Light in the Barren Lands: Travail of The Dark Mage Book One (25 page)

James nodded and gave him a half-grin. “That’s the plan.” Sitting back on the edge of the bed, he placed the crystal upon the damaged area of the rug and began again.

It took him the better part of a week and the loss of thirty crystals before he made it work. Then another two days to work out the other spells he would need in order to place and keep the crystals hidden while they charged. Now he was ready to begin the charging process in earnest; the only problem was that only thirty-six crystals remained. James figured on needing at least a hundred, more would be better as he wasn’t entirely sure how much magic it would take. But at least one hurdle had been surmounted.

“How are we to pay for more crystals?” Jiron asked after James announced the need for more.

“Good question as we have gone through all but our last twenty dollars.”

“We could sell the rest of my gems,” suggested Jiron.

James nodded. “True, but I’d like to save those for an emergency.” Giving Jiron a knowing look, he added, “No, I have another idea. We are after all in Las Vegas.”

During the last few days when he was bringing the gathering spells for the crystals closer to completion, he had toyed with the idea of using magic to adjust the odds in his favor at games of chance. It did bother him that what he proposed could be considered cheating, though he felt little qualm about trying to raise some capital at the expense of the casinos. After all, using magic was a natural ability of his. It wasn’t like he was using shaved dice or a computer to fix the odds.

There were many games in which magic could play a part. The one he felt was best suited for what he planned would be the slot machines. He didn’t want to win very big at any one time since the casinos would require identification for large jackpots. Maybe only win up to five hundred at a casino before moving on to the next.

Slot machines were perfect, as long as he didn’t align the Triple BAR’s. Maybe a few cherries here and there and a BAR-BAR-BAR once in a while before cashing out and moving on. Such was his plan when they left the motel.

On the door handle to their room they made sure the Do Not Disturb sign was firmly in place. No telling what would happen should the cleaning lady come in and discover the damage wrought within. Thus far, they had managed to keep everyone out, even going so far as to request fresh linen and towels at the front desk. When asked why they hadn’t had the cleaning lady in, James explained that they liked their privacy. Perhaps not the best of excuses, it did achieve the goal of allaying the manager’s suspicion; at least for the time being.

Taking a stroll down the sidewalk, they returned to the eatery they dined in upon first arriving in Vegas. Now having exhausted all the choices within walking distance of the motel during the week of crystal/spell experimentation, they were forced to start again at the beginning. They didn’t want to spend too much time at any one place. The last thing they wished was to be known by the staff and in turn, recognized as the fugitives sought by the authorities.

During the days James worked on the crystals, he had kept up on the search for them. Tuning into the various news channels for any new information, he wasn’t surprised when several days ago the reporters stated that an anonymous tip had drawn the search to Reno. James had a pretty good idea who supplied the tip. He still felt bad about what he had put that poor girl through, hijacking her and her car the way they did; though he didn’t know what else he could have done under the circumstances.

No mention had yet been made of Las Vegas in connection with their whereabouts which made James happy. If they could avoid blowing their cover until the crystals were ready and they were on their way to Disneyland, they would be home free. But for now, there were things that needed doing; one of them was figuring a way to force slot payouts.

Once at the buffet, James had them sit at a booth along the outer edge where there was just a short wall and they could look out over the casino while they ate. From there, he had a clear view of a row of quarter slot machines that would suit his needs nicely. So after filling a plate with food and sitting down, he selected one currently being played by a man in his early forties.

It was a simple enough matter to send his senses out toward, and into, the machine. James was surprised at the lack of wheels. It was just a computerized image projected on a screen; far too complicated for someone who didn’t know anything about such things to mess around with. Not able to manipulate such a mire of electronics, he scanned the neighboring machines for any which might fit the bill. Unfortunately, the only ones in view from his vantage in the buffet area were the same, or worse.

