by Alexie Aaron
“I’ll put in a good word for you,” Mia promised. “So you said you rose out of the chimney?”
“Come on, I’ll show you,” Fergus said, lifting Mia out of the trench.
His hands tickled. He had the power to touch her, but not the power to be warm and human like Murphy did.
Murphy stomped behind them.
“Under here, is where I rose up. Then the bastards unloaded a load of rocks and shook up the ground.”
“The vibration may have moved a rusted iron barrel over your exit.” Mia walked over, picked up a forgotten spray can, and marked the area with the florescent orange paint.
“Where’s the boys?” she asked Fergus.
“Last I saw, they were walking towards the Illinois and Michigan canal. There’s a lot of guys like us that hang out there. That canal took a lot of lives. Roy’s looking for Three Thumbs.”
“He may have passed,” Mia said.
“Maybe, but it’ll give Roy something to do instead of pound on Grady.”
“He’s got an eternity to find him,” Murphy said from behind them. “Why are you still here, Mr. O’Connor?”
“I’m waiting, same as you, to see if your dad is going to make it out of that grave.”
“Don’t you care about your wife and children that you left behind?” Murphy asked.
“I expect they are long gone.”
“What about their kin?” Murphy challenged.
“What do I care? They are strangers to me, little Stevie.”
“Don’t call me little Stevie!” Murphy said and shoved Fergus.
Fergus flew backwards into a pile of debris. He got right back up and put up his fists. “It’s about time someone taught you some discipline. Your dad was too soft on you, you spoiled little cac.”
Mia touched her earcom. “Ted, Murphy and Fergus are going to fight. I’ve got a tenner on Murphy.”
“You would choose the proven champ. I’ll double the bet that Fergus has more dirty tricks up his sleeve. Wait, Burt’s coming down to referee.”
“Hold on, fellas. If you’re going to fight there have to be rules,” Mia cautioned, walking between them with her hands out pushing the ghosts further apart.
Fergus and Murphy looked at Mia as if she were crazy.
“First of all, I’ll take that axe,” Mia said, holding out her hand to Murphy. “Second, hand over the knife in your boot, Fergus.”
Both men handed Mia their weapons to hold. Fergus’s knife tingled in her hand, but she held on.
“Here comes the ref. If you hit him, you automatically lose.”
Burt trotted over. It took him a minute to catch his breath. “May I see both combatants?”
Murphy and Fergus manifested. It took Burt’s breath away. Fergus and Murphy looked like they were living men. It was only the gray pallor of death, that emanated through their complexions, that would give them away. “Here’s the rules. There are no rules. The winner is the one still able to manifest.”
“Do you two agree?” Mia asked.
“Yes,” Murphy said.
“Aye,” Fergus agreed.
Mia handed over her ten dollars to Burt. “My money’s on Stephen Murphy,” she said aloud.
“Ten on Murphy, twenty on Fergus,” Burt called out.
“Twenty dollars?” Fergus asked aghast.
“Yes,” Burt said.
“That’s more than I made all year.”
“Times have changed,” Burt said.
Jake notified Mike and Cid about the fight and sent the live footage to their phones.
“Hold on,” Ted said, “Bets are coming in. Thirty more on Murphy, sixty on Fergus.”
“Who bet against Murphy?” Mia asked.
“Mike, who else,” Ted responded.
“You guys are going to be crying when Murphy takes Fergus out in one punch,” Mia taunted.
“Escort the lady out of harm’s way,” Fergus told Burt.
“You heard the man… er... ghost,” Burt said and sent Mia up the ramp. She walked over, finding the best viewpoint and sat down.
“They’re not fighting over Mia?” Ira asked Cid.
“No, according to Jake, it’s been building between the two,” Cid said as he finished hooking up his cell to the big television in the Coopers’ living room.
Mason walked out and handed a soda to Ira and a beer to Cid. “I haven’t seen a fistfight since Patrick disagreed with my vice principal.”
