Danny felt bad for being suspicious. Of course Mr. Bedrik was acting weird. His brother had recently been killed. Danny shuddered, remembering how the crabs had eaten the body. Mr. Bedrik was probably just impressed that Danny was reading. He’d tried talking to him—and Danny had responded with mistrust. He glanced out into the hallway, but the teacher was gone.
For a moment, he considered running after him and warning Mr. Bedrik about what Matt, Jeremy, Ronnie and Chuck had planned for him, but in the end, loyalty to his friends won out. He wasn’t a rat. Fuck that noise.
One month ago, Mr. Bedrik had caught Jeremy, Ronnie, and Matt kicking the shit out of Terry Hampton after Terry refused to let Jeremy copy his test answers. Everyone else had the smarts to let Jeremy do whatever he wanted, but not Terry. He was new, and didn’t know about Jeremy’s low tolerance of people who didn’t share.
The three boys had caught up with Terry behind the shop class. Chuck and Danny weren’t with them at the time. If they had been, Matt probably wouldn’t have been involved.
Matt had moved to Brackard’s Point when they were in fourth grade, after bonds had already formed between Danny, Jeremy, Ronnie, and Chuck. Sometimes, Matt still acted like the new kid, eager to please his friends and gain their acceptance.
Jeremy could be mean, and sometimes his cruelty was infectious, like when they fed the Alka-Seltzer to the birds. Ronnie always went along with whatever Jeremy suggested. Chuck and Matt were more reserved. They usually sided with Danny’s calmer influence.
But Danny and Chuck were playing the new Paperboy video game down at the pizza place on Congers Road that day, and Matt had joined in Ronnie and Jeremy’s madness. Hearing Terry’s cries, Mr. Bedrik caught them. All three got detention. It didn’t matter to Jeremy or Ronnie, but Matt’s old man hit the roof. He’d given Matt the worst beating of his life. Since then, Matt had been plotting to get even with the teacher.
Danny returned to his book, and tried to forget about everything else. His lips moved as he read. “Let then the Adept extend his Will beyond the Circle…”
Extend his will. He felt like he was ready, even though Gustav said he wasn’t. But he’d been studying hard, and he was ready to try.
Things were going to be different at home.
After a few more minutes, the words started to blur together. The school librarian cleared her throat and then looked meaningfully at the clock. Danny closed the book and left, heading for Gustav’s house.
789
Gustav handed him a package wrapped in tacky gold foil and tied with a silver bow.
“What is it?”
Gustav sat down in his dusty recliner and waved his hand. “It’s a present, yes? You do good in school.”
“A present?”
“Yes, boy, a present. Wrapped in paper. Surprise inside. Present.”
Danny grinned, forgetting all about Mr. Bedrik. “Can I open it?”
“Da. Open it already.”
Danny tore away the paper and stared at the small, red velvet box. There were no markings or store insignias on it. He opened the box. There were three items inside. An old Zippo lighter, meticulously polished, with a weird design etched into the side; a half moon, sun, serpent, and an eye.
He looked up at Gustav. “What do they mean?”
“They are Colleges of the Magus. The Moon is for thaumaturgy, the Sun for alchemy. The Snake is for sorcery, the Hand for Necromancy, the Eye for Divination, and the Dagger for Hemomancy.”
Danny squinted. “But I don’t see a hand or a dagger.”
“No. You cannot see them yet. You are not ready.”
“Not ready? I’m learning, damn it. That was the deal—I’d go back to school and study. So how can you say I’m not ready?”
Gustav laughed. “You think I give you new rules, yes?”
“Yeah.”
“No. You give you the rules. I only teach you how to see them.”
Danny sighed. “I know you’re Russian, but I really wish you’d speak English.”
Gustav tapped his temple and then his chest. “You know here and here when you are ready. Some things you are not ready to learn. Some things are too dangerous. Some your mind is not strong enough to see yet.”
“Like necromancy? That’s for making zombies, right? Voodoo.”
Gustav shrugged. “Necromancy is dealing with the dead. Never a good thing to learn. Necessary, yes, but not good. You are alive. The dead are dead and should stay that way.”
“Why?” Danny had already wondered about the dead more than once. Could he speak to the dead, talk to his father?
“The world is big, but the universe is bigger. There are things that do not like to be known. You learn something, you can’t unlearn it. Once you know, you always know. Is dark. Come outside.”
Gustav got up and walked into the kitchen. Danny followed. They went out into the back yard, and Gustav pointed at the sky.
“How many stars do you see?”
“Hundreds.”
“Yes, hundreds. Thousands, perhaps? And more too, but you cannot see them. They are endless. Limitless, yes? So is magic. You begin to see? Because magic is individual, is different for each person. There is no limit to how much you can learn. You study, you get knowledge. You pay price, you get more power. Magic is knowledge and power. Knowledge you learn. Power comes from somewhere else. You borrow it.”
“Like a sacrifice?”
“Da, sometimes. The elements. Or concentration. A debt in exchange for what you did. Perhaps part of your life or energy, or maybe your soul, yes? You pay enough, you can do anything. But sometimes magic wants more than you are willing to pay…”
Despite the warm night breeze, Danny shivered.
“You are cold?” Gustav asked. “Let’s go back inside.”
They returned to the living room. Danny picked up his present again as Gustav sat down.
“Thanks,” Danny said.
“The lighter is special,” Gustav said softly. “Keep it always. Do not lose it.”
“I won’t. What else is in here?”
“You have eyes. Look.”
Next was a small, black leather-bound book. The pages were blank.
“What’s this?” Danny asked. “A diary or something?”
He could hear Ronnie and Jeremy. If they found out he had a journal. They’d call him a fag. He didn’t tell Gustav, didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
“Diary?” Gustav roared with laughter, slapping his knees. “What are you, a Sissy-boy? Nyet, is not diary. Is Book of Shadows. Your Book of Shadows. There you write your spells. Magic that is just yours and no one else’s. No one else will be able to read it. They cannot destroy it. Is indestructible. When you die…”
He trailed off suddenly.
“What?” Danny asked. “What about when I die? What happens then?”
“Nothing,” Gustav said. He smiled, but his tone had changed. He seemed sad. “You are young. Live long time, yes?”
“Yeah,” Danny paused, studying him carefully. “But you said something once before, about—”
“I am old man,” Gustav interrupted. “Crazy commie bastard. Your words, yes? But true. I am old and I ramble. Say many things. Now, look in box. There is one more present.”
The third item was a new pocket knife.
“It is untouched,” Gustav said. “Open it carefully.”
Danny inspected the blade. It looked sharp. He ran his finger along the edge and blood welled up.
“So…” He sucked his finger. “What next?”
Gustav didn’t respond at first. He stared at Danny intensely.
“Next? Next, we begin the real lessons, yes? But tomorrow. Is late, now, and I am tired. Go home, come back tomorrow, and we begin.”
“Thanks again for the presents, Gustav. They’re really cool.”