Strange Ways

by Gray Williams

  Hard as she might try, there was no seeing through to the island behind the clouds.

  The throaty growl of the engine abated, the boat coming to a stop, leaving just the slosh of the waves, the sound of floats bouncing off the hull.

  No one spoke. Michaela’s mouth was too dry to ask questions.

  But they didn’t wait long. Michaela’s hands tensed against the rigid gloves when the clouds ahead parted like a stage curtain, revealing another boat.

  Someone had painted it tip to stern in runes, a dozen small fetishes swinging and dancing in the window of the pilothouse.

  The guards tensed as the new arrival pulled in alongside.

  ‘Tell us your name, love?’ a tall man who was more limbs than anything else called over to them. There were two more with him, batons and hexes at the ready.

  ‘M-Michaela,’ she called over. ‘I’m here to… My mum’s on the island.’

  ‘You were given a password?’

  Michaela almost smiled as she tried to fit the phrase in her mouth. ‘Fuck magic.’

  ‘Welcome aboard.’ The man held out his hand.

  Her guards helped her up onto the seating. As she hopped from one boat to the other, trying not to think about the dark channel of water beneath, she spotted a tar-like streak on the deck. She wondered if her mother had made it.

  Their transaction complete, the boat that had brought her from the mainland immediately gunned its engine. It turned so tightly, it sent the new boat rocking, making the tall man swear under his breath as he held tightly to the rail.

  Michaela watched the boat speed away, back to join the cordon of large ships that lined the waters around the island.

  There was talk as they turned back around. Someone said she looked like her mother. She answered politely, but she wasn’t paying much attention, watching the wards do their work as they passed back through the cursed clouds.

  They were expertly made, like no wards she’d ever seen, and they did their job well. The ones at the front even calmed the waves. Were it not for the wind and the storm raging twenty feet above their heads, she wouldn’t have thought there was a curse at all.

  The island looked nice, though the sky was grey on the other side. It was a welcome change to the medical pastel colours and steel bars she’d grown used to the past three weeks.

  A woman a little younger than her was waiting on the pier for them. Michaela squinted, trying to bring the figure into focus as they approached the dock. Steph looked just as interested in seeing her. This was the girl it had been all about? They were both thinking it and from the look that passed between them they saw each other’s thoughts mirrored.

  There was a wooden click as Steph tapped two of her prosthetic fingers together, a nervous twitch.

  ‘They’ll be waiting in the village,’ said the tall man, working to secure the boat.

  The words seemed to bring Steph back to herself. ‘You don’t need those.’ She touched a finger to Michaela’s cuffs, eliciting a snap from the locks. Helping to slide them off, the Abra threw them to one side, where they landed on a pile of identical restraints. Steph sniffed, giving Michaela another look over before leading the way to a waiting jeep.

  They drove in silence. Michaela couldn’t think of anything to say. Or rather, she had too much to say and didn’t know where to start. When she opened her mouth, Steph’s eyes widened, almost panicked, and Michaela shut it again.

  Relieved, Steph’s attention went back on the road, her finger tapping at the steering wheel.

  ‘Do those hurt?’ Michaela asked.

  She thought the woman hadn’t heard until she replied, ‘They used to.’

  ‘The runes are impressive. Same as on the boat.’

  Steph snorted. ‘Know a lot about runes?’

  ‘I know some.’ She gave a quick summary of what she’d worked on, the bullet-point list of her emotion-gathering techniques.

  Steph listened without expression, but Michaela noticed how she’d eased off the accelerator to give them a little more time. ‘I can think of two dozen ways to make those work better,’ she said once Michaela had finished. Then, just as the sting was really setting in, Michaela readying a retort, she added, ‘But those sound really good. You didn’t bring any, did you?’

  ‘No. Police kind of frown on that sort of thing. You should have seen the search they gave me before I was even allowed on the boat.’

  They had crested the hill, grass plains stretching out either side. The whole place was dotted with tents, groups of Abras cooking, cleaning, conversing. She heard a dozen languages on the wind, could smell magic and taste spices on the air.

