EVERYONE IS A GENIUS

Intrestin abeg next episode

Hmmmm.... Will i be able 2 follow this story???

sir,” Henry replied, he had conjectured what the man would say next. “You’ve got an idea why I sent for you?” “No inkling,” he replied. He did not want to declare his guess for the fear that it could be wrong. “Hmm! You’ve checked it, isn’t it?” “Yes of course.” “Tell me something ’bout it.” “Well I’ll say it’s fine, all A’s,” replied Henry but with a puckered face. It seemed as though he wasn’t pleased with the scene.

“I've got nothing to say,” he confessed, yet in his mind he had a lot of confusions stumbling upon one another. They were the feelings of anger, wrath, indignation and bitterness. “It means your definition is wrong, Henry. You can leave now.” The dean gnawed his fingernails. He was waiting patiently for Henry's departure but it never went that way.

CHAPTER TWO Reminiscing He saw Ted on the court busy with a game. Although Ted was sweating profusely under the hot sun, yet it seemed he was not going to give up on the demanding task he was performing all alone by himself. When Ted lifted his head and saw his friend walking towards him, he smiled as he waited for him. “Ted, hope you are not going to spend the whole time here playing games.” “And you… over there—” replied Ted pointing toward the school library where his friend had just exited, “studying.” Henry would have him corrected, so he said, “No… reading novels.” “Hmm,” grumbled Ted in disbelief, “I know that’s what you’ll say—always reading novels and scoring millions of A’s, isn’t it?” Henry ignored him, attempting to digress. “Ted have you seen her—today?” “Yeah,” he replied, “She just left the basketball court now, I think with Pete,” said Ted in a way that would upset his friend. Ted never wanted Henry to go after that Chinese girl, Cynthia, but Henry was not ready to give up. He had wanted her by all means, but she had never looked to his side once, preferring Pete instead, because he was a sport person, being one of the key players in the school basketball team. “I’ll go after her,” said Henry as he made to leave Ted on the spot. “No, don’t go,” responded Ted, trying to debar him from such action, “I believe she did spot you coming here, that was why she took her leave.” “Oh! Ted you should have obstructed her for me,” Henry blamed Ted in earnest. “Not me,” said Ted sharply. “You want me get into Pete’s trouble—men!” he said looking critically into his friend’s eyes as if he was scared of Pete, since there had always been something to fear about the said Pete, whose mouth was his weapon. Aside being very good in the basketball game, another thing Pete could do so well was calumniation. “And I didn’t even know on time that you were out of the library already. Let’s go.” Ted jerked Henry’s arm, trying to pull him along, but he forced himself out of his grip. “Leave me alone,” Henry replied. “I’m getting her at all cost,” he said leaving Ted in a hurry. “Henry, don’t go nowhere, I’ve got something for you,” shouted Ted. “Later,” replied Henry without looking back at him. He doubled his paces instead, looking ahead like someone trying to avoid becoming a ‘pillar of salt’. Henry had never liked any girl all his life except her, but she had never reciprocated his love. Henry was not going to have a girlfriend if not her, but she was not going to reciprocate his affection. She was a first year student of the University—almost like the cynosure of all eyes, nubile and graceful, appearing more beautiful whenever her dimples had had the cause to come out conspicuous—especially when smiling. Her hairs were elongated, trailing down her chins and always resting sequentially on her shoulders, like the manes of a horse. Though not lanky, being a bit below six feet, she had no problem with that, since her shoes did always compensate for her height—high- heeled espadrilles. Perhaps Henry was lucky to have caught up with her while she was trying to get a cab to board. It was a Friday evening, five o’clock, so she was leaving the campus to her parents’ place that day as she was wont doing—just like many other students on campus whose abodes were stone-throw from the school. “Hey, Cynthia!” cried Henry. She turned on her heels towards the direction of the voice, not knowing it was Henry. Getting close to her, Henry beckoned on the taxi driver to keep moving. The man was furious. “Hey, man! Handful of plonkers! Why wave me down at first?” He skidded away extremely annoyed, leaving trails of dust behind. Seeing it was Henry, she became gutted, though hiding the feeling. She waited for his arrival. “Cynthia, I’m sorry I—I just felt I should see you,” he said panting. “So…” said Cynthia, amazed, “that’s just all you want to do, uh?” she added in her usual Chinese accent as she pointed annoyingly at him. “You’ve just cost me getting a taxi to my place—why?” she said in her usual lady- like manner, now exuding anger. “I’m sorry,” said Henry apologetically, then she responded, “Okay, go on.” “I just want to ask if you’ll come with me —’’ he said, paused and glared apprehensively at her, having insinuated an unpalatable response, “for dinner.” “Dinner!” she yelled in a way that was difficult for Henry to guess what she was having in mind towards it. Henry spoke on. “Yeah—we’re going to make use of a nice place—maybe in the New York City or— wherever you choose for it. I’m—” “It’s okay,” she said succinctingly in impatience. “Just want to let you know I’m having a date with someone else—Pete. I believe you saw him just now, ’cos he’d hardly entered a taxi when you came around. Henry stood stupefied, words unable to flow. “Well, see you later Henry; don’t want to get home late,” she said rushing to board a taxicab, which she’d waved down already in the course of the conversation. She waved at Henry when she got into the vehicle. “Bye!” She said. “Wait, Cynthia, don’t do this to me,” lamented Henry. He heard a voice behind him too, immediately. “Wait, Henry don’t do this to me!” It sounded feminine. Henry did not want to turn back, being of the thought that it was one of those ladies who had always been asking him out—though always turning them down —particularly Susie, his departmental mate, who had never at any moment relented in her effort to get him. At this moment, Henry felt that Susie was the owner of the voice, so he did not want to turn to the direction. At last he turned but saw Ted approaching instead. “Hey Ted, why trying to be sissy? And what have I done to you?” said Henry frustrated. “Sissy like Susie, Isn’t it?” Ted replied humorously. “Exactly!” Henry replied, surprised at his friend’s ability to probe into his mind. “Just trying to mimic you Henry—what you said to Cynthia just now,” Ted winked. “What’s her response?” “She’s going to hook up with Pete tonight —for dinner.” Ted smiled. “Maybe you’ve got to wait for your turn, man,” he advised. “It’s not going to come if I just fold my hands and let things go in a normal way without doing anything ’bout it,” said Henry and quickly changed the topic. “Ted, I can remember—you said you’ve got something for me.” “When? Can’t remember saying such,” lied Ted. “Uh,” sounded Henry, shocked. “So quickly forgotten? When trying to catch up with her just now.” “Oh, nothing!” exclaimed Ted, face beaming with excitement, paving way for Henry to display his lexical skill once more: “Is nothing the something you’ve got for me?” “I only said that to kind of prevent you from going to her, so you won’t be embarrassed,” Ted chuckled. “She’s not a genius-freak you know. She prefers sport man.” “Like you?” Henry said suddenly. “Ssh! I don’t like her and I’ll want you do same.” “Impossible!” responded Henry promptly. The two crossed the highway to get taxis to their respective homes, perhaps to go do the weekend. Ted stayed with his Uncle, who was staying single. Willis Brown, Ted’s uncle, had remained celibate since the death of his wife and only daughter in an auto crash some years back. Willis Brown adopted Ted, who was an orphan, thereafter. The man took care of him in-loco-parentis, sending him to all the schools he had attended all his lives. His uncle’s enormous care for him had made him to develop some sorts of stupendous adorations for him, always willing to be home every weekend to help him do one thing or the other, since they had got no maid to assist in the house chores. Being seldom asked who his mentor was, Ted had always said, “Willis Brown”. He had never left them with the clue that he was only talking about his uncle, since he had never discussed his family background with anyone, except Henry. Henry’s case was in direct contrast with that of Ted. He had living parents and a little sister, who never had a bit of respect for him. The combination of the two was typical of a ‘storm in a bottle’. Since growing to the age of accountability, the two had never for once had the same view of anything— always opposite. Her name was Kate. Though talented in fomenting troubles, she had never always gone scot-free, yet she had never given it a thought to try co-operate with her elder brother, who had always been making sure she was punished for every slight offence she had committed. When they were much younger, Mr. and Mrs. White their parents, had never at any time been tempted to take the risk of leaving the children at home to fend for themselves when they were away, not even when they had only gone to work place, to return at noon. Instead, their parents would make sure that they were kept separately under the prying eyes of two different nannies, residing in two different parts of the city. They were always being baby-sat until they got to the age of thirteen and ten respectively, when it was deemed unfit by their parents to continue lavishing their cash unnecessarily on nannies. Those times, their parents would call them together to inculcate in them how good siblings were supposed to conduct themselves. “You both must promise to co-operate now,” Mr. White would say then. Such speech had always been accompanied with exchange of maligning words from the children—each trying to accuse the other of being the one who had brought about all the rancor that had taken place before then. Then the brawl would begin afresh again, right in front of the helpless man who had raised the issue in the first place.

