by Tom Larcombe
“I said excuse me. Are you with the sheriff's office?” Walter said.
The man looked down, saw the mound of concrete he'd tripped on, then looked back at Walter and paled.
“You're one of them aren't you?” he said.
“One of who?”
The man's voice rose as he spoke, until he was practically shouting.
“One of those people around here who make things happen. I didn't remember any of it until earlier today, then all those memories came rushing back. People, or something that looks like 'em making things happen with fire, or water, or stone. I gotta get out of here, I gotta get some gas for my truck and get the hell out of here. Otherwise you things are gonna end up eating me, I know it!”
“Don't flatter yourself,” Walter said. “You don't look all that tasty.”
“Walter!” his mother snapped. “What are you doing to that man?”
“I caught him stealing the police department's gasoline mom. So I'm going to toss him in their lockup.”
Walter dragged the man back into the station, putting him one of the cells and locking it with the keys that were hanging on the wall.
“I thought you said there was a new sheriff?” he asked his mother.
“I heard Dan was killed so I thought there would be.”
“Let's just sit down for a bit. It doesn't look like the place is looted, so I'm sure there's been someone around.”
He glanced back at the man he'd put in the cell.
“At least until recently,” he added.
They sat and waited, with the man in the cell making a racket until Walter walked back to him. He didn't know what his face looked like, but the man cringed away from the bars.
“Just pipe down, okay? You're busted, fair and square. Time to face the music.”
If I throw any more cliches at him he may collapse under the weight, Walter thought. Now I know I'm nervous. I don't talk like that normally.
His mom was staring at him strangely when he sat down.
“When did you learn to talk like that?” she asked.
“What, the cliches? I do that when I'm nervous.”
“No, it sounded like you were making it an order.”
Was I using command voice? he wondered. I guess I was. Do I really think things are that bad?
He'd picked up on command voice from some of the officers' training he'd overheard. Insatiably curious, he would often 'accidentally' be in range to hear this or that bit of training. He'd used his command voice before, when things were tight and he was worried, but he'd never done it without thinking about it before.
Walter took a deep breath and looked around him. He immediately tensed up again when he saw the large crystal sitting on the windowsill. It had a faint glow visible even with the sunlight on it. A mesh of wire surrounded it and a small cable led away from it. When he traced the cable, he found it connected to the base station of the police radio.
Do they actually have that running? he wondered.
Seating himself at the base station he triggered the radio.
“Crystal Beach Sheriff office to anyone on this frequency,” he said into the microphone.
There was static when he was done. He tried again, several more times. A few minutes later he sat straight up in shock when a reply came through.
“What are you doing on my radio?” a voice asked.
“Is this the sheriff?” Walter asked.
“Yes, it is. I repeat, what are you doing on my radio?”
“I'm at your office, caught a man trying to rob the station. If you're the new sheriff, then I came here looking for you.”
“Who is this?”
“Walter, Miriam's son? You know her?”
“Yeah, stay there. I'm on my way back to base right now. Out.”
Walter leaned back. The sheriff hadn't sounded very welcoming, as a matter of fact, he'd sounded frazzled.
What else did I expect? If he had the position thrust on him by Dan's death, he's not gonna be happy about it. He might never have wanted it in the first place.
“Mom? Did you recognize that voice?”
“I don't know dear. It might've been Stephen, he was one of Dan's deputies. I'm not sure though, you know how different people sound on the radio.”
He sighed and tried to relax.
I don't think mom is tracking too well. I should probably try to get her back home. Maybe the sheriff can do that after I tell him what's going on.
Less than five minutes later he heard a car coming down the street. It was the only one he'd heard since he got to town, so he was sure it was the sheriff. He stood and walked to the front door, watching the car park in the lot before a man got out of it.
Walter didn't recognize the man, but he hadn't been in Crystal Beach in years, so that didn't surprise him.
“Are you Walter?” the man asked.
Walter nodded.
“I tossed the guy I caught trying to steal your gas into one of your cells. I've got information you need though, so can I pass that long before anything else?”
The man brushed past Walter, walking into the office.
“Miriam? What are you doing here?”
“I brought my son here, he wanted to tell you something he found out. Something about the army attacking Crystal Beach?”
The sheriff spun around.
“What's she talking about?”
“That's the information I have. It isn't the army, at least not any more. But my old unit is getting sent here to take over the town and the mine. They've been taken over by some non-military people who are giving the orders now.”
The sheriff's eyes narrowed.
“Are you AWOL boy?”
“I don't see it that way since the government isn't in charge of my unit any more. Hell, most of the army has fallen apart already from what I've heard. I didn't have any desire to be a mercenary, which is what it seemed like my old unit was becoming, mercenaries.”
The sheriff's face softened slightly.
“Are you sure of that?”
“I heard it with my own ears. I overheard the commanding officers talking with the non-military people that were giving them orders.”
or at least with my own ears and a little bit of magic, he thought.