He communicated his dilemma to Jiron. So after finishing his meal, he had Jiron and Jira remain at the buffet since Jira wasn’t allowed in the gaming area due to her age. She was quite satisfied to remain and indulge in an eating binge of ice cream and other delectables while they waited.

The aisles of gambling devices offered little in the way of the older types of mechanical machines that he felt could be better manipulated. He even inquired of one of the roaming cocktail waitresses if the casino had any such devices who informed him that she didn’t think so.

“I believe they were all phased out years ago,” she explained. “You might be lucky to find some in the older casinos like the Horseshoe, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

James gave her a dollar for her help. “Thanks.”

“No problem. Would you care for a drink?’

Shaking his head no, James turned and started to head back to rejoin Jiron and Jira at the buffet when he saw another of the machines similar to the one he had scanned while eating. It was a three wheel, or a rather pseudo-wheel, machine that took quarters. He had a couple in his pocket and wondered if he could make it work despite the computerized mechanism.

He sat on the stool before it and dropped a coin in the hopper. Before pulling the handle, he sent his senses into the machine. Imagining three cherries lining up, he let loose the magic and pulled.

Instantly there was a sharp crack deep within the machine followed by a sizzle. A small plume of smoke rose from the back. James quickly looked to the left and right, didn’t see anyone gazing his way, then left the scene in the most expeditious way possible. Slot machines were not the answer.

Once the fried machine was two aisles of slots and a row of Blackjack tables behind him, he brought his speed back down from a quick walk to a leisurely stroll. A few nondescript glances over his shoulder revealed the area surrounding the machine remained calm. It didn’t look as if anyone was the wiser. And if fate would care to be an ally a little longer, what happened to the slot machine would remain undiscovered for awhile.

But the problem still remained; how could he acquire the money they so desperately needed? Then an idea came to him as one of the Wheel of Fortune games came into view. An upright spinning wheel should be easily enough manipulated, slowed just enough so that no one would notice, and have it stop on whichever number his money rested upon. Nodding to himself, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a five.

In lieu of numbers, Wheels of Fortune had bills of varying denominations from one to twenty placed along its outer edge. The lower the denomination, the more places on the wheel it held. Twenty, as it turned out, held but four places and the space in which the Wheel’s paddle could fall was narrow indeed. The payoff multiplier coincided with that of the denomination; places with a one dollar bill paid one-to-one, while the twenty paid twenty-to-one.

James broke his five into five singles and bet one dollar on the paddle coming to rest on a five dollar. If he won, he would retain his one along with gaining five more.

The man behind the betting table spun the wheel.

Clack-clack-clack-clack

Spinning furiously, the wheel clattered as the paddle hit the small knobs dividing the different denomination areas from one another. As it spun, James sent his senses out on a small tendril of magic toward the wheel’s hub. Once there, he worked to create a magical spell that would add, or lessen the friction of the wheel. He had it about right when the wheel abruptly, and with irregular suddenness, stopped.

“What the…” the man behind the counter exclaimed. Never before had the Wheel stopped in such a manner. A glance to the paddle revealed that it had come to a stop on a one dollar spot. James had lost.

“Keep your dollar,” said the man. “The Wheel must be broken.”

James nodded, grabbed his dollar and hightailed it out of there. Coming to the buffet area, he caught Jiron’s eye and signaled that they were leaving. Then, without waiting for them to join him, he made for the exit.

Out on the street, he moved a short distance down the sidewalk from the doors. When Jiron emerged, he waved him over. “I fried one of their machines and maybe ruined another.”

“So what does that mean?”

“It means I’m not quite the mage here as I was back home,” James explained. “Earth magic is throwing me off. If I concentrate really hard, I can make it work. But the slightest distraction and it all goes haywire.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, though I am beginning to get the hang of working with it.”

It was one of the conveniences of Las Vegas that you didn’t have to go very far from one casino before arriving at another. And now was just such an instance.