Kate had smashed bottles on Henry’s head twice as punitive measures for the pain he had inflicted on her then. Henry had bludgeoned her too, oftentimes, with one particular truncheon their father had always kept inside the storehouse. Mr. White had told them long time ago, the mystery behind the aforesaid truncheon. He had said that he seized the heavy stick from a police officer who had harassed them (himself and two others) unjustly many years ago, but his children would not believe such a lose talk, on the ground that their father wouldn’t have had the mind to do that. Mr. White had to jettison the truncheon secretly one day, fearing that his kids were going to kill each other with it someday, as long as it remained in there. On getting to the University as a freshman, Henry at first had the problem of relating with the opposite sex, probably because of his vendetta for his blood sister who had been with him since childhood, but he never regarded such aberration as a problem at all. He took all females as his sister, thus the hatred for them. Henry’s orientation experienced a revolutionary trend the first time he did set his eyes on Cynthia, during her first year (Henry was in his second year then). There and then, Henry had felt he was going to choose her in place of a million dollar if there was to be any cause to make a choice between the two. He had valued her invaluable and priceless. Henry had felt, oftentimes, that he was going to strangle any male who might want to be with her. Though mindful of the fact that such a one could be Ted, yet Henry was not going to soft-pedal his vow made earlier in time. But Ted wasn’t thinking about her, not even any girl, but sport only. He was the skipper of the volleyball team, playing the striking role. Ted was not good at all in basketball—a novice in soccer too. He had tried at different sports unsuccessfully until finally discovering his talent. It seemed Ted discovered it too late, because his leg had once been broken in the football game while trying a rough tackle at a veteran master dribbler. His teeth, two incisors, one each from the upper and lower jaw, were broken too while dabbling in the hockey game. The metamorphism in his teeth then had resulted accidentally from a blow of the hooked stick owned by an opponent. However, Ted had had those broken teeth artificially shaped up again. Henry was good in divers sports, but had never participated in any since entering the university, so no one knew he could do them. He had always been engaging himself in the reading of books, especially storybooks. He had read most of Chase’s novels and had begun to write his own too, about himself and his sister Kate. In lieu of sporting activities, Henry was academically inclined—always interested in winning competitions; like quizzes, debates, spelling bees—having won all these at one time or the other early in his lifetime. Kate was the exact opposite of Henry in virtually everything—gender, skills, abilities, attributes—lots more. She had always managed to score C’s in her results, frolicking frantically whenever she had such ‘Ceeish’ results. She was not athletic too—unlike Henry. In the high school, Henry represented his house in the relay race competition. Kate was envious, so she asked if she could do the same. Her housemaster doubted her, but eventually agreed to put her to test. She was to contend with some others in the same house. Everyone made fun of her, having known that she was a lazy bone when it comes to athletics, but she summoned courage. That fateful day, the gun was fired and everyone ran with full speed. It was a 200m race. Kate was far behind. All of a sudden, she ran so fast—like a cheetah, overtaking everyone in the race. She won eventually, with a wide gap between the runner-up and herself. It was amazing to everyone watching how she had managed to win the race, but Henry understood everything. Kate had seen a bulldog behind her, which had maneuvered its way unto the track. Since she was allergic to bulldog, she had to run as fast as her legs could afford to avoid it, so she did and won the race. Henry felt bad about this. He told her housemaster his observation, but the man paid no attention to him, having known Henry as Kate’s antagonist. The man, following the suggestion and resolution of Kate, never let her have any further practice, so that she would not sustain injury before the main competition. Kate was in the White house, while Henry was in Black. Initially, the two had incidentally been put in the same house (White), but Henry begged for a change of house—hence the Black House. At the preliminary stage of the competition, Kate contended with many other athletes from different houses. It was a relay race. Having been regarded by all as the best of the racers in her house, she was made the anchor. During the last lap of the race, Kate got the baton a long time before any of her opponents did, but kept a slow pace and was soon overhauled in a short moment by all her contenders. That hectic day, she made a fool of herself before everyone. To make things worst, Kate fell flat on her face to the floor, while already maintaining her last position behind the ‘runner- up’ from the back. Henry’s house swept the board in that competition, winning most of the gold medals. The Black House, also represented the school in the inter-school competition and won the trophy, with Henry regarded as the most colorful participant, having single-handedly won four gold medals in the various sports he had participated in.

Story Continuation The fact remained that everyone born to the earth had come with a specific skill—talent—pluperfect ones for that matter, because it appeared Kate had got one too—singing. She was naturally bequeathed with a very sweet voice. Although she had discovered it early enough for her to make it a profession, her parents never wanted her to become a musician. They would prefer to see her turn medical doctor, contrary to her craving. Mr. and Mrs. White had always argued about whom Kate had actually taken after between the two of them. “I think Henry takes after me, but Kate takes after you,” Mr. White would say and his wife would reply, “No, Henry takes after me either, she looks more like you.” They dared not say it to her face, otherwise they had to face the risk of searching for her for the next one week. However, Kate had overheard them twice and had promised to go get drown in the river. Those times they had to beg her for couple of hours before she became calm again. Recently Kate need not eavesdrop anymore, because she had cleverly kept a voice-recording device securely in the well- furnished and gorgeous-looking lounge, unnoticed by nobody. Mr. and Mrs. White had phobia for magic or magic- related things. They had warned their children oftentimes never to be involved in cultism of any kind. “Listen children, in the Higher Institutions, there are enough bad guys all over there. Please don’t you go with them when you get there. They can kill you,” Gaby, Henry’s father had warned several times before Henry eventually got into the university. “Sure, dad, you know I always won’t have time to make friends—I prefer sleep to making friends,” Henry said. “And you know I prefer singing to—” Kate said too and paused, looking around to see her parent’s face, having realized her mistake. They leered at her, and the expressions on their faces had forced her into modifying her half-baked words instantly. “Ringing I mean,” she said slyly but it won’t suffice to cozen her parents. “Ringing what?” Her mother inquired sharply. “Em—Em—ringing bell,” She said quickly. Henry burst into laughter. “Here you are with your white lies again,” Mr. White said. She was caught red-handed this time. “Kate I’m sure going to disown you should you turn a musician—have you heard?” the man spoke up, pointing cruelly at her face. “Heard,” said Kate disgruntled. Henry was born three years before Kate but they had approximately the same height, though they never heard any semblance whatsoever. Henry was moderate in size, but Kate was a little chubby. He had dimples but all she had were some defacing pimples. Her pimples were the never-to-touch type since they had always culminated into ridiculously round and bulgy boils each time she had attempted to press out the pus in them. She had used almost all the medications meant for pimples in the US, but her pustules had proved immortal. In addition, she had suffered a lot from fraudsters concerning this same issue, getting a sealed powdery charcoal for medication. She was laughed to scorn by Henry while applying it, since it was indirectly his handiwork. “Black American!” yelled Henry mockingly at her. “It’s soon going to be over,” she said somberly, attempting to console herself, but never knowing what sort the medication was. It was April one then, so Henry screamed, “April fool!” Kate, still having strong confidence in the black thing, asked sharply, “What’s the April fool for?” Henry had to take time to explain the mystery behind the ‘black medicine’ in a finicky manner to her. He said, “That was a mixture of charcoal and chilly pepper, concocted by Cypher, my High school friend.” He paused to laugh. “Check it out!” Kate sulked and hung her head in frustration, having realized her mistakes. She was going to start real trouble with the boy, probably taking her friends with her to fight him, but she relented, having had a second thought. However, Henry never went scot-free during that period, because he was paid in his own coin too, before the second half of that same month (April). Some girls, discovered later to be Kate’s buddies, spitefully poured on him, from the second floor of one of the school structures, a pail of green gloss paint, while Henry was trudging away beneath. “Green American!” they chuckled frenetically, but never went unpunished too—by their mistresses. They were all locked up in the school detentions for days. Henry’s hair was brown but Kate’s own was black and curly. Henry was the replica of his father, but Kate looked more like the relative of the neighbor next door. The two never liked walking or talking together. Their everlasting repugnancy was epitomized in the large framed picture hung in the living room, which had always been classed an eyesore of a picture by family and friends who had come around for visits in the past. In it was Henry, standing very close to his father toward the right side of the photograph, while Kate stuck to her mother—each pair being some quite considerable distances apart. This had resulted due to the never- ending disparity between the kids, forbidding to take photographs together. Visitors never stopped making incessant derogatory comments about the ‘family photograph’, thinking that one day Mr. and Mrs. White’s marital life would break apart and each child would go with the one he or she had held unto in the photograph. Funny enough, Henry had made several attempts to have his surname changed to the direct opposite, Black, some years back when he was still attending the same high school with her, because she had been identified as Henry’s sister then, by the name they had in common—White. Kate had many allies but Henry did not have more than one. His friendship with anyone had never lasted up to a school term, since he never knew how to maintain friendship, since he was a nerd, and so would never have the time to spend having fun with some friends.

