I apologize for the delay on this chapter. I've been dealing with some health issues and haven't felt up to posting. I'm still not feeling well, but I couldn't leave you hanging any longer. Stay tuned, because as soon as this chapter goes up, there will be another right behind it. I hope you enjoy it!!
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35
How Much is Too Much and Some Thoughts on Magic
Ars met us as soon as Bem drove the van through the gate at The HALL. It was the first time I'd seen the man outside the building. "Hello, hello, hello, hello!" He called and scurried after the van until Bem brought it to a halt near the building. He ran around shaking everyone's hand as we piled out of the vehicle. "Wonderful to have you all back, yes, wonderful indeed. Miss Torolus, I have been reading your wonderful reports with rapt attention. Rapt attention I say. The progress you are making as a team is marvelous...marvelous indeed."
Ars got to me and took both my hands in both of his. "And the power of our Mister Philips, the power and resilience I should say, yes, your resilience, young man, impressive, most impressive. For a man whose life has no meaning for him, you certainly cling to it, dear man, cling like...I do not know...like something that clings tightly."
He released me and embraced Shawn. "Dear nephew...you look like the outdoors agrees with you. Does he not, Mister Philips?" Ars threw the question over his shoulder, awkwardly patted Shawn's head from his disadvantaged height, and chattered on like my silence had given him the answer he wanted. "I knew you would see it as I do. Shawn simply glows with youth and health."
Bem tried to start some shit. "Actually, that glow is from..." Neb stopped Bem's comment with a backhand slap to the man's blond head. "I'll shut up." He said as he rubbed at the sting of the hit.
I gave Neb a covert thumbs up. She winked at me. She and I seemed to be growing into firm allies, something I didn't expect at the beginning. Bem was an ally, but he was also an adolescent. He never played around when we were doing something critical or dangerous. He never said anything off-color when we were climbing, but every other time was a constant stream of innuendo. I liked him, but he wore on my nerves and taxed my prudish Earth sensibilities. He seemed to believe in me though, and he had from the beginning. I appreciated that, but still, the constant sex jokes wore thin.
Ars staccato assault kept up like he didn't need to breathe. "And Miss Torolus, the report from the activities of this morning...astonishing. The power to level a mountain...exciting, exciting indeed."
Ars' enthusiasm, and the fact that he already knew of what I'd done at the quarry that morning, connected some dots in my mind. `That's what Neb was doing on that tablet...reporting to Ars.' I realized.
I didn't get a chance to think anything else because Bem took a long step forward, away from Neb, and launched more inuendo into the discussion. "Shawn certainly seemed to think Church had an exciting power." Bem said in response to Ars' words about my mountain-leveling power.
I reddened and Ars missed the point. He readily agreed with what he thought that Bem had said instead of what he actually said. "I would think he did. Shawn understands the significance of Mister Philips' immense stamina and his ability to endure harsh physical punishment without complaint."
Neb stepped forward to match Bem's long stride and pre-emptively slapped him in the head. It didn't stop him. "You might even say he takes a perverse pleasure in the abuse." The blond man added through his leering grin.
Ars compounded my embarrassment by agreeing again. "I would say, Mister Custos, that anyone with hands like these," Ars grabbed my left hand with the stippled wire-wheel scar on the back, and held it up to Bem, "who wears the marks of pain without shame, would take a certain pride or even pleasure in those marks."
Bem endured another slap. The grin that stretched his face even further announced that he thought it was well worth it. "No matter where those marks show up."
"Certainly sir, certainly. A man should never be ashamed of a wound earned in the service of others."
"Or while servicing others." Bem added.
That was the last straw. I used my magic to kick Bem's feet from under him. He landed on the ground like a dropped sack of laundry. I rushed over and jerked him to his feet like he was a rag doll that needed to be tossed into the toybox. I made a big show of brushing the dust from his clothes. What I was really doing was slapping the shit out of him. I got a few good hits in and lowered my face to his. "Are you alright, Bem?" I asked aloud. Under my breath I said, "keep it up, little man, and see what it gets you."
I finished with Bem and went back to stand near Shawn. Ars' gaze lingered on Bem, but he didn't address what he'd seen. He got right back to business. "What, if I may ask, is the next step?"
Neb took the floor. "Climbing, sparring, and weapons training. We have made great progress as a team, but there is still much to be done. I think tomorrow, a strategy session with Bem, myself, and you Steward. Shawn and Church may take the day, they've earned it. Monday, a conference first thing, then hand-to-hand. Church has made the most climbing progress, but he still needs work. Unfortunately for him, he's the only one that can't ride his elevator up the mountain. This is the end of the second week. We will train hard all next week and I'd like to have at least one skirmish the week following. That will tell us whether to proceed to the mountain or if we need another week of prep."
Ars clapped his hands and hopped from one foot to the other. "Wonderful, wonderful...a wonderful plan. Well, I am certain you want to get unpacked and clean up. Four nights and five days in the wild must have taken its toll on each of you. I must get back to work. My, my, my, my, my so much...so very much to do." He hurried away, chattering as he went. I chuckled as he went. I was busy imagining him as a white rabbit with a pocket watch from the `Alice in Wonderland' stories.
Neb shook her head at Ars' retreating form and went to the rear of the van. She opened the doors and folded them back. "Just grab whatever is yours and whatever has been issued to you. The climbing harness, fatigues, and boots are all now your responsibility. The motor pool staff will take care of the van and the other gear."
