“On your trip to Ireland,” the Greyman clarified.
“Much has changed there,” Morag continued. “But,” she smiled, “the old ways are still strong in remote areas.”
“Neanderthals,” Dearg Due said, meaning it as a compliment, adding, “The Neanderthal genes are more pervasive in the populations of far flung areas and I think it helps the magic,” “Whatever,” Morag acknowledged. Dearg Due was known to have suspicious pseudo scientific opinions.
“How did the trip go?” the Greyman asked.
“Very well. I recruited the extra person for our water project as required. I will introduce her later.”
There were smiles of approval around the table but no one spoke, rather letting Morag finish her report.
“Then I used the visit to research some weird newspaper reports in the Kerry area concerning the disappearance of a New York fireman and his nephew, named as John O’Shea and Oengus.”
“We saw the extracts in the briefing documents,” Leanan reassured and the others nodded in agreement.
“I took myself out towards Dunquin and then to the Great Blasket,” Morag continued. “I spoke to the boy Kevin who ferries the tourists ashore. Then I went up the Great Blasket. I walked to the former O’Shea farm and beyond, following the traces. It led me to a stone built Cloghan. At the entrance to the Cloghan there was a gap of a stone freshly taken from the ground. I believe that is a sign that they, that is, Oengus and his uncle John, were there before they disappeared.”
“Not unusual, people do have accidents off Dunquin, the currents there are known to be difficult,” the Greyman offered.
“Agreed,” Morag conceded. “But then there was their unexpected return. And subsequently local gossip that the boy Oengus was going off to America in search of his Uncle John.”
“Ok?” Dearg Due said, expecting a conclusion from Morag.
“We have used the resources of Live Corp to check this out and to confirm that John O’Shea has returned to his residence in New York,” Morag continued.
“Excellent,” the Greyman approved.
“I believe we as the magic group should follow up on this,” Morag said.
“You won’t get more remote than those Islands,” The Greyman commented. As he spoke his movement caused his grey cloak of fog to shift around him. Dearg Due stared and wondered whatever she had found attractive about him in their past.
“You visited the Great Blasket,” Leanan said and asked, “Why not the Skelligs?”
“No, I stayed on focus. I know it is said that the Faerie Queen favors the Skelligs for her regular two hundred year Strategic Review Conference and blow out party. However, in the past we have used Live corp. expertise to explore the Skelligs and despite probing in great detail we have never found any evidence.”
“And failed to locate a portal to Otherworld,” Leanan finished for her.
“Indeed,” Morag acknowledged.
“But?’ Dearg Due prompted.
Morag’s eyes flashed as she smiled, revealing the excitement she had been concealing.
“I think the portal to Otherworld is on the Great Blasket,” she said with a grin.
They were stunned for a moment.
“You sure?” Dearg Due pressed.
“A route to the waters of life?” the Greyman asked.
“Of course we’d need a password,” Dearg Due added.
“Who has the password?” Leanan asked.
“Let’s take it slowly,” Morag said to calm them down. “To reprise - As you know the New York Fireman called John O’Shea...”
“Uncle to the child Oengus,” Dearg Due said impatiently. They had been over this ground.
“Oengus, was the name of the Celtic God of love,” the Greyman offered.
“And?” Leanan prompted.
“I am of the opinion that Oengus has somehow caused a settlement between the O’Shea clan and the Sidhe,” Morag explained. “This means he has been activated into his future role and destiny.”
“Evidence?” the Greyman asked skeptically.
“The fact that the uncle John took Oengus to Great Blasket, and the observable fact that crops can now grow again on the family farm on the peninsula,” Morag offered.
“But you think he and his uncle know how to use the portal to Otherworld and he might lead us there?” the Greyman offered.
“This he has inadvertently done. I believe we now know where the portal is. What we need now is the keywords to activate the portal,” Morag said.
“Morag, if we plan an intrusion into Otherworld we will need to be sure that we have a portal. Are you certain?” the Greyman asked.
“I have briefed my boss Lived Dutronc on this and he feels we have to stay on plan. The water project is his priority. If we wish to find portals for our next project, then it can follow on,” Morag said firmly.
“So why the excitement?” Leanan asked.
“We have to investigate,” the Greyman said. “When reports like this arise we are as it were put upon to enquire. It is what we do.”
“May I remind you all,” Morag said, “that our immediate plan is to cause Armageddon in New York and crash the stock exchange.”
“How does this Oengus come into the picture?” Leanan asked.
“We multi task,” Morag said. “Major on water project but we investigate the Oengus case and see where it leads.”
“Why would the Sidhe want him in New York. Does he have a mission? Is it to fight evil?” Leanan asked. “Might he be linked to our plans?”
“Why so?” Dearg Due asked.
Leanan shrugged, that made sense as much as anything made sense.
“We will move up on our program,” Morag decided. “And now that Oengus is activated for some reason and in New York, we will add as a target the timely capture of this young man,” Morag said in businesslike tones.