During Henry’s second year on campus, being on holiday, Henry adjourned to his room to take a nap. Rolling from side to side abed, sleep eluding him, he heard a sound from the door. Henry felt Kate must have returned from school, since father and mother would not be back until evening. “That thing’s back again,” said Henry, face squeezed as if presently perceiving a nauseating odor—probably from fresh fecal matter. Kate was then in her final year in the high school. As Henry had presumed, Kate was the anonymous ‘door-pusher’. With her came three friends—Naomi, Jane and Belinda. Kate was not aware of his presence, so she slotted a cassette, which they had brought with them, into the Video Cassette player in the parlor—music began. Lost in the euphoria, the quartet began to sing loudly, jumping and hopping frantically to the music. “Kate you’ve got a melodious voice,’ said one of her friends. “Why wont I, after such long-lasting period of voice training?” The girls didn’t go to school that particular day, being somewhere rehearsing, though creating false impressions in the minds of their parents that they had been in school since morning. “Hope your dad and mum have stopped disturbing you—” Belinda asked Kate inquisitively. “About what?” “About you not to become a musician.” “They’re going to disown me if they hear this,” she said in a slow manner. “Why?” asked Jane. “They’ve got aversion for music and magic.” she responded, resuming her speech having read the demanding minds of her friends. “Don’t know why?” “When’s our next music practice—you know we’ve got to sing for ‘Paparazzi’ club next week?” Belinda said and received an instant answer. “Let’s make it next two days,” suggested Kate. “We’ll skip some classes.” “It’s okay, but where should we converge?” asked one of them. Immediately after the question, the atmosphere became silent, each trying to figure out a suitable rendezvous. Going by the look of things, it was as if Henry was the one who needed the answer most. He paid rapt attention to every sound he did hear, so he would not miss out some silently spoken salient words. After giving the asked question a serious thought, Naomi said, “At the guest house called Rendezvous—in Jones Street.” Henry smiled belligerently on his bed, but his smile was the ephemeral type, being terminated at the thought that he did not known where the mentioned venue was located. Henry wished sorely that someone would ask where it was and his sister did just that. “Where’s the place?” asked Kate, raising her voice. “Kate, don’t be silly, you know RGH don’t you?” said Jane in a harsh manner, but Kate nodded in the negative. “Then you shouldn’t claim a citizen of the US if—” “Hey, tell me if you want to,” retorted Kate embarrassingly. “My bro. will soon be here. I’m sensing he’s not gone far.” As Kate said that, Henry grinned on bed, muttering words to himself. “Foolish ones! I’m right in here.” “Okay, Jones Street abutting Hilton—or you want to deny knowing Hilton too?” replied Jane, looking serious. “Oh my Jees—!” Kate screamed, “I Know Hilton Street quite well. I’ve been there with my family once, shopping for Christmas —but I never knew that the lane abutting it was Jones.” “Now you know, innit?” Naomi said. “Let’s choose a date—for the training.” Henry cuddled up to his pillow in utmost excitement. That was his usual practice whenever he was extremely excited. He held out his ears, so he could get the last thing he would need—the date and time. “Can we make it 2pm? We mustn’t exceed two hours—two o’clock on Monday.” Belinda’s suggestion was unanimously agreed upon without any debate preceding it. Kate saw them off to the motor road outside the house. She waved to them, walking hurriedly back home. She was puzzled, seeing Henry right inside the living room she had just left with her friends. She developed goose pimples immediately as she moved closer to him in apprehension, already having it settled in her mind that Henry had heard every bit of the plan. Kate asked with an edgy voice; “Henry have you heard everything?” “Every what?” yelled Henry at him, faking ignorance. “C’mon don’t pretend as if you’ve not heard all we said,” she added uncertainly, trying to carve a way out of the looming trouble she had insinuated. Her hope was raised when Henry yelled, “Said with whom?” She revealed a dimpleless but bland smile, which made her ugly the more, on hearing Henry’s reply. “Since you’ve not heard, never mind,” Kate said and turned heel to leave his presence, but she became transfixed at a spot by what she heard him say at that moment. “Don’t fool yourself around, I heard it all!” Henry’s confession sent a gush of shocking wave down her spine and rashly she yelled, “Heard what?” “You’ve joined a music club. You brought your friends here, turned the parlor into a disco hall. I heard your voice in the cassette —it was the worst of all,” criticized Henry, sticking out his tongue in order to frustrate her more. “Well, you can make jest of me as you like, as long as you won’t tell mum and dad about it—it’s okay by me. Or—are you going to tell?” she asked diplomatically, heart thumping faster than normal. “Definitely yes!” replied Henry without giving it a second thought. The statement dampened her spirit. Being enervated she said in a minuscule pitch, “You want to let dad disown me—or you’ve forgotten what he said?” “You’re of no use in this family—Kate or caterer—or whatever you call yourself,” slandered Henry, but she managed to swallow it up and kept silent, though peeved at her brother’s insulting speech. “Your absence in this family will enhance the soaring of my pocket money,” Henry continued to dole out the insults to her. Kate knew undoubtedly that Henry was going to tell, no matter what. She felt that she could make Henry change his mind if she could possibly entice him with what she was about to mention—money. She put her clever idea into practice at once. “What about you having my pocket money for the next three months?” “It’s of no use,” replied Henry obstinately. “Okay, what about me doing the house chores alone?” said Kate seriously again, but Henry refused still. In a flash, Kate had developed another idea in her mind, which she ardently believed that Henry was not going to reject, since such had always been acceptable to every mature male she had come across. She was going to test it on Henry too, perhaps he would fall for it. “Em—what about getting you a girlfriend?” she said and raised her head to see his reaction. “Pretty one!” she added when she saw the imperviousness in the comportment of her brother. “Shut it! Don’t need one from you! I’ll tell, no matter how long you badger me!” Henry shouted and banged at the table as if drumming to his speech in order to make it more durable. The two looked disdainfully into each other’s eyeballs, uncouthly, like a hero a villain at the end of a movie, ready to have a mortal contest. She took courage to speak later. “No one’s going to believe you since you’ve got no evidence,” Kate told him point-blank, laughing as she took a brisk walk to her room.

