Harriett
“As we continue our coverage of the tragedy at Club Planetesimal, UBN Network News brings you this exclusive interview with Geoffrey Foster of the Sovereign Sect.” The news feed cut to a pair of non-descript red doors against a drab, grey, brick wall with the reporter standing next to Geoffrey Foster.
“Mister Foster, we have numerous reports from club security and the Wrecht Order that the Sovereign Sect assaulted Club Planetesimal, resulting in the death of eighty-four innocent people. Why did the Sovereign—”
“Lies! This is a bending of the truth. I thought this was a news organization, not a propaganda wing of the Wreckies. Yes, Sovereign Sect family members were present. Yes, there was an extensive battle, but we were not responsible for the loss of life and we most certainly did not start the conflict. We were trying to protect people from a rogue wizard. What the Wreckies don’t want you to know—because they don’t want the truth out—is that we have a wizard on the loose killing innocent people. How many did you say? Eighty-four? Well, we lost another twenty-three, so you can bring that total to a hundred and seven. One hundred seven people dead, all because the Wreckies don’t want people to know that there is a powerful wizard on the loose killing innocent people. We will—”
“What about the numerous reports from people in the club who say they witnessed Sovereign Sect members blatantly destroying the club and attacking people randomly? We have over twenty eyewitnesses that said they saw—”
“Obviously paid off by the Wreckies to spin their tale, we’ve all seen it before. And yes, we will not deny that we protected ourselves. We were being attacked mercilessly by the Wreckies and this wizard! They brought in their riot troops and attacked us and killed innocents. We were the ones trying to maintain calm! We were the ones trying to find and stop this wizard who is on a killing spree. We did not ask the Wreckies to show up and attack, but we will defend ourselves, I promise you that.”
“Are you claiming the Wrecht Order started this conflict?” The reporter pressed.
“Didn’t you just report moments ago that it was a blast from one of our MEARs that opened the office door to the club? The same office where the emergency shutoff is located? That is because we shut down that swirling death trap of a club. Where was management? Why didn’t they shut it down? Why was there no one there? Yet these are the same people who now claim this is all our fault. I think your viewers can connect the dots. The facts are the facts. We shut down the orbiting balls of death to save lives, while the Wreckies try to blame us for their mess.” Geoffrey stopped his tirade and let out an exaggerated sigh while dabbing the sweat on his forehead. “Now let me tell you something else—”
“Don’t you listen to a damn thing that snake in the grass Geoffrey Foster says.” Nathaniel said, bristling. Harriett was in her spot in her overstuffed chair. She flipped the mute on. “Why are you always watching that drivel?” Nathaniel had just come in from the torrential downpour outside and took his drenched jacket off and hung it on a peg near the door. Still fuming he stomped across the room over to Harriett. “I already heard about it, everyone from work is talking about it and they said the Sovs came in guns a blazing killing people right and left.”
“Now don’t be tracking mud into the house.” Harriett complained, looking down at Nathaniel’s feet.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m just so…so mad right now. I’m not even paying attention.”
“Well, they are blaming it on some rogue wizard, saying the Wreckies were working with him, and they were the ones who shut down the club to help everyone.
“That’s a load of hooey. Mike told me he saw two Sovs shoot’en up the place. So, I don’t know what lies they’re spouting on the TV, but I’m not buying it.” Nathaniel gave Harriett a big kiss on the forehead. “Hold on, I’m gonna go get out of these clothes, I’ll be right back.”
At least her Nathaniel was safe. He tromped out of the room, and she unmuted the television. “…this attack, the May attack, and the Panama Canal bombing are all linked to this one rogue wizard?” The reporter asked Geoffrey.
“That’s correct. Once we find this evil, evil, person we will show those Wreckies they cannot harbor a monster like this. We believe he is hiding out somewhere in the Houston area and for the sake of everyone’s safety we are offering a reward of one million nummus for any information that leads to his capture. Imagine the change in your life if you had enough—"
Harriett clicked the mute back on when she saw Nathaniel heading back into the room. “Sweetie, where did you say that generous benefactor lives?”
“Out in the suburbs of Houston, oh what’s it called…Clear something…Clear Lake maybe? Somewhere over there near NASA, as I recall. I don’t remember, but I wrote the address down so I wouldn’t forget. But I will say, his house, it’s kind of plain if you think about how powerful he is. You’d think he’d do it up real nice.”
That man had to be wizard. And a million nummus, was a million nummus. But Nathaniel would never go for it. But she had to do this, for him as much as her. Plus, screw those damn Wreckies, they had it coming. “Just think what we could do with this place if we had more. Can you imagine if we had a million nummus? We could fix this house up nice and live forever in style!”
“Wouldn’t that be something.” Nathaniel responded. “I’m going to go take a shower.”
“Could you be a peach and give me that address? I uh…want to bring those people something nice for all their help.”
