The Magic Compass

by Martha Carr

  “I’m going to order food. It’s getting to be about dinner time.”

  “That side of every animal between a bun isn’t sticking with you?” Bernie was laying on his back, looking up at the bottom of a large, dark wooden desk, pushing on every surface he could find. “For the love of… nothing at all! How could someone leave nothing about being an Elemental?”

  Maggie ignored him, not wanting to think about any of the long gone anymore, at least for a little while. It was as if they had let her down again by leaving her alone to figure things out. She stood up, brushing off her jeans and moving her jaw side to side and left the room without another word.

  “Wait!” Bernie banged his head sitting up too fast. “Ooof, order me something too. What are we doing, Subway? Chinese? Mexican? How about Mexican?”

  Maggie waved her hand in the air without turning around and went to the kitchen to dig through the drawer of old menus.

  Bernie stayed behind and pulled the VHS player off the shelf, blowing on the top and sending a puff of dust into the air. He blinked, his eyes watering and let out a sneeze filled with small bubbles. Each one contained a dandelion and as they popped, the seeds of the dandelions blew around the room in a swirl. “Well, that’s a first.”

  The gnome gripped the edge of his sleeve and wiped his arm across the player, taking away most of the dirt and few remaining dandelion seeds. “Need a screwdriver, looks like a Phillips head. Should be called a Bernie head because I’m pretty sure I was using one of these long before this Phillips guy.”

  He looked up to see Maggie staring at him, puzzled.

  “What? I work better if I keep the conversation going and you left the room. Do your thing, I’ll have this fixed in no time.”

  “I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  “I’ll be in here expounding on the wonders of this ship. Might miss something.”

  “I’m sure there will be other opportunities,” she called from down the hall. Maggie went out her kitchen door to feed the chickens, heading for the garage. The chickens came out of their house greeting her loudly and running down the wire fencing with her.

  Inside the garage, she found the old yellow bucket and the bags of feed against the wall and took off the clip keeping one of the bags shut. She reached inside for the blue scoop and filled the bucket, feeling herself reset. Getting back to doing whatever the next right thing was always did that to her. She went outside to the coop and opened the gate, going inside and shutting it behind her. The chickens swirled around her feet, keeping up their chatter as she made her way to their trough and poured out the feed in a steady line.

  Maggie stood back when she was done and looked at all the chickens standing next to each other, busy pecking at the feed and felt a sense of satisfaction. “You guys aren’t worrying about what might come next or who isn’t here anymore. You’re eating and all is right with your world.” She looked up at the Texas sky and the swirl of red and purple behind the clouds.

  She made her way out of the coop and put back the bucket, locking up the garage and heading back to the house. But as she passed the old live oak in the backyard she paused and put out her hand, slowly and gingerly touching the bark. A hum immediately picked up and traveled through her body. “I can hear you.”

  Red elms along Reserve Road need assistance. Not enough water.

  Trouble spotted on Sixth Street near Lamar Boulevard.

  Winds picking up along Atlantic Avenue.

  She shut her eyes and listened to the steady stream. “You’re the newscasters for Mother Earth, reporting back to the ship about everything, not just the trees. But are you just observers?”

  “Maggie! Maggie, come here!” Bernie interrupted her reverie and she pulled her hand back abruptly, cutting the connection. The buzz immediately died down and went quiet.

  She let out a brief sigh and headed to the house, taking the stairs two at a time. “What is it? Is the food here?” She grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter as she came down the hall and looked in the study, but Bernie was nowhere to be seen and the front door was closed.

  “Bernie?” She found him in the living room staring up at the TV mounted on the wall, a remote in his hand. The VCR was balanced on a bookshelf, connected to the back of the TV and on the screen was Poppy, Maggie’s grandfather, saying her name. “Where did you find this?” She stared, mesmerized by the sound of his voice. I had forgotten what he sounded like.

  “I didn’t exactly. Turns out your old Poppy was a little clever. I popped in the Golden Girls tape and this is what started. He must have known just how powerful this show was for others.”

