"You really didn't have to put on a demonstration for me. I don't have any doubts about your abilities."
Pookie glanced at me.
"Not for you," she corrected. "For them...the folks watching here on the street. It was my way of announcing that you're covered now and they should keep their distance."
That possibility had never occurred to me.
"Oh," I said. "Well, I guess I should stick with my business and let you handle yours."
"Agreed," she nodded, "though I'll admit the way you do business puzzles me a bit. Sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear your dealings there."
"What? You mean my insisting on a contract? The reason I pushed for it there and not for our deal is that it was a long-term investment as opposed to a straight-forward purchase of services."
"That isn't it."
"What is it then little more generous is...the contract terms? Maybe I was a than I had to be, but the situation..."
I broke off as I realized the bodyguard was staring hard at me.
"What I meant," she said flatly, "was that before I put money into a business, I'd want to know what it was."
"You heard him. It's a wholesale/dealer operation."
"Yes, but what's he selling?"
I didn't answer that one because I didn't have an answer. In my eagerness to do J.R. a good turn, I had completely forgotten to ask what kind of business he was starting!
Chapter Seventeen
"Bibbity...bobbity..."
-S. Strange, M.D.
BRIGHT AND EARLY the next morning, I launched into the next phase of my search for Aahz. The Butterfly had convinced me it was unlikely I'd find him traveling in financial circles. That left the magicians.
As Edvick had warned, the sheer volume of Pervects in the magik business made the task seem almost impossible. It was my last idea, though, so I had to give it a try and hope I got lucky. By the time I had visited half a dozen or so operations, however, I was nearly ready to admit I was licked.
The real problem facing me was that the market glut had made the magicians extremely competitive. No one was willing to talk about any other magicians, or even acknowledge their existence. What I got was high-powered sales pitches and lectures on "the layman's need for magikal assistance in his day-to-day life". Once I admitted I was in the business myself, I either got offered a partnership or was accused of spying and thrown out of the office. (Well, a couple of them threatened, but thanks to Pookie's presence I got to walk out with dignity.) What I didn't get was any leads or information about Aahz.
Despite my growing despair of succeeding with my quest, it was interesting to view magikal hype as an outsider. Kalvin had admonished me for being too insecure and down-playing my abilities. What I learned that day after sitting through several rounds of bragging in close succession, was that the louder someone blew his own horn, the less impressed the listener, in this case, me, was apt to be. I thought of the quiet confidence exuded by people such as the Butterfly and Pookie, and decided that, in general, that was a much wiser way to conduct oneself in business situations...or social ones for that matter. As far as I could tell, the goal was not to impress people, but rather to be impressive. In line with that, I resolved to not only discourage the "Mister Skeeve" title, but to also drop "The Great Skeeve" hype. I had never really believed it anyway. What I was, was "Skeeve," and people could either be impressed or not by what I was, not by what I called myself.
If this seems like a sudden bolt from the blue to you, it isn't. The area of Perv I was covering was large enough that I was spending considerable time riding back and forth in Edvick's taxi, and it gave me lots of time to think and reflect on what I was seeing and hearing. What's more, the advice given me by the Butterfly and Kalvin, not to mention the questions I had to ask myself about trying to fetch Aahz, had given me cause to reexamine my own attitudes and priorities, so I had plenty to think about.
Dealing with what seemed to be an endless parade of people who had never heard of me before, much less met me, gave me a unique chance to observe how people interacted. More and more I found myself reflecting on how I reacted to them and they reacted to me.
Pervects had a reputation for being nasty and vicious, not to mention arrogant. There was also ample evidence that they could be more than slightly rude. Still, I had also encountered individuals who had been helpful and gentle, such as the Butterfly, and even those like J.R. who would risk themselves physically for a near stranger who was in trouble. Clearly there was danger in stereotyping people, though it was interesting to observe the behavior patterns which had developed to deal with a crowded, competitive environment. Even more interesting was noting those who seemed immune to the environmental pressure that ruled the others about them.
The more I thought about it, the more I began to see pieces of myself reflected in the Pervish behavior. Kalvin had commented on my actively trying to be strong...of being cold and ruthless in an effort to hide my own feared weaknesses. Was it all that different with the blustering Pervects who would rather shout than admit they might be wrong? Were my own feelings of insecurity and inadequacy making me insensitive and closed to the very people who could help me?
The thought was enough to inspire me to voice my frustrations to Edvick and ask if he had any thoughts as to alternate methods of searching the magikal community.
"I was just thinking about that, Skeeve," he said over his shoulder, "but I didn't figure it was my place to say anything unless you asked."
"Well, I'm asking. After all, there's no shame in admitting you know this dimension better than I do."
That last was said as much to myself as to Edvick, but the cabbie accepted it in stride.
"Too true. Well, what I was thinking was that instead of working to get magicians to talk about potential competitors, maybe you should try checking the schools."
"The schools?"
