“What about a Passage Seeker?”
“They are just as dangerous. If I met one I might not be here right now. It’s unlikely you’d live to tell about it. They are very mysterious and secretive. If certain Sojourners knew who they were, it is possible they would hunt them down, or give their identities to the Passageway Authorities. They are despised because of what they do. Their main goal is to take other Sojourners’ Passageways and abandon them. From what little I know of them, they probably change their appearances all the time.”
“Do the Sojourners who are kidnapped for ransom or abandoned without a Passageway ever get returned to their family?”
“I’d imagine it’s a very difficult and complicated process. There are Hub agencies prepared to help them. It’s up to the Passageway Authorities to get involved when that happens. In some cases the victims were found and brought to the Sojourners’ Council by private individuals. Most of the time they would probably send a Passageway Authority to help the individual. A lot of Sojourners wouldn’t want to get involved because the Labyrinth Seekers are very dangerous and they are understandably afraid of them.”
Carson thought for a moment and then went on to say, “When something is stolen from a Sojourner it is important to get reputable help to try to get your property, or loved one, back from the Stygian Market. The Dauze family comes highly recommended in the Sojourners’ realm for bargaining to get your property back. They are honest Passageway Trackers, Rare Coin Trackers and specialized in the return of loved ones who are victims of abduction. They are very well connected. They come at a high price though. What they do is very dangerous and they need to be very discrete. From what I understand about the family, they choose carefully who they work with.”
“What do you know about the Stygian Market?” Charles asked.
“I know enough to stay far away. Some of the journals have entries about it. The Stygian Market is a bad deal. You can bet someone else suffered for the dealings that go on there. We do not want our family associated with that.”
Charles asked about Imogene, the lady he read about in Phil’s last journal entry. “Do you know what happened to her family’s business? What did she do to become the wealthiest woman of her time?”
“She is documented in a couple of other journals in our collection. I’ll point them out if you want to read them. Imogene, or Gene as she was sometimes referred to, became a very successful Sojourner trader and businesswoman. She had a daughter who ended up taking over her business interests. Currently her family is now Sojourning on her business’ behalf. I’ve had dealings with them several times.”
Carson told Charles, “Before you can begin your first adventure you need to read the Sojourner’s Manual on the Guidelines of Sojourning. This manual will set forth the rules and also give you ideas for safety precautions. Once you have completed reading the book you will be ready to have your first experience in the Hub. Why don’t you take the manual and leave it in your nightstand drawer? Then you will be able to read at your leisure or before you go to bed.”
Airabelle sat quietly on Carson’s chair and listened to the conversation. Esmond was under the table. It was about time to clean up and head to the house. Charles put Esmond back in his aquarium. Carson gathered his research and put it away. Airabelle flew into her cage and sat on her perch. Carson closed the cage door. Charles went to the table, picked up Carson’s journal, the manual and put his Sojourner glasses in his pocket. Carson secured the books into their book vault. Then, they walked up to the house.
Cynthia and Sophie were playing checkers on the front porch. When Sophie saw Charles she jumped up and ran to him. She then hugged Carson and gave him a kiss. He picked her up and threw her up into the air as she laughed and giggled.
Cynthia came and stood beside them. She began chattering about their day with Nana. She and Sophie had helped Nana by stitching on a quilt she was working on. Margaret was inside working with her. Cynthia was talking about all the fabric in the cabinet; how she and Sophie helped pick out fabric for the quilt. She told Charles that Caroline had called for Margaret earlier. “I heard Margaret tell Nana that Caroline likes you.” Cynthia laughed.
Sophie said, “What is wrong with that? I like Charles too.”
“Not like that, Sophie.”
Charles ran to the house and in the front door. He walked in the room where Bev and Margaret were quilting.
“Hi Charles, how are you? Sit down and talk to us,” Bev said.
He went over and sat down with the books on his lap. “I like this block Nana,” he said pointing out the one the girls had been working on.
“The girls helped with it earlier. They did a good job. They chose the fabric and pieced it all by themselves.”
Margaret and Bev visited for a while. They figured that Cynthia must have told him Caroline called or he wouldn’t be hanging around.
He thought she may have left a message, but since they didn’t mention it, he got up to leave.
Margaret smiled and said, “Charles, before you go, Caroline called earlier. She left a message for you that if you are interested, you could call her. Her number is on the table by the phone in the kitchen.”
Charles ran out of the room to the kitchen. He set the journal and manual on the table. He dialed the numbers just as fast as he could read them. Mrs. Saunders answered the phone. He couldn’t speak; his voice came out in a whisper. “May I speak to Caroline?”
“Charles, is that you?” Joyce asked.
Clearing his throat he said, “Yes Ma’am, it is.”
“Joyce, please call me Joyce from now on.”
“Thank you.”
“One moment and I will go get her.”
He waited.
Caroline came to the phone. “Charles, that was the best book ever! I finished it.” “You finished the book already?” he said laughing.
“Yes, and I enjoyed every page.”
“Well, now I guess I will have to choose another one for you, won’t I?”
