He waited it out with her, a hand on her shoulder, kneeling in front of her.
“It’s passing,” she exhaled and rolled onto her back, rubbing her chest. She wiped sweat from her forehead.
“Another one,” said SK.
“Yeah,” she said, sitting up. “Another one.”
Somewhere close by, another shaman had burned to death.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
IT WAS ALL over the Internet again, but this time real news programs were covering it as well–even a national news channel. A woman in Torrance had spontaneously combusted during some sort of meditation. Again, there was amateur video and now witnesses were being interviewed on television.
“This is the last thing we need,” said SK as he looked out the window to the brick wall of the building next door.
It was starting to get dark.
“You want to stay at my place?” he said, turning around.
Livvy looked up from the book on the table.
“I don’t think it’s safe here,” he said.
After she had recovered from the chest pain, they’d given up on any cleanup and Livvy had been poring over all of the references to Marduk.
“Why, because of the Nahual?”
“Because of her, and the guys who mugged you, and the people who trashed your place, and–”
“Yeah, yeah, I get the picture,” she said, looking around. “But I think I’m gonna stay.”
“Liv,” he started to protest.
“This is my home, such as it is, or was,” she said, standing up. “And I’m not gonna be run off.”
“That’s dumb,” he said.
“Yeah,” she said, laughing a little in spite of herself. “But seriously, I think I’ll be fine. I just won’t open the door.”
He grimaced and shook his head.
“You better go,” she said. “It’s going to be dark soon.”
He looked at the room, which he had managed to make some progress on.
“I think my couch is going to be more comfortable than yours,” he tried again.
Livvy’s eyes drifted to the couch. She remembered Min lying there. She visualized her in the hospital bed, her family standing by, the shouting. She shut her eyes, but the image lingered.
“Livvy?”
Her eyes flew open at the sound of her name.
“I’m sorry, what?” she said.
“I was wondering if you wanted to sleep on my couch,” he said quietly.
“Thanks,” she said. “But I’ll be fine here.”
He looked at her as though he were waiting for her to change her mind. She managed a small smile.
“Really,” she said. “I’ll be fine. Nacho will be hungry when he gets here.”
Still not looking completely convinced, he turned to go.
“Call me if anything happens,” he said as he headed to the door and opened it.
“I will,” she said, coming over.
“And don’t open the door for anybody.”
“I won’t.”
As she started to close the door, she yanked it back open. “SK?” she said.
He turned around in the hallway.
“See if you have any more books with Marduk?”
“Will do.”
As she was about to close the door, he said, “Livvy.”
“Yeah?”
“Seriously, don’t open that door.”
• • • • •
It was well after dark when there was a knock at the door. Livvy was still up, studying the one book she had for any hint as to the location of Marduk’s ziggurat. She sat absolutely still in the kitchen, staring at the back of the door. If she was quiet, whoever it was might go away. Of course the lights were on, a dead giveaway.
There was another knock.
Well, forget it, thought Livvy. How are people getting through the gate? Is it broken?
“Olivia, it’s Wan-li,” she heard a voice say.
Wan-li? It did sound like Wan-li but what was she doing here, and at this hour? And what would Wan-li want with her?
“Olivia, open the door.”
Livvy quietly got up and snuck over to it.
“Open the door,” came Wan-li’s quiet voice, as though she knew that Livvy was standing there.
Livvy reached a hand to the knob but hesitated. Finally, she unlocked the deadbolt and knob but left the chain in place, opening the door. It was Wan-li and two of her suited doormen with her. She wore another Chinese silk dress–a different shade of green this time, a form-fitting cut with a high collar. Her black and white hair was pulled into a tight bun, but this time a tiger’s-eye comb gleamed in her hair as well.
“May I come in?”
Livvy hesitated, thinking about all the bad news that had come through this door lately.
“It is an urgent matter,” said Wan-li, waiting, her calm face revealing nothing.
Livvy opened the door and stood aside, waiting for the men to follow, but they turned their backs to her and took up guard positions. She closed the door.
“Interesting…accommodations,” said Wan-li.
Livvy thought she heard a slight degree of disgust.
“You said it was urgent.”
Wan-li turned to her and pulled the top of her mandarin collar open. A vibrant sunburn in the shape of a perfect circle was on her chest. There were small white blisters in the center.
Amazed, Livvy took a step closer.
“That was a close one,” she said.
Wan-li looked down at it.
Livvy pulled the neckline of her t-shirt down and Wan-li looked at her sunburn, which had started to peel.
“Yes, I thought so,” said Wan-li.
They both covered up again.
I wonder how that corner on the market is looking now, thought Livvy.
“My business will not survive if I do not survive, yes?” said Wan-li, as if in response.
How does she do that? Livvy wondered as Wan-li looked around the apartment. Her eyes landed on the goggles on the table. She walked over to them and picked up one pair. As she lifted it, she examined the wiring between the two sets and then looked up at Livvy.
