The Magic Kingdom Of Landover - The Magic Kingdom of Landover VOL II Part 10
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The Magic Kingdom of Landover VOL II Part 10

Above her the light changed, and people began to cross the street. She followed with Dirk.

On the other side, about a block away, a woman with a ring through her nose tried to kick Dirk when he walked in front of her. The kick should have connected, but somehow it missed and struck an iron railing in front of a low window and caused the woman to lose her balance and fall down. The woman shrieked in fury and swore violently at Dirk, but the cat went past the woman without a glance. Willow did the same.

"Hey, lady, spare some change?" a sallow-faced man with long hair and a beard asked. She shook her head and walked on. "It's a little late for St. Patrick's, isn't it?" he called after her, and laughed.

She bent down to Dirk. "Do we understand their language?" she asked curiously.

"We do," Dirk replied. "A little fairy magic lets us do that."

They walked for some time through the crowds. The rains diminished and the skies cleared. The cars and buses began to pick up speed. It grew more dangerous at the crossings. The crowds thinned somewhat, changing character as they moved down the street. The men and women in tailored clothing gave way to a more casual and eclectic group. There were people in leather and chains and metal-tipped boots who slouched along with exaggerated movements or leaned against building walls; people in long, peach-colored robes with shaved heads and earnest looks passing out papers; ragged people with dogs and cats and babies carrying small handmade signs that said things like PLEASE HELP PLEASE HELP and and NO FOOD; NO FOOD; people with shopping bags and handbags clutched tightly against their chests as they walked; people of all sorts, all possessed of the same uneasy, guarded look, all with eyes that shifted and searched, all with a posture that either challenged or bordered on flight. people with shopping bags and handbags clutched tightly against their chests as they walked; people of all sorts, all possessed of the same uneasy, guarded look, all with eyes that shifted and searched, all with a posture that either challenged or bordered on flight.

Comments were directed openly at Willow from those they passed, some brazen and insulting, some joking and curious. A few people tried to stop her, but she simply moved past them, following Dirk along the walk.

They reached a particularly busy cross street and Dirk stopped. A street sign read Avenue of the Americas. Dirk glanced at Willow as if to say, See there? See there? Willow did not see. She did not understand where they were or why. She mostly wanted to get to wherever it was they were going and then get out. Everything about this place was unpleasant and unwelcoming. She wanted to ask Dirk if he had any idea at all where he was going, but she did not think he wanted her to speak to him with all these people about. Besides, he must have some idea; he was certainly moving down the street as if he did. Willow did not see. She did not understand where they were or why. She mostly wanted to get to wherever it was they were going and then get out. Everything about this place was unpleasant and unwelcoming. She wanted to ask Dirk if he had any idea at all where he was going, but she did not think he wanted her to speak to him with all these people about. Besides, he must have some idea; he was certainly moving down the street as if he did.

"Are you lost?" a young woman standing next to her asked. The woman was dark-skinned. She was holding a small child in her arms.

"No," Willow said without thinking, but realized as she did that she could speak the language of Ben's world as well as read and understand it. Dirk must be at work with his fairy magic.

"Are you sure? You look confused." She smiled. "You can get lost in this city pretty easy."

"Thank you, I'm fine," Willow said.

The light changed, and the woman walked away. Dirk and Willow crossed to a new street that read West 8th. There were people everywhere. Storefronts opened onto the walkway, small markets of fruit and vegetables, craft shops with jewelry and bright clothing, doorways leading to food and drink and wares of all sorts. Stands were set up along the street with books and more jewelry. Vendors called to her. Want to buy this, take a look at that? They smiled, some of them, and she smiled back, shaking her head no.

"What a great look!" someone said, and she turned. A young man with a long dark coat, boots, a light beard, and a leather folder stood looking at her. "You aren't an actress, are you?"

"No." She shook her head. Dirk was still moving down the street. "I have to go."

"Wait!" He began walking with her. "Uh, look, I thought that ... well, because you're colored green, I thought that ... that because you were dressed up, you might be an actress or something. Like in Cats Cats. Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude."

She smiled. "You weren't."

