craned his head over his shoulder to get a look.

“They’re not from around here,” he said. “And I’m pretty sure they’re wizards.”

That got his attention, and Wil got out of the booth. They stood at the entrance. An older man with a short, trimmed beard and a monocle, a meathead looking guy with resentful eyes, and a dark skinned woman with a stony expression. They stood, even among the other recent arrivals, and Wil had no doubt they were wizards.

They met his gaze, and the meathead smiled. He made right for him. The other two exchanged sharp looks, then followed. Wil crossed his arms over his chest and waited for them to get here.

“You following us?” He wasted no time in just asking.

“Sure are,” said the meathead. “We’ve been watching your progress. You’re doing really interesting work, throwing things around for hours on end. What’s it supposed to accomplish? We’ve all been wondering about it, but Gayle here especially wants to know how you make it look so damned easy.”

Gayle sighed and rolled her eyes, but she didn’t correct him or tell him to shut up. The other wizard, the one with the monocle chuckled. “It’s been interesting, watching the leyline move. They said you could do it, but I didn’t believe them. You make it look easy. Is that why you’re changing the landscape?”

“What is it you want from us?” Wil demanded. His pulse quickened, but he tried not to let his surprise show.

“Better make it good,” said Bram, standing. As gentle as he was, Wil appreciated how much he was starting to lean into his intimidating appearance when needed. “We’re not the kind of people to mess around with.”

“Oh, no doubt,” said the guy in front. “My name’s McGinnis. We’re fans of yours, you could say. Just wanted to come over and have a chat, see what the fuss was about.”

“And now you’re leaving,” said a voice from behind them. Wil looked past the three to see Thomas and Darlene standing behind them. It was the first time he could ever remember seeing Thomas look angry, and that was an understatement. “And you will not come back. If I see any of you trying to poach our research, I’ll have your heads. Do you understand me?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that, Master Elliot,” said the bearded one. “We were just saying hi before we grabbed a bite to eat.”

“Eat elsewhere.”

Gayle scoffed. “You don’t get to control where we do and do not eat.”

“No,” said Wil, “but I am the resident wizard and my father is mayor. If Thomas doesn’t want you here, I don’t want you here. If you leave now, we’ll just call this a slightly rude encounter and forget about it without any trouble.”

“As you like, Master McKenzie,” said McGinnis, mock-bowing. “It was a real pleasure to meet a new legend up close, and get a gauge of you.”

“You’re weird and outstayed your welcome,” said Darlene. “Get lost.” She brushed past them and stood in front of Wil.

“As you like. Good luck in your endeavors,” said McGinnis. They trailed out of the diner.

“What the hell was that?” Darlene asked Thomas. “He knew you. And Wil, but he seemed to know you.”

Wil eyed Thomas, but said nothing. After a few seconds, Thomas shifted uncomfortably. The anger left his face, replaced by resignation.

“I should explain, then. I need a drink.”