“Yes, explain again how this is going to work.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
A LOUD KNOCK on the door startled Ursula. Before she could say ‘enter’, the door flew open. It was Bruno, breathing heavily.
“There’s a fire,” he said. “We need to get out.”
“Fire?” said Ursula, standing.
“Come on!” he said, waving her to come.
She jumped up and hurried toward the door. In the hallway, there was no line. Everybody else had already fled. She followed Bruno down the stairs and out into the dark alley.
“Where’s the fire?” she asked, breathing hard, looking back at the building.
At night, it should be easy to see light from the flames.
“It’s on the other side of the building, in the front,” he said. “But I think we should get out of here.”
“Has anybody called the fire department?” she said, starting toward the front.
“I don’t know. Let’s go this way,” he yelled. “The car’s this way.”
Ignoring him, she ran down the alley to the front of the building. As she rounded the corner into the street she finally saw the fire, but it wasn’t the building that was burning at all.
Stuck into the small dry lawn, in-between the sidewalk and the curb, was a giant burning cross. A couple of teenage boys were attacking it with a hose but it didn’t seem to be doing much good. Underneath the far arm of the cross there was an even brighter blaze.
“Ursula,” said Bruno, reaching for her arm. “Don’t.”
She danced away from him and stepped into the street. A car veered around her and honked its horn. There was nobody else around except for the two boys who now stood staring at her.
Under the cross, someone was hanging by a noose.
“Oh my god!” she yelled.
<
br /> Then, to her relief, she realized it was only an effigy.
It had a tall pink hair wrap, a long velvety gown, and a face painted black with bright pink lips. The head burst into flames as she watched, shock mixing with horror. That had been her face. She was being burned in effigy, hanging from a giant cross.
Bruno had her by the shoulders and was ushering her quickly to the car. The boys were pointing at her and saying something she couldn’t hear. Bruno had her running now. He opened the back door and thrust her inside, slamming the door. In moments, he had the car started and the tires squealing as they hurtled down the alley.
She sat stunned. Turning to look out the back window, she could still see the flames. As they turned the corner, the cross disappeared. She turned back to Bruno.
“Do you have Ursula’s phone?”
He looked in the rear view mirror. “No, I didn’t pick it up.”
“Do you have yours?”
“Yes,” he said, fishing it out of his jacket pocket.
He passed it back to her, and she took it in trembling hands. She knew the number by heart.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
“WHAT AN INTERESTING odor,” Wan-li said, coming back into the front room.
Livvy almost didn’t hear her. She continued to stare at the components in front of her as she bit her lower lip. Finally she looked up at Wan-li, trying to understand what she was talking about. Then Livvy glanced at the bedroom.
“Oh, the place was ransacked and the jerks who did it urinated on the bed,” she said quickly, her mouth dry. Although she’d opened all the windows, the stench hadn’t disappeared.
Wan-li’s eyebrows arched, but she said nothing. It wasn’t Wan-li’s reaction that had Livvy worried, though. It was the goggles.
“I’m not going to have enough parts,” she said, shaking her head.
Her mind raced now, trying to think of anything else she’d forgotten. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of it until now.
“Yes, of course not,” said Wan-li, as though it had been expected.
Possibly, it was to be expected. Events were moving fast. Not only was Ursula on her way, but SK had also talked to Carmen and would be picking her up. In the excitement, it hadn’t occurred to Livvy that she didn’t have all the parts she’d need.
“You know what you need, yes?” Wan-li asked, taking out her phone.
“Yeah, but…” Livvy looked at the time.
“Not to worry,” said Wan-li, dialing. “Mamacita will not mind the hour. Business.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
ACROSS THE STREET, sitting in a black SUV with tinted windows, the Nahual had watched as Ursula’s car had pulled up and she’d gone inside. First Wan-li and then Ursula. Now, as she watched, a silver Mercedes passed slowly by and the driver, a blond woman, craned her neck and looked this way and that. Must be lost, thought the Nahual, but then the woman pulled to the curb and parked.
As she got out, the Nahual could see she was headed to Livvy’s building. At the gate, she stopped when she realized it was locked. The woman glanced around nervously, then went back to her car, quickly got in, locked the doors, and made a phone call. After a few minutes, Livvy came down to the gate and opened it, looking up and down the street.
The woman got out of her car, alarmed it, and came over to the gate. She said something to Livvy and they both looked back at the Mercedes. Livvy checked the street again and, although the woman seemed apprehensive, they eventually went inside.
Necio, thought the Nahual. Fool.
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
“WHAT A CHARMING neighborhood you live in,” said Sunny as they entered the front door. Her long blond hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she wore a pastel blue leotard and sheer white robe, as if she’d come from a yoga class. The white heels, however, were a contrast.
When she saw Wan-li, she stopped. She glanced at the Bible verses on the wall and then back to Livvy and Wan-li. Wan-li appraised her coolly. These were two very different shamans, two very different people.
“Sunny, this is Wan-li,” Livvy said. “Wan-li, this is Sunny.”
