Practical Demonkeeping Chapter 27-28

27AUGUSTUSAugustus brine lit his pipe and compete underpin the details of Traviss story in his mind. He had finished the nursing bottle of wine, but if anything, it had brought clarity to his thoughts by washing away the adrenaline from the mornings adventure. on that point was a time, Travis, that if some superstar had told me a story like that, I would shoot cal guide the mental-health people to come and pick him up, but in the last 24 hours reality has been riding the dragons back, and Im just trying to hang on myself. means what? Travis asked.Meaning I believe you. Brine rose from the chair and began unlace the ropes that bound Travis.thither was a scuffling behind them and Brine turned to check Gian hen Gian coming through the living room wearing a flowered towel around his waist and a nonher around his head. Brine thought he looked like a prune in a Carmen Miranda costume.I am refreshed and take in for the torture, Augustus Brine. The Djinn stopped when he byword Bri ne untying the demonkeeper. So, provide we hang the beast from a improbable building by his heels until he talks?Lighten up, King, Brine said.Travis flexed his arm to proceed the blood flowing. Who is that? he asked.That, Brine said, is Gian Hen Gian, king of the Djinn.As in genie?Correct, Brine said.I dont believe it.You are not in a position to be incredulous toward the existence of un displaceny beings, Travis. Besides, the Djinn was the unmatched who told me how to find you. He knew hex twenty-five centuries before you were born.Gian Hen Gian musical noteped forward and shook a knotted brown finger in Traviss face. prove us where the shut of Solomon is hidden or we will pitch your genitals in a nine-speed r ever sose action blender with a five-year guarantee before you can say shazamBrine raised an supercilium toward the Djinn. You represent the Sears catalog in the bathroom.The Djinn nodded. It is filled with many fine instruments of torture.thither wont be any nee d for that. Travis is trying to find the seal so he can send the demon back.I told you, Travis said, Ive neer seen the Seal of Solomon. Its a myth. I determine more or less it a hundred clock in books of magic, but it was forever and a day described differently. I conceive of they do it up in the Middle Ages to sell books of magic.The Djinn hissed at Travis and there was a wisp of blue damask in the air. You lie You could not call up Catch without the seal.Brine raised a hand to the Djinn to quiet him. Travis demonstrate the invocation for calling up the demon in a candle accorder. He never saw the seal, but I believe it was hide in the candlestick where he could not see it. Gian Hen Gian, shake you ever seen the Seal of Solomon? Would it be possible to conceal it in a candlestick?It was a silver scepter in Solomons time, the Djinn said. I suppose it could get down been made into a candlestick.Well, Travis signifys that the invocation for sending the demon back is conce aled in the candlestick he didnt open. Id guess that anyone who had that fareledge and the Seal of Solomon would excessively contract an invocation for giving you your big businessman. In fact, Id bet my life on it.It is possible, but it is also possible that the dark one is misdirecting you.I dont think so, Brine said. I dont think he accepted to be involved in this any more than I did. In seventy age hes never figured out that its his will that controls Catch.The dark one is retarded, thenHey Travis said.Enough Brine said. We develop things to do. Gian Hen Gian, go get dressed.The Djinn left field the room without protest and Brine turned again to Travis. I think you found the char youve been facial expression for, he said. Amanda and Effrom Elliot were married right afterward he returned from World War One. They get their picture in the local paper every year on their anniversary you consider it off, under a caption that reads, And they said it wouldnt last. As soon as the king is ready well go over there and see if we can get the candlesticks if she belt up has them. I need your word that I can trust you not to try to escape.You take in it, Travis said. further I think we should go back to Jennys house be ready when Catch returns.Brine said, I want you to try to put Jenny out of your mind, Travis. Thats the only way youll recall control of the demon. still first, theres something you ought to know roughly her.I know shes married. nary(prenominal) Shes Amandas granddaughter.28EFFROMNever having died before, Effrom was confused about how he should go about it. It didnt come out fair that a man his age should turn over to set to new and difficult situations. But life was seldom fair, and it was probably unhazardous to assume that death wasnt fair either. This wasnt the first time he had been tempted to steadfastly demand to speak to the person in charge. It had never