Chapter 5
Before following Zach upstairs, Madeline pulled at Ciaran’s elbow to hold him back. “Ciaran, Zach and Jo used to be together. It was a very long time ago. I think they’re fine now. He’s moved on, has a girlfriend—last time I heard, they were engaged. He has a career, a large family, and a life here.”
Ciaran pinched lightly at her dimple and smiled. “You’re saying he has a life and has a lot to lose.”
Madeline smiled.
“I’ll be gentle with him,” Ciaran said and winked at her.
When Ciaran and Madeline got upstairs, Zach had cleared the room and made sure no staff was lurking around.
The room felt warm and welcoming. Judging by the musical instruments scattered on the floor, Madeline bet Zach used this as a studio to teach music.
Zach sat down on a high stool next to a counter. “Look, I don't know what to tell my family, okay? Originally, it was just the opening of a gate for me, which shouldn't be a big deal. Ayana told me that being the successor of Sciphil Two will not be difficult, and I’ll have all the flexibility to go back and forth like Pete Chandler.”
"So what changed?" Madeline asked.
"Well, you two are going to tailgate me . . .”
"Tailgating?" Tadgh snorted.
"Yeah, I thought the same. No big deal. But it's different with Ciaran because he's not just a Sciphil. He’s a King Sciphil. His route will be different and more difficult.”
"You received training, and you know what's involved?" Ciaran asked.
Zach nodded. "Hell yeah. For other Sciphils, it’s like multilevel hologames—not easy, but doable. Yours is a nasty combo."
“Like what?" Ciaran asked.
"Well, Ayana was saying something about a nine-by-nine dimensional scenario, whatever that means."
"A matrix. That means you won’t know what’s coming at you,” Tadgh mumbled.
“I don’t think so. There should be options for normal routes and for the King Sciphils. The selection of scenarios should be monitored based on the level of difficulty. It shouldn’t be random. If there’s some logic to it, then we can work out a solution,” Ciaran said.
"It was hard enough handling the deal by myself. I just found out about your tailgating a few days ago. Haven't had any other conversations with Ayana, and haven't had any further training or information about what the fuck I am getting myself into."
Zach stood up and went to a small bar at the corner of the room. He spoke from the bar. "I'm not scared or anything. But I don't want to go in without knowing if I have a chance to come back to my family. It's not like we’re going to war, and I can pretend to be patriotic. I don't even know whose war we’re fighting here! Some aliens—”
"They're people just like us, Zach,” Ciaran said. "They might have a different makeup, and live in a different universe, but they face life and death just like us. If you expand the boundary of your country, where you claim your patriotism, to the boundaries of the Earth, the universe, and the multiverse, then you can see that people are ultimately the same, and you are protecting them against evil."
"Look Ciaran, I have no intention of getting philosophical here. I'm no hero. I'm just a guy. I play guitar, I teach music, and I have a band. That's all I ever wanted."
"Why did you agree to it in the first place?" Madeline asked.
Zach stared at Madeline. "I can't tell you."
"If you think . . .” Madeline trailed off when Peter raced into the room.
"Sorry to interrupt. The restaurant is opening now, and also the guy is coming for the audition . . .”
"What guy?" Zach asked.
"The audition. The guitarist, Zach."
"Oh, okay. Fine. John, isn't it?" Zach shook his head.
"Yeah, John. Mate, he needs a stage name. John Smith isn’t gonna work,” Peter said, laughing.
"Can we wait until we actually hire him to think of his stage name?"
"Right, that's right." Peter scratched his head and walked away while Zach rolled his eyes.
Zach turned around. “I might have to go downstairs to watch this audition—”
"Your decision to go through the gate might be pending,” Ciaran cut in.
"No, it's not. The deal was sealed." Zach showed the thumbprint on his right arm.
Ciaran sat down on a high stool next to a music stand. He shook his head. “Madeline and I are committed to go through the gate. We have our reasons. If you were so unsure, why did you agree?”
Zach gazed hard at Ciaran. “As I said, I can’t tell you. I let you tailgate me. That’s it. I promised, and I will go through with it.”
“I’m afraid it won’t be that simple. We might have a gate-crasher. I need to know all that’s necessary to deal with it.”
Zach arched an eyebrow. “Who?”
“His name is Kyle Wolf. He’s an exiled Sciphil and a mind-bender," Ciaran said.
Zach looked at Madeline. She could see thousands of questions in his eyes.
“Why’d you call him a mind-bender?” Zach asked.
“In theory, he sends mind-wave signals to control people’s thought processes and behaviors,” Ciaran said.
Zach arched an eyebrow. “And you can’t tell he’s doing it by looking at him?”
“He controls the projection of his visibility in people’s mind. Nobody can see him unless he wants them to. When he controls a person, it looks as though the person is possessed,” Ciaran explained.
“This is ridiculous. Total bullshit. You can’t even see the guy . . .”
An eardrum-bursting guitar sound echoed up from downstairs.
"Oh, fuck me. If they let this guy play, the club will have no customers left,” Zach snarled and strode toward the stairs to go down to the club.
Madeline quickly stepped in front of him. "Zach, if you’re scared, that's fine. I'm scared, too. But if you think we don't understand what happened ten years ago in the bush, then you’re wrong. We know."
Zach turned around. He pointed at Ciaran, Tadgh, and Jo. "They all know?”
"Yes."
Zach shook his head. "It's not possible. You don't know half of it, Madeline. I killed the old man. Okay? Are you happy now? ” He paused then said, “I have to go stop that fucking noise.”
Zach pushed toward the stairs. The sound of the guitar surged and swelled, accompanied by a drum that sounded like someone was beating on an empty laundry bucket.
Madeline stopped Zach. He nudged her aside.
As quick as a cat, Ciaran darted toward Zach, grabbed him from behind, and spun him against the far wall.
"Keep your hands off her,” Ciaran growled.
Zach shoved Ciaran.
“You don’t know what I can do to you, Ciaran.”
“Try me!”
Ciaran and Zach glared menacingly at each other.