"Sure. You know, the places that teach these spell-slingers their trade. They should have some kind of records showing who's learned what. What's more, they should be willing to share them since you're not a competitor."
That made sense, but it seemed almost too easy.
"Even if that's true, do you think they would bother to keep current addresses on their old students?"
"Are you kidding?" the cabbie laughed. "How else could the old Alma Mater be able to solicit donations from their alumni? This may not be Deva, but do you think a Pervect would lose track of a revenue source?"
I felt my hope being renewed as he spoke.
"That's a great idea, Edvick! How many magik schools are there, anyway?"
"Not more than a dozen or so of any note. Nowhere near the number of businesses. If I were you, I'd start with the biggest and work your way down."
"Then that's what we'll do. Take me to the top of the list and don't spare the lizards...and Edvick? Thanks."
The grounds of the Magikal Institute of Perv (MIP) occupied an entire city block. I say grounds because much of it was well trimmed lawns and bushes, a marked contrast to the closely packed buildings and alleys that seemed to compose the majority of Perv. Stately old buildings of brick or stone were scattered here and there, apparently oblivious to the bustling metropolis that screeched and honked scant yards from their tranquility. Looking at them, one could almost read their stoic thoughts: that if they ignored it long enough, maybe the rest of the world would go away.
There was an iron fence surrounding the school in token protection from intrusion, but the gate stood wide open. I peered out the windows of the cab in curiosity as we drove up to what Edvick said was the administration building, hoping to catch a glimpse of the students practicing their lessons, but was disappointed. The people I saw were much more interested in being young--skylarking and flirting with each other--than in demonstrating their learning to a casual visitor. I did, however, notice there were more than a few students from off-dimension in their number. Either the school was much more tolerant of off-worlders than the rest of
the dimension, or they simply weren't as picky about who they accepted money from. I never did get a chance to find out which it really was.
After a few inquiries, I was shown into the office of the head record keeper. That individual listened carefully to my story, though he was so still and outwardly calm that I found myself fighting a temptation to make a face at him in mid-sentence just to see if he was really paying attention. I have a hunch I would not do well in a formal educational environment.
"I see," he said, once I had ground to a halt. "Well, your request seems reasonable. Aahz...Aahz...I don't recall the name off-hand, but it does ring some sort of a bell. Oh well, we can check it easily enough. GRETTA!?"
In response to his call, a young female Pervect appeared in the office door. She glanced quickly at Pookie who was leaning against the wall behind me, but except for that ignored my bodyguard as completely as the record keeper had.
"Yes sir?"
"Gretta, this is Mr. Skeeve. He's trying to locate someone who might have been a student here. I'd like you to help him locate the appropriate file in the archives...if it exists. Mr. Skeeve, this is Gretta. She's one of the apprentices here who helps us...is something wrong?"
I had suddenly drawn back the hand I had been extending to shake hands with Gretta, and the record keeper had noted the move.
"Oh, nothing...really," I said embarrassed. I quickly reached out and shook the offered hand. "It's a...bad habit I learned from Aahz. I really should break it. You were saying?"
The record keeper ignored my efforts to cover the social gaff.
"What bad habit is that?"
"It's silly, but...Well, Aahz, back when he was my teacher, wouldn't shake hands with me once I became his apprentice. When we first met and after we became partners it was okay, but not while I was his student. I don't shake hands with apprentices he used to say...only louder. I hadn't realized I had picked it up until just now. Sorry, Gretta. Nothing personal."
"Of course...Aahzmandius!"
The record keeper seemed suddenly excited.
"Excuse me?" I said, puzzled.
"Gretta, this won't require a file search after all. Bring me the file on Aahzmandius...it will be in the dropout file...three or four centuries back if I recall correctly."
Once the apprentice had scampered off, the record keeper returned his attention to me once more.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Skeeve. I just managed to recall the individual you're looking for. Refusing to shake hands with apprentices was the tip-off. It was one of his least objectionable quirks. Aahzmandius! After all these years I can still remember him."
After searching so long I was reluctant to believe my luck.
"Are you sure we're talking about the same person? Aahz?"
"Oh my, yes. That's why the name rang a bell. Aahz was the nickname Aahzmandius would use when he was exercising his dubious love of practical jokes...or doing anything else he didn't want reflected on his permanent record, for that matter. There was a time when that name would strike terror into the hearts of any under-classman on campus."
"I take it he wasn't a particularly good student?" I said, trying to hide my grin.
"Oh, on the contrary, he was one of the brightest students we've ever had here. That's much of why the faculty and administration were willing to overlook the...um, less social aspects of his character. He was at the head of his class while he was here, and everyone assumed a bright future for him. I'm not sure he was aware of it, but long before he was slated to graduate, there was a raging debate going on about him among the faculty. One side felt that every effort should be made to secure him a position with the institute as an instructor after he graduated. The other felt that with his arrogant distaste for inferiors, placing him in constant contact with students would...well, let's just say they felt his temperament would be better suited to private practice, and the school could benefit best by simply accepting his financial contributions as an alumni...preferably mailed from far away."