  Maggie tilted her head to the side, her eyebrows raised. “That’s what you’re going with?”

  “It’s obvious really. Shhhhh, he’s saying something to you. Hold on, I’ll rewind it a little. Do you think this means no Golden Girls?”

  “Get a Netflix account.”

  “Terrible reception underground. Okay, here we go, watch this part in particular.”

  “This is your codex, Maggie, for being an Elemental, at least a partial one. I’m sorry I didn’t do more to record all of this for you, but your dad died pretty suddenly, and I…” His voice trailed off for a moment and he looked pained. “I don’t have enough time left to do this right. This will have to do. There’s a lot on here that only the Elemental is supposed to know so forgive me the subterfuge. You were probably wondering why I made such a big deal about these tapes in my will. But I knew you well enough, even as a kid that you would honor my wishes and then I just had to hope that luck would play a part, too. It’s the best I have for now. Rule number sixteen, don’t leave an obvious trail that would give away an Elemental. That’s one of those little guys rules.”

  Bernie snorted, irritated at the mention of little guys.

  “Hopefully, by now you’ve met one or two of them. They can be helpful, especially if the Kashgar have figured out who you are. Beware of them, they’re everywhere hidden in plain sight. So, no bank deposit boxes or notes that say, play me. Your preservation is more important than a how-to guide. Each of the tapes is a different lesson for you to learn how to be the one Elemental that will lead them all. I mixed in some of what I’ve come to believe as well because this job comes with a heavy responsibility. You’re going to have to decide how to use this power and for what purpose. It won’t be as easy as you think.”

  The doorbell rang and Bernie hit pause while Maggie went to answer the door and get the food. She came back excited, holding the bags and saw the look on Bernie’s face.

  “I’m just gonna break it to you quick, Parker. This is a goldmine, no doubt. But a lot of those tapes aren’t salvageable. I checked a few already and lots of them have deteriorated. There’s nothing left on them.”

  Maggie felt her heart pounding. “I was so close.”

  “You may still be close. Come on, if we didn’t find these we wouldn’t be giving up. We’re actually ahead even with just a few clues.”

  There was a knock at the door, startling Maggie.

  “Hello, hey, you ready yet?” It was Diana, already opening the door. Bernie hit the off button on the remote, turning off the TV and took the bags of food from Maggie.

  Diana came bustling into the house in a blue dress with a red floral print and stopped when she saw Bernie standing there, a confused look on her face even as she tried to recover and take it all in.

  “Hey, oh, I didn’t realize you had company.” She looked back and forth between Maggie and Bernie. “Is this…oh hey, are you Jake? Is this Jake?”

  “No!” Both Maggie and Bernie shouted at the same moment.

  Diana took a step back, hiding a smile tilting her head to the side, just like Maggie. Her red hair was falling around her shoulders. “Okay, got it. Did you change your mind about the Mean Eyed Cat? It’s our regular night.”

  “What?” Maggie pulled out her phone and looked down at the date, spotting a text from Jake. Have to read that later. “Right, no, sure.”r />
  “Which one is it? Sure or no?” Diana looked at Bernie. “I’m her big sister, Diana, by the way. What you got in the bags?”

  “Not Subway, but it is Chinese. I’m a consultant for the police department. A wonk of sorts. What’s this Mean Eyed Cat, a pet of yours?”

  Diana snickered and came further into the house. “Only the best Johnny Cash tribute bar for miles around. Plus, they serve really good brisket. Has to be better than this Chinese stuff.” She took one of the bags from Bernie and opened it, smelling what was inside. “Although this does smell good. What’s it gonna be, sister? We can take a pass on one time if you need to keep working.” She leaned in toward Maggie and whispered behind her hand, “Although this does violate our rule number four about working too much”

  “You have rules!” said Bernie, sounding delighted. “First I’m hearing about it.” He pursed his lips, weighing things over. “Johnny Cash bar and brisket? Let’s go, I’ll put this stuff in the fridge. You need to change.” He looked Maggie up and down and said it as more of a statement.