“A pleasure,” said Sunny in her best schmoozing tone.
“Yes,” said Wan-li curtly.
Livvy sighed. This was going well.
“What is that...smell?” asked Sunny, tilting her head. “I don’t think I recognize it.”
“Really,” said Wan-li, amused.
“Oh, is it something of yours?”
“Certainly not,” Wan-li sniffed.
“Someone ransacked the place,” said Livvy quickly. “They peed on the bed, and painted the walls.”
Sunny held her hand to her nose. “Charming.”
Even though the early morning hours were upon them, the energy in the room steadily grew with each new arrival. When the courier with the parts from Mamacita arrived, the shamans brought out their goggles and laid them on the table. It had been like watching someone get undressed: embarrassing, forbidden, and exciting all at the same time. Livvy turned to each one, going around the table.
Sunny’s goggles were the only white ones. Wan-li nearly gagged with disgust when Sunny brought them out.
Carmen’s goggles looked like they were made mostly out of duct tape. Parts from several sets of goggles had been kluged together, not unlike Livvy’s.
“Sorry,” she said, as she put them on the table.
Wan-li’s goggles were sleek and black, with a golden tiger engraved on one side and a golden dragon on the other.
Ursula’s goggles were decorated with neon symbols down the sides, and the dark front lenses had red and white spirals painted on them that looked like crazy eyeballs. Livvy had to chuckle when she saw them. Sunny seemed aghast.
“They work for Ursula’s people,” Ursula said, lifting her chin.
SK has asked Wan-li to order some food, and it arrived as Livvy settled down to work. Bruno was out on the street, standing guard at the iron gate, so Ursula took a plate down to him.
Livvy ignored the food, working non-stop. The shamans sat nearby in the living room, on the couch or the floor, but there wasn’t much chitchat. SK walked by her on his way back to the kitchen for more food.
“You should eat something,” he said.
“I’m fine,” she said quietly, not looking up from the magnifier. “I just want to finish this.”
“Before they change their minds,” he said under his breath.
“Exactly,” she whispered.
When Ursula returned, she brought a new face with her. Alvina stood at the entrance, glancing up at the two Chinese bodyguards.
“Must be the place,” she said with a smile and a wink.
Standing next to Ursula, she looked smaller than before. She wore a different floral print dress, with large purple flowers on white, but the same long vest. Beneath her short, white hair and set within her tanned and wrinkled face, her dark eyes glittered with interest.
“Come in,” said SK, smiling.
He made introductions all around.
“The smell in the bedroom is urine,” said Sunny, after he introduced her.
“Goodness,” said Alvina, but she was already looking at Wan-li, who SK had saved for last.
“Alvina,” said Wan-li, inclining her head.
“Wan-li,” she replied, smiling broadly. “You’re looking well, dear.”
“Yes, and you.”
Alvina came over to Livvy. “So, we’re going to do it,” she said, bringing out her goggles. The other shamans strained to see what they looked like. Even Wan-li craned her neck. Alvina’s goggles were ultra sleek, top of the line and deep red. Ursula nodded.
“Yeah, we’re going to do it,” said Livvy as she took the goggles. “As you can see, some disassembly is required.”
Alvina looked down at the table and the long lines of wires.
“I can put them back together when we’re done,” Livvy said.
“When we’re done,” said Alvina, smiling. “You think
we’ll be done. That’s good, dear.” She looked at all of the goggles and then turned to look at the shamans in the room. “Why the extra set of goggles?”
“What?” asked Livvy.
“There are seven pairs of goggles, dear, and six shamans,” said Alvina.
“Oh,” said Livvy, separating a pair from the rest. “These belong to Min.”
Alvina looked around the room, lingering on the door to the bedroom, smiling expectantly. “And where is Min?”
“She’s…she’s in the hospital,” said Livvy, whispering.
She had never thought to tell them about what she and Min had done and what the result had been. As she recounted the story, she realized that not even SK had heard all the details. She told them about Indra as well. The silence that followed was deep.
“Yes,” said Wan-li. “Anything else?”
“Uh, no,” said Livvy, slumping down in her chair. “I think that covers it.”
“Well, dear,” said Alvina, first shrugging then putting her hands into the deep pockets on her vest. “It’s not like we didn’t know there were risks.”
“In the words of the philosopher,” said Wan-li, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
“I didn’t know Confucius said that,” said Sunny.
“Yes, possibly because he did not,” said Wan-li. “It was Benjamin Franklin.”
Everyone shifted in their seats as the anxiety in the room dropped a notch. No one had asked how long it would take to put the goggles together. Patience was part of their trade, even at two in the morning.
Livvy quickly snipped the wires that led to Min’s goggles and set them aside. It wouldn’t have hurt to leave them hooked up but she only had electronics for six. There were muffled voices outside and a knock on the door.
This time, it was SK’s turn to look surprised. He hadn’t been expecting anyone else after Alvina. He opened the door, and there stood Joel. Not it was his turn to be surprised. In fact, he looked shocked.
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