The Wizard Retires - Michael Meddor, ebook
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MICHAEL MEDDORTHE WIZARD RETIRESYOU WOULD THINK THAT after two thousand years of mostly sane and sober living hemight have put away a little something for his old age. But all he had was apink stucco house across the street from his granddaughter, plus the little bitof money she gave him each week for babysitting Karen. He had no pension, noSocial Security, no $10,000 CDs. He made the same mistake a lot of us make; hethought he would never get old. After all, wizards are only human too.It was a day when dogwoods and azaleas bloomed, when the scent of new flowersperfumed the breeze, when every lawn needed its first mowing. Woolerey shuffleddown the sidewalk leaning on his cane, watching Karen chase his cat. Britannia,half a block ahead. Karen was ten. He took care of her every day after school.In fact, he bought the house across the street precisely for that purpose. Nowhe wished he hadn't.There were signs, of course, but at first he thought he was just seeing things.He'd been cooped up all winter and he was getting pretty old. But lately Karenwas seeing things too, though she didn't know what they meant. Yesterday a carwith tinted glass passed them three times. Karen pointed at it and said thedriver must be lost. The car sped away. There were other little things too:stray dogs with odd markings, a squirrel that couldn't climb and showed no fearof Mrs. Swanson's cat (which killed it but wouldn't eat it), and strange, uglybirds that flocked in the neighborhood each evening.He should have moved on years ago. He had done just that uncounted times in thepast. The safety of his family was paramount, even though it was a differentfamily each time. Who could blame an old wizard for a sense of security? Thehouse was comfortable, the climate pleasant, the neighbors remarkably un-nosy.He adored his great-granddaughter. Why shouldn't he stay?Because they found him, that's why.Britannia disappeared around the corner, chasing a squirrel across Mrs. Bailey'syard. Karen, blocked by the Baileys' fence, rejoined Woolerey and took his hand."How old is Britannia, Grandpa?""I don't know, Sweetheart. I guess she's older than most cats.""I bet she's not as old as you are, huh?""No. Cats don't live as long as people do."She swung his arm back and forth a couple of times. "How come you named herBritannia?""That's where I lived before I came here," he said."I thought you came from England.""Well, I did. That's just another name for it."Britannia reappeared at the corner, and Woolerey took immediate notice -- hertail was up and her back was arched. She glared at a young man who stood in theshade of a pine tree. Woolerey kept walking until he was a few feet away andcould see the man better. There was nothing threatening about him. He wore awell-cut gray suit and expensive-looking shoes (which marked him as an outsiderin this casual suburb). He seemed young, no more than twenty-five or twenty-six,yet somehow Woolerey knew he was older than that. Quite a bit older."Are you Francis Woolerey?" the man asked."Yes. Who are you?"The man smiled. It was an attractive smile, confident and charming.He had the look of an athlete, a man who would be comfortable wherever hehappened to be. "They call me David."Woolerey wondered if he should recognize him. "What can I do for you, David?'"A member of the Academy asked me to look you up."Woolerey nodded. He started walking again and David fell in beside him. Karenfollowed shyly. From her expression Woolerey guessed that she did not like thestranger. "Now that you know who I am," Woolerey said to David, "I supposeyou'll be reporting back. Or are you supposed to keep an eye on me?""That would be telling, wouldn't it? May I walk you home?""It's a free country.""So I've heard." David nodded toward the cat. "Is that Britannia?""Yes.""I understand she's a most remarkable familiar.""A very loyal one," Woolerey said. "Anyone else would have left me long ago.""And the child? A relative?""My great-granddaughter."David lapsed into silence. Woolerey noticed the younger man's gaze wander overthe houses, the yards, the cars passing by. "What are you thinking?" Woolereyprompted.David returned his gaze to Woolerey, his face as expressionless as aprofessional card player's. "Forgive me for asking, but do you intend toresist?""Of course.""It's just that I -- that is, the Academy -- they've always told us so muchabout you, but now you seem so, so --""Old?""Yes. Forgive me. Old." He seemed embarrassed under Woolerey's stare. "You musthave lost control of the Scepter by now. I understand a certain amount ofphysical strength is needed to use it safely. Wouldn't it be better just to giveit to us and avoid a struggle?""Too late for that," Woolerey said."They'll come for it," David told him."I'm sure