worked at the place outice, the DMV, or return counte rs at department stores. Perhaps it would work here.But where was here?He perceive joints that was a impregnable sign. It didnt seem uncomfortably warm a good sign. He sniffed the air no atomic number 16 fumes (brimstone, the Bible called it) that was a good sign. Perhaps he had make all right. He did a quick inventory of his life good father, good husband, responsible if not dedicated worker. Okay, so he cheated at automobileds at the VFW, but eternity seemed like an awfully yearn sentence for shuffling aces to the bottom of the deck.He undefendable his eyes.He had always imagined enlightenment to be bigger and brighter. This looked like the inside of a confine. so he spotted the woman. She was dressed in an iridescent purple consistence stocking. Her raven-black hair hung to her waist. Heaven? Effrom thought.She was lecture on the phone. They have phones in heaven? Why not?He tried to sit up and found that he was tied to the bed. Why was that? Hell?Well, which i s it? he demanded.The woman cover the receiver with her hand and turned to him. dictate something so your wife will know youre okay, she said.Im not okay. Im dead and I dont know where I am.The woman spoke into the phone, You see, Mrs. Elliot, your husband is safe and will remain so as long as you do exactly as I have instructed.The woman covered the mouthpiece again. She says she doesnt know about any invocation.Effrom heard a gravely male translator answer her, but he couldnt see anyone else in the confine. Shes lying, the voice said.I dont think so shes crying. command her about Travis, the voice said.Into the phone the woman said Mrs. Elliot, do you know someone named Travis? She listened for a second and held the receiver to her breast. She says no.It might have been a long time ago, the voice said. Effrom kept looking for who was talking but could see no one.Think, the woman said into the phone, it might have been a long time ago.The woman listened and nodded with a smil e. Effrom looked in the caution of her nod. Who the hell was she nodding to?Did he give you anything? The woman listened. Candlesticks?Bingo the voice said.Yes, said the woman. Bring the candlesticks here and your husband will be released unharmed. demonstrate no one, Mrs. Elliot. Fifteen minutes.Or he dies, the voice said.Thank you, Mrs. Elliot, the woman said. She hung up.To Effrom she said, Your wife is on the way to pick you up.Who else is in this room? Effrom asked. Who have you been talking to?You met him earlier today, the woman said.The alien? I thought he killed me.Not yet, the voice said.Is she coming? Catch asked.Rachel was looking out the cabin window at a cloud of dust rising from the stigma road. I cant tell, she said. Mr. Elliot, what kind of car does your wife drive?A lily-white Ford, Effrom said.Its her. Rachel snarl a shiver of excitement run through her. Her find of wonder had been stretched and tested many times in the last 24 hours, leaving her open and r aw to every emotion. She was afraid of the power she was about to gain, but at the same time, the myriad possibilities that power created diluted her upkeep with a breathless giddiness. She felt guilty about abusing the old parallel in order to gain the invocation, but perhaps with her newfound power she could repay them. In any case, it would be over soon and they would be going home.The actual nature of the Earth spirit some(prenominal)ered her as well. Why did it seem well so impious? And why did it seem so male?The Ford pulled up in front of the cabin and stopped. Rachel watched a frail old woman get out of the car holding two ornate candlesticks. The woman clutched the candlesticks to her and stood by the car looking around, waiting. She was obviously terrified and Rachel, feeling a stab of guilt, looked away. Shes here, Rachel said.Catch said, Tell her to come in.Effrom looked up from the bed, but he could not rise copious to see out the window. What are you going to do to the wife? he demanded.Nothing at all, Rachel said. She has something I need. When I get it, you can both go home.Rachel went to the door and threw it open as if she were welcoming home a long-lost relative. Amanda stood by the car, thirty feet away. Mrs. Elliot, youll need to bring the candlesticks in so we can inspect them.No. Amanda stood firm. Not until I know that Effrom is safe.Rachel turned to Effrom. Say something to your wife, Mr. Elliot.Nope, Effrom said. Im not speaking to her. This is all her fault.Please cooperate, Mr. Elliot, so we can permit you go home. To Amanda, Rachel said, He doesnt want to talk, Mrs. Elliot. Why dont you bring the candlesticks in? I assure you that neither one of you will be harmed. Rachel couldnt believe that she was motto these things. She felt as if she were reading the script from a bad gangster movie.Amanda stood clutching the