I was enthralled by this new insight into Aahz's background. However, I could not help but note there was something that didn't seem to fit with the record keeper's oration.
"Excuse me," I said, "but didn't I hear you tell Gretta to look in the dropout file for Aahz's records? If he was doing so well, why didn't he graduate?"
The Pervect heaved a great sigh, a look of genuine pain on his face.
"His family lost their money in a series of bad investments. With his financial support cut off, he dropped out of school...left quietly in the middle of a semester even though his tuition had been paid in full for the entire term. We offered him a scholarship so that he could complete his education...there was even a special meeting held specifically to get the necessary approvals so he wouldn't be kept dangling until the scholarship board would normally convene. He wouldn't accept it, though. It's a shame, really. He had such potential."
"That doesn't sound like the Aahz I know," I frowned. "I've never known him to refuse money. Usually, he wouldn't even wait for it to be offered...not nailing it down would be considered enough of an invitation for him to help himself. Did he give any reason for not accepting the scholarship?"
"No, but it was easy enough to understand at the time. His family had been quite well off, you see, and he had lorded his wealth over the less fortunate as much or more than he had harassed them with his superior abilities. I think he left school because he couldn't bear to face his old cronies, much less his old victims, in his new cash poor condition. Basically, he was too proud to be a scholarship student after having established himself as a campus aristocrat. Aahzmandius may not refuse money, but I think you'll find he has an aversion to charity...or anything that might be construed as such."
It all made sense. The portrait he was painting of Aahz, or as he was known here, Aahzmandius, seemed to confirm the Butterfly's analysis of my old mentor's financial habits. If he had suffered from embarrassment and seen his plans for the future ruined because of careless money management, it stood to reason that he would respond by becoming ultraconservative if not flat out miserly when it came to accumulating and protecting our cache of hard cash.
"Ah! Here we are."
I was pulled out of my musings by the record keeper's exclamation at Gretta's return. I felt my anticipation rise as he took the offered folder and began perusing its contents. For the first time since arriving on Perv, I was going to have a solid lead on how to find Aahz. Then I noticed he was frowning.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Skeeve," the record keeper said, glancing up from the folder. "It seems we don't have a current address for your associate. The note here says 'Traveling.' I guess that, realizing his financial situation, we haven't been as diligent about keeping track of him as we've been with our other alumni."
I fought against a wave of disappointment, unwilling to believe that after everything I had been through, this was going to turn out to be another dead end.
"Didn't he have a school or business or something? I met one of his apprentices once."
The Pervect shook his head.
"No. That we would have known about. He may have been willing to instruct a few close friends or relatives...that's not uncommon for someone who's studied here. But I think I can say for sure that he hasn't been doing any formal teaching here or on any other dimension. We would have heard, if for no other reason than his students would have contacted us to confirm his credentials."
Now that he mentioned it, I did recall that Rupert, the apprentice I had met, had specifically been introduced as Aahz's nephew. Overcome with a feeling of hopelessness, I almost missed what the record keeper said next.
"Speaking of relatives. We do have an address for his next of kin...in this case, his mother. Perhaps if you spoke to her, you might find out his current whereabouts."
Chapter Eighteen
" 'M' is for the many things she taught me..."
-Oedipus
THE SEARCH FOR the address the record keeper had g
iven me led us onto some of the dimension's side streets which made up the residential areas. Though at first Perv seems to be composed entirely of businesses, there is also a thriving neighborhood community just a few steps off the main business and transportation drags.
I'll admit to not being thrilled by the neighborhood Aahz's mother lived in once we found it. Not that it looked particularly rough or dirty...at least no dirtier than the rest of the dimension. It's just that it was...well, shabby. The buildings and streets were so run-down that I found it depressing to think anyone, much less the mother of a friend of mine, would live there.
"I'll wait for you here on the street," Pookie announced as I emerged from the taxi.
I looked at her, surprised.
"Aren't you coming in?"
"I figure it's more important to guard your escape route," she said. "I don't think there's any danger inside, unless the place falls down when you knock on the door...and I couldn't help there anyway. Why? Are you expecting more trouble than you can handle from one old lady?"
Since I didn't have a snappy retort for that, I proceeded up the porch steps to the door. There was a list of names with a row of buttons beside them. I found the name of Aahz's mother with no difficulty, and pressed the button next to it.
A few moments later, a voice suddenly rasped from the wall next to my elbow.
"Who is it?"
It only took a few seconds for me to figure out that it was some kind of speaker system.
"It's...I'm a friend of your son, Aahz...Aahzmandius, that is. I was wondering if I might talk to you for a few moments?"
There was a long pause before the reply came back.
"I suppose if you're already here I might as well talk to you. Come right up."
There was a sudden raucous buzzing at the door. I waited patiently, and in a few moments it stopped. I continued waiting.
"Are you still down there?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
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