they will.""You haven't used the Scepter in two thousand years,' David said, "or they wouldhave found you sooner. Now you're too old and too frail to use it. You've got atiger by the tail, Mr. Woolerey, and you don't know how to let go.""What I did once I can do again," Woolerey said."Think of the little girl," David said. "When things get messy, she'll be interrible danger."Woolerey poked a trembling finger into David's chest. "If you even think thatagain, I'll drop you where you stand." David paled, but made no reply.Woolerey examined the young man, puzzled. "You're not what I expected," he said."You look more like a lawyer than what you are.""As a matter of fact, I was a lawyer. I wasn't quite as good as I wanted to be,though.""I see. And there are more like you?""A few," David said.Woolerey resumed his walk and turned onto Gerald Street. David fell in besidehim again. Woolerey saw Britannia scoot ahead and squeeze through the whitepicket fence around his yard. Karen took his hand as if she might protect himfrom David."It's a nice little house," David said. "I especially like the garden. So manybeautiful flowers. It's the kind of place a man might like to retire to, Ithink.""I actually thought I was retired until you showed up.""Then why fight us? Bow out gracefully. Stay retired. I don't see how you canwin.""If they make me fight," Woolerey said, "I will win, and I will survive.""Because you have the Scepter?"Woolerey nodded. "That, and Britannia.""With all due respect to Britannia, sir, I don't think you quite realize howmany servants the Academy has now. Antipas will take the Scepter back. Youcannot prevent it. With the whole Academy behind him, he's too strong for you.""We'll see.""You tried to beat them two thousand years ago, and you couldn't finish themoff. A hundred years ago you sensed them coming and you ran. You hid. This timeyou can't run and you can't hide. Give Antipas what he wants. You can retire, oryou can rejoin the Academy, whatever you like. All we want is the Scepter."Woolerey shook his head. "Not a tempting offer, David."Britannia waited for him just inside the gate. Woolerey lifted the latch, pushedthe gate open, and he and Karen went through. David stayed behind on thesidewalk. Woolerey held the gate for him, but David spread his hands inembarrassment. "I can't go through," he said. "I don't know how. I'm only anapprentice."Woolerey's eyebrows went up. "How long have you been an apprentice?" he asked."Fifty-seven years.""Don't you think that's a long time to be an apprentice?""They say I haven't much aptitude.""You seem capable enough to me. Why are they holding you back?""I don't know that they are.""Take my word for it; they are. How many new wizards have there been in the lastfifty-seven years?""None. They say we've learned too much science by the time we start training.""They're just using you, David.""That may be," David said. "But it doesn't matter. I'm obligated to them, and Ido as they say.""And yet here you are, having a conversation with me. You were told to find me,not chat me up. Do they know what you are doing?"David shrugged."You're hoping I'll rejoin the Academy, aren't you? You think your chances willbe better with me around." David did not answer. "Why not switch sides now whileyou have the chance? You know you're itching to do it."David shook his head regretfully. "I've been thinking about that ever since Ifound you," he said. "I wish I had the guts to do it, I really do, but I don't.Because in my evaluation -- if I thought for one minute you were going to win--" David took a step back, then turned and walked away.Karen slammed the gate with a bang. Woolerey moved toward the house, but pausedon the path, surrounded by his rose bushes. He touched a fresh red blossom,thrilling as always to its feel of newness and promise.Karen ran to his side. "Who was that man?" she asked.Woolerey plucked a brown leaf from one bush and looked to see if there were anymore. "A friend of a friend.""Why is he mad at you?""He wants something I have.""The Scepter?""So you heard that, did you?""Are you a king, Grandpa?""No, Sweetheart, It's not that kind of Scepter.""But you do magic."A sense of dread made him stop and look at her. "How much of this have youfigured out, Karen?""I only know you do magic," she said. "You do funny little things when you thinkI'm not watching.""I should have been more careful.""What will he do if he gets the Scepter?""Terrible things," he said. He turned away from his roses and faced the flowerbed in front of the porch where he had red and yellow tulips coming up. "Worsethan Hitler, worse than Poi Pot.""Why don't you break it then? That way nobody could have it.""I can't break it, Sweetheart. I don't know how. I don't think even Varan knowshow."She gave him a queer look as i...
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