The War Gate (44 page)

“What?”

“Nothing. Now try it again.”

Avy stepped out to better watch the maneuver. The girl curtsied then yanked on the tablecloth. The place setting flipped helter-skelter into the air, then crashed to the floor. Fortunately for the girl, the props were plastic.

“Oh, I did it again!” said the girl, stomping a foot.

Sebastian clawed at his face. “Now I know I’ll have to fudge this. Let’s try it again with a fresh load.” He caught sight of Avy in his peripheral vision. His mouth unhinged when he turned to look at her. He made slow strides across the stage until he came within a few feet of her. He raised his arms in embrace but dropped them in a fit of embarrassment.

“What about me?” said the other girl.

“Take the day off,” Sebastian hollered over his shoulder. “I’ll call you when I need you.”

“How come?”

“Because I said so.”

Avy waved a naughty finger. “What’s this about cheating? I hope you weren’t going to break a promise so soon.”

“God, Avy. I’m so glad to see you.” He peered at her nametag. “I mean, Pinky Donaldson? Little name change?”

Avy threw her arms up. Their embrace was a body smash. When they kissed, their teeth clacked. “I love you so much,” she blubbered. “I couldn’t stand to be away from you any longer. I’m sorry for leaving you the way I did.”

He looked at her, his eyes misting. “Don’t ever leave me. I couldn’t take it. I won’t ever hurt you again.”

“We’re just a couple of freaks,” she said, tears spilling. “We deserve each other.”

Sebastian dabbed his eyes, recovering somewhat. “Well, did you ever find your car? What do you think of Las Vegas?”

“I’m having the car sent by courier. Las Vegas? I dunno, it’s very hot here.” She wiped her eyes, then blew her nose.

“I’ve been following the newspapers,” he said. “It looks like mission accomplished. Damn, honey, you pulled it off.”

Avy nodded. “They’re going to pay for what they did, Sebastian. The arrest part of it is over. But it looks like I’ll have to return to testify at the trial. For what it’s worth, you were right all along. About the way things work, I mean.”

Sebastian gripped her shoulders, stepped in closer. “Avy, I want you to be my assistant. It’s all new stuff, with a different show format, but it has all the same basic moves. We’ll have plenty of time to get the act down pat. I sent for my animals, too.” He licked his lips. “The cuisine is awesome. They’ve housed me in one of the whale suites. You wouldn’t, couldn’t believe what they pay for a single show. Two shows a night—four performances a week. They call the show Metamorphoses after one of Houdini’s  tricks. Avy, it just wouldn’t be right if Vegas didn’t have the privilege of seeing Lady Labrador.
Please
say you will.”

“Isn’t there anything you don’t like about Las Vegas?”

He looked thoughtful. “Well, they don’t have a Burgersaurus. But no place is perfect.”

“Gee, I don’t know.” It was fun toying with him.

“Avy, I picked out a little place to visit in case you turned up. It’s called the Silver Bell Wedding Chapel. I don’t need anything traditional for me. I’m not orthodox. What do you say?”

She didn’t have to speak a word. She let her eyes answer.

Chapter 25

The Xanadu Theater was filled to capacity on opening night. A war hero, the mayor, several celebrities, even Pinky Donaldson’s entire showgirl troupe showed up. Of course, Pinky and the girls hadn’t come to watch Avy perform. The Amazing Sebastian had never looked more handsome or charming. There were more than a few moist undies in the audience that night. The show had gone off without a hitch. Well, except for one glitch. Avy had been required to fling her top hat into the air to perform the celebratory farewell when the curtain began to drop. Whether the fault resulted from the opening night jitters, a surplus of adrenalin, or with the costume design, the result was the same. Avy threw her breasts out of her costume top in front of sixty-five hundred attendees—the largest show audience in Las Vegas history. Of course, it being a Las Vegas crowd, the audience demanded an encore, thinking it was part of the act. Avy did manage to recover, but failed to cool Sebastian down backstage before he went looking for the costume designer with murder in his heart and vengeance on his mind.

The second show closed at eleven that night. Nothing extraordinary happened except for the elevated decibel level attributed to a wilder, boozier crowd. A tornado of panties, motel keys, love letters, and flowers ended up on the stage. The debris was so thick they had to use push brooms to remove it. When the curtain fell, Sebastian traipsed off through the wing, still obsessed with finding the costume seamstress.

One special guest, sitting in the furthest row in the back, approached the stage when most of the theater had cleared. The man held the largest bouquet of roses Avy had ever seen. She jumped off the stage to wrap her arms around Janus.