“Oh, I don’t think I should…”
He finished her sentence, “What, take another book from the library? You heard Paw Paw, he was delighted you wanted to read the book. Let me worry about that. I’ll pick another good one to read to you.”
“I like when you read to me.”
Then they talked about their day, and what they were going to do later. Just before they were ready to get off the phone, Charles asked if he could call her again.
“Yes. I’d like that.”
“Goodnight Caroline.”
“Goodnight Charles. See you Tuesday.”
“I’m looking forward to the picnic,” he said quietly into the phone.
“Me too.”
He hung up the phone. He took the piece of paper that had her phone number on it and grabbed the books from the table. Next he went into the library and sat down on the couch. After he got comfortable he opened Carson’s beginning journal, put on his glasses and began reading.
He didn’t even hear Carson and Al enter the room. Al walked behind him and stared at the blank pages. “Charles, why are you looking at blank pages?”
Charles sprang up. “I was thinking about what I was going to write. I guess I was kind if daydreaming.”
Al awkwardly paused. “Oh, do you like to write?”
“No, that is why I had to think about it. Nothing is coming to mind,” Charles said looking at the closed book.
Al squinted looking confused. “I didn’t know you wear glasses…”
Carson sat in his chair looking amused at the whole situation. He decided to change the subject. “Al would you like to see the article from today’s paper that I was telling you about earlier? I think I found it.” Carson handed it to Al.
Al turned his attention to Carson. He took the paper to a nearby chair, sat and read the article.
Charles left the room with the journal, the manual and his glasses. He took the items to his room and set them on the nightstand. Then, he went
back downstairs.
Bev and Margaret were in the kitchen preparing dinner. Cynthia and Sophie helped to set the table. It wasn’t long before everyone smelled the food. They started to gravitate toward the kitchen to get a plate and fill it up with food. Cynthia, Charles and Sophie sat at the kitchen table. Al said grace. While they were eating Cynthia asked Charles if he called Caroline.
“Yes,” he answered moving his food around on his plate.
“Charles is in love! Charles is in love!” she sang.
He could feel his face getting red. “Stop it Cynthia.”
She was very proud of herself for figuring that out and she was smiling about it. Sophie didn’t say anything. She just looked at Cynthia with a unhappy look on her face.
“Well, he is… just look at him,” Cynthia said pointing to him.
Charles didn’t look up from his plate. He just kept eating.
“What did she say when you called her, Charles? Nana and Margaret were talking about a kiss.” She paused and then asked, “You have kissed her, haven’t you?”
Sophie’s mouth was wide open. She was giggling now.
“Stop girls,” Charles growled.
“She likes you too Charles. She told Margaret. She is going to stay the night at Margaret and Al’s after the picnic. Did you know that?”
Charles didn’t say anything he just kept eating. He was glad to receive Caroline’s words to Margaret. He thought: Cynthia is just full of information tonight. When he finished eating he stood up and put his plate in the sink. He walked out of the kitchen and to his room. He flopped down on the bed, opened the journal and began reading. A few minutes later he heard laughter downstairs. It sounded like they were playing some sort of game. He kept reading. He wasn’t interested in playing a game right now. Sophie’s quick, light footsteps came upstairs and into the hallway. He didn’t look up from his book. She was hiding on the other side of the door.
“Charlie, I’m sorry we made fun of you at dinner. I like Caroline.”
“Sophie, I’m not angry at you or Cynthia. You can come in here.” She came through the door and climbed up onto the bed.
“What are you reading?”
“Nothing you would like.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know Sophie. You just wouldn’t.”
“What have you been doing on the farm? Will you tell me a story about the farm?”
“Well, let’s see, I helped Nana with the bees at the apiary. Nana is a bee charmer. She doesn’t even have to wear a suit to keep the bees from stinging her. She wears a veil for protection. They stung me though. Then I helped Nana extract the honey from the honeycomb. I also helped gather the eggs in the hen house.
“Earlier we took Paw Paw’s old tractor to Al’s farm. I got to ride Persuasion, and so did Caroline.”
Sophie was smiling. “Wow Charles. You’ve done a lot.”
“Your turn, what have you been doing at home since I have been gone?” He rolled over to give her his attention.
“Mama and I have been busy shopping and cleaning the house. I cleaned my room. Today she went to work with Gretchen. That is where she is now. Cynthia has to read to me at night, now that you’re gone. She isn’t as good as you are. I’ll be glad when you come home.”
“I won’t be home for a while Sophie. I need to work here on the farm for the summer.” She climbed down from the bed. “Where are you going?”
“Downstairs for dessert. Nana was making it for me when I came up here to see you. Do you want some?”
“Maybe in a little while. I’m going to read.”
She hugged him and went downstairs.
Charles opened the journal again, put on his glasses and started reading. He read a couple of the entries depicting Carson’s first experience using a Passageway. The entries were very similar to James’ first time crossing over. There were a few things that were different… Paw Paw was eager to go through the Passageway and didn’t seem quite as disoriented when he stepped out. He explained what it was like inside the Passageway in a little more detail. According to Paw Paw the inside of the Passageway appeared to be a silver iridescent color. A dim light surrounds those who enter. The body tends to move in slow motion, sort of like walking in water. The descriptions Charles read didn’t really matter to him. He was ready to get started. He closed the journal and put it on the nightstand. Then he carefully placed his glasses on top of the books. He stood up, stretched and went downstairs.
