Magician's Heir

by D Bruce Cotton

  “Ah, you speak, Adam, but your words make little sense. I know naught of these ‘winos’ or ‘cops’ you speak of. But I trust you know what is best.”

  Adam remembered how he’d reacted when first appearing in Tantris. “You’re handling this situation a lot better than I did, Aristomus. Just keep in mind when we go out,” he nodded at the door with his head, “things will be very different from what you’re used to.”

  Reaching down, Adam picked up a small remote from the coffee table and pointed it across the room. “Here. I think this will give you a better idea of what I mean. This is a television.” With a click, the small, battered TV came to life. The talking head from a local morning news show appeared as the screen brightened.

  A strangled gasp came from the couch. Eyes wide and mouth agape, Aristomus stared hard at the screen. “What devilry is this? That man... how have you confined him to such a small box?”

  Adam hid a grin behind one hand. “It’s okay, Aristomus. This is part of the technology I told you about. He’s not inside the TV. It’s just his image projected there.”

  The old mage approached the TV with caution. Stretching out a tentative finger, he touched the display, only to snatch it back as the screen crackled with static electricity. “This device... lightning powers it?”

  Rolling the TV away from the wall, Adam pointed out the power cord and cable connection. “Yes, the electricity comes from this wall outlet. But the pictures come through this tiny cable. I guess they’re powered by electricity, too, but I’m not sure how it works.” Pushing the TV back, he clicked the remote again and a woman selling handbags appeared. “We use it mostly for entertainment and news.”

  After explaining how to change channels and adjust the volume, he placed the remote in the old mage’s hand. “Try it while I’m out. Maybe it’ll give you a better idea of my world.”

  ARISTOMUS SHRUGGED into the black, long-sleeved t-shirt. Blood dripped from the teeth of a snarling silver wolf’s head on his chest; the logo of some now defunct heavy metal band. Standing back with arms extended, he asked, “What do you think? Will I now fit in?”

  Adam shook his head and tried to keep a straight face. Along with the t-shirt, the mage wore baggy blue jeans falling well short of his ankles, white socks and a ragged pair of black Keds high-tops. He’d had a tough time finding anything to fit the tall, lean mage and resorted to a local thrift store.

  “Well, you won’t be on a fashion show runway soon, but it’ll do. Let’s go.”

  “What is our destination?”

  “The library is our first stop,” Adam replied. “I don’t have wi-fi here, so it’s the best place to do any research.”

  “I know not what this ‘wi-fi’ is, Adam, but if it will aid us in getting home, lead on.”

  Outside the apartment, a set of metal stairs led to the street below. Adam walked halfway down before he realized Aristomus hadn’t followed. The mage held the metal railing in a white-knuckled grip as he stared at the street below. Walking back up, Adam laid a gentle hand on the old mage’s shoulder.

  “This is what I mean, Aristomus,” he said. “You’ll draw attention to us if you don’t stay with me and stop staring.”

  The mage opened his mouth to speak, but a garbage truck stopping to pick up a dumpster cut him off. Aristomus stared as the hydraulic arms picked up the container and raised it into position, dumping the contents through an open compartment at the top of the truck. The arms came down again and released the container with a loud crash of metal.

  “How can I not stare?” he asked as the truck drove away. “Your world is so loud and fearsome, yet filled with such wonders.” A brief look of revulsion passed over his features. “If not for the smell and our need to hurry, I would not mind remaining here for a time. But I will do my best, Adam.”

  With the library several blocks away, Adam spent the time talking about Elliston—its history, the different shops, and the people. Aristomus’ head stayed on a swivel, both frightened and captivated by what he saw: a fire truck speeding down the street, sirens wailing; a young boy balancing a cone topped with three-scoops of ice cream; a construction worker operating a jackhammer to break up part of a sidewalk. At one point, Adam had to grab the mage’s arm to keep him from stepping into a busy intersection. Then he spent the next few minutes explaining the intricacies of traffic signals.

