The Wishmonger, NEW fiction for Steemit, Part 17, links to other episodes

Joey spent several speechless minutes just letting the reality sink in. Although he had complete faith in his friend this was truly the kind of thing you had to see for yourself. The boys were enjoying the moment so much they almost didn’t hear the voices.

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As usual it was Joey that heard them first, “Sshh! Listen! I hear voices!”

Roger froze, he heard them too. If someone was coming he knew they couldn’t be seen here. He ran quietly back toward the Gazebo trail. From his vantage point behind the trunk of a huge oak tree Roger had a clear view of the gate. Parked in the middle of the drive, its brilliant chrome grill gleaming like a monstrous set of teeth was a huge, jet-black limousine. Two men stood at the gate, fumbling with the lock.

“Are you sure that’s the key?” The first one, dressed all in black, with his face wrapped in a black scarf, wore dark glasses. Roger thought he recognized the voice from the library.

The second man was nervous, “Yes, I’m sure! I have used it before, you know!”

The first one was definitely in charge, “Hurry up, you fool! I can not afford to be seen here!”

The key slid into the lock and the second man wrestled the chain off the gate, “You? Nobody here knows you. What about me?” There was something familiar about the second man too! It was Mayor Wish, Roger was certain of it!

The two men pushed the gates open and climbed into the back of the car. Roger wondered why they hadn’t made their chauffeur open the gate. They were headed to the fountain, that much was certain. He and Joey would only have seconds to hide the bike and find cover. Roger ran for all he was worth.

When he entered the gazebo he knew something was wrong! Where was Joey, where was his bike?

“Psst! Hey! Up here!” Roger looked up in amazement, there was Joey safely nestled in the arms of a giant Oak.

Roger ran to the tree, “How’d you do it?”

“I’ll explain later, give me your hand,” Joey whispered.

Roger reached up and Joey hauled him up into the branches of the giant tree, “What happened to your chair, and my bike?”

Joey threw a thumb over his shoulder, “I improvised”.

Roger looked to where his friend had pointed. He hadn’t realized it, but the fountain set on the crest of a steep hill. Joey had managed to roll both the bike and his chair down it. They lay tangled in a bush, dusty but unhurt. He didn’t even ask how he’d gotten into the tree. Due to propelling himself in a wheelchair Joey had the most developed arms of any thirteen year old Roger had ever seen. Combine that with a grip that could practically crush a cue ball, and you get the idea.

The boys watched in silence as the limousine pulled to a stop at the foot of the fountain path. Two men got out and walked quickly up to the fountain.

“They’ve been here already!” Mayor Wish said.

“I told you! I knew this would happen. We should have stopped him permanently years ago!” The man in black snarled, “You didn’t have the guts years ago! Now that our plan is in place…” he cursed. Roger was sure now, this was the voice from the library.

“As long as they don’t find that key…”said the mayor.
“ Yes, as long as,” said the man in black, “By the way, where is that key?”

“I told you it’s somewhere safe!” the mayor was practically cowering.

“What you mean is you don’t know. I want you to spend
every available moment on it, do you understand? I want that key found yesterday.” The man in black removed his dark glasses! He was blind! Just like the dragon in Roger’s dream. No wonder he couldn’t find Matthias in the library. “What’s over there?” he pointed straight to where the boys lay hidden!

“Just an old oak tree.” the mayor grew more nervous by the second.
“Just a tree, you’re sure? I could swear we were being watched!” the boys shuddered and hugged the trunk closer.

“No, there’s no one there. Just a tree like I told you. We’d better go. I’m due to hand out awards at the festival picnic. If I’m late there could be questions.” The mayor walked to the limousine and stood glancing fearfully around while the man in black surveyed the hillside with his blind although, Roger thought, far from unseeing eyes.