  ‘They weren’t lying. A lot of people came to support you.’

  ‘They’re just posers,’ the other woman sneered. ‘Just showing up and getting in the way. All they want to do is say they were part of it.’

  ‘Believe me. Being on your own is worse.’

  Steph didn’t have any reply to that.

  There was the village ahead, a busy little community filled with stalls and tents. Hot soup was being ladled from cauldrons into bowls for those who queued.

  The buildings had seen better days. There wasn’t a window in sight, every aperture empty and ringed with wards to keep the weather out. There was a constant flow of people in and out of the biggest building, which looked more like a church than anything.

  ‘Karina will be inside,’ said Steph, as they pulled up to the front steps. ‘I’ll show you.’

  ‘Wait.’ Michaela held out a hand as Steph made to leave. ‘I wanted to thank you. For everything. I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for you. I know it cost you things. My mother, she… well she sometimes…’ she sighed. ‘I’m not my mother. No one is. And that’s a good thing. Fuck, can you imagine? But… I watched her carry the pain of what she did to you. She regretted it every day. And that doesn’t excuse it. But… What I’m saying is thank you. You did the impossible and it saved my life. Then you did it again. If I ever had anything to offer you, I hope you’ll let me know so I can give it to you.’

  Steph sat rigid, her eyes fixed at her feet as Michaela stumbled through her thanks.

  ‘Karina’s waiting inside,’ she mumbled, bolting out the car.

  The town hall interior was a mess. There was debris swept into the corners, broken chairs and dead leaves. A large table had been erected at the foot of the stage at the far end, where a woman Michaela had only seen on the television before was issuing orders.

  ‘These storm wards aren’t getting the attention they need. Can we send some people down there to maintain them, please? Thank you. The meeting’s been pushed forward to tomorrow, so I want that room in the White House looking its best and I want everything we have on a table to one side, every shred of evidence. I want it to be the first thing they all see when they come in…’ she spotted the two young women approaching and nodded, collecting her thoughts as she stared down at the map before her.

  Those dozen around her leaned in, waiting for her to speak.

  ‘Thank you, everyone. This would all be nothing without you.’

  People smiled and nodded and began to disperse, breaking away into little pockets of action and debate. They watched from the corner of their eyes as Karina stretched out a hand to Michaela. Something told Michaela that they all knew who she was.

  ‘Did you get here OK?’ she asked.

  ‘They frisked her,’ said Steph. ‘A lot.’

  ‘Well they would, wouldn’t they? I hope you’re all right?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ said Michaela. ‘I wish I could say I’m not used to it…’

  ‘But people with power can’t help but try to grab what they want with both hands,’ Karina nodded.

  ‘They use their teeth too.’

  This prompted a wry smile from the woman. ‘You even sound like her. Come on, I’ll show you where we’ve put her. She gave everything she had, your mum. She… well, we’ll never forget that.’

  ‘My mum always has more
to give. That counts for both her friends and her enemies.’

  ‘And how do you figure out which you are?’

  Michaela thought about it. ‘I think if you’re her enemy, you tend to figure it out pretty quickly.’

  They were walking down the main street. There were eyes on them everywhere and while Michaela put a bit more strut to her step in response, it made the pale girl at her side shrink even further.

  When someone called her name, Steph recoiled, the woman ducking behind Michaela so fast she almost teleported.

  ‘Fuck’s sake,’ Michaela heard her mutter.

  An earnest-looking group of Abras were approaching. They looked like they’d stepped straight out of another world, which they sort of had. These foreign Abras, born and bred in countries where magic was legal, wore their tattoos openly. They were dressed in jeans, chinos, shirts, skirts – much like in the UK – but the materials were sewn full of active sigils, the smell of magic thick around them. One even had the tell-tale tattoos of someone with enhanced vision to make up for poor eyesight. Another walked with what was clearly a magic staff that made the air around it buzz.