  They passed by a bakery and Aristomus stopped, breathing in the heavenly aroma. Adam took him inside and bought two cupcakes piled high with frosting. One bite and the mage went catatonic with delight. Apparently chocolate didn’t exist in Tantris.

  As they crossed the street to the library, Adam drifted back to his childhood. He’d spent many afternoons haunting the aisles in search of books to take him to faraway places. And it was one of the few locations he didn’t have to worry about bullies like Dudley Wilson and Eddie Parker.

  One of a row of two-story, 19th-century buildings in the town’s historic district, the Elliston Public Library shared walls with an insurance agency to one side and an old, abandoned gas station on the other. Years ago, the city had annexed the gas station, using it to expand the library. As he entered, Adam took a deep breath. The sights and smells— the musty scent of yellowing paper, old ink and glue—brought back wonderful memories. Above, he saw tiny motes of dust dancing through beams of sunlight pouring through the upstairs windows. Blue indoor/outdoor carpeting replaced the old green one, but essentially, it remained the same place from his childhood. For Adam, it felt like being transported back to a simpler place and time; one he’d missed without ever realizing it.

  A loud gasp from Aristomus pulled him back to the present. The mage moved past him, slender fingers caressing each spine as his eyes took in row after row of tight-packed shelves. “So many books... Adam, it is little wonder your world is so advanced. Think of the knowledge stored here!”

  “Shh!” The librarian, her ears tuned to the slightest sound, stared with disapproval at Aristomus. Dressed in stylish tan slacks and a white blouse with a black sweater vest, the older woman’s gray-streaked blonde hair draped over one shoulder in a ponytail. Striking blue eyes stared daggers at them. She’s pretty, Adam thought, except for the stern expression. A small nameplate on the counter read, Kathryn Keene, Head Librarian.

  Adam snagged his arm, pulling the old mage down so he could whisper in his ear. “Sorry. I forgot to mention we have to be quiet. It’s kind of a rule and the librarian won’t accept any excuses.”

  Aristomus nodded his understanding and allowed Adam to lead him past the frowning librarian and through a glass door to the computer lab. They had the soundproof room to themselves. Adam sat at a computer and moved the mouse, bringing the screen to life. Aristomus pulled over another chair and sat next to him.

  “Is this another television, Adam? I do not wish to offend, but they seem a waste of time. There are many channels, but nothing...”

  “...to watch,” Adam finished, smiling. “No. This is a computer.” He clicked on the screen to open a web browser. “It’s connected to the Internet, which is... well, let’s just say it puts all the world’s knowledge at our fingertips. This is what I’ll use to search for Max.”

  Bringing up Google, Adam typed “Max Hendricks” in the search block. Though old, the library computer moved fast enough. Within a few seconds, the search results popped up—741,000 hits! Adam’s eyes goggled. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he murmured.

  On a whim, he typed in “Makzendrix.” No hits at all. Then he remembered the card Max gave him back in the magic shop. He typed in “Max Hendricks Master Magician” and hit enter. It brought the number down to something over 20,000 hits.

  “A little better,” he mumbled. Looking over at Aristomus, he said, “This may take a while. Why don’t you look around the library? Just try not to do anything to get us thrown out.”

  The old mage’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Excellent. But come for me at once should you find something.”

&nbs
p; The glass door closed on silent hinges behind the mage. Adam turned back to the monitor and scrolled through the results—Facebook profiles, YouTube videos, movie reviews, newspaper articles, even a page for contortionists in Minnesota! How on earth did that get in there?

  Time went by with no success. Page after page, the results became more obscure. He tried other search engines, but got similar results. With a sigh, he sat back and rubbed his tired eyes. It’s like he’s hiding, he thought. But I know he’s out there. I’ve had his book since I was eight years...

  “Wait a minute,” he mumbled. “If I can’t find Max, maybe I can track him down by his book!” Going back to the top of the screen, he typed in “Real Book of Magic Max Hendricks.”