"My name is Tony. Tony Paolo. I live a few blocks away. I'm studying to be an actor. I'm in my second year at American Academy. You been there? Dustin Hoffman went there. Danny DeVito. Lots of people. I just finished a reading for a part on Broadway. A comedy, Neil Simon. This is my portfolio, you know, my pictures and stuff." He indicated the folder. "It's just a small part, just a few lines. But it's a start."

She nodded and kept walking. She didn't have any idea at all what he was talking about.

"Look, can I buy you a cup of coffee or something? If you have some time?"

Ahead of her, Dirk had turned around and come back. Now he moved between her legs and looked up at Tony. "That your cat?" Tony asked. "Hey, kitty, kitty."

"Keep your hands to yourself," Dirk snapped as Tony started to reach down to pet him.

Tony straightened instantly. He stared at Willow. "Hey, that's pretty good! How did you do that?" He grinned. "That's the best I've ever heard that done. Do some more."

"We could use something to eat," Dirk said.

"Man, I couldn't even see your lips move!" Tony declared in amazement. "That's some talent! A bite to eat, huh? Okay, why not? There's a little coffeehouse just around the corner. You know the Village? You from around here?"

He led the way through the crowds to a small shop with round tables covered with checkered oilcloth and straight-backed iron chairs with matching checkered cushions. Tony waved to someone working behind the counter and took a table near the entry. Willow and Dirk both sat down with him.

"So what do you want?" Tony asked. He had lank brown hair, dark eyes, and a quick, unassuming smile.

"You decide," Dirk said.

Tony did, ordering food for himself and Willow and a saucer of milk for Dirk. When the food arrived, Willow found herself hungrier than she thought, and she ate everything without bothering to decide whether she liked it. Tony ate with her, talking about how good she was at throwing her voice and about his life as an actor-in-training. Dirk sat in front of the milk and ignored it.

"You know, I forgot to ask your name," Tony said in midbite.

"Willow," she answered.

"Really? What a great name. So, are you a ventriloquist all the time or do you have a job doing something else?"

She hesitated. What was she supposed to say?

"That's okay, you don't have to tell me. But you're not an actress, I guess, right?"

"No, not an actress."

When they were finished, Tony asked her again, "Do you live around here somewhere?"

She glanced at Dirk, who was staring out the door, ready to be off. "No, just visiting."

"From where?"

"Landover." She said it before she could catch herself.

"Sure, Maryland, right? I know Landover. Who are you staying with here? Do you have friends or something?"

She shook her head. "I have to go now, Tony. Thank you for the meal. I hope you become a good actor."

She stood up and started for the door. Dirk was already outside on the walkway. "Hey, wait!" Tony called, throwing some money on the table and charging after her. He caught up with her outside. "Can I see you again, maybe?"

She shook her head and walked on, wondering how to get out of this. Tony walked with her. "I know this is kind of sudden, but ... well, I really would like to take you to dinner or a play or something. Even if I have to come down to Landover ..."

"She's married," Dirk announced. "Happily."

Tony stopped in his tracks. "Oh. Sorry, I didn't realize ..."

They crossed the street in a clutch of traffic and left him groping for something else to say. He carefully watched their progress.

Nightfall set in shortly after, a sudden darkening of the skies as the sun set and the clouds returned, a fading of the light that brought up the city's lamps. Willow and Dirk were seated on a bench in a park with a large marble arch. It was called Washington Square. It had been filled with people until just a few minutes ago, people with newspapers and babies, people with dogs and toys, but now with the sun gone and with the day ending it was emptying out. There were only a few old men left sitting on other benches and a handful of young boys huddled under a tree at the far end. A ragged man with a dog was holding out a metal cup by the street corner.

Only a few hours had passed since Dirk and Willow had arrived from Landover where it had been early morning, and that meant time did not pass at the same speed in the two worlds. How did that effect aging when you crossed from one world into the other? Willow wondered. Was she aging differently than Ben? She stared out into the gloom, watching the city lights beyond the park brighten. Dirk was hunched down beside her with his paws tucked underneath his body and his eyes closed. He had told her when they were alone that they must wait for night when the park was clear so that they would not be disturbed. It appeared that it was here that she was supposed to gather the soil she needed, but Dirk hadn't volunteered anything specific. Dirk rarely did.