  ‘No!’ said Karina, wheeling around to meet them. ‘No, sorry, we’re too busy for any more questions at the moment. It’ll have to wait for another time. We’ll put something in the diary.’

  ‘Why do they want to talk to you so badly?’ Michaela asked Steph.

  ‘They won’t leave me alone,’ Steph replied, hugging at herself. ‘Endless fucking questions about my sigils. And everything I tell them, they just come back with even more questions.’

  ‘I’ve told her,’ said Karina, joining them again. ‘This is just the beginning. People from all over the world will want to see what she’s done. And because she’s come from this backwater little country, they’re even more impressed.’

  ‘I don’t like talking to big audiences. It’s easy for you. One tried to grab me the other day and…’

  ‘I know,’ Karina rubbed her arm. ‘But we’re sorting that now. Her mother wanted all the attention, but Steph here, she’s finding it hard. And until she starts writing it all down—’

  ‘I’ll get to it,’ Steph snapped. ‘If they just left me alone for five minutes.’

  ‘All right, all right,’ Karina soothed.

  ‘This place is looking really impressive,’ said Michaela, attempting to change the subject. She couldn’t get a handle on Steph, the way she swung between hard-edged woman and sullen teenager. She didn’t like crowds, that was for certain, and Michaela couldn’t help but wonder how much her mum had played a part in that.

  ‘It’s only temporary. A little outpost of an idea as much as anything else. I’ll admit even I was surprised at the response. The whole world paid attention to our message and all these people came to help. None of them are actual government officials, but them just being here has kept things quiet. Trying to take this place back is more of a diplomatic headache than the British government can stand. It’s not forever, but it buys us time.’

  ‘Those disks you have must count for something.’

  ‘They got you here,’ said Karina. ‘We’ve only just begun looking at what’s on them. Even a year ago I would have shared everything that was on them as soon as possible. But right now, they’re doing more good hidden. A few words in the right ears work wonders to keep the troops from our shores. All those people we have stuff on must be going apeshit worrying when the other shoe is going to drop. I imagine they’re running around trying to figure out a way to get them. But until then they’re trying to keep me sweet. I never knew how quickly things could move when it’s in everyone’s interest.’

  ‘That’s good,’ Michaela agreed.

  ‘It’ll come to an end, believe me,’ Karina made a face, ‘but the more time it allows us to talk, the better off we’ll be. We have a meeting tomorrow, the British Government, a few representatives from Europe who are offering us sanctuary. Finally, we’re getting to a fight I know how to win.’

  ‘You think you can get magic legalised?’

  ‘That’s unlikely. There are still too many people against it, but if I can get the hangings to stop, establish this place and a few others as free zones, where magic users can be themselves, maybe it’ll show those people on the mainland what the country could become if they opened their minds and hearts… It’s not going to be perfect, but it’s going to be better. There she is…’

  They’d walked clear across the island, reaching the beach on the other side. Her mother was down on the sand, the water lapping at her feet, staring out into the ocean.

  For a long moment, she looked almost calm, a glimpse of the woman Michaela used to know.

  Then she spotted them approaching and Michaela smiled at the way her mum stiffened. She ran her hands over her clothes and her hair, suddenly worried about her appearance.

  When she was ready, Michaela ran to meet her.

  * * *

  It was like getting the best part of herself back, the moment Amanda caught sight of her daughter.

  They ran towards one another, into each other’s arms. Amanda tried to keep from grunting at the pain. Three weeks and her muscles still hurt from the ritual, but she felt a bit better every day. And this was the good kind of hurt.

  There were apologies and more hugs, both women talking over the other in a barrage of feeling, until it all boiled down into one final embrace.

  ‘We’re going to leave you to it,’ said Karina, stepping forward after a polite length of time. ‘There’s shit to be doing.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Amanda. ‘For doing this.’

  ‘Not like I had much of a choice,’ Karina gave Michaela a wry look. ‘I’ve seen too much of what happens to people who get between the pair of you. When you’re ready to leave, let Duncan know, he’s got it all planned out. Wherever you want to go.’