Mr. and Mrs. White soon arrived. While they were still behind the door, Henry had reported Kate’s deed to them. This he did within a minute, but his parents were able to grasp the information just as if Henry had spent an hour in relaying it. It seemed as if the ability of Mr. and Mrs. White to do that had been brought about by the fact that what Henry was explaining to them was music- related; something that would catch their interest, since they wouldn’t want to buy the idea of their children involving in it. “Kate! Come over here!” they cried as they stepped into the large lounge that was being aerated by some air-conditioning systems that were put in place around the house long time ago. They were never allergic to cold. “Yes, I’m coming,” she responded from her room. Kate could tell from the way her parent had shouted her name that Henry had informed them about it. She was with them a couple of minutes later. “Why d’you flout our instruction? We said don’t join music club,” her father asked, gazing at her, expecting to hear something. “I didn’t,” she responded without delay, face wrinkled. “Who said I did that?” “Henry,” replied her parents immediately. Henry’s anger was kindled against her sister for the lie she had just told. He tried to suppress the vexation by keeping silent, but the urge to speak made him burst out: “Yes, Kate you brought your friends here and played the music you’ve recorded. Then you danced and danced and—” “Hey—Henry you said you’ll tell lies against me and that’s what you’re doin’ right now.” cried Kate in a convincingly acceptable manner. An outsider would have believed her if one was present at such moment. “Just because we didn’t give you our candies,” she added unscrupulously. “Liar!” cried Henry jerking forward to give her a slap on the cheek, but Mrs. White held his arms back. He wriggled unsuccessfully in her grip, but soon gave up, seeing she would not permit him to do it. “Kate—” said Mr. White. “Candy! Where did you get it from?” Kate’s father had warned her several times against the consumption of candy, fearing tooth decay. Kate had once suffered tooth decay while still very young. Back then, she was always spending all her pocket money on candies, pilfering cash sometimes from her mother’s purse to get the goodies. Kate appeared morose instantly when her dad asked her the question, yet she was only feigning the bad mood. With the way Kate had made her countenance to appear, her father was convinced that she had really taken some candies as she’d confessed, yet that was what Kate wanted him to believe. She never took any candy at all—such display was a mere cant, just to try diverting the reality of the matter. “Kate, did you just say that you took candy?” Mr. White yelled at her in anger. “I’m sorry dad—” she said deceitfully, “It was my friends who brought the candies. We—er—ate them together, Henry begged us to give him some, but we refused. Then—” “She’s lying!” barked Henry furiously, but no one was paying a bit of attention, already engrossed in her sister’s foxy tale. She spoke on: “He threatened to tell a lie against us about joining a music club—” she paused and looked piercingly at her father’s eyeballs, “and that’s exactly what he’s doing now,” concluded Kate slyly. “Liar!” shouted Henry persistently, violently struggling to break loose from her mother’s grip, but the opportunity was not given to him, otherwise, Kate would be in ‘soup’. Their parents made protracted attempts to resolve the issue, telling the two parties to forget about the issue. They assured themselves that the truth would be revealed soonest. Kate made eyes at Henry scornfully, exacerbating Henry’s hatred for her. He felt like gunning her down instantly, damning the consequence. “Lying Kate!” he whispered to her hearing when their parents had left the parlor. Kate replied, “Thank you.”

Monday came and Kate was set for school. Since the day the two had first hugged each other, it had become a routine for them to keep doing such, but always in the absence of their parents. Henry had eagerly been waiting for the advent of that Monday, when that apparent cordial relationship would be checked. As it had been for three days, Kate hugged Henry once more as she was set for school that red-letter Monday morning. “The last hug,” thought Henry, smiling benignly in an attempt to conceal his evil intention. Their parents saw them in such state for the first time and the sight staggered them. However, they controlled the urge to intrude into the matter until Kate had left for school. “Who used the spell—” said Mr. White and paused briefly. Then he resumed, “between the two of you?” “Which spell?” said Henry, pretending as if he never had any idea as regards what his father had just asked. His father expatiated, “I mean, when did you start to like your sister?” Henry grimaced suddenly and snapped his fingers (both the ones on his right and left hands) as he said, “Like her? Never!” They were confused the more, looking at their son with poker faces. Mrs. White soon found her voice, then she said, “Why the embrace then?” in an inquisitive manner. Henry chortled and said, “Just pretending, so she won’t suspect what’s going to happen today.” “What?” sounded the four-letter word from their lips, synchronously, in a humongous mode, having been amplified by the synergic effect of their voices. “Music practice at RENDEZVOUS of course!” said Henry and the two exclaimed, “Huh!” remembering it. “It’s true, today’s Monday,” said his father with a loud voice. “Henry, you’re small devil,” added his mother jokingly. Henry spent his time at home that day thinking of how the outing would go. “She’ll run at our sight, but I’ll chase after her,” thought Henry. “No, she’ll not see us at all,” he argued all alone. “She’ll be engrossed in what she’s doing, so she won’t be aware of our presence. Dad and Mum will tie her; her friends will scatter; their plans will be shattered.” He then smiled. “Me? I’ll pinch hell out of her body when she is taken to the Black Maria, because a cop will be involved.” “She will be dumped in the prison. Yes, got it.” He left the front of the large mirror in the lounge where he had been all the while, speaking out his mind. At noon, Henry’s father arrived, almost around the same time with his wife’s arrival too. Henry never remembered to greet them. He said, “Dad, Mum, let’s get going.” “Ain’t we going to have little rest? It’s only 12.45 pm,” said Mr. White, pulling the button of the collar of his shirt. Then Mrs. White said, “Gaby, were you granted permission?” “No, I sneaked out. I pray my boss will not discover.” “I’m lucky,” said Sally. “I was permitted, unlike you.” They set out some minutes to 2pm. At Henry’s advice, two cops escorted them. They had truncheons with them—something Kate wouldn’t want to be hit with. Their cars pulled up in front of the place. It was then few minutes past two. The Police officer got inside the edifice. They combed everywhere but could not find Kate and mates. Henry suggested that they waited for her in hiding. For forty-five minutes, they were in a corner, peeping to see if she was coming. Just when they were about to give up, Mr. White’s phone rang. “Dad,” Kate spoke. “I’ve been waiting here for the past one-hour. Henry’s not home, so I can’t get inside, since he’s with the key.” “Kate, where are you?” asked Mr. White. “Home,” she said. “For the past one-hour now,” she had exaggerated, having arrived only few minutes ago. She could be justified since no one was around to gainsay the claim. “Alright, very soon we shall be home too,” Gaby said, feeling highly embarrassed. Henry was looking here and there like a vigilante. “Henry!” screamed Mr. White. Then his phone rang again. It was his boss this time. He smelt rat instantly. Trouble! Reluctantly, he picked it. “Where are you Mr. White?” Gaby’s employer spoke instantly without any salutation coming before. “Em—I- I…” stuttered the man in reply. “Alright—” said his boss, “just consider yourself suspended for three weeks.” The man at the other end cut the call. The police officers said, “What’s going on?” “Sorry for everything,” apologized Mr. White. “It’s this boy; he misled us all.” The man gesticulated as he spoke. “Thanks—you can leave now.” “Leave!” they screamed, “Somebody must be arrested!” said the cops in fury for the time they had wasted in laying ambush for a ‘wild goose’. They all went silent. Mr. White spoke: “Well…you can take him. He caused it all.” Henry’s mother was in full support of her husband’s decision. She said, “Yeah, go with him.” Henry could have raced away, but he knew it was not feasible, rifles being pointed at him. They led him to their vehicle. “Come for him with a bail whenever you are ready,” said the more elderly of the cops. Kate was not as foolish as Henry had thought. Since Henry had disclosed to their parents that she was in a music club, she knew he was also going to tell them about the rendezvous for practice, (Rendezvous Guest House) so she had informed her friends of this, therefore the earlier scheduled meeting was annulled. When Henry was trying to pull the wool over her face by the pretentious hug and the chocolates, she was not deceived at all then. While Henry was busy with the gruesome thoughts, during the hug, Kate was thinking too. It seemed she did see him with a knife then, intending to stab her. She was convinced that Henry’s attitude to her at that moment was a bogus one, when she heard him laugh loudly immediately he had entered his room that day after the clinch. Having discovered the truth, Kate had immediately called for the cancellation of the earlier scheduled rehearsal. Mr. White never had any feeling of compassion for Henry during the periods he did spend in the cell, chafing at his wife often during her several attempts to inveigle him into releasing their son. His extreme annoyance could be traced to the fact that Gaby had detested the manner in which his superior had humiliatingly dished him the suspension. He had never loved to be home idle when a lot of work was waiting to be done by him somewhere. It pained Henry’s workaholic father that he would have to be home for three weeks, doing nothing. Eventually, Mrs. White pleas stopped falling on deaf ears. Gaby agreed to get Henry out on bail, but he had spent one month already in the dungeon without being paid a visit by his father. Undoubtedly, Kate’s halcyon days were those days Henry was away, in prison. She enjoyed every thing both of them should have had to share—money, meals, merriments and lots more. She gained a great deal of weight within that period. She wished Henry never returned, preferring to see him dead in the cell. But contrary to her wishes, Henry arrived, lean, wan and feeble, face pallid, hair bedraggled and mouth smelly, since he did not take care of his teeth properly while in gaol. As if Henry had not been humiliated enough, Kate, upon his arrival, aggravated her brother’s condition by her words to him. “Your chocolate is yummy in my tummy,” she had said, wrapping it up with ridiculous smiles. Such statement was the regurgitation of Henry’s mocking expressions in the past, whenever he was forcing himself on Kate to get her chocolate. Now it was Kate’s turn to pay him back in his own coin. Henry was silent. He did not say a word to anyone at home. He had got a whole month to spend before resumption, having spent the first half of his holiday in police custody. Three days later, Henry was missing. His parents feared that he must have gone out to kill himself, but Kate knew such could never have happened, suggesting that he had gone back to school. His parent’s visit to the school confirmed Kate’s thought. He had left secretly for school. .......He felt a touch on his shoulder, which jolted him out of his reverie. It was the dean’s hand. “Henry, you must have thought about it —”said the dean, looking directly into his eyeballs, “long enough.” “Uhm,” Henry said, “Maybe.” “So…” said the dean, gesticulating, “D’you want this power?” “Em—sir what’s going to be my profit?” “Don’t let me repeat myself. You’re going to have power—to control whatever— see the future.” “I’m interested,” accepted Henry. At least he was going to have the power to control his younger sister. Next...Chapter Three...