Adelfried
Adelfried leaned against a cardboard box in the storeroom trying to get some sleep as Jim paced, working himself into a proper panic. They were fine. It was a close call, but they were fine. Adelfried had made everyone invisible again in case anyone else came through the door, but no one had. It was eerily quiet, and Adelfried was okay with that. Jim’s pacing however, wore on him. Why couldn’t he get some sleep.
Jim’s footsteps stopped. “We don’t have money, passports, a visa to be here, a place to stay, or even a way to call home…I say we wait a day and take a peek to see if we can find our way back home through the door.”
Ying yawned from behind Adelfried. “Sounds risky. What do you think, Adelfried...Hey Adelfried, wake up.” She nudged him. “Addy, Earth to Addy, come in Addy.”
Just being called Addy was like a piece of him, deep down being twisted and bent in ways it shouldn’t be. That was the name only Leyna called him. And his brother. His terrible, terrible brother. The reason for this mess. “Please, do not call me that,” he said, opening his eyes. “My Leyna called me that.”
“Sorry.” Ying’s voice softened. “What do you think? Should we wait and risk the door or find another way home?”
Adelfried yawned, but he knew sleep was not going to happen. “I want to make sure I understand everything before I answer. Since you lost your wallet and purse during the battle, we have no money card—"
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“Credit card.” Jim corrected.
“Credit card, and therefore no way of purchasing lodging, or a sin card or activating this roaming—”
“SIM card.” Jim added.
“Ah, SIM card, and therefore we have no way of contacting Evan and Kae as well as we have no way to let them know what happened and that we are in Egypt.”
Ying sighed. “Yep.” The sound of another box being opened came from behind him. “Guess what? More towels, at least they are soft.”
Adelfried covered his face with both hands blocking out the harsh bluish lights and rubbing his face. “I don’t think we have any other option. We must go back through the door.” To his side now a towel had come out of a box. It looked as if Ying was rubbing it against her face. “How long has it been?”
The towel went back in the box. Ying answered, “Four hours now.”
Adelfried stood up. “Let’s go.” He marched over to the door and swung it open. It was now just a bathroom door.
“What the hell?” Jim protested. “Were you going to warn us?”
“I did, I said, ‘Let’s go.’ Besides, I grow tired of all this stealth and hiding.” He slammed the door shut and opened it again. Still a bathroom.
“Well, at least we have a bathroom now.” Ying added.
Jim paused his pacing. “So, Plan B?”
Ying said, “We have a plan B?”
Jim started his damned pacing again. “I think we are about to figure that out.”
“Great.” Ying said as Adelfried realized she had been constructing a bed of towels on a low shelf. Why didn’t he think of that? An indention the size of her body now flattened the bed. She yawned again. “Wake me when you do.”
“Wait’s over.” Jim’s infernal pacing stopped. “Adelfried can make gold or silver or whatever. Adelfried can just make more—”
“Hold on.” Adelfried put his hand in the air before realizing no one could see him. “Creating something physical, even reproducing something is very draining and is only possible with the Root in hand. But, I can fill more of that magic money, that is quite easy.”
Jim huffed. “Alright, plan C.”
The bed of towels adjusted as Ying tried to get more comfortable. “Do tell.”
“Alright, you ready for this?” Jim beamed.
“Just get on with it.” Ying threw a towel at the sound of the pacing.
“For the record, you missed,” Jim said flatly. “Now, Nathaniel was the doorman for the club, right? And he sat outside somewhere blending into the area but watching the door. So… it stands to reason that somewhere outside this door is a doorman for Cairo.”
Adelfried let out a big yawn. “How do we know they will help us? Plus, can we trust them?”
“We don’t, but we don’t need to trust them. We just need them to tell us where the local magical settlement is, right? Nathaniel mentioned the Seventh Ward, like it was a local magic district, so it is logical to assume that they have one here, and probably some type of store where we could probably find a way to contact home and drumroll, please…perhaps a way to get home.” Jim’s pacing stopped altogether.
Ying replied. “I will settle for a magical Marriott and a phone call at this point.”
“But first, we’ll need to be visible again.”
Jim had a good plan. What else could they do really? And when you can’t go back, you go forward. Adelfried rose, recharged with determination. “Alright, come to me and I will break the enchantment.” After grabbing hands with Jim and Ying, everyone became visible again.
Jim glanced down at his clothes. “I’m going to need these pants and jacket changed back. I’m not going out there in pink.”
Adelfried smiled. “About that…when we came through the door, it did something to my enchantment and it set the color permanently. I don’t know how to change it, but perhaps when we get home with the Root I can—”
“What!” Jim protested. “This was my favorite slacks and jacket!”
“We’re stranded in Egypt, and this is what upsets you? Here, cover up with this.” Ying threw another towel at him. “And, if it makes you feel any better, I kind of like it.”
“No, it doesn’t make me feel better. What am I supposed to do with this towel?”