  And there it was. The familiar black cover with its name printed in silver foil appeared on the screen. Though just a thumbnail, he could still make out the name at the bottom: Max Hendricks. Clicking on the link took him to a publishing house website: arcanepublishinginc.com. But next to the thumbnail of Max’s book he read the bold letters, OUT OF PUBLICATION. He saw nothing else; no description, no author’s note, nothing at all.

  “Damn,” he muttered, “another dead end.” He tried to recall the pages from his own copy back at the store. Had there been anything that might give him another avenue to try? But he hadn’t opened the old book in years, and couldn’t remember anything helpful. Well, I am in a library after all. Maybe there’s a copy here.

  After closing the browser, Adam left the computer lab to look for Aristomus. It didn’t take long to find him. The mage stood at the front desk, chatting up the librarian. From the look on her face, he doubted they’d get thrown out any time soon.

  “Ah, Adam,” he said, voice pitched low. “There you are. The lovely Ms. Keene here has kept me entertained with the inner workings of the library. Fascinating! Did you know...”

  “Yeah, it’s mesmerizing, I’m sure.” Adam gave him a knowing look. “But don’t forget why we’re here, Aristomus.”

  “Aristomus,” purred the librarian as she leaned over the counter. “Such a strange name. Is it foreign? I have a great-uncle from Chechnya who tells such interesting stories...”

  Aristomus gave the librarian’s hand a gentle pat. “Oh, aye, Ms. Keene. I am from a place very far from here. But it appears my compatriot has found what he sought. Perhaps we might continue this conversation at a later date?”

  “I’d like that very much,” she replied with a smile. “Here, let me give you my number.” Scribbling a quick note, she slid it across the countertop, letting her fingers brush the mage’s when he retrieved it. “And, please,” she said with a shy look, “call me Kate.”

  Adam sighed, rolling his eyes. “Truth is,” he said, “we could use your help. I need to find a copy of a book and wondered if you might have it here.”

  “Glad to help,” she replied, smiling. “Just give me the title and author.”

  Adam recited back the information and waited as the librarian typed it into her small computer.

  “Ah, you’re in luck. There’s one copy of the book here.” She leaned in closer to the monitor, eyes squinting. “Hmm, that’s strange.”

  “What?” Adam asked, leaning his head over the counter to see.

  “It’s just... well, The Real Book of Magic has been here 15 years and never checked out once. In most cases, we remove unread books from the stack long before. Like I said, you’re in luck.” Kate jotted down the book’s information and walked around the counter. “Come with me. I’ll take you right to it.”

  Kate led them to the back of the library. She slowed occasionally to compare her note to the labels at the end of each aisle. “Here we are,” she said, turning between two shelves. Chewing her lower lip, she let her fingers slide over the spines, stopping when she found it. “Ah-ha! There we go.”

  When she slid the book from its shelf, Adam recognized the black cover with its silver foil title at once. Aristomus took the book from her and tucked it under one arm. Taking her hand, he gave a small bow before kissing it.

  “Thank you ever so much for your help, my dear,” he said.

  “Y-you’re welcome,” she spluttered. Though dark between the shelves, Kate’s rosy blush practically glowed as she made her way past them and back to the front of the library.

  Adam gave Aristomus a quick nudge with his elbow. “You never told me you were such a ladies’ man!”

  Now Aristomus turned bright red. Ignoring the comment, he replied, “Er... this table seems well lit.” With a loud sniff, he made his way to a table, placing the book in front of him and pretending to study it.

  Adam shrugged and joined the old mage. The book’s back cover and the inner flaps of the dust jacket were blank. “That’s strange,” Adam said. “There’s always information about the book and the author inside the dust jacket.”

  At the bottom of the first page they found a small inscription. It read, “Arcane Publishing, Inc.” Both mages ignored it, though. Their eyes locked on the imprint of the publisher’s logo: a pair of crossed staffs superimposed over a golden sunburst.

  “That’s...” Adam started.

  “The symbol for the Mage’s Guild,” finished Aristomus. Looking up, he asked, “Do you still doubt the connection between Makzendrix and the author of this book?”