INITIATED “Henry, I’m a club member and I’ll like you join me in it,” Ted said. “Club? When d’you join?” “Two years ago.” “What’s it all about?” “All about getting the best in all aspects of life. Academicians of various calibers are there.” Ted said. “I’m sorry I’ve not told you this long ago.” “Why?” said Henry, face looking a bit disfigured. “Why’re you just telling me now?” “I’m sorry; It was because I had erroneously thought you won’t have interest in such.” “Why d’you think so?” “You don’t like meeting people, do you?” “You’re right,” said Henry. “But I’m already working on my social life, since the day I set my eyes on Cynthia.” Ted frowned because of the name Henry had just mentioned. Then he said, “That’s good friend. A hundred percent social life will do no harm to anyone. ” “Okay, your club, where’s it situated, California here?” Henry asked inquiringly, already developing interest. For a reply Ted said, “Just come to my room 6pm— tomorrow. I’ll take you there.” Henry Exclaimed. “6pm! Oops! Ted I’m sorry I can’t make it.” “Why?” asked Ted. “Cos I’ve got to go somewhere with another man—same time, same date,” he said coolly. “Maybe another time,” Henry concluded. Ted was nosy, so he asked, “May I know who you’re going with and where?” “Never worry,” said Henry. He wished Ted would not insist on knowing it. Ted said, “When did you begin to hide things from me? Is it Cynthia you’re dating tomorrow?” “She’s not,” said Henry point-blank. “She’s adamant.” “No problem if you don’t want to tell me.” Henry could have told Ted, but he was not going to. However, Ted smiled and left Henry alone. As Henry walked towards the lecture room, (he was an hour late already) he met Cynthia. “Hi Cynthia,” he said, already having the thought of forfeiting lecture to spent some time with her, but she was in a hurry. “Hi Henry,” she replied, leaving without saying more than that. Professor Wilson was already in the class when Henry entered. “Henry, you’re an hour late, why?” he asked. “I- I…” Henry stammered and every one laughed. He overheard someone say that he had seen him in the library studying. Another shouted, “Bookworm!” “Henry, you’ve got to see me after class,” said the professor. Henry’s eyes bulged on hearing it. The students laughed. Actually, Henry was in the library all the while. He was coming out from there when he met Ted. He was not studying in there, but was reading some novels instead. Since he had the ability to read very fast, he was enamored with reading novels, which had eventually become his hobby. He had read many of Chase’s books and had begun to write his own too. Henry soon went to the dean’s office. “I’m sorry I came late to…” “Sorry for what? I’ve not called you here to discuss your lateness. The early comers what have they got to show for it? Nothing!” He looked at Henry’s face and smiled, “Henry guess what!” said the dean. The expression on Henry’s face on hearing the words had passed a message to the man’s brain. Henry was scared of guessing. “Okay, I can see you have phobia for guessing, isn’t it?” said the man and Henry nodded pretentiously, in order to let the dean say what he had to say. Henry was only trying to save time by his deeds. “Well,” said the man, smiling. “It’s my birthday—today,” he said. “It’s special to me—happens only once in four years.” “February 29, it’s true,” said Henry. “I have never remembered to celebrate it. Since it is once every four years, it skips my memory.” “Really!” exclaimed Henry. “It’s creepy.” “Funny too. Last year, 1983, on February 28, I informed family and friends about my birthday to come next day, February 29. They all agreed to show up at the party. The party ground was set early enough as planned, the next day, but no one showed up.” “Why?” asked Henry, pretending as if he never had an idea. “Well, asking a friend later, he said that he checked his calendar the day that was supposed to be my birthday, only to discover it was March 1. So he felt there was no need for coming to my party anymore, since February 29 had decided not to surface.” “Wow!” screamed Henry, amused by the short story, then the dean changed the mood abruptly. “Hey, I called you here—” said the dean, “to remind you of tomorrow’s schedule. You still remember?” “Yes sir—vividly.” “You’ve told anyone?” “No.” “That’s good,” said the man. “You need not tell any one. Is that okay?” “Yes sir,” he replied, but got some instant formation of questions in his brain, to ask the dean. “Sir, where are we going tomorrow? Is it by rail, air or road?” “Don’t worry your head,” the dean said. Meet me here tomorrow, okay?” “Sure sir.” At night, Henry could not sleep. He was overworking his brain, giving it lots of thoughts. Such had been his manner whenever he was curious about something. What his parents’ reactions would be was part of what he was ruminating. “Will they disown me? But Kate wasn’t disowned when she became a musician eventually.” At the thought of Kate, Henry’s countenance metamorphosed into a gloomy type. “I hate her. I’ve never prevailed over her.” When Kate eventually joined herself to a professional music band called ‘The Lioness’, though secretly, Henry discovered it and divulged the secret to their parents. Kate came home one fateful day with her friends. Henry had kept a voice recorder somewhere in the room. Though Henry was not home when they came, yet the device recorded their speeches. In the course of the discussion, the friends spoke about a cassette, which they had kept in Kate’s school bag. Henry was able to locate the cassette as a result of the information he had got from the hidden device. Henry played the cassette. She was performing on stage in it with her colleagues. Henry was almost carried away with the music, which was played andante. Kate was the lead singer in it, with an angelic voice. Henry was already nodding his head from side to side to the rhythm when he suddenly came to himself. He stopped abruptly and frowned. Henry kept the cassette. He was not going to let her know about it; else, his plan would go awry again, like the one that had led him to prison. Henry showed his parents the cassette at their arrival. They saw Kate in it, dazzling in front of many spectators. She was caught red-handed this time. Kate was shown the cassette. She was taken aback by it. Henry was patiently waiting for the verdict, disownment, but he was making a mistake. Mr. and Mrs. White said, “What did we tell you Kate?” “I shouldn’t become a musician,” she said, looking miserable. “Then why this?” They pointed to her image on the screen, which was twirling in rigorous dances. “Mum, dad, you can’t understand—I mean that’s the only talent I’ve got in the world,” she said, weeping solemnly. “But we want you to be a doctor,” Mr. White said. “Unfit. I can assure you lots of lives will be lost,” she said. Everywhere was silent after her speech. Henry was leering inimically at her, but she took no heed, probably because of her sight being blurred by the accumulation of tears dropping like dilute acid from a pipette, in drops—then in excess. After moments of thinking by her parents, they said, “Kate you know what?” she could not answer, since her voice had become hoarse by the incessant weeping. “As long as you’re not going to join magic cult you are allowed to be a musician.” Hearing such, she jumped from her seat to hug them. They received her with open arms. Wiping her face, she made eyes at Henry. Henry was jealous. He was getting prepared to leave the lounge when his father suddenly said, “Henry, please can you just raise the volume of the music, so that we can clearly hear its lyrics?” Henry ignored them in embarrassment and walked out of the room, abashed. Outside the door, Henry hit hard on the floor as if to artificially generate seismic wave from it—the type that would result into intense earthquake, which would swallow him up. Since the floor was the reinforced type, it did not pave way for “Henry’s wave” to pass through.