The darkness deepened and the hours passed, and still they sat on the bench and waited. Willow was patient, and the wait did not disturb her. She understood now why Dirk had wanted her to have something to eat. She might have gone this long without food, but her child needed nourishment even if she did not. The cat understood this. She glanced down at him and wondered how much of his indifference was pretense.

Soon they were alone except for the odd passerby. Midnight came and went, and the city showed no sign of shutting down for the night. The wares shops had closed, but the places where food and drink were served remained open. There were still people on the streets, crowds of them, passing this way and that, calling out, laughing and shouting, on their way to or from somewhere. No one seemed interested in sleeping. No one seemed anxious to go home.

Willow watched the people and the lights in the distance, trying to imagine what it must be like to live here. Stone and mortar and glass everywhere you looked, the buildings long lines of soldiers set at march, the roadways flat and endless, the visible earth reduced to small squares of worn green like this park-it was nightmarish. Nothing was real; everything was manufactured. The smell, taste, look, and feel of it assailed her at every turn and threatened to swallow her up like a tiny bit of light in a massive dark.

Someone left the sidewalk across the way and approached-a familiar figure with long coat, boots, lank hair, and a ready smile. Willow stiffened.

"Still here, I see," Tony declared as he came up and stopped in front of her. "Tell me the truth, Willow. Do you have a place to sleep? I've been following you, and you don't seem to be going anywhere."

She fixed him with her emerald eyes. "Go home, Tony."

"You don't, do you?" he pressed. "I've come by a couple times now to see if you were still here, and sure enough, you were. You wouldn't be out in the park this late if you had somewhere to go. Look, I'm worried about you. Would you like a place to crash?"

She stared. "What?"

"To sleep, for the night." He held out his palms. "This isn't some sort of come-on, I promise."

"Come-on?"

"You told me you were married, right? So where's your ring? I think you made all that up, but that's okay. I just want you to know I'm not after your bod or anything. I like you, that's all. I don't want anything to happen to you. This is a dangerous city."

Dirk rose, stretched, and yawned. Without a word, he climbed down off the bench and began walking across the park. Willow glanced quickly at Tony, then got up and followed. Dirk crossed the park north to south, ambling contentedly, sniffing at this and that, seeming in no hurry, appearing to have no purpose in mind.

"It can be dangerous out here," Tony repeated, walking next to her, looking over. "Especially at night. You don't know."

She shook her head. "I'll be fine."

"I can't just leave you out here like this," he declared. "Look, I'll keep you company, okay? And don't tell me to go home. I won't do it."

Dirk had moved to a spot at the far end of the park beneath an old shade tree tucked within a gathering of small vine maples where the earth was worn and so wrapped in shadows that almost no grass was growing. It was here that a mother had read on a blanket with her baby beside her until it was almost dark. Dirk sniffed about a bit, then sat back on his haunches and waited for Willow to come up.

"Here," was all he said.

Willow nodded. She knelt and touched the earth, then drew her hand back quickly, her fairy senses pricked by what she found.

"Much has happened in this place," Edgewood Dirk said quietly. "Great ideas have been conceived and terrible plans laid out. Hopes and aspirations have been shared. Killings and maimings have been perpetrated on innocent and guilty alike. A baby was born here once. Animals have hidden here. Whispered promises have been given and love consummated." He looked at her. "The soil is rich with memories. It is the wellspring and the epiphany of many lives."

Tony crowded close. "What are you talking about? Was that the cat who said all that? Well, of course it wasn't the cat-I mean, how could it be, right? But it sure sounded like it was. What's going on?"

Willow ignored him and began to dig. She used the hunting knife she carried beneath her cloak, stirring up the earth, bringing buried soil to light so that she could have a thorough sampling. The lifeblood and memories of others to sustain her baby-were they intended as a balm, a preventative, or something else entirely? Would they heal or sear? She did not know. She knew only that they would make her child strong, that they would protect, that they would instill something of life's truths as embodied in humankind.

She finished digging and began scooping the soil into the same leather pouch that held the earth from the old pines. Tony was still talking, but she wasn't paying attention to what he said. Dirk had wandered off in the direction of another cat.