Ira looked shocked. “Who won?”
“The vice principal. She’s got a mean left.”
It took Ira and Cid a minute to get the joke. They started laughing. Mason sat down pleased with himself.
Mike sat at his kitchen table with his phone propped up, as he opened his Chinese takeout. Mike didn’t exactly condone this kind of violence, but the thought of that rough Irishman landing a few punches on Murphy’s nose was too good to be true.
Burt encouraged each spirit to come close. “The first of you to disappear loses.” He stepped aside and said, “Good luck, gentlemen. You may now begin.”
Fergus advanced quickly on Murphy, catching him by surprise and landed a blow to his chin. Murphy reeled back, regained his footing, and came back strong. Fergus blocked two punches, but the third that came up under, took him off his spectral feet and landed him on his backside. Murphy leaned down to help Fergus up but was waved away by Fergus who jumped up.
Murphy and Fergus traded blows, each taking punishment in the process. Fergus egged Murphy on with disparaging talk about his mother. Murphy lunged forward on one such burst of anger, and found himself on the ground with Fergus’s foot on his back. He twisted, taking the ghost with him, and soon the two were wrestling on the ground.
Burt put his two fingers in his mouth and blew a shrill whistle. “Up on your feet, gentlemen, this isn’t a brothel.”
Mia squealed with delight as the two got to their feet, touched fists, and started throwing punches again.
Mason shook his head. “Now that girl’s trouble,” he said to Ira. “You find yourself a Sabine and leave the Mias of this world to men that can handle them.”
Cid was going to say something, but Mia’s words of advice about him being a roommate and not a babysitter stopped him.
Murphy punched and ducked in a good rhythm. He remembered Ed had shown Mia how not to take a hit. “You don’t have to lose energy absorbing blows.”
Fergus, who’d been in too many fights to remember, worked on Murphy and was tiring. He was losing his manifesting energy.
Murphy stepped in and one two punched the ghost and Fergus disappeared.
Mia called down, “Fergus is on the ground.”
Burt lifted Murphy’s hand. “The winner!”
Mia walked down the ramp. She stopped to give a hand to Fergus and help him to his feet. She felt a slight pull of her energy, but she could afford him a small bit after all, she wasn’t a complete savage. She handed the ghost his knife and Murphy his axe. “Way to go, killer.”
Murphy pushed his hat back on his head and walked over and shook Fergus’s hand. “What were we fighting about in the first place?”
“It doesn’t matter. Well, little Stevie, you’ve got Callen blood in you after all.”
“What’s wrong with Murphy blood?” he asked.
“Your grandpap was a sailor; your grandma rose from the good Orish dirt like the O’Connors. It’s been O’Connors and Callens since time began.”
“That young’un who hangs around the machines is a Callen,” Murphy said.
“You don’t say. Next time he’s here, introduce me. Although, give me time to regain me dignity.”
“Yes, Mr. O’Connor.”
“No, Fergus. You earned the right to call me Fergus, Stevie.”
Murphy still didn’t like being called Stevie, but at least Fergus had dropped the little part.
“Time for me to get back to work,” Mia said. “My boss is a bastard.”
Burt turned around to disagree but caught her smile. “I’ll e
scort you. Gentlemen, it’s been a privilege.”
“Who did you bet on?” Mia asked as they walked away.
“Neither. I know better than to get between two fighters with money on either.”
“You’re an honest man, Burt Hicks.”
“Wish I could say the same for you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know Murphy can regenerate instantly.”
Mia coughed.
“And what do you know about Fergus?” he asked quietly.
“He’s still bound to his bones.”
“Yes, he couldn’t draw much power through that mass of rusted iron.”
“Burt, you’re too smart for your own good. I won my money fair and square.”
It was Burt’s turn to cough.
Chapter Twenty-six
Ted and Mia Skyped the Reg Martin household using the television in the Coopers’ living room. On the set was Brian. He was explaining the perils of playing with his cousins. “First they wanted me to dress as a princess.”