Henry walked eagerly to school next day, from the hostel. He saw Ted waving at him distances away. He spoke loudly from where he was: “Henry, see you in the meeting this evening!” “Meeting?” Henry thought. “I thought I’ve told him I’m not gonna make it.” After the day lecture, Susie approached him. If Henry had been aware of her presence on time, he would have sneaked away. She was already very close before Henry was able to realize it. Not that she had a small stature for him not to have noticed her presence on time. At least she was having an enormous stature, just like Kate, Henry’s sister. Susie wasn’t athletic too, but a bit plump instead. She had frog-like eyeballs, which appeared as if glaring at anyone she had come across. However, it seemed they had functioned like Galilean telescopes, since she did profess that everything she did saw appeared closer to her than they really were. She was so proud of such exceptional ability that she gave herself the name “Mrs. Spy”. Susie was among the myriad of ladies, who always felt that having Henry as an inamorato would be the best thing that could ever happen to them, believing that Henry, who was the most brilliant in their level, according to a general conclusion, could bring them to limelight, if only they were intimately close to him. However, Cynthia wasn’t in such school of thought. Her predilection for sport, basketball especially, had possibly affected her choice. She loved sport men. Susie, being Henry’s departmental mates, had invited him to her parties several times, but he had never honored one, giving flimsy and shoddy excuses. Susie was never tired of inviting him and he was never tired of rejecting her invitations too. Susie was not a tetchy type of person. She did showed much level of maturity, beaming with incredible auspiciousness, believing that persistence was the secret to getting whatever one was craving after. But, if her principle was a general type, she might not win Henry over, because Henry too was working with the same principle—to get Cynthia. “Henry,” she called. She was going to ask him out once again. “I’m sure you won’t say yes.” “To what?” asked Henry. “What I’m about to ask—” “I’ll say yes,” said Henry rashly, not looking up at her face. It was Henry’s usual practice to frustrate her effort, by saying something to negate her words, but Henry was not aware that Susie could be tricky sometimes. She smiled and said, “Are you going to come with me—” She lowered her face to look into his eyes, “for dinner at dusk—six pm?” she concluded with a smile. Henry discovered his foolishness at once. He had earlier promised to say yes. “Sorry, can’t say yes this time,” said Henry regretfully. “Why?” she asked. “I thought you said you don’t tell lies and you hate liars.” “It’s true.” “Then why changing your words? You said you’ll say yes.” “I’m Sorry,” said Henry. “I would have loved to come with you, but I’m having a date with someone else.” “Do you care if I know who?” said Susie. She had never seen Henry hang around with any girl, so she was eager to know who it was Henry would be dating. Henry hesitated. “With the dean,” Henry grimaced after his speech. Susie mustered superficial laughter. “Are you guys gays?” she japed and laughed again. Amidst laughter Henry said, “No. just that we’ve agreed to meet… for something important.” Ending his speech, Henry felt like a betrayer for telling her about the meeting. The Professor had asked Henry not to tell anyone that he would be taking him somewhere, but Henry had just made the mistake of letting out the secret to Susie. His visage was dull instantly. He left her on that spot, striding away with fast and quick steps, usual with a fella, who was ten minutes late for duty. Henry ideated the Professor asking him if he had told anybody about the meeting. He quickly got it settled beforehand the response he would give. Few minutes to the scheduled time, Henry got to the dean’s office, but leaned against the door for few moments before summoning the courage to go in, being afraid that the dean, utilizing the said magical power, would perceive his breach of promise. “You’re here at last.” “Yes sir.” He gazed on the tiled and glossy floor. Keeping silent, he fixed his gaze on the well-painted wall, then to the glass of coffee, placed on a small table between himself and the dean. The coffee in it was so little that it would hardly satisfy the thirst of a newly born baby. The man looked earnestly on him and said, “You’ve told somebody, isn’t it?” Henry was not going to let the dean beat him to it. He was going to see if the man was establishing a fact or only asking a question. He kept quiet, expecting him to say it again. The man felt that Henry did not hear his speech clearly, so he said, “Have you told somebody?” in a louder tone. To give an answer seemed difficult, because Henry’s conscience was actively knocking the door of his heart, as if to burgle the rib cage and get him arrested if he told a lie. To keep it quiet Henry was going to play a trick on it, which should also be effective enough to trick the dean. “Uh—” sounded Henry as he kept silent, thinking, “Susie isn’t worth somebody to me. She’s nobody.” The impatient man shouted, “Hey, tell me, have you told somebody?” “I’ve not told somebody. I only told—” “Who?” shouted the Professor, extremely curious. “I only told Nobody,” he said trickily, and the man fell for it, chuckling ignorantly as he said, “You and this repartee of yours…” Henry had many strategies he used in deceiving people and his conscience too. The one he had just used was only one of those numerous strategies. “Have your seat.” The dean pointed to a rocking chair directly opposite him. “You’ll see for yourself today in the meeting, the coming together of lots of people from all works of life. Just count yourself lucky that you’ll soon be in their midst.” Henry coughed. It was a sign to tell the man that he was bored of too much of talks, but was expecting to begin the journey instantly, to the meeting place, not knowing how far or near the place would be, to the campus. Making his right hand into a cylindrical form, by folding his fingers, the Professor yawned into the cavity formed as he continued: “You’re going to meet with great men of great achievements. Doctors, Lawyers, Professors, Inventors, Astronauts, Students ...” “People of different caliber,” intruded Henry. “What will they be doing there?” he asked. “Sharing great ideas. That’s why I said you’ll have all knowledge and the ability to see the future.” “How?” “Combination of skills from all the represented profession over there will tantamount to power—for you… for me… and… for all.” Already losing patience, Henry decided to hasten up the discussion. Just as he was about to say something the dean said, “I’m going to ask you seven questions Henry, then we shall leave after you’ve provided the answers.” “Alright,” said Henry, waiting to hear him speak. “Ask on.” The man heaved a deep sigh, then he said, “One, what kind of power do great inventors possess?” “Power of creativity,” said Henry promptly, as if he had premeditated on it. The man nodded in disapproval. “Two, is any mean of transportation faster than the rocket?” Henry was not going to say anything this time, since his first answer had been rejected. He kept quiet. “Three, where will you be forty-five minutes from now?” Gladly, Henry said, “In the meeting.” “You’ll know this later,” said the dean. “Fourth question for you; which is best, making names or living long?” “I don’t know.” Henry was gutted. “I’m forty-four, am I fulfilled if I die at forty-five?” “Sir, I beg your pardon, is it supposed to be the fifth question?” asked Henry, showing reverence for the man. “Yeah!” he replied. “I’m not sure,” said Henry as a reply to the question. “Sixth question,” the man said, pointed a finger at him swiftly, and continued. “If your bosom friend is into something for two good years before letting you know about it, how will you feel?” “It can’t happen.” “What if it does?” “Then such’s no friend. A friend wouldn’t wait for so long.” “What will you do if such fella’s your friend?” “I’ll choke him to death,” said Henry in earnest, his facial expression revealing the outpour of rage on the abstract friend. “You won’t,” said the dean. “You’ll stick closer the more—to him.” “How d’you know that?” Henry asked baffled. “I saw into your future.” The man’s face gestured his expression. He looked piercingly into Henry’s eyeballs, sending some sensation of fear into him. “Seventh and last,” the man said at last. “When will you die?” Henry answered rudely this time, “How am I suppose to know?” “Well, you’ve just justified the fact that ordinary genius like you can’t give a right answer to any of the questions. But, they’ll become simple to you by the time you return as extra—ordinary genius.” At last the dean asked, “Shall we go now?” Henry was going to yell a block letter “YES!”. About to open his mouth, Henry found himself in the midst of thousands of people, in a different ‘world’.

