Do you like stories with mystery and suspense? Strange and “wyrd” ones? Well, if you do, keep reading and enjoy Eggcentricsagas. If you are just joining Eggcentricsagas, you might want to start from the beginning: A La Mano: Part 1-The Treasure
The sound of his sharp, panting exhalations between his footfalls on the gravel was all that Edward heard. After he had entered the woods, he had been walking rapidly, but with no signs of Rajiv or Charlotte, he had started to run. Out of breath, finally, Edward slowed his pace to a walk again. He scanned the woodland on both sides of the train track. He found nothing but lacy ferns, toadstools, and dark, dense trees with tangled roots covered in spongy green moss. Hot from exertion, Edward was grateful for the chilled, moist, still atmosphere and the leafy canopy of the trees. The forest seemed to sense his attention and a strong gust swooshed through the leaves. They are not here, the blast of wind seemed to reply. A whirlwind of questions blew into the magic man’s brain. Where are Rajiv and Charlotte? Why did they come this way? Is Dandy right? Is Charlotte trouble? What is the link between her and the missing fortune teller?
His mind turned to what Dandy had told him; the gossip was spreading like wildfire through the carnival. Edward was worried. He had not felt like this in a long time. How am I going to manage the situation? Needing to put out the fire, he had to propagate trust again. Suspicion about Madame Glass and her disappearance had gotten out of control. Big Boss was not going to be happy. The mystery had to be solved, and soon, before some other disaster occurred.
The magic man pushed his mind ahead, following the train tracks searching for his friends. Propelled by an intuitive prodding that there was something amiss, Edward began to run again. He sensed his companions had met with trouble. The train tracks began to follow a curve. The man increased his strides when he heard a distant yell. Rajiv had shouted, “Charlotte!”
As Edward rounded the blind curve, he saw a bridge that crossed over the stream ahead. Then he spotted the top of a familiar white turban before it disappeared below the ridge next to the trestle. Not wanting to alarm the boy and cause him to fall, Edward continued to run until getting to the embankment. Looking over, he saw Rajiv arrive and stand at the bottom of the twelve-foot steep hill. The seat of his pants was dirty as the boy had slid down on his rump. Rajiv ran to Charlotte and Kapi. Unconscious, Charlotte lay on her back in the marshy grass next to the stream. Kapi, however, was agitated. Screeching, he was running frantic circles around her.
Rajiv tried to calm the monkey. “No, Kapi. No, Kapi.”
Edward called out to him, “Rajiv! Rajiv!”
Rajiv looked up at him with an expression of relief. “Mr. Angel! Mr. Angel!” he called back. “Charlotte fell over the hill. I tried to stop her.” He looked back at his pet, now jumping on top of Charlotte’s stomach. “No Kapi! Calm down!” He quickly reached into his pocket and took out some peanuts. “Look, boy! Want a treat?” It took Kapi several seconds to realize what Rajiv wanted but then followed the boy several yards away to a sandy area under the bridge. With the monkey occupied by eating, Rajiv returned to Charlotte.
Meanwhile, Edward had climbed down the hill to where she lay. He knelt beside the girl and brushed her long, golden hair off her face. Thank god, she’s breathing, he thought.
Standing beside him, Rajiv asked, “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know yet,” he answered. Then addressing the girl, Edward asked, “Charlotte, can you hear me? Wake up Charlotte.” About to reach for his smelling salts, her eyes flickered open.
“Where am I?” she questioned.
Smiling, the magician answered, “By a stream.”
“How did I get here?”
“I was just about to ask you that.”
“All I remember was I walking down a very long, white hallway.” Looking at Rajiv, she explained, “After you hypnotized me, I followed a light into a doorway. Then I fell inside.”
Edward knit his brow. Focusing on Rajiv he said, “Well, it seems that Rajiv must fill in the details.”
The boy hung his head. “I’m sorry, Mr. Angel. I didn’t think my trick would work.”
“How many times have I told you not to play with magick?”
“I was just amazed when I asked her to lead me to Madame Glass and she started walking.”
Simultaneously, Edward and Charlotte exclaimed, “What?!” She sat up quickly, and then, looking at each other, both started to laugh.
Edward became serious. “You seem okay. Are you hurt anywhere? Can you get up?”
Charlotte felt the back of her neck. “This is a little sore but otherwise I’m okay. Yeah, let’s get out of this itchy grass.”
Edward stood and helped her up. “There is less of an incline under the bridge. We’ll climb there. Rajiv can explain later,” he said and walked over to where Kapi had been sitting. Rajiv and Charlotte followed. Glancing up, the illusionist noted the monkey had climbed the slope and was under the bridge by one of the supports.
The animal was digging furiously, the soil flying out from beneath his paws. A discovery made, Kapi pulled something from under the ground. Clinging tightly to a golden object, he scampered down the slope and loped towards Rajiv. Edward saw what the monkey was holding. An ornate brass crystal ball stand.
Next: The Magician’s Hat No. 2: Part 6-What the Future Holds