“Well, we'll get back to that shortly. You said you tossed someone in the hoosegow?”
The sheriff turned and walked towards the cells.
“Yeah, I caught him stealing some of the gasoline in your garage,” Walter replied. “The gas can is still out there, part full, if you need proof.”
As soon as the sheriff was visible from the cells, Walter heard the man he'd put in them start talking.
“Stephen, watch yourself. He's one of those freaks.”
“Earl, I've told you before not to talk like that,” Stephen replied.
“Yeah, but he did something to me, made me trip when he was chasing me.”
Stephen turned towards Walter who simply shrugged.
“You stealing my gas Earl?”
“No, you know I wouldn't do that,” the prisoner replied.
Stephen walked out towards the garage, stepping around Walter. He came back a minute later.
“Then why's that old gas can with your name on it sitting under the pump half-full Earl?”
Stephen shook his head and ignored Earl as the man started blabbing.
“There's not a heck of a lot I can do with him, you know? I ain't got the food to feed him if I keep him a prisoner. So what the heck do I do? I let him go, he's just gonna try again, if not here then up at the mine. He's better off trying to do it here, Michael's liable to be a little jumpy what with the raiders attacking up there the other day. Plus he's got all those kids up there.”
Walter shook his head.
“What? Wait... So, you can't hold him. But how about confiscating his gas can? If he's got his name on it that's probably the only one he's got, right?”
“Yeah, but he's sure to find another one.”
> “Put the gas under lock and key?” Walter asked.
“I was here to watch it, but rushed out when I heard gunshots. Didn't find the guys firing guns, so I'm wondering if he had someone working with him, someone with a gun and ammo to burn.”
“I don't know,” Walter said. “What I do know is that there's a group of ex-army heading this way soon. And,” he sighed and grimaced, knowing what he was going to sound like, “a lot of them are freaks like Earl was talking about.”
Stephen looked at him, his eyes taking on an inquisitive look.
“Son, are you one of those wizard-types?”
“Yeah, but...”
“I know, you want to know how I know. Dan left a sealed letter in his desk for anyone that had to take his position. I wouldn't have believed it, except for a few things that have been happening around here recently. Then I had a talk with Michael and he showed me a few things. I didn't have a choice but to believe then, either that or think I'd gone round the bend. I'd much rather believe there are things I've never known about than think I've gone crazy.”
Walter heaved a sigh of relief.
“Good, then I've warned you. I've got to get my mom home, she's not... dealing with things very well.”
“Lot of that going on, but wait a minute. I'll give you a ride home later, but on one condition.”
“What's that?”
“I don't know squat about what you're talking about and I'm sure Michael will have questions, so I'd like you to come with me and tell him, then let him ask any questions he has.”
“Aren't you the sheriff? Why would you need to tell Michael?”
“I might have the title of sheriff, but he's been keeping this town from falling apart. That includes fighting in its defense. I can't do half of what he can and I'm not gonna try. So I'll make sure he knows and let him take care of it. Meanwhile, I'll make sure the townsfolk stay peaceful with each other and get any information I find to Michael to act on.”
Walter stared at him for a moment before he figured it out. If there were any trouble of a magical nature, Stephen wouldn't be able to do anything about it and he knew it. So he was ceding authority to Michael and trying to keep everything else under control.
“You aren't having problems with food? I've seen a couple of places rioting over it.”
“Nope, Father Anderson has that under control. People might not be getting as much to eat as they want, and it's mostly vegetables, but they've got something. Plus everyone's gardens are coming on strong. We've got no troubles with food yet.”
“Did I mention that the chickens are laying better than ever before?” Miriam piped in. “Plenty of eggs to go around. Old Man McCallister's cows have been giving a lot more milk recently too.”
What's going on here? Walter wondered. Civilization falls apart but Crystal Beach sees a surge in interest among wizards and all their farmers and gardeners have the best year ever? There's something fishy going on.
“So Walter, come to Michael's with me? Tell him what you told me?” Stephen asked.
Walter shrugged.
“Might as well, lead the way.”
“Not gonna make your mom climb that hill. We'll let Earl go, lock up the station, then drive there.”
Stephen unlocked the cell door.
“Come on Earl, you're giving up your gas can. Consider it a fine for breaking the law. Now get yourself out of here.”
“You can't do this! You're stealing from me,” Earl yelled.
Walter stepped over and looked Earl straight in the eye. Earl quailed and quietly slunk out the front door of the station.
“Hey mom, let's go see Michael,” Walter said.
“That's a great idea. Did you know that I thought you were him when I first saw you in the house last night?”
“You did say something like that mom, I figured it was just the surprise.”
“I don't know why, I just saw you and, for a moment, thought it was him. But you're much younger. I don't know how I made that mistake.”
“Come on Miriam,” Stephen said. “You can have the front seat beside me. Your boy does look a little like Michael though, I didn't notice it until you said something, but there's a resemblance there.”