“They’re massively useful, you know.” Adelfried interjected, as he stopped to dig around in the nearest box to pull out a towel for himself.
“Gee, thanks.” Jim threw it over his shoulder. “Can we go now?”
Ying said, “Potty break first.”
After everyone took their turn, they found the exit to the storeroom. They had been underground the whole time and hadn’t even realized it. The exit of the storeroom led to a tight city alleyway enclosed by brick, concrete, and hanging laundry. Closed metal security doors and graffiti lined both sides. A moped chained to an exposed pipe gave the alley a very ‘if you don’t belong here, you shouldn’t be here’ vibe. To the left, the alleyway climbed up gradual steps to a busy marketplace and to the right, a dead end.
The three of them trudged up the gradual steps towards the marketplace until they reached an intersecting road where a man sat in a wicker chair reading a paperback. His wrinkled tan shirt and pants seemed to almost blend him into the concrete wall behind him. If they weren’t looking for him, they might have missed him altogether. He glanced at them almost in passing and continued reading his book uninterested, which was impressive considering the bright pink outfit Jim was wearing. This had to be the doorman.
Jim started. “Excuse me. Uh, do you know which way to the uh…market, the magical market?” For the briefest moment his eyes went to Jim’s and back to his book.
Jim tried again. “Do you speak English?”
“No,” he replied, and turned the page on his book.
“Well then how did you know what I said if you don’t speak English?” The man ignored him. “Ying, do you think you know enough French to ask him? Hey, random book guy, do you speak French? Or wait, uh…Parlez-vous Français?"
“Non.” He replied.
“You’re mocking me, aren’t you?” Jim said, moving just a few inches away from the man’s face, but the man continued to read his book as if Jim wasn’t there.
Ying laughed. “Oh, he is definitely mocking you.” She put her hand on the man’s shoulder and bent her knee to get down to his eye level. “Excuse me, we are lost and could really use your help.” She said in a sweet voice. “Could you point us to the nearest ESH store or hotel?”
He put his book down and started to rant for some time in Egyptian before he picked his book up and continued reading.
“Great, now what?” Jim grunted.
Adelfried put a gentle hand on the man’s shoulder. “Let me try.” His hand warmed as he tried the same thing he had done on Jim when he first got this world. An emotional plea of sympathy transferred magically to the man. He had to convince the man to help them.
The man’s face softened. He set his book down and spoke quietly. “You are not supposed to talk to me. At all. You should know that. Club rules. Especially on a day like this.” He glanced about the people in the marketplace. “Go down this road until you hit the Nile. Find the park and touch the magic sigil. Now go and leave me be before I report you to the Wreckies.” He tucked himself back into his book.
“Thank you.” Adelfried said, with a slight bow. The man waved his hand and continued reading.
“Come on.” Ying grumbled marching down the road and out of the marketplace.
The trio hiked along the crowded streets of Cairo. Tuk tuks, cars, and buses whizzed by as they fought their way through the flow of pedestrians. Sweat drenched their clothes as the unrelenting Egyptian sun beat down on them.
Adelfried wiped his damp forehead. Why couldn’t he get stuck somewhere cool for once? He was just approaching this from the wrong angle. He should just focus on it as a way to learn more about this world. He could focus on the wonders the streets of Cairo had to offer. Then an unnerving feeling started weigh him down. While the writing on the streets was nothing like anything he was familiar with, occasionally he caught a glimpse of a character he was familiar with. It was an odd symbol based writing he had learned from a far away land in his world. He had noticed the plants and animals were all very similar when he first arrived. But these symbols were yet another odd similarity and yet another connection between his world and this one.
After over a mile of progress, Jim abruptly stopped. “Wait.” He pressed his hands to his temples.
Ying forced a sigh out. “What?”
“Something’s not right.” Jim turned to face Adelfried and Ying. Maybe the heat was getting to him.
Ying huffed. “Oh, there’s a lot not right. We’re stuck in Egypt with no money, no passport, and no way home, all while being chased by grey eyed freaks who have upgraded us from the capture to the kill category. Meanwhile, our kids are at home, hopefully alive and going to school, because I just remembered, oh my god, today is their first day of school. So yeah Jim, something’s not right.”
“Besides that.” Jim waved his hand dismissively.
Ying snapped. “I forgot, these heels are killing my feet, and I am dying of thirst. There, I think that sums it up. Can we keep going now?”
“Federico.” Adelfried cut in.
Jim snapped his finger and pointed at Adelfried. “Federico.”
“God damn it.” Ying yelled, followed by a few harsh words in a language Adelfried didn’t understand. He really needed to learn Thai. She spun on her heels. “Well, come on.”
“Do you think he is still there?” Adelfried asked, hoping he wouldn’t be, or at least hoping they would not have to go back.
“Yeah, unfortunately, I do.” Jim said, following Ying.