Hearing lots of lingoes, Henry’s ears were unable to convey meaningful words to his brain—all he heard were balderdash to him. Despite the fact that Henry had found himself in such a strange environment, he wasn’t excessively afraid, since the dean had earlier made it known to him where he was going—the Magic World. Looking around, Henry saw fanlights, of extra-ordinary dimensions, appearing to be made of crystals, around the four corners of the large hall he had found himself in. He could see through those fanlights, though they were very far from him. Not knowing where he was, he fixed his gaze on those in there, and each step they took amazed him; it was like everyone he saw moving was running. None was walking. Somebody fled past Henry. Henry was surprised at the enormous speed and the resultant sound produced by such swift motion. The way they fled was to him as the image on a TV screen when being fast- forwarded. Tired of standing, he took a step, then another, but was shocked at the great distance himself had just covered with those two steps he had just taken. Another person fled past him again, though with enormous speed, yet he was able to recognize who such was. The fleer was a great French inventor, whose stupendous contraption had evoked much argument in the Science World. They had criticized it for lack of sufficient scientific background. The said scientist never had formal education, yet was able to come out with such great invention. Seeing him, the dean’s first question came to his mind. Henry concluded in his mind, “Great inventors possess magical power.” He was going to tell the dean that by the time they get back to his office. Henry turned back, aiming to catch up with the scientist, perhaps to ask him some few questions. He was soon side by side with him. “Sir,” he called, “I’ve once seen you on TV.” The man’s muteness brought Henry to the realization of the fact that not every one in the world understood or communicate in English language. “I’m sorry you’re a Frenchman,” said Henry in an apologetic tone, turning instantly to go. Just then the man spoke in English, “Young man, who the hell are you?” “I’m Henry—Henry White.” “Oh, the Professor’s boy.” The man smiled. “How d’you know me?” asked Henry in a puzzled manner. “Check that out,” said the man as he ‘ran’ away. Observing the celerity of his own paces, Henry detected that those in there were not actually running—but walking. Everything in Gyrus was happening at a great lick. Walking aimlessly, looking for the dean, he began to see signposts on every aisle in the large auditorium, each narrating how to get to one place or the other. Intrigued by one of those signposts, Henry stopped abruptly and read: WELCOME TO GYRUS. EIGHTY KILOMETRES TO THE U.S. KEEP MOVING. Henry knew at once that that was where he would belong, since he was a US citizen back in the world he had come from. Taking fast steps, he got there rapidly. He saw ahead of him a metallic cuboidal signboard of gargantuan dimension, suspended from a lofty height by nothing. Yet, many sat underneath, without the fear that it could fall on them. At that juncture, Henry began to see names written on all the empty seats he did saw as he strode along. Each seat had flat object hinged on one arm of it such that the object could be flipped and used as a platform for placing something such as book if one was desiring to write something. Many were already seated. Still battling with the thought of what to do somebody came rushing towards his direction. The speed was tremendous, much more than those he had witnessed since arriving the great hall. To avoid collision with the coming fellow of which Henry had felt would be fatal, having fiddled with the calculation of the resultant momentum of the figure in flight directly before him, Henry swerved to the right. Funny enough the figure stopped abruptly beside him. He was a young boy. “Hello, may I help you?” asked the boy, whose neck was bent downward as if having some spinal cord problem. “Yeah!” said Henry. “I’m trying to locate my seat.” “Oh, you must be new here?” “Yes.” Henry fixed his gaze firmly on the boy and identified him at once. “Ted!” Henry yelled as he recognized him. “Surprised!” said Ted, winking. “Sure. What’re you doing here?” “I should rather ask you that.” Henry said, “This is where Professor Wilson brought me to.” “He brought me here too, two years ago,” said Ted. “D’you know why?” Ted asked and Henry said, “No.” “My passion for sport. He saw me doing badly in every sport I participated in. Then he told me I can make it if I join the magic.” Henry revealed without being asked, “Mine, because of my result. He said I can do better.” “He’s right. How on earth do you think I’ve got to know that you would be coming here today?” Henry remembered instantly how Ted had said, “Henry, see you in the meeting this evening” back in the school, then he yelled, “Oh my goodness! How do you know?” “He said it.” “Who?” asked Henry inquisitively. “The dean,” said Ted. “Before bringing anyone here you’ll inform the whole congregation, telling the name, age, status and everything you know about such a one— and the day such will be coming.” As Ted ended his speech, Henry inferred that the French inventor he had met must have known who he was when the Professor was broadcasting it as Ted had said. “Hmm!” Henry sounded. Then he asked, “Ted, it seems you’ve got the swiftest speed over here.” “Why d’you say so?” “The rate at which you got to me.” “Oh,” said Ted laughing. “It’s because I was running—to meet you—every other person here was walking.” “The riddle is solved, I’m glad. Glad seeing you here. I’m not going to feel lonely in here.” “It’s true. Seeing Ken here on my first arrival made me glad too—then.” “So,” said Henry. “Ken belongs here too!” “Of course yes.” Henry asked, “But, I’ve not seen the dean since arriving here. I don’t think he came with me.” “You came together. You couldn’t have come here alone—ordinary person.” “So where’s he?” “Seated over there,” said Ted pointing, though Henry could still not see him. “All members land directly on their seats—new- comers are left to wander about in search of their seats themselves. That’s the situation we’ve got here.” Ted looked around. “Wow!” Everyone’s almost seated,” Ted yelled. His face looked worried instantly. Henry was going to ask him why, but Ted hurried him up to get his seat. “Let’s go find your seat.” As they scurried along, looking at every empty seat they came across, Ted spoke. “We get information on whatever’s going on around the world over here. Many inventors get solutions to problems—here. Doctors, lawyers—even some pastors—get their powers from here too…just feel at home here Henry.” “I’m doing that already—since I found you,” smiled Henry. Ted said, “When you’re called upon to introduce yourself, you need not stand up or walk to the podium. There’s a screen right there that’s going to show you wherever you are, and every one will see you through it. Also, a fairly large mirror will be given to you when you get to your seat. Through it you can communicate with anyone you wish.” “What part of the earth’s this?” “We’re not on earth. We’re in Gyrus—a planet not discovered yet,” said Ted, with a note of sincerity. “What if some men discover it while we’re in here, ain’t we going to be relayed over the satellite—for all eyes to see?” “It’s impossible,” said Ted. “We’ve got some astronauts here with us. They tell us the planets they’d discovered, the ones to explore, when and how. Then we give them the go-ahead or say no.” “Splendid!” “At last,” said Ted, pointing to an empty seat. “Here’s your seat,” he said pointing to a cushioned seat having metallic edges and a backrest. On its top was written “HENRY WHITE”, in the Lincoln typeface. The Lincoln was Henry’s best font, so seeing it he was greatly attracted to the seat. Every member’s name, before his or her arrival, was written in the type of writing style such was best enamored with. Ted rushed away, as soon as Henry had sat down, with a speed far far greater than the one he had initially used to get to Henry. But this time Henry observed it wasn’t Ted alone utilizing such enormous speed—many others were doing that too. There and then Henry felt he had the answer to the dean’s second question. A whistle sounded, and then followed the chimes of bell, of incredibly humongous decibel. Seated to the left of Henry was a young boy, of about the same age and stature, leering wickedly at Henry at first sight. He was putting on a silky shirt, having several colors, and a panama hat laid fittingly on his head which was only partially covering his hairs. His nostril was extremely narrow, but the looks of his eyes were piercing. His mouth seemed rotund as that of a koala bear. To the right of Henry was seated a young girl, whose appearance was exactly the replica of Kate’s doll: Her hair was long and white. Her eyelashes appeared artificially glued to her face. Her teeth were the whitest Henry had ever seen. She was friendly, welcoming Henry as he sat. “Hullo, I’m Dolly, what’s yours?” she said, speaking like a young baby, who had only learnt few words to communicate with. “Henry,” he replied. To avoid further communication with her (since she was not Cynthia) Henry looked ahead, away from her. It seemed the presence of Henry was gladdening her heart, since she wouldn’t have to be the next to the leering boy anymore (Henry’s seat had only come between them that same day). Looking lopsidedly to his left, Henry saw the section occupied by the Africans. Their population seemed to outnumber those of each of the rest of the sections in the conference hall. “If we’ve got lots of them here,” said Henry to himself, “why has there not been much development there?” However Henry got no answer to his question, since no one was able to hear his question. “I’m going to ask the Professor—when we get back to earth.” Not long after, a voice was heard calling for order. The Lingua Franca over there was English, since the addressee was communicating with it and everyone appeared to understand it. It occurred to Henry that the French inventor he’d earlier seen, must have learnt the English language over there—in Gyrus. Henry was able to see the anonymous voice owner through a large screen far ahead at the podium, having a base on which it stood. The Screen was convex, magnifying the image of the speaker ten times more than the way his stature was. No loudspeakers were seen around, yet the speaker’s voice came out audibly, with ultra-high frequency, synchronously sourcing from the mouth of the speaker. A winged mirror flew towards Henry and hung before him. He grabbed it and its wings vanished instantly. The speaker on the podium called the names of each first-timers one after the other demanding for an introduction from each of them. At last it was Henry’s turn to introduce himself. “Professor Wilson,” said the man. “Is your boy here?” The dean appeared in everybody’s mirror instantly, about to speak. “You sure know that,” said the dean in a rather boorish manner. Then the speaker called, “Henry White, introduce yourself.” Henry, about to rise up, was pulled back to his seat by Dolly. “You needn’t rise up,” she said slowly, putting much stress on each word. Henry coughed. “I’m Henry White. I attend the CCUL, in the Physics department, born in 1965…” At the mention of his year of birth, the boy to his left looked more intensely at him. Henry’s image on the large screen located on the podium, was made the cynosure of all eyes. Henry was shy. Lots of people were given room to demand whatever they needed. Some, craving for fame, made enquiries on how to make it. Politicians too, asked great deal of questions. What staggered Henry was the numerosity of the Africans who had asked questions too. Their population surpassed those of the other continents—but most of the questions they asked were clustered around personal interest instead of the good of the masses. There and then, Henry believed he had got enough facts to unravel the enigma he was having earlier concerning them. A very long period after, the meeting was brought to a close. The rate at which Gyrus became almost empty made Henry felt that most of the people were nostalgic, wanting to be home on earth. Not knowing how to get to earth, he was pacing about. All of a sudden, he met himself right before the dean in his office. The man was sitting opposite him, just as they were before ‘skyrocketing’ to Gyrus…

nice

loving dis... nice work, its gonna b interesting... waiting patiently 4 da nxt episode