  ‘Sounds illegal.’

  Karina’s mouth twisted at that. ‘I’m never going to approve of what you did here. I didn’t see what you did to Harry, but I heard…’

  Over Karina’s shoulder, Steph winced. They’d never told Karina the truth, and Amanda didn’t think they ever would. It had felt like a lifetime, that moment where Steph had stood over her, the bat dripping thick strings of blood.

  Amanda’s limbs had been hot wires of pain, unable to move, knowing she’d done all she could. She’d shut her eyes.

  And opened them at the sound of Steph’s cry, just in time to see the girl hurl the bat out, over the cliff, and into the storm. Let the saltwater take it, she’d thought, let it eat out the blood and turn the hideous thing into just another bit of driftwood.

  They’d agreed with a look, they were done with anger. And though anger might not be done with them, it was a start. But part of that agreement was that Amanda shoulder just one more burden for the girl she had hurt.

  ‘But we wouldn’t be at this point if it wasn’t for you,’ Karina was saying. ‘Where we are now, it’s dirty. I don’t want to ever have to do anything like this again, but… I want to squeeze as much good out of it as possible. So, thank you, and I hope we never see each other again.’

  ‘That’s me told. You’re welcome.’ The waves continued to crash as the women stared at one another, no hands stretched out to shake, no more sentiments to convey, the waves saying it for them.

  ‘And you’re going?’ Amanda asked Steph.

  ‘Tomorrow,’ the young woman replied. ‘Maybe. I don’t know.’

  ‘Well, don’t spend all that money in one place. You don’t know how hard Jamison worked to hide it all.’

  ‘You talked to Uncle Jamison?’ Michaela asked.

  Amanda nodded. It had been a difficult call, she’d left it for so long. Talking to him had felt like the end of something, or the start, she couldn’t be sure. ‘I did,’ she said. ‘It’s… well, it’s the end. He’s not getting better. And what with me supposed to be dead and everything… We might still talk. While he can.’

  ‘You’re leaving too?’
asked Michaela.

  ‘I just don’t want to be here,’ said Steph. ‘I want to be alone, where no one’s looking for me.’

  ‘Maybe start writing that book,’ said Karina.

  ‘Maybe,’ Steph agreed.

  ‘Well, good luck,’ said Amanda. ‘If you need anything…’ she let the words die as Steph grimaced.

  ‘We’d best get back,’ said Karina. ‘There’s always something else to organise.’

  ‘I hope it all works out,’ said Amanda.

  ‘Some of it will. The rest we’ll fix tomorrow.’

  ‘I see it, you know. All of this. I see why Steph looks up to you.’

  Karina smiled at that. ‘That’s kids for you, always making you try to be the person you need them to see.’

  Amanda watched Karina and Steph walk their way back up the beach, Karina’s arm around the younger woman.

  ‘So what now?’ Michaela asked.

  ‘How should I know? I’m dead. Storm washed me away into the ocean. Where do you want to go?’

  ‘I’m supposed to give evidence. Against McKittrick and Davey.’

  ‘You don’t need to worry about Davey. Jamison’s got that sorted. He can point the police to more evidence on Davey than you can dream. You’re small potatoes on that front.’

  ‘But McKittrick…’

  ‘We’ll find a place. Settle in. You can go back and deal with that asshole. Of course you can.’

  ‘Good.’

  ‘They know I’m not dead, you know. We told them I was, when we leveraged your release, but they know I’m not. They just can’t prove it and they’re too busy to bother refuting it.’

  ‘I guessed that.’

  ‘It’s not over is what I’m saying.’

  ‘Is it ever?’

  ‘Guess not.’

  ‘But what are you going to do?’

  ‘We’ll go somewhere first. Then I’ll figure that out.’

  ‘I mean are you going to start doing jobs again? Because if we’re going to go through this all again… I can’t see you go to prison twice.’