We gathered our stuff, Shawn borrowed a four-seat egg from the motor pool, we loaded the back seat, and drove toward his apartment. The closer we got, the more excited he got, and the more excited I got. He and I'd had long sessions of love-making every night we were in the canyon, but the idea of being home alone with each other set me off. As for Shawn, he never completely cooled off from the magic show and subsequent grope fest earlier that morning.
He parked at the curb, we grabbed our stuff, and I chased him down the walk and up the stairs. We burst into his apartment, dropped our stuff, and barely had the door closed when playtime started with enthusiasm. I picked him up and pinned him between the door and my body while we kissed like we were trying to suck each other inside-out. I was so hot for him, I thought I'd combust. He was so hot; his touch was like a branding iron. It was incredible.
We sank into the flames and romped all over the apartment; the entryway, the kitchen island, the sofa...twice, the bed, and finally the shower. Each time we were as energetic as the first time. After our shower, we were drying each other off, and I tried to initiate another round. Shawn jumped out of arms' reach. "I think we've had enough."
I pulled him against me with magic and licked the side of his face. "Maybe you have." He put a hand on each of my shoulders, pushed us apart, and locked his arms in front of him. "Now Church, enough. I warned you that there is a such thing as too much. I should have stopped us after four."
I released the magic that held him and let him step back. "OK, killjoy. I guess six is enough for one afternoon. I thought we'd go for double digits." I reached for my robe, but Shawn grabbed it off the wall hook before I grasped it.
"No robes." He held it behind him. "Clothes. Underwear, pants, shirt, jacket, and heels; I want you dressed. We're going out for dinner."
"Why?" I whined.
"Because I want the experience. Sound familiar?" He was adamant.
"OK." I shrugged and went to dress.
"This is nice." I said as we sipped after-dinner coffee at the restaurant Shawn picked. The place had a very wide frontage with a glass wall that opened to the outside. There was as much seating outside as inside. The yellow suited wait staff moved from one setting to the other like there was no difference between them. We sat outside, as far from the kitchen, and as close to the park across the street we could get.
The food was the equivalent of Mediterranean Italian, with generous portions and fresh everything. The meals were served family style in that the dishes were ordered for the table, not per person. As Shawn knew the place, I deferred all decisions to him. He made the selections and did so with great success. I enjoyed everything from the antipasto to dessert.
The restaurant faced east. The sun was going down behind it as we lingered and Shawn and I enjoyed the view. Every sunset I'd seen on Solum was spectacular and this one was no exception. Long, thin clouds that were stained pink, the medium blue sky fading to violet, streaks of orange; a magical image. That thought led to another one. `Magic...'
Shawn set his cup in its saucer and wrapped a concerned hand over mine. "Tell me." He prompted.
I kept my eyes on the sky and tried to minimize my worries by making light of them. "It's just the mountain-destroying magic from this morning. It has me thinking a little."
"Thinking about what?"
There was no dancing around anything with him. Even without the emotional link, Shawn was a perceptive guy. With the link, it was like he knew what I was thinking before I did. I gave up any pretext and exposed my fears to him. "When Preacanto first showed me my magic, she told me I needed to be careful. She said I'd be capable of...things. I didn't think much about it until this moment. The telekinesis is cool. I mean the amount of stuff I can do is really something, but it seems more useful than scary. The white magic..." I shuddered, "that worries me."
"Why?"
I dragged my eyes around to look at his. God they were beautiful. I lost myself in them for a second. It was a wonderful place to be lost. He blinked as he felt my appraisal, and that was enough to remind me of his question. "I guess it's the responsibility that goes with it. I'm not big on responsibility. That's why I had that starter pistol instead of a real gun. I didn't want the responsibility of a deadly weapon. I never even considered owning a gun to carry. Now, I'm carrying what amounts to a nuclear weapon and it bothers me. This morning...discharging that much power feels good, and the way it made you feel, that was even better. It's just now, I'm starting to realize the rest of it."
Shawn squeezed my hand, and I felt his understanding along our link. "I could see it being worrisome. Power equals responsibility, that's what uncle always says. When I was in medical school, he drilled that into me. The power to save someone's life, it isn't just an occupation. If I meet someone who needs help, I don't have the option to help them, I have the obligation to help them. You have this huge power. That makes you responsible to protect people with it...and...and from it."
I wanted to pull on my watchband, but Shawn's hand covered my wrist, and I didn't want him to take it away. I rubbed my neck awkwardly with my right hand. "Sobering."
"It is." He paused and seemed to consider a moment before asking me a question. "By the way, how are you doing with that, being sober I mean? I haven't felt any real desperation from you in a while."
"Yeah, well...we've been busy as shit lately. I haven't had much time to need a drink. The cigarettes, I don't miss at all, but I went from two packs of T-Squares a day to two pounds of nuts. I'm afraid I'm gonna wind up with a jaw like Jay Leno if I have to keep eating like this."
Shawn thought for a second, trying to identify the name I'd mentioned in my memories. He broke into his musical laugh once his mind conjured the image of the lantern-jawed late-night host. "I don't think that's possible; I hope not anyway."
I loved that laugh. People say, `laughter is the best medicine.' I decided Shawn's laughter was the best medicine. My right hand tried to reach for my watch again. I gripped the edge of the table with it to keep it still. "I think being sober is gonna be hard. We're not always gonna be as busy as we have been. Quiet time is coming. That will be the real boxing match. This is good for me...I mean, getting used to being sober is good. Vanquishing the demons...I think I'm more afraid of them than I am of King Pravus."
"You won't have to fight them alone." Shawn rubbed the back of my left hand with his soft fingers and suddenly, I wasn't worried anymore. As long as I had him, everything would be fine.