  “Okay, you’ve convinced me. But none of it matters if we can’t find him.” Adam turned the page to the first magic trick: the vanishing coin. It had large type, as you’d expect for a children’s book, the trick itself simple. Opposite the page he found the pre-sliced banana trick.

  “I remember this one,” Adam said. “You poke a pin through the banana’s skin and wiggle it back and forth. Do it several times and when you peel the banana, it’s already sliced. I used to fool all of my friends with that one.”

  “Amazing,” replied the mage, his voice heavy with sarcasm. “But it does little for our current situation. What is next?”

  They paged through the book, searching. They found the Indian rope trick, the elastic lady, the floating matchstick, the detachable thumb; page after page of simple tricks Adam remembered doing as a boy. But they found nothing to give them any clue about where to find Max. After reading the last page, the incredible bending coin, Adam closed the book with a sigh. It seemed they’d run out of options.

  “We may as well go,” he said. “We’ve been here for hours and the library closes soon. Let’s head back to my apartment for something to eat while I try to figure out our next step.”

  BACK IN THE APARTMENT, Adam fixed them both sandwiches with milk. Aristomus peeled back the top piece of bread and looked at the red and brown goo with reluctance.

  “Don’t worry,” Adam said around a mouthful of bread. “It’s just peanut butter and jelly. It’s considered a staple around here.”

  The mage took a tentative bite and a look of surprise spread over his face. After wolfing down the rest of the sandwich, he licked strawberry jam from his fingers. “So,” he asked, “where do we go from here, Adam?”

  “I don’t know,” he replied. “Everything we did today led to a dead end.”

  “Think back to your first encounter. Did he say or do anything out of the ordinary? Perhaps something you may have forgotten or overlooked?”

  Adam thought back to that day in the magic shop. “I thought he was a salesman. He had a suitcase full of those magic beans and he acted just like someone trying to move his inventory. If only I’d bought some,” he said, voice tinged with regret.

  “But, no,” he continued. “Everything seemed normal. He introduced himself, gave me his business card...” Adam’s eyes widened. “Wait a minute!” Jumping up from the table, he hurried to his bedroom.

  “What is it, Adam?” demanded the mage, following. “What have you remembered?”

  Adam dug through the clothes he’d worn the day before. “It’s not here!” Scanning the room, he moaned, “What did I do with his business card?”

  “Is it important?” asked the mage. �
��You said the card contained his name and title only.”

  Adam’s muffled voice called out from under the bed, “Yeah, but that’s the weird part. A business card always has a phone number and email address; sometimes even a website. Maybe he put something on the other side.” Backing out from under the bed, he remained seated on the floor. “But it’s not here,” he said, voice defeated.

  “Are you certain you brought it with you? Perhaps you left it behind.”

  “Maybe,” he replied. “Guess we’d better check it out.”

  Chapter 3, Discovery

  The key rasped in the lock, then turned with a click which seemed loud in the silent strip mall. They’d arrived late, finding all the other storefronts dark and empty.

  When the door swung open, it connected with the bell inside. Its brassy ring startled Adam. Not used to visiting at such a late hour, it surprised him how spooky and different it felt. With Aristomus inside, he let the door swing shut and flipped the light switches. The fluorescents flickered on, casting harsh white light over the shelves and displays.

  The old mage picked up a crystal ball, his eye magnified and distorted as he looked through the thick glass orb. “For a world with no magic, your people seem obsessed with its practice,” he remarked.

  “Not obsessed enough,” replied Adam. “Another few months and I’ll have to close the place. Seems like people are more interested in video games and cell phones than magic these days.” He sighed at Aristomus’ look of confusion. “Never mind. Come on, the sales counter’s over there.”

  The two men walked to the counter. Adam kept the dark wood clean and polished to a bright sheen. Nothing, let alone a white business card, marred its surface. Adam walked behind the counter and knelt, rummaging through the shelves and drawers. After a few minutes of careful searching, he straightened and shook his head.