She filled the pouch halfway and laced it tightly closed again. She stood up then and faced Tony.

"This is really weird," he was saying. "Creeping about the park in the middle of the night and digging up bags of dirt? I mean, what's the point? Look, are you a witch or something? Are you involved in some sort of ..."

He stopped abruptly and looked past her, alarm spreading over his face. She turned. A gang of boys stood behind her, watching. They seemed to have materialized out of nowhere, so quietly had they gathered. They were of varying ages and sizes, all dressed in black T-shirts and blue jeans. Some wore boots, some leather jackets. There was writing on the shirts and jackets, but she didn't understand the words. One carried a baseball bat, one an iron bar. Several sported tattoos. They had hard, old faces, and their eyes were flat and mean.

She looked instantly for Dirk, but the prism cat was nowhere to be seen.

"What's in the bag, Witch Hazel?" one said, smirking.

"Hey, look, we don't want any trouble ..." Tony started to say, and the speaker stepped forward and hit him in the face. Tony dropped to his knees, his nose and mouth bloody.

"I said, what's in the bag?" the speaker asked again, and reached for Willow.

She eluded his grasp effortlessly and moved over to stand in front of Tony. "Get away from me," she warned.

Several laughed. One of them said something about teaching her a lesson. There was muttered approval.

Edgewood Dirk moved out from the shadows to one side. "I don't think you should say anything else. I think you should leave."

The boys stared in disbelief. There was a raucous exchange and more laughter. A talking cat! They spread out guardedly, trapping Willow and Dirk against the trees. The one with the baseball bat started forward. "Hey, cat?" he called. "How about lunch?"

In the next instant Dirk began to glow. The gang members hesitated, shielding their eyes. The glow brightened, and Dirk began to change form. His cat self disappeared and was replaced by something so terrifying that even Willow was repulsed. He became monstrous and huge, rising up like an apparition out of Abaddon, all teeth and claws. The circle of attackers collapsed. Most broke and ran, screaming at their fellows, cursing at Dirk. A handful froze, undecided, and lived to regret their indecision. Dirk hissed at them with such force that he knocked them off their feet and sent them tumbling back twenty feet to land bruised and dazed. When they were able to scramble up, they fled after the others.

In seconds, the park was empty again.

Dirk stopped shimmering and turned into a cat again. He gazed after the boys for a minute, then yawned. He began to wash himself.

Willow helped Tony back to his feet. "Are you all right?" she asked him.

He nodded, but there was blood smeared all across his face. "How did the cat ... ?" He couldn't finish.

"Go home, Tony," she told him, brushing him off, straightening his coat about his shoulders. "Go on."

Tony stared at her. She did not like what she saw in his eyes. Then he turned and stumbled away into the darkness. She watched after him until he reached the street and disappeared around the corner of a building. He did not look back. She did not think she would see him again.

She turned wearily to Dirk. She felt sick, as if the terrible harshness of Ben's world had found a way to burrow down inside her soul. "I don't want to stay here any longer. Can we go now?"

Dirk blinked, emerald eyes glinting. "It was necessary that you come," he said to her.

"Yes, but are we finished?"

Dirk stood abruptly and moved off. "Such impatience. Very well. The fairy mists are this way."

She felt a chill pass up her spine. The fairy mists. But she would do what she must. For herself, for Ben, for their child. One last leg to her journey and she would be home again.

Resolved, she set off into the night.

HAZE.

Three days into their journey through the Labyrinth, the Knight, the Lady, and the Gargoyle came upon a town.

It was late afternoon, the light's wane barely perceptible, a darkening of a gloom that they now knew never brightened beyond twilight. They had walked steadily through a changeless forest world until suddenly, unexpectedly, the town came into view as they crested a small rise. A cluster of ramshackle wooden buildings and worn dirty streets, it hunkered down in a hollow where the trees had been cleared away so that it looked as if the forest had swept around it like the waters of a river around an island. No roads led into it and none away. There were people; the Knight could see them moving on the streets. There were animals, though they were a shabby lot and had the look of creatures beaten down by life. Lights burned in a few of the windows, and as the three stared down more were lit. They gave off a weak and singularly desperate glow, as if they had fought their battle against the coming night too many times and were tired of the struggle.