  Maggie stared at Bernie hoping there was some unknown magical way to send him a message to cut it out, but he seemed to already be set on going and turned to go to the kitchen, still addressing Diana.

  “Who’s your friend?” Diana smiled at her sister. “Not like you to make friends so easily and bring them into your territory. I like this new leaf.”

  “There’s no leaf, it’s all work related. Just spilled over into here.” Maggie shook her head and started for the stairs, heading up to change.

  “Go get ready, I’ll keep him entertained.”

  Maggie stopped on the stairs and turned around to say something, but Diana was already out of sight. “No way this cat isn’t crawling out of the bag. Oh great, now I’m keeping the conversation going.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Maggie came back to the table in the middle room at the Mean Eyed Cat carrying a large plate of brisket nachos. Bernie clapped his hands together yelling in delight, getting a laugh out of Diana.

  “You’re very enthusiastic.”

  “This is my kind of food. I love this place!” Bernie looked up at the wall covered in different painted portraits of Johnny Cash, along with a photo of the bar’s founder. Underneath was a framed envelope with the original lease written in faded blue ink. On the other wall was an old sign, The Cut-Rite Saw Shop. “What’s that? I don’t remember any country songs about the mill.”

  Diana took a sip of her margarita and looked back at the wall. “That’s what this place was originally, back when Austin was mostly rural. I think this placed was used for a scene in Chain Saw Massacre, but that was before it became a honky tonk.”

  “Oooh, movie trivia, even better.” Bernie picked up a corn chip, balancing queso and brisket and opened wide, sliding it in. “Mmmmmmm.”

  “I want to look away,” said Maggie, taking a swig of her beer.

  “I’ll be right back.” Diana got up, headed for the ladies’ room.

  Maggie saw her chance and leaned in to whisper to Bernie. “I don’t think we have this kind of time to be hanging out at a bar.”

  Bernie sat back in his chair, amazed. “Alright, let’s say everything goes south and we don’t get the compass back and the earth finally figures out how to get the numbers to add up.” He drew a line dramatically across his throat.

  “Sensitive, Huldu, go on.”

  “I don’t do sensitive very well and you don’t either, kid. If that happens, you really want to remember the last days as a panicked frenzy running all over the place? Or can we mix in some laughs with your family and some really kicking brisket? Honestly, we don’t have much more to go on right now. Rule number four.” He shook his head even as he pulled out another chip from the platter, weighed down with brisket. “Enjoy being here for just a little while. The earth may have mixed feelings about you, but the universe has your back. Something will pop for us.”

  “Be here now.”

  “There you go, and try some of this stuff. Liquid gold, man, you Texans really know how to live.”

  “What’d I miss?” Diana landed back in her seat, already taking a sip of her margarita. Maggie watched her sister laughing easily with Bernie, someone she didn’t know just a little while ago, waving at a regular coming in the door. She took life in so much more easily.

  A balding businessman in a suit, his tie loosened came over and held up his beer in the center of the table. “A toast to two of the best from Pressler Street. Man, what a long day.”

  Diana held up her margarita and Maggie dutifully held up her beer. The man looked at Bernie and shrugged. “Well, come on.”

  “Hey, okay, didn’t know this was a group activity.” Bernie held up his beer and clinked glasses.

  “I’m Mike, I grew up on Pressler and I’ve known these ladies their entire lives.”

  Bernie put out his calloused hand. “I’m Bernie and I, uh, I work with Maggie.”

  Mike held his arms open wide. “Pleasure. This place is our second home. We used to sneak in here in high school to get a beer or hang out on the patio when life at home was a little too much.” He pointed to the bar that was quickly filling up with people greeting each other by name with a hug. “Those are our family, of sorts. That’s Deb on the end. I’ve known her since she got a divorce and worked behind the bar for a stretch. Next to her are Steve and Nicole, nice couple. Hey, Will’s already here!” Mike wandered off to the bar, yelling out Will’s name.

