by Paul Vayro
Chapter Twenty Six
“Just think of the mischief we can get up to with these gloves.” Brick admired his silver covered hand as he and Spiritwind wandered the frozen streets of Puddleton.
“It’s difficult to comprehend.” Spiritwind played his part in the conversation, although his mind was focused entirely on the goodies he’d procured from the frozen pedestrians they’d passed. Two chocolate bars battled to be the next snack to achieve their purpose; a soft truffle centre, or a caramel and nut infusion. It definitely felt like a caramel and nut moment.
“We could….I mean we might…..we should….I just don’t know where to start.” Brick satisfied himself with putting a man’s phone back in his pocket mid chat.
“Although we are on a very important mission; maybe we should limit our mucking around time to only a few hours.” Spiritwind played the grown up in the discussion.
“Of course, a very important mission indeed, but Fate did say acting honestly to your self allowed destiny’s course to run more smoothly.” Brick spotted a clause.
“He did say that.” A fourth bar of chocolate became nothing more than a wrapper, a few escaped crumbs, and a savoured memory.
“Could I suggest ducking down that alleyway for a moment?” Coincidence appeared in front of the pair and pointed to a six foot gap between two shops. Brick hadn’t noticed the concept and walked past oblivious. Spiritwind stopped and raised his eyebrows, to both greet Coincidence and mock Brick’s stupidity.
“That’s a good impression of Coincidence.” Brick compounded his error with words. “You should do him saying something more relevant though, ‘what are the odds?’ Something like that.” Brick realised he was walking alone. He turned to discover why. “Oh hello, Coincidence. Fancy seeing you here.”
“What are the odds?” Coincidence demonstrated his sense of humour. Using simple hand movements he repeated his request to head down the alleyway.
“Be honest with us. Is this a trap? I’d be mortified to fail so quickly if it were.” Brick queried the concept as he adhered to his request.
“No it isn’t a trap. Although I’d say that even if it was.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure you would.” Brick tried to give a knowing look. It came across as the face of a man who’d squeezed an egg too hard in his pocket.
“What would I say?”
“I’m not entirely sure.” Brick closed his eyes in order to appear wise. It just made him feel sleepy.
Putting the discussion to one side the trio walked around thirty feet down the alley, eventually crouching behind an industrial sized bin. There was ample room to hide whilst maintaining enough space to see out in to the street. Spiritwind had a thought. “We’d better turn our gloves off. We don’t want to knock anything over and draw attention to ourselves.”
“And how would we do that?” Brick stared at his glove with an impressive level of clueless-ness.
“Like this.” Spiritwind leaned across and touched a part of Brick’s glove in a speedy yet precise manner.
“What did you do? I didn’t get any of that.”
“I just….”
“We could do with a little silence for a moment.” Coincidence entered the debate. He pointed to the end of the alleyway as four aliens walked past. All looked identical to Zarg, only slightly different at the same time. They each carried a rucksack, the tone and colour blending into the wearer in a similar vein to Zarg’s, although their sheer size made them obvious. Between them they carried a small car sized crate on poles. Judging by their freedom of movement they were either extremely strong or the crate was empty.
After giving the aliens a minute or so, to be out of earshot, Brick spoke.
“We would have walked straight in to them had you not turned up. Thank you for using your coincidenc…ing powers.” Brick had no idea if coincidencing was even a word.
“I didn’t use my powers. We could see you walking straight in to them from the building site. I just volunteered to come and warn you. Irony was confusing me.” Coincidence sank into a pondering expression.
“Of course she’s confusing you. That’s what women do, but true love is never a simple ship to moor.” Brick basked in romantic notions.
“It’s hardly love. I’m intrigued at best.” Coincidence defended his emotions.
“That’s sweet. You’re still in denial. Perhaps the greatest love is that which both refuse to acknowledge.” Brick continued to speak. Spiritwind was busy working his way through his foraged snacks.
“There’s nothing to acknowledge. Most of the time we don’t even get on; I just find there’s something about her.”
“Have you seen a sweet side to that hard exterior, a misunderstood soul seeking somebody to hold her tight and allow her true nature to flourish? A damsel trapped within a castle of unfocused anger, and you are the one understanding knight that can leap the moat of snide remarks and threatening stares to free her to a land of smiles?” Brick gave it both barrels as Coincidence nodded along.
“Maybe.”
“Oh dear, not only is it love it’s blind love. I’m afraid you have to accept the eternally rolling barrel of emotions you’ve bought a ticket for.” Brick offered a sorrowful pat on the back. Spiritwind agreed from behind a head sized marshmallow.
“But she’s so….”
“She isn’t, but there’s no convincing you. You’re doomed.” Brick turned back to the street as Coincidence took in the information. A silence descended on the trio before Coincidence snapped out of his daydream and returned his thoughts to the mission. He raised a question.
“You know what I’d like to find out?”
“The secret to plate spinning?” Brick spoke without thought.
“No.”
“Why ever not? Imagine being at a party, plenty of drinks, good banter; when ‘hey Coincidence has got the plates out. I think the fun levels in here are about to get a little higher.” Brick began spinning imaginary plates while performing a vague version of a samba.
“I suppose it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Though I was thinking a more mission based thought.” Coincidence’s hips joined in the imagined samba rhythm without conscious intent.
“You’re wondering what’s in the boxes aren’t you?” Spiritwind emerged from a pie with a grin and the correct answer.
“So you don’t know what’s going on either?” Brick had presumed a conspiracy against himself and his peer. He was pleased to find out they weren’t the only ones without a clue.
“I know aliens are trying to take over this world, but not much else.”
“Then why don’t you join us on our quest?” The rallying punch to his own chest was unnecessary from Brick, and more painful than he’d intended.
“Yeh.” Spiritwind concurred with a mouthful of pork.
“I’m not sure I can.” Coincidence was flattered.
“Of course you can.” Brick was certain enough for him. “What else is there to do? Sit with Irony wondering what every face she pulls really means.”
“You do have a point.”
“Then it is agreed.” A nod of the heads set the motion in stone as Coincidence turned the duo into a trio.
Their first action was to sit in silence, each forgetting the mission and drifting in to their own minds. Spiritwind tried to plan a route of investigation that passed his favourite bakery and sandwich shop, whereas Brick and Coincidence both pondered boomerangs and how they came back to you. Sharing other peoples thoughts had become a side effect of Coincidence’s position, as had bumping in to people he’d rather not see. The silence reigned until Coincidence and Brick caught each other's eye.
“We should be doing something shouldn’t we?” Brick voiced the obvious.
“Yes.” Coincidence agreed. The trio stood and motioned shaking dust from their bodies. The dust was in fact frozen in time and had no choice but to stay where it had been since that morning. Convinced their actions had achieved something they began the stroll b
ack towards the street.
“Does anyone happen to know how boomerangs work?” Brick aired his query.
“I think it’s to do with air flow, angles, and momentum.” Coincidence offered rationale.
“That sounds more likely than my answer.” Brick invited the question.
“What was your answer?” Coincidence accepted.
“Magic.” He wished he hadn’t bothered.
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