“Does he have powers?” Leanan asked.
No one replied to this point.
“In advance of this meeting I asked Dearg Due to begin work on capturing Oengus and his uncle John,” Morag said, adding, perhaps now is a good time Dearg Due?”
“OK,” Dearg Due agreed.
“Dearg Due could you fill us in on progress?” Morag asked.
“I have already eliminated his uncle’s boyfriend in one tasty swoop,” Dearg Due said with a satisfied grin.
“What?” the Greyman asked astounded.
“As instructed I proceeded to the given address of residence in the Bronx to locate a fireman,” Dearg Due snapped back.
“Yes, and there were two firemen in that apartment,” the Greyman said, adding, “It was all in the newspaper reports on the murder.”
Dearg Due stiffened. She did not like any criticism from the Greyman, implied or otherwise.
“And for how long did you observe that apartment?” the Greyman added.
“Not long, it was just a simple night job, quick in and out. Five minutes max.”
“Dearg Due you must do the detail. Observation would have revealed your target. Instead you did a rushed job,” the Greyman accused.
“Please, no quarrels,” Morag intervened.
They both looked coldly at each other but neither spoke.
“It appears John O’Shea had a friend who shared his bed. You killed his friend,” Morag said, seeking clarification.
“I read about it in the New York Times. It’s been knick-named the vampire murder because the body was drained of blood,” Leanan added.
“It’s what I do and who I am. I had a situation,” Dearg Due said with a shrug.
“Hmp” the Greyman commented.
Dearg Due ignored him.
“It was a cold day and I needed warm blood,” she added. “Also he was a big man. I
f I was to capture fireman John I needed to eliminate his partner. I’m strong but two firemen, no way.”
“We are where we are,” Morag interjected.
“Is the uncle still working?” the Greyman asked.
“Yes we believe so but Dearg Due reports that he has not returned to his apartment. Of course it was sealed as a crime scene. He was at work when the murder occurred so he had a tight alibi and in consequence the police have no interest in him. But I suspect he fears he was the target and is hiding out.”
“A fireman has to check in and out. He must have a cell phone,” the Greyman added.
“You are going to call him?” Dearg Due asked.
“No dear, I’m going to ask Morag if the resources of Live corp. can stretch to locating the cell phone. We find the phone we find him,”
“Clever,” Dearg Due admitted.
“But if we’ve spooked him he’s clever enough not to have a traceable phone,” Morag added.
There was a tension in the room. Morag tapped the table with her pencil. They waited. Clearly she was considering options.
“Where is the boy Oengus?” the Greyman asked.
“Evidence suggests he is already in New York. The boy came through on a flight from Ireland, that much we know,” Morag said, adding by way of explanation, “flight records.”
“On a mission?” the Greyman asked.
“Possibly, indeed likely. However his only known contact is his Uncle John,” Morag explained.
“Now the uncle is in hiding. But the boy won’t know that?” the Greyman asked.
“Yes, and he will probably try to visit his uncle’s New York address,” Leanan said.
“You are on the right wavelength,” Morag said with a grin. “One of the boys in the street gang where the uncle lives is called Hugo,” Morag began.
“And he is paid to watch by Live Corp.” Dearg Due added.
“Spot on!” Morag agreed, happy her team was focused.
“And?” Leanan asked. It irritated her that Morag was so roundabout in her dealings with the team, withholding information until they teased her out.
But Leanan did not show her exasperation rather smiling her best smile she asked,
“Do we have any photos, for example from passport records?”
“We have a description; the unaccompanied minor was described as about sixteen years of age and rural in dress and sophistication. I doubt he’s been off the family farm since the day he arrived there. New York will be a big strange place for him.”
“Any address?” Dearg Due asked.
“We have used the services of a detective agency. As the agency is third party we should keep them in the dark. They checked airport arrivals and cab drivers working the airport and came up with an address in Greenwich Village and detail of a red haired girl, looking like a student, who met him at the airport and took a cab with Oengus. Detail as provided by a cab driver.”
“The address where he dropped them?” the Greyman asked.
“Doesn’t check out,” Morag said. “But I expect the area is right. They got dropped off and went somewhere, possibly nearby.”
“What do we do?” Leanan asked.
“Leanan and Dearg Due I want you two to try find him.”
“OK,” the said in unison.
“Liaise with Hugo,” Morag added.
Leanan wrinkled her nose thinking why couldn’t she have said that at the start? “Do you have his cell?” she asked.
“I suggest Dearg Due does not visit the crime scene,” the Greyman cautioned, biting off the urge to add ‘again.’
“Probably not,” Dearg Due agreed.
“Whatever, so Greyman, you and Leanan deal with it,” Morag instructed. “You’ll have to visit Hugo. He doesn’t like talking on phones and he’ll expect cash money in his hands before he talks,” Morag added.
“OK,” they agreed.
“Think about it,” Morag said.
They regarded her with interest. She was respected for her intelligence and insight.
