Page Two

The heavy scarlet drapes with their intricate black patterns were pulled tightly closed, and the stained glass parlor door was securily bolted. Three people sat around an old wooden table, their hands were linked as they stared with bloodshot eyes at the odd white candle burning between them. Madam Glasgova sat at the head of the table. To her right was my young nephew Ty and at her left was his financé Elizabeth. They had spent the entire night trying to make contact with the world of the dead. I had foolishly allowed my nephew to coerce me into witnessing any success they might have; a big favor for my sister, and obviously little threat to me, unless the voters found out.

I watched between catnaps, first with admitted curiousity and just a little nerviousness, but as the night wore on I soon began to ponder their sanity as well as my own. Madam Helena Glasgova's shrill voice had called to the spirits again and again untill the very sound of her voice grated on my nerves like nails on a blackboard. My legs were starting to stiffen up and I was famished. If what they promised me ever happened... I shuddered to think of the Pandoras' box we were trying to open.

I glanced down at the shoebox sized black box that was humming quietly on the table beside the candle. Ty told me it was an air ionizer or ion electrofier or some nonsense and claimed it could possibly open a doorway to another dimension through which spirits would enter our astral plane. I had no evidence thus far that it did anything other than hum.

Madam Glasgova, a short, bosomy woman whose once jet black hair was now streaked several shades of grey and white, suddenly stiffened and began to wave her hands wildly above her head.

"They are here." She cried out with almost too broad of an Hungarian accent. "The dearly departed have returned!"

"Are there as many this time?" Ty asked hoarsley.

"More. Many, many more this time. Vun of them vishes to speak vit us." The medium moaned, laboring for breath.

I rolled my eyes and made a mental note to add baloney to my shopping list. Ty looked over at me beaming with anticipation and I smiled patronizingly.

"Will you channel for him?" Liz asked eagerly. She pushed back a thin strand of dark hair and stared with child like wonder at the Madam.

"No, he vill use his own voice. He says ve are on the brink of a great moment in the lives of living people."

"I hope he's refering to breakfast." I yawned sarcastically, stretching my legs. "Really Ty, I must be running along. It's late and I have a full day tomorrow, uh today."

"Uncle William you promised to keep an open mind about this." Ty protested glaring at me. "Please be quiet and listen."

"My mind's as open as an unlatched gate in a strong wind. It's not my mind that concerns me."

"Gee Mayor Taft, I don't know how you can be hungry at a time like this, anyway. Aren't you excited?" Elizabeth crooned excitedly.

I frowned and waved my hand at her but suddenly an eerie silence fell over the room. The air became cool and moist and felt charged with electricity. The old grandfather clock that stood across the room from me pulsated like a shamanic drum. I looked at the table and suddenly there was a sharp zap like a big grasshopper hitting an eletric bug killer. A soft blue glow appeared above the candle, wavering in the dim light.




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