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
Edward stashed the stand of the crystal ball under his coat and proceeded to the business train car of Big Boss. Rajiv had managed to coax it away from Kapi without much fuss, and then he and Charlotte went back to their tent to await Edward’s return. The magician arrived at his destination and paused before knocking. Hearing a conversation from inside, looking and seeing no one, he placed his ear next to the door.
Big Boss asked, “So, you think the best thing to do is leave soon?” and a muffled voice answered.
Edward decided to knock. The sharp rap of his knuckles brought a response from Big Boss. “Come in.”
The magic man opened the door and stepped inside. Big Boss and Arnie, the Advance Man, were playing cards. Edward noted Arnie’s taller stack of gambling chips, and his boss was already drinking. An empty shot glass sat on his side of the small round table. The afternoon sun had heated the interior of the train car. Big Boss had his three fans working and aimed in his direction but still had a sweaty forehead.
Looking up, Big Boss remarked, “Ah, the Magic Man is here.” Then he surveyed his five cards and pushed more poker chips onto the ante pile before mopping his brow.
Arnie matched the bet and laid down his cards. “Dead man’s hand,” he announced as he revealed two pairs: aces and eights. His thin lips under his beak-like nose with its sparse mustache curved into an unctuous smile that he aimed at Big Boss.
Big Boss returned the grin and then laid down his hand. “Sorry, my friend,” he told his advance man as he spread the three sevens out. His grin widened as he scooped the pile of chips and pulled them to his side of the table. Big Boss looked up at Edward. “Do you have any news for me?”
Edward glanced at Arnie. His beady eyes fixated on him, the advance man scratched at one of his long, scraggly muttonchops. The magic man addressed his boss. “I’d like to speak to you in private, Sir.”
Big Boss motioned to Arnie to leave. “We’ll continue this later.”
“Sure, Boss,” Arnie replied, stood up and gathered his chips. Giving Edward a perfunctory nod, he left.
Big Boss indicated the seat vacated by Arnie. Edward sat and pulled out the brass stand. He then told his boss the entire story and his plans in hushed tones. After much discussion, Edward left the train car as his boss poured himself another drink.
When he arrived, only Charlotte was in her tent. She informed him that Rajiv and Kapi had left with Jim Dandy to go perform. Edward took off his coat and sat opposite her.
She spoke first. “How did he hypnotize me so well? What other magic tricks are you teaching him?”
“That’s confidential. Only for initiates,” he said and smiled.
Looking at him earnestly, she inquired, “Can this magic of yours return me to my former time?” Not receiving an answer, to lighten the mood, Charlotte changed the subject. “Tell me more about you and Rajiv.”
“When I found him, he and Kapi were being mistreated by a street performer in India.”
“He told me about the snake charmer and the orphanage.”
“I went to the orphanage to find out about his parents. Both dead. They were killed in a train accident. His mother came from a wealthy, eccentric family and she had the reputation of having mystical powers. His father, also well-to-do, was a renowned surgeon. Rajiv was the seventh son, just a baby, when they died. At their demise, he was placed in the orphanage by his older brothers. The boy is very intelligent and I wanted to encourage his growth. He would never reach his full potential in that situation. Nobody cares about poor Indian boys. It was very easy to adopt him and so I did.”
Charlotte smiled. “Well, whatever you are teaching him, it seems to be working. Before this, I really didn’t believe in hypnotism or magic. I hope we find Madame Glass. Somehow, Betsy and I seemed to be linked to her. I wonder what clue we will find buried under the bridge.”
“We?”
“Yes. I am going with you. My life may depend on it.”
**************************
It was early dusk and the heat diminished with the onset of night. It appeared that he and Charlotte were going on a lover’s picnic. His ruse had worked, and a few of the men knowingly nodded as they passed by them before entering the woods. Leaving the carnival grounds behind, Edward and Charlotte noticed dark thunderclouds had begun to gather on the far-off horizon. Now, almost at their destination, quiet, they walked along the train tracks listening to the crickets chirping and isolated distant thunder. Charlotte carried a lantern and a basket covered with a blanket. Edward was holding a shovel and hand spade. He had paid a trusted workman to hide them in a designated spot behind a large, fallen tree nearby the tracks in the forest.
After reaching the bridge, they climbed down the slope, and Edward began to shovel dirt. Laboring to uncover the hidden thing under the bridge, he dug and dug. When he stopped to take a drink and have a bite to eat, Charlotte continued the work. Finally, in the dim light cast by the lantern, they discovered a buried box, a large trunk. Using the spade, Edward carefully cleaned away the dirt from the top and sides until he could lift the lid. Clutching a candle that she had removed from her basket, Charlotte held it high to illuminate the contents of the chest. As Edward opened it, she bent closer and peered inside.
Next: The Magician’s Hat No. 2: Part 8-Discovering What’s Inside