“Let’s see if we can’t get it right this time.”

Two hours later, James sat in the Keno lounge of yet another casino. This was the sixth since his disastrous beginnings. Jiron and Jira had returned to their motel room after the third when Jiron realized James could be at this all night before finally getting it right.

Not wasting his time with the slot machines, James had learned his lesson about trying to manipulate that mass of temperamental circuits. No, he was still after the Wheel of Fortune game, and by this time had it almost perfected. In the third casino visited, he actually had the Wheel going in the opposite direction which caused the girl running the game to do a double-take. He still chuckled when he thought of her expression.

At least now he had a fairly good idea of how much, and to what degree, magic should be used in making the wheel stop on the number he wanted. During his visit to the previous casino, he thought he had perfected his technique, but his efforts caused a stutter in the wheel’s movement that prompted it to be shut down for inspection.

From his seat in the Keno lounge, he had an unobstructed view of yet another Wheel of Fortune. If he didn’t get this right soon, he knew he many have to come up with another idea or risk arousing too much attention, if he hadn’t already. In his hand he held a dollar five-spot Keno ticket which he half-heartedly kept an eye on. The ticket was his reason for occupying the seat, and he didn’t really care if he won or lost. Sure, winning would be great, but by now he was more interested in learning to control the magic. The fact that it didn’t behave as the magic on Jiron’s home world bugged him no end.

For the moment, the Wheel of Fortune had no players. Glancing to the big Keno board, James saw that he had two of his five numbers. One more and he might win his money back. The thought of using magic to control the Keno winning numbers fleetingly crossed his mind before dismissing it. He dared not risk it.

By the time the current Keno game ended with no more of his remaining three numbers being picked, a couple walked over to the Wheel of Fortune. James prepared to try again to manipulate the spinning of the wheel.

“Care to play it again?”

Turning his attention from the Wheel of Fortune, he saw one of the Keno Runners standing before him. “What?”

She gestured to the Keno ticket in his hand. “Care to play it again?”

“Sure.” He pulled another dollar out of his pocket. Handing it and the ticket to the Runner, he said, “Here.”

“Be right back.” Taking the ticket, she moved along to the next Keno player.

Returning his attention to the now spinning wheel, he sent his senses out and made ready for it to slow. Once it began to slow, he sent micro-bursts of magic toward it, causing a tightening of the friction around its axis. He watched as the wheel continued to slow and the space bearing the twenty dollar bill approached the top. A couple more micro-bursts and the wheel gradually came to a stop. The paddle rested upon the twenty dollar spot. He had done it!

“Yes!” he softly exclaimed to himself.

About that time, the Runner returned with his ticket and informed him that the Keno game was about to commence. He remained in his seat while the twenty Keno balls were picked, only one of which corresponded to a matching designation on his ticket. He hadn’t really expected to win.

Coming to his feet, he crumpled the ticket and tossed it into a nearby garbage can on his way to the Wheel of Fortune.

“How about a buck on the five dollar spot,” he announced when he came to a stop before the Wheel. Laying the dollar atop the five dollar betting area, he waited for the girl running the game to spin.

As soon as the wheel began to turn, he again sent out his magic. Then, just as before, he used micro-bursts of magic to cause the wheel to stop on one of the five dollar spots. “Winner,” the girl announced and laid a five dollar chip atop his dollar. “Care to play again?” she asked with a smile.

“Don’t mind if I do. I’m suddenly feeling rather lucky. Let it ride.”

And the Wheel spun again.

Chapter Fifteen

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A knock at the door brought him instantly awake. From the other side he heard, “It’s me, James.” Jiron quickly disengaged from beneath Jira’s arm which had draped itself over his chest while she slept and eased off the bed.

James gave his friend a big smile when the door opened.

“Well?” Jiron asked. Closing the door once James had entered, he locked it once again. “How did it go?” Turning to find James looking quite smug, he could see that it had gone quite well.