“Your dad would wear a tiara while he had tea with Tammy and Zoe,” Mia said.
“No, this was Eric and Stevie.”
“Oh.”
“I said I would do it if they dressed up first to show me how to wear the crown thingy and girly stuff. They put the stuff on. By that time Tammy and Zoe came in. They laughed at their brothers. I acted innocent. I think it saved me a beating.”
“Your cousins would not beat you, little dude.”
“Tell that to their clenched fists,” Brian exaggerated, holding up his little fists and punching upwards.
Millie sat down after Brian got up to go and play. “Ted, Mia, he was never in danger. Hallie was right there.”
“Mom, we know. All this is new to Brian. He plays with other kids at the Bears Bounce, but it’s the first time with family,” Ted said.
“His other cousins are girls,” Mia said. “Sabine’s daughters are a little rough and tumble but older than he is.”
“I bet not smarter,” Millie said. “You know his vocabulary is amazing. Reg teaches him ten new words a day. I suspect he’s priming Brian for the spelling bee.”
“Good, at least one of us will be able to spell,” Mia confessed. “I’m worried about him fitting in with other preschoolers.”
“It’s going to be tough, Mia,” her mother-in-law told her. “Ted didn’t find his niche until the fifth grade. Once he joined the science club, he was set for friends.”
“Nerds,” Ted said proudly. “By ourselves we are bully fodder, but together, we are simply laughed at.”
“Your godfather Ralph mentioned a private school.”
“Yes.”
“Think about it,” Millie advised. “Or how about homeschooling him?”
“But we want Brian to learn to get along with the kids of his community,” Mia protested.
“Remember your experience with so-called normal kids,” Millie reminded Mia. “Ted barely survived. If I hadn’t had to work, I would have kept him home.”
“Wouldn’t we be selling the local kids short by not introducing them to children who are different? Challenging them?” Mia asked.
“You make a good point, but make sure he’s not bullied or becomes a bully,” Millicent insisted.
“I’ll be on top of it,” Mia promised.
“How are you feeling?” Millie asked.
“Tired, this one is going to be a big baby,” Mia said.
“Thought about names yet?” Millie asked, pulling Brian onto her lap.
“His name is Varden,” Brian said.
Mia was shocked but tried not to show it. Ted felt her tense up and put his arm around her.
“Why Varden?” Millie asked.
“Because that’s who he is. My little brother Varden,” Brian insisted. “There once was a great bird…” Brian stopped. His eyes were wide. “I mean, a soldier named Varden. He was best friends with his brother Victor. Varden is going to be my best friend, Grandma.”
“What’s his middle name going to be?”
“I have two middle names. How about Varden Reginhard Charles Martin?” Brian asked.
“That’s a mouthful,” Ted said.
“You don’t call someone their middle names unless they are in trouble. Mom yells, ‘Brian Stephen Cid Martin, you better stop throwing those frogs in the air!’”
“And why did I yell?” Mia asked.
“Because I could hurt them. I thought they would sprout wings and become fairies.”
Millie tried to hide the mirth from her face.
This was the first time Ted heard about the frog fairy incident. “Yes, not all fairies are French.”
Mia groaned.
Brian mouthed frogs and French with a puzzled look on his face.
“I’ll leave it to you to explain, Mom,” Ted said.
“Theodore…”
“We’re losing the connection…” Ted said and turned off the Skype program.
“Honestly,” Mia said, getting up. “You’re not much help.”
“He’s getting picked on by Condom and Condom!” Ted exclaimed.
Condom and Condom were Ted’s names for his devilish nephews. He told Mia that the existence of those two boys had convinced him to wear condoms. No one needed any more offspring from the Martins.
“Seems to me, he’s got that under control. I never knew Brian to be so devious,” Mia said. “And now that the baby has a name, we can toss the baby books.”
“That sounds a little sarcastic.” Ted studied her a moment. “No, there’s more to it isn’t there? Tell me.”