It was a short drive up the hill and, when they got there, a woman walked out from around back to greet them.
“Rynn, you've met Miriam, right?” Steven said. “This is her boy Walter. He needs to talk to Michael for a bit.”
Rynn caught Walter's eye and stared. She blinked several times, as though trying to clear her sight, then her face went slightly pale.
“He's in his workshop,” Rynn said. “I'll get him for you. Bring everyone around the back and have a seat on the porch. I'll have him right out.”
Walter headed around the house towards the back. As he walked he heard Stephen and his mom talking.
“You know, with a closer look, I'd swear Walter looks enough like Michael that they could be brothers,” Stephen said.
“No,” Miriam said.
Walter realized that his mom sounded like she was coming out of the odd fugue state he'd found her in. Her voice trembled as she continued, sounding like she was on the edge of tears.
“He looks just like his father,” she said.
All three of them took seats on the porch out back. Miriam's eyes were glistening, as though she were trying to hold back tears.
“Are you alright mom?” Walter asked.
She swallowed and shook her head. When he went to ask her more, she held up a single finger.
Voices carried out from inside the house.
“So you finally finished working on the ward crystal?” Rynn said.
“I just finished removing the spells from the crystal a couple of minutes before you came to get me. What's so important anyhow? I haven't finishing converting it over to an alarm yet,” Michael replied.
“Oh,” Rynn said, her voice frosty, “Someone has something to tell you and if I'm right, you've got a lot of explaining to do.”
“What are you talking about Rynn?” Michael said.
The door swung open and Michael and Rynn stepped onto the back porch. Walter watched as Michael's eyes went to Miriam first.
“Miriam? Why are you crying?” Michael said.
“Mom? What's wrong?” Walter said.
Michael turned at the sound of his voice and the two of them locked gazes.
Wow, add a couple of wrinkles and that could be my face, Walter thought. I guess Stephen was right, we do look like brothers.
As he stared at Michael, Michael stared back with widening eyes. Michael turned to Miriam, tears streaming down her face now. Walter turned as well, and watched as his mother gave Michael a firm nod.
Michael, the man Walter had hoped would defend the town, tried to sit down. But there was no chair behind him and he sprawled backwards onto the porch. With a last glance at Walter, Michael closed his eyes and sagged backwards, flat on his back.
Rynn's voice was cold as a blizzard.
“I thought so!” she said.
The door slammed behind her as she went back into the house.
* * *
* * *
Chapter 22
Michael wasn't certain what was going on. He was lying flat on his back, apparently on the back porch.
What's the last thing I remember? he thought.
“Mom, what's wrong? Both you and Michael are acting really weird, did he actually just faint?”
Who is that? Michael thought. Oh yeah, that's Walter, he wanted to tell me something.
The rest of the recent incident flashed back into his brain and Michael shuddered.
Uh-oh, I think Miriam has realized the same thing that I have. I did just deactivate the spells on that ward crystal, so she might even remember everything too.
Miriam's voice, slightly strained from her tears, stopped his train of thought.
“I think there's been something strange going on in this city for years. I can now remember meeting Mich
ael five different times, and each one was the first time I met him. The oldest memory of meeting him is attached to a relationship he and I were in for several years. But that memory abruptly ends, just cuts off with no closure, and the next thing I can remember is being engaged to your father and pregnant with you. But... I think that might be wrong, I think I wasn't engaged to your biological father, just to the man who raised you...”
Her voice trailed off into tears again and Michael was aware that the tension level was rising. Even with his eyes still closed, he could feel it.
“What?” Walter snapped. “What do you mean my biological father? The man who raised me is my father!”
Michael made the hardest decision of his life, he opened his eyes. Walter was glaring at him and Miriam stared at him through her tears. He forced himself to sit up.
“Miriam,” he said. “I'm so sorry. I was forced to stay away from you for years. If I'd known...”
He glanced at Walter.
“If I'd known I would've defied them again, I would've moved heaven and earth if I'd only known.”
“Forced?” she said. “How?”
“The same way that they took your memories. Magic. It's real, I can use it, and I bet that your... our... your... son can also. There's a council that makes all the rules about magic and the people who use it. They're the ones that took your memories. They kept me here running the mine as punishment for disregarding the rules. I only just found out how they were doing it and removed the magic keeping me trapped in the area, and I think that it was tied into the magic that suppressed the memories of the town.”
He swallowed and got to his feet.
“So, since I just removed it, I think everyone's memories are going to be coming back now, all the ones the Council tampered with. I remembered you right through, but I thought I'd only bring you problems if I tried to get back what we'd had and the Council promised that they'd punish you as well if I tried.”
He dropped his face into his hands, tears streaming down his face.
“I'm sorry,” he said. “I never even realized that you were pregnant when they forced us apart. I always thought you'd just gone on with your life after they removed the memories of what we had, and that the man you married had gotten you pregnant quickly.”