  Bernie looked around, puzzled. “I can’t decide if he was trying to tell me to watch myself or welcome me into the fold.”

  “Knowing Mike, it was some of both. They’re pretty protective of Maggie,” said Diana.

  “They feel the same way about you, and I can take care of myself.”

  “Never the point, though.” Diana gave a crooked smile to her sister. “Just because you can do it yourself doesn’t mean you have to.”

  “Amen to that,” said Bernie, lifting his beer. “I like this place. Good vibe.”

  “This is where we celebrate big events in our lives, me and Diana. We go tubing with all of those guys, play poker, or whatever other idea Mike comes up with.”

  “There was that guy he found to play gongs when he thought it was important we learn to meditate. That idea didn’t really last.”

  “That’s only part of the gang. There are a few more,” said Maggie, leaning over to get a better view of the bar. “That’s Ralph behind the bar. I think he came with the place and is the reason all of us used to hide out here. You can tell him anything and he’ll make you feel like it was the best idea he’s ever heard.”

  Bernie looked over at the slight man with a shock of white hair and an easy smile. He was wiping down the bar listening to someone tell him a story, looking like he was being let in on something great.

  “He taught Maggie how to drive. Ralph has even bailed out more than one of us,” said Diana. “Not you of course.” She gave a nod to Maggie. “Maggie manages to pull off some wild stunts without ever breaking the rules. It’s a talent, really. Hey, did she tell you about the time we tried to make our own moon tower?”

  “First tell me what’s a moon tower,” said Bernie.

  Maggie ignored them both and pulled out her phone, glancing down at the text from Jake. He had sent a picture of himself holding up a long receipt and smiling with the caption, ‘typical day. Thinking of you.’

  She held up her phone and took a selfie with some of the Johnny Cash portraits behind her and sent it, typing, ‘out with my sister, regular hang time’. No need to mention Bernie or Huldus or the hunt for a compass. She laid her phone back down in her lap, but it wasn’t long before it dinged again. She held it up and saw he had sent a quick note with an emoji of a fox. ‘Have a good time with the fam. Love Mean Eyed Cat. Call me when you get home.’

  Music started up on the small stage in the other room. Swims with Bears had started playing and Diana had to lean closer to be heard. “Haven’
t seen you smile like that in quite some time. Text from that Jake?”

  “He said to call him later.” The smile slipped across her face again.

  “I like this,” said Diana. “You should try and see the world from a different angle more often.”

  Maggie lifted her head, surprised as Diana took her hand, squeezing it. “What a good night already. I’m so glad you didn’t bow out,” said Diana.

  “Yeah, me too.”

  Maggie looked at Diana, who was punching her fist in the air, singing along with the band. “Make your move, no time to lose! Shiver and crawl, we rise and fall!”

  Bernie drained the last of his beer and leaned closer to Maggie. “There are a few pixies in here, and one of your buddies is an old elf. Yeah, it’s true. That guy Steve is hiding some nice pointed ears under there.”

  “You think Nicole knows?”

  “How do you hide something like that for very long? She has to know.” The music picked up and a few people got up to dance. Bernie yelled louder. “We’re all stranded in this galaxy together just riding it out on a dirt ship.”

  “What?” Maggie shook her head, holding her hand up by her ear. “I can’t hear you.”

  “I said we’re all stranded in this galaxy…”

  Maggie was still shaking her head, straining to hear.

  Bernie wound himself up, using his Huldu volume and just as the music came to an abrupt halt, he bellowed, “These are people riding a dirt ship circling the sun!”

  The entire bar turned and looked at Bernie and a hush fell over the place.

  The singer of the band, Joe Perry grinned and howled into the microphone. Diana laughed as a ripple of howls went through the honky tonk. Mike came over and high-fived Bernie asking, “Can I get you a beer?”

  “Ah, a Peabrain’s love note. Sure, I’ll take another.”

  “You’re our kind of weird, you know that?” Mike walked back to the bar, holding up two fingers.