“Roumain told me our baby has Varden’s soul.”
Ted stood up and moved his neck around and opened his mouth a few times and shut it. “Maybe you ought to take Michael up on the wing offer.”
“If our child is going to grow into a man as tall as Varden and as handsome and smart as you, then I’ll cope. Maybe hire a birdman as his tutor or something…”
“Minnie Mouse, just because he’s part birdman… It’s quite possible that he might not be a flyer.”
They looked at each other and started laughing.
“Who are we kidding? We’re screwed,” Ted said, lifting Mia up and holding her close to him. “Seems to me Varden was loyal and brave.”
“And worshiped his brother. I think that’s what Brian’s going for.”
“I can see them in the future, brains and brawn,” Ted said. “We better do a better job in raising them or the world is in big trouble.”
“Varden was smart, Ted,” Mia said. “Just because someone looks like a brick tower doesn’t mean they aren’t smart. Look at He-who-walks-through-time.”
Ted kissed Mia. When he let her go, he asked, “Are you feeling outnumbered? Let’s see… there will soon be three Martin boys. Me, Cid, Murphy… That’s six to one.”
“A little bit, but I’ll get over it,” Mia said. She looked at her watch. “Hey, if we hurry, we can have a deep-dish pizza before we go to work.”
“I’ll phone ahead, and we can eat at the restaurant,” Ted said. “That way we don’t have to share with anybody.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Mia said.
~
“Pizza delivery,” Ted shouted as he exited the van. Mia had convinced him, while they were eating, that they really should bring the PEEPs and Barb’s archeological team back food. It wasn’t the delightful deep-dish stuffed pizza they dined on, because of the lack of tableware and tables, but it would be hearty and good.
Mason flew out of the command center to help carry.
“Burt says to bring it into the trailer for the meeting, which is in fifteen minutes. Get your stuff together. It’s time we present the profile…”
Mia looked at the youth and shook her head. “Wrong show, wrong channel, wrong, wrong, wrong.”
Mason smiled. “Well it’s about time you guys came up with a catchphrase. And we’re not talking about that ‘we’re PEEPs we’re here to help,’ ma
larkey.”
“I think the elder partners may be overly fond of that. Although, I’d like to see it stop,” Ted said. “It’s alright for when we were amateurs, but now we’re…”
“Amateurs that look like professionals,” Mia said. “Face it, we still don’t know what we’re doing. There is so much to learn. It could take generations to be able to understand how Murphy’s world works. I’m barely holding on, and I can hear and see most of the spirits.”
Mason liked Mia’s honesty. They arrived at the trailer. Outside, Barb was kicking the mud off her boots. “Pizza! It’s one of the things I love about this city.”
“I’m more of a New York pizza kind of guy,” Nietzsche said, opening the door.
“Those are fighting words,” Barb warned.
Nietzsche just shook his head. “What words aren’t with She-who-must-be-obeyed?”
“You got me there,” Barb said as she shuffled around the table looking for a place to sit.
Mike had put a sign on a chair next to him: Reserved for Prego. Mia shook her finger at him but appreciated the thought. Ira and Mason would be standing alongside Murphy for this meeting. Cid had the camera. Ted slid into a side table where the tech team had already assembled a large monitor and keyboard to connect them to PEEPs’s computer and Jake.
Sabine was perched on a counter next to a very talkative Dash. They were discussing the merits of a few of the musicals that were presently playing in Chicago’s theater district.
“I make a point to see a few rehearsals before the magic of opening night,” Sabine told Dash. “It helps me to appreciate what it takes to make the magic happen when the curtain rises.”
“But how do you get in?” Dash asked.
“I bilocate.”
“That you’re going to have to explain.”
“It’s when your spirit, your soul, leaves your body for a walkabout.”
“Um, what happens to your body?”
“It sleeps.”
“Tell me more.”
“You are moving so fast that you become invisible to the naked eye. Ghosts can’t see you unless you slow down or stop.”