candlesticks, uncertain of what she should do. Rachel watched the old woman take a tentative step toward the cab in, then, suddenly, the candlesticks were ripped from her grasp and Amanda was thrown to the ground as if shed been hit by a shotgun blast.No Rachel screamed.The candlesticks seemed to float in the air as Catch carried them to her. She ignored them and ran to where Amanda lay on the ground. She cradled the old womans head in her arms. Amanda opened her eyes and Rachel breathed a sigh of relief.Are you all right, Mrs. Elliot? Im so sorry.Leave her, Catch said. Ill take care of both of them in a second.Rachel turned toward Catchs voice. The candlesticks were shaking in the air. She still found it unsettling to talk to a disembodied voice.I dont want these people hurt, do you understand?But now that we have the invocation, they are insignificant. The candlesticks turned in the air as Catch examined them. Come now, I think theres a job on one of these, but I cant grip it. Come open it.In a minute, Rachel said. She helped Amanda get to her feet. Lets go in the house, Mrs. Elliot. Its al l over. You can go home as soon as you feel up to it.Rachel led Amanda through the front door, holding her by the shoulders. The old woman seemed blurry and listless. Rachel was afraid she would drop any second, but when Amanda saw Effrom tied to the bed, she shrugged off Rachels support and went to him.Effrom. She sat on the bed and stroked his bald head.Well, wife, Effrom said, I hope youre happy. You go gallivanting all over the state and you see what happens? I get kidnapped by invisible moon-men. I hope you had a good hinge upon I cant even feel my hands anymore. Probably gangrene. Theyll probably have to cut them off.Im sorry, Effrom. Amanda turned to Rachel. Can I untie him, please?The imploring in her eyes almost broke Rachels heart. She had never felt so cruel. She nodded. You can go now. Im sorry it had to be this way.Open this, Catch said. He was tapping a candlestick on Rachels shoulder.While Amanda untied Effroms wrists and ankles and rubbed them to restore the ci rculation, Rachel examined one of the candlesticks. She gave it a quick twist and it unscrewed at the seam. From the weight of it, Rachel would have never guessed that it was hollow. As she unscrewed it, she noticed that the threads were gold. That accounted for the extra weight. Whoever had made the candlesticks had gone to swell lengths to conceal the hollow interior.The two pieces separated. A piece of parchment was tightly rolled inside. Rachel placed the base of the candlestick on the table, slid out the yellow(a) tube of parchment, and slowly began to unroll it. The parchment crackled, and the edges flaked away as it unrolled. Rachel felt her pulse increase as the first few letters appeared. When half(prenominal) the page was revealed, her excitement was replaced with anxiety.We may be in trouble, she said.Why? Catchs voice emanated from a spot only inches away from her face.I cant read this its in some foreign language classic, I think. Can you read Greek?I cant read at all, Catch said. Open the other candlestick. maybe what we need is in there.Rachel picked up the other candlestick and turned it in her hands. Theres no seam on this one.Look for one it might be hidden, the demon said.Rachel went to the kitchen area of the cabin and got a knife from the silverware drawer to kotow away the silver. Amanda was helping Effrom get to his feet, urging him across the room.Rachel found the seam and worked the knife into it. Ive got it. She unscrewed the candlestick and pulled out a second parchment.Can you read this one? Catch said.No. This ones in Greek, too. Well have to get it translated. I dont even know anyone who reads Greek.Travis, Catch said.Amanda had Effrom almost to the door when she heard Traviss name. Is he still alive? she asked.For a while, Catch said.Who is this Travis? Rachel asked. She was supposed to be the one in charge here, yet the old woman and the demon seemed to know more about what was going on than she did.They cant go, Catch s aid.Why? We have the invocation we just need to get it translated. Let them go.No, Catch said. If they expostulate with Travis, he will find a way to protect the lady friend.What girl? Rachel felt as if she had walked into the middle of a plot-heavy mystery movie and no one was going to tell her what was happening.We have to get the girl and hold her hostage until Travis translates the invocation.What girl? Rachel repeated.A waitress at the cafe in town. Her name is Jenny.Jenny Masterson? Shes a member of the coven. What does she have to do with this?Travis loves her.Who is Travis?There was a pause. Rachel, Amanda, and Effrom all stared at empty air waiting for the answer.He is my master, Catch said.This is really weird, Rachel said.Youre a little slow on the uptake, arent you, dearest? Effrom said.