The adults were playing Bridge in the family room. Cynthia and Sophie were drawing at the kitchen table. Charles went to the cabinet, withdrew a glass and poured tea into it.
Cynthia said, “Charles, Nana left a slice of chocolate cake on the counter.” She pointed to it.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Would you like to sit with us?”
“Sure.” He pulled the chair out and sat down. He asked Cynthia for a sheet of paper from the stack she had sitting in front of her. She gave him one. He folded and tore some off, folded it again and again until he completed a paper airplane. “Just right.” He sailed it through the air and down the hall.
It barely missed Al who just came around the corner. “Whoa.” He laughed, trying to catch it. “So this is what you guys are up to in there. I thought I would come see what was going on since you were all so quiet. If you have any extra paper I can make one too, and we can see whose plane goes the farthest.”
“Oh, I want one,” Sophie said.
Al came in, sat down and got to work. “It is my turn to be the dummy in the Bridge hand, so this will be fun!” He made three: one for Sophie, one for Cynthia and one for himself. They took the planes outside and flew them to see whose plane would go the farthest. Charles’ went the farthest. Al’s and Sophie’s were about the same, and Cynthia’s didn’t fly very well because the nose was bent after it had a rough landing previously. Sophie was excited. She went running around the yard pretending to be an airplane. Soon they went back inside. Everyone sat down and began decorating the planes.
It was Al’s turn to shuffle. He took his plane and went back to the game. The adults were impressed when he brought it into the room and flew it around. He decorated his plane with red, yellow and orange flames. Carson pretended they were the best he’d ever seen.
Margaret stood up to get more coffee and a slice of cake. She asked if she could get anything for anyone else. When Bev and Margaret entered the kitchen, they looked over each airplane and complimented the children for their details. They fixed dessert for the adults and took the plates into the other room.
There was a knock at the door. It was Molly. Bev walked to the other room and opened the door. They talked in the family room about the market. Molly told everyone that she and Gretchen had worked several hours painting and cleaning. She said her arms were stiff and would probably hurt in the morning. Bev offered to fix her dinner and dessert. They walked to the kitchen. Bev fixed Molly a plate while they talked. Molly hugged her children and briefly talked to them. She was very excited about how the renovation was improving the store. She talked to Bev about the tiled floor; how she thought it was going to look fine after being cleaned and polished. This would save money restoring the market. Bev asked her a few questions. Then, they went back to the other room to join the adults.
Molly ate, and answered Carson’s questions about the store.
“It sounds like the remodel is going very well. I’ll bring Bev and Charles to the diner for breakfast in the morning, and we will stop by to see it.”
Molly was pleased. She continued to eat as they finished the game.
After she finished, Molly returned her plate to the kitchen. She sat with her children at the table looking over their planes. When they were finished, she stood up and said, “It is time to go ladies. We will meet Nana, Paw Paw and Charles at the diner in the morning. So, we need to get going and get some rest.” They protested but knew they were not going to win because Mama was tired. So they put their thin
gs away. They went in to say goodnight to everyone.
Molly said, “We will see you in the morning at the diner around 8:00 a.m.” Then everyone walked out to the car.
After they left Charles went back inside to the library. He searched the shelves for the right book to loan Caroline. There were so many to choose from. It was a tough decision. He was sure she wouldn’t be interested in the genre he usually enjoyed reading. He searched for quite some time until he found the perfect book. He memorized where it was located, as he put it back on the shelf. He’d ask Paw Paw tomorrow if he could loan it out to Caroline. He was excited about his choice. He decided to go up to his room and continue reading Paw Paw’s journal. He heard Margaret and Al saying goodnight downstairs.
He kept reading until Bev came to the door. They talked about their day. Afterwards she left him to his reading. The phone rang. He was sure it was Margaret calling to tell Bev they made it home. When his eyes grew tired he closed the book and began to get ready for bed. When he was finished he climbed in bed and pulled the covers up under his chin. He slept very well.
CHAPTER 12
The phone rang and Charles stirred in his bed. He heard Bev on the phone, and then Carson got on the phone. From the conversation he gathered it was Gretchen. It sounded like the breakfast party just grew by two more. He heard Carson telling Walter to finish up with the morning duties and join them so he could talk to him about a few farm details. They finished the conversation.
Charles sat up on his bed. He wanted to go back to sleep, but looking at the clock on the nightstand he didn’t have time. He heard Bev in the hallway. He got up and out of bed.
She came in and said, “Good morning Charles. I just wanted to make sure you were up. Paw Paw would like to arrive early. I called the diner to make sure they would save us a big enough table for our group. Walter and Gretchen are coming too.”
He nodded. He didn’t feel much like conversation this morning. After she left, he walked to the bathroom. He took a warm shower. The water felt good. He got out and dried off. He started getting dressed and finished his morning routine.
The Xidoran Prophecy Page 16