“I’ve missed you so much,” said Avy. “I’m so glad you came. I could feel you in the audience. I’m so sorry I didn’t—”

He put a finger on her lips. “You did everything right, daughter. There is nothing to be sorry about. You’ve arrived right where you were supposed to be—this place, this moment, into the arms of the man you love. This is the first time that I have been here with these flowers. It’s been a long journey, but we’ve arrived on the last page of this new beginning.”

She heaved a great sigh. “Then I guess it’s great to be home. For good.”

“For good,” he echoed, then linked his arm with hers. They walked up onto the stage. As they strolled through the wing, they spoke of many things. Some of the things they talked about concerned distant realms while other subjects explored victories, tragedies, timelines, and alternate histories. He enlightened her about the Conjurers—Sebastian’s folk, who they were and where they had come from. He explained the riddle of the Sun and the Moon, the Key in between. She listened with rapt attention, knowing that one day she would know it all, just like he’d promised. She also confessed that she had a lot more to learn because being a Gate-Walker held a special privilege. 

“I think I know what my purpose is now, Father,” she said.

“No regrets or recriminations?” he asked.

“No, Father. I’m very happy now. I have everything I’ve always wanted. Where do you go from here?”

“Wherever there is trouble,” he said. He whispered something in her ear before raising his voice. “Once you’re settled, you’ll make pilgrimages too. It’s part of your calling. There is no shortage of heartache or misery in today’s world. For every shining divinity that abides by the light, there is an Emmaus, a Wax Man, to cast them into darkness. Part angel, part warrior, your days will be long but they will not be forever. Gird yourself now, for you will become ancient. Those of your ‘today’ will pass before you like flowers that have wilted under a sweltering sun. When your time comes to pass through the last Life Gate, you’ll combine souls with your mother.”

“I’m looking forward to that day with mother,” she said with a wistful swoon. “Gosh, I guess I’ll always be able to stay young for Sebastian no matter how old I get. Lucky him.” Then she looked perplexed. “If we have a child, Father, just exactly what will it be?”

He whispered again in her ear.

“No kidding? Now why does that sound like a leprechaun?”
I can read your thoughts right now. You’re reminding me of a promise I made to someone. No, I will never abuse the privilege. Yes, I’ll learn much more about the Sun and the Moon, the Key in between. I promise you I will.

“That gladdens my heart,” said Janus. He held her shoulders. “Until I see you again, daughter.” He gave her a cheek a gentle kiss. He turned around, then walked through the folds in the stage drapes. They ruffled once, and lay still. A small piece of paper skittered across the floor.

Avy heard heavy thumps upon the stage. Sebastian emerged from around the corner. “There you are. Where have you been?”

“Sebastian, please don’t torment the costume seamstress. It wasn’t her fault. It was just the excitement. As for me, I’ve been talking with Janus. We had a nice visit. See?” She held out the bouquet of roses.

“How come I missed him?” Sebastian screwed up his face. “Damn it! He never wants to visit with me anymore. Where did he go?”

“Somalia. Then he’s off to Iraq. Don’t worry. You have to learn how to relax a little. You’re so
intense
.”

“I guess you’re right. I’ll take stress classes or something.” He looked at her with expectant eyes. “Avy? You have that crooked little smile on your face again. You’re up to something.”

She dithered. “I was just wondering about visiting hours. I have to keep a promise. There’s somebody I have to see.”

Sebastian held up his hands in surrender. “Sweetheart, I swear I’m not going to bug you about it or try to stop you. I won’t even ask you how long you’ll be gone. Just have a safe trip. Bring me back a souvenir or a hamburger. But damn it. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. Again!”

“You’ll just have to get used to it,” she said with a sly wink. She handed him the bouquet.

Avy raised her wrist to her face to look at the compass. She stepped toward a closed fire exit door. “I won’t be long, love. Here’s a question for you that will give you something to think about until I get back. When we have a baby, try to guess what she or he will be. Chew on that one.”

###

Sebastian started to speak, but it was too late. He watched her dematerialize when she stepped through the heavy metal door.

He pointed an accusing finger. “Now
that’s
cheating.”

There could be heard a young woman’s laughter in the air over his head. It was almost a cackle, raising then lowering in volume. The voice stretched into a thin whisper, fading with the Doppler.

He hunched his shoulders in surrender and mumbled, “Looks like from here on out life’s going to be pure magic.”

The End