“Oengus is of magic provenance?” the Greyman prompted.
“He might be valuable if we can kidnap him?” Leanan suggested.
“Also we don’t know what he is or why he is here but we must find out in case it has a bearing on our plans,” Morag said.
“This is tricky team. It will need a deft touch but I’m sure we will handle it,” Morag added.
They nodded in agreement.
“We need to move on to the main project. The Greyman has lead on this and he has been busy. Could you update the group?” Morag asked, deciding enough had been discussed on the matter of Oengus and his uncle and it was time to move on the agenda.
“We are set to start on Tuesday,” the Greyman began...
The details took them late into the night.
Chapter Ten
Instead of his usual breakfast of porridge followed by eggs and bacon with boxty potatoes and black pudding rounded off with a mug of tea, Oengus found he had to make do with something called muesli with only coffee to drink.
“I’m afraid I have no special pigeon food,” Maedbh said, referring to Puca Beag.
Beag flapped his wings in disappointment but stayed perched on the back on one of the four seats at the breakfast table.
Maedbh went and opened the window.
“Shoo!” she said and Beag hopped onto the outside windowsill.
Maedbh put some dry muesli on a saucer and placed it beside him. Then she shut the window. No way was she risking pigeon droppings in her apartment.
At the same time Venus was having her own breakfast of a saucer of milk on the kitchen floor alongside a bowl of cat food. When she was finished she jumped up onto one of the kitchen chairs and wiped her whiskers.
“Time for a discussion,” Venus said.
“A what?” Oengus asked without interrupting his chewing.
“What are you doing in New York Oengus and why?” Venus asked in businesslike tones.
Maedbh stopped her spoon and waited for the reply.
“I have a mission to find a stolen Sword. It’s called ‘The Great Fury,’” Oengus explained.
Maedbh gave a snort. “A lot of trouble was gone through to get you here?” she said.
“I have to find my uncle,” Oengus added.
“Why find your uncle?” Venus asked.
“My uncle may know where my father is,” Oengus said.
“How would your uncle John know this?” Venus asked.
“My father was also called Oengus. He committed a grave offence and was deprived of his name and his powers and sent to a place of punishment,” Oengus explained.
“Who told you this?” Maedbh asked.
“My mother Danu.”
“The Goddess Danu?” Venus asked in astonishment.
“The very same,” Oengus said confidently, catching Maedbh’s eye. Maedbh looked equally astonished.
“What did he do?” Maedbh asked.
“At the time he was acting God of Love and no one could resist him. He became very vain, or so I’m told, but still charming.”
“Your mother, did he seduce her?” Maedbh guessed.
“And she is his sister,” Oengus said with an embarrassed blush.
“And you their child?” Venus said gently.
“So who is God of Love now?” Maedbh asked.
“No one, currently no one has the job of growing love in the universe,” Oengus said.
“There’s a lot of love about,” Maedbh contradicted.
“Yes but they say something has to be done for love is losing its momentum.”
“So you have to find him?” Venus asked.
“Yes, I must recover his sword. It is calle
d the Great Fury. When I return it, it will become the sword of the God of Love.”
“Wow,” Maedbh commented.
“And then?” Venus prompted.
“I’ll be accepted into the world of Tir na Nhog, Danu’s world. I will no longer be a lost boy rejected by those who know me.”
Maedbh and Oengus continued with their breakfast in silence while Venus gave the revelations some thought.
“Do you have any powers?” Venus asked.
Oengus looked at them both as if wondering whether to reply.
“Well,” he began. “I’m told I have to be an apprentice and to learn about things. Specifically I’m to spend some time on earth.”
“Powers?” Venus prompted.
“For a start I am to be the God of Inconsequential Things.”
“What does that mean?” Maedbh asked, waving a spoonful of muesli.
“Danu said it was like a gap year. I’m to study human ways and practice with small things.”
“Will you go to high school?’ Maedbh asked.
“I’m not in need of much education. I took a long time to get to sixteen. My mother arranged for a mountain man called Gentle Michael to give me lessons. He was small but he knew a lot.”
“I once knew a leprechaun called Gentle Michael,” Venus said. “But Danu says I led a sheltered life in Kerry. I must live with humankind, both good and bad,” Oengus added.
“Will you get a job?” Venus asked.
“I have a job. I am an apprentice God. And I have a credit card for essentials.”
“OK, so show us what a God of Inconsequential things can do,” Venus challenged.
Oengus screwed his face with concentration. Then he grinned a wide warm grin. “I’m not great at this,” he said.
They waited.
“Would the fall of a lump of sugar from this bowl be an inconsequential thing?” Oengus asked.
“I suppose so,” Venus said.
“I agree, it would be an inconsequential thing,” Maedbh said.
Oengus put his hand over the sugar bowl. Without him touching it, a square of sugar lump tumbled on to the table.
“There, that was an inconsequential thing,” he said.
Venus gave a cat laugh and Maedbh grinned.
The Great Fury Page 8