It seems I am missing out on something really cool.

wow what an update!!! so interesting, pls ride on.

Nice one Though love scarry movies something seems to scare me abwt dis story

mehn vhiz story is gonna be bomb!!,

still trying to understand

following.. nice write up

Ride on...hope u ll nt do anytin 2 hurt ur family @Henry..

CHAPTER FOUR:THE SEVENTH QUESTION “Welcome back,” said the dean. “Thanks,” replied Henry. Silence followed. “Now I think you’ve known what you didn’t know—eh.” “What?” he asked. “The answers to the seven great questions.” The dean laid more emphasis on the word ‘Great’. “Yeah,” said Henry. “What kind of power do great inventors have?” “Magical power,” said Henry, having based his thoughts on the French inventor and some others he had seen in Gyrus. “What’s faster than the rocket?” “Movement in Gyrus,” Henry replied again promptly. “I wouldn’t need ask on,” said the dean. “I believe you’ve got the answers to all— in Gyrus.” “Not all.” Henry said, “I got one right back on earth before we left, but you said I was wrong.” “Which one?” asked the dean, raising up three fingers and smiling. “Yeah, question number three,” said Henry. “You asked where I would be in forty-five minutes, then I said, in the meeting. But—” Henry paused. “Keep talking,” said the man. “You said I was wrong.” The man guffawed suddenly, making Henry feel embarrassed. The man said, “Ignoramus. Here’s ten minutes past six. We left for Gyrus exactly six p.m, so we’ve only spent ten minutes.” Henry could hardly wait for the completion of his speech before protesting, “Untrue. I checked my wristwatch in the hall; discovered we’ve spent twelve hours. So, the time should be ten minutes past six a.m now—not six p.m as you’ve said. It’s next day already” “You’re wrong Henry—still in today. We spent just ten minutes in the meeting.” Henry said, “About four hundred people spoke over there. How on earth can that happen in ten minutes?” Henry believed he had justified his claim with the simple illustration he had just made, but the dean gainsaid it once more. “You’re right by saying ‘how on earth’. It’s not possible on earth—remember Gyrus is another planet, where twelve hours equal to ten minutes on earth,” explained the dean. His explanation appeared not good enough to convince Henry, who was always in his elements as far as argument was concerned. The dean led him towards the window, opened it, pushed its blinds aside and they peeped. Through the window, Henry saw his colleagues walking about to their various hostels. They could not have been out there by 6 a.m. He also noticed that the arena was not quite different from how it was when he had entered the dean’s office earlier. Seeing same people at same places Henry began to believe the dean’s words. He knew they could not have remained in a spot for twelve hours. “You’re right sir.” “Always right,” boasted the man. “So, Henry where you’re going to be forty-five minutes from the time I asked the question depends on you.” To keep his ego inflated, Henry quickly said, “Sir, the sixth question—what’s the answer to it?” “About a friend, isn’t it?” “Yeah,” said Henry. “I said I will strangle him.” “It’s not true. You won’t strangle such.” “You don’t know my mind, do you?” said Henry. “I’ll strangle him.” “You didn’t.” The man looked on him and said, “You met Ted, I’m pretty sure—your best friend—in Gyrus. He’s been into something good—magic—for the past two years, but he kept silent until you found it out yourself in Gyrus today.” Henry became cold. “You didn’t strangle him. I sensed that you felt at home instead, seeing him in there.” “Yeah, I was,” concurred Henry. “It’s amazing. Sir, how did you know I won’t do that?” “Seems like you forgot something.” “What?” demanded Henry instantly. “That I told you, prior to your initiation, that you can see someone else’s future.” Henry’s eyeballs rolled to and fro inside their sockets. A sensation of enthusiasm descended on him and he said, a bit louder than how his voice used to be under normal situation, “Sir, the last question, what’s the answer?” “What’s it about?” said the man, feigning ignorance. “Can’t remember, but it was the most striking to me then when you were asking me about TEN MINUTES AGO.” Henry had intentionally stressed his last three words. “Can you remind me?” “I’m not going to. You can walk up to me when you want—but make sure you’ve remembered it, cos I’m not going to answer a question that’s not asked me, cos I’m no simpleton.” “Sir. I implore you to tell—” “Forget it!” he yelled. Henry looked at himself and discovered that the dark mirror was with him. He came with it from Gyrus. “What’s it for?” said Henry. “Am I supposed to come with it?” “Yeah, It’s for you. Do anything with it— look into the future, communicate with any member, do anything you want, to whoever you want to see in it.” Sadly, Henry rose up, preparing to leave, since the dean did not remind him of the seventh question. Coming out of the room, the Professor called his name and said, “It’s forty-five minutes! I was right by saying you are going to decide where you’ll be.” Henry stooped, glancing at his watch. He saw that it was exactly forty-five minutes. The dean was right, because Henry’s ‘nick-of- time’ decision to leave had seen him out of the office at that time. Therefore, Henry had decided it, fulfilling the dean’s prediction. Walking away dejectedly, Henry spent time thinking. Leafing through the ‘magazine of thoughts’ in his heart, Henry halted on the thought of his parents; what their reactions would be, should they know about his newly- found approach to life. Arriving at the conclusion that he would be disowned if they should know about it, Henry said, “I don’t give a damn.” The following day Henry discussed at length with Ted. He asked Ted about the Seventh Question. “Forgotten. I can’t even remember what it was, let alone supply the answer?” said Ted, transforming his visage to a wrinkled one instantly. Henry noticed it. Ted said, “Henry, don’t ask me about it anymore.” To Henry’s amazement Ted was fidgeting visibly. Henry was dumbfounded by his friend’s attitude. Henry was about to ask him what was going on when Ted said, “At least for now don’t ask me that question anymore.” Henry had known Ted for putting someone in suspense, so he felt he should not bother asking him that moment. Henry changed the topic: “Let’s talk about your Uncle, shall we?” “Go on, ask about him,” said Ted, wearing a happy face again. “Ted, does your uncle know about your power?” “He dare not. He’ll kill me.” It baffled Henry. “But—how have you been able to hide the mirror from him these two years?” “It’s simple. I’ve got a private bathroom where I keep my mirror.” “Uhm,” Henry said. “Our own bathrooms are free for all. We’ve got none personal.” “Then try look for alternative.” Ted grinned and added, “How ’bout your parents?” “They’re doing fine.” “No—I mean do they know you’re now a magician?” “They’ll disown me if they do.” “It’s terrible,’ whispered Ted. “Your mirror—where’s it?” “In my wardrobe, in the hostel.” Henry faced Ted. “I don’t think I’ll need it.” “You’ll sure need it. You can’t do without it.” “Hey man, I’m never concerned with people’s future, ’cos it’s no business of mine. Achievement is all I care for.” “Was that why you became a citizen—in Gyrus?” “Nothing else could have pushed me into it.” “Stop kidding me Henry,” said Ted, disbelieving him. You have the potential already in you—to achieve things, You’ve won eight prominent laurels already, the Spelling Bee twice, International quiz and debate competitions, yet you said you became a magician just because you— ” “That’s it Ted. I have to.” He brought his face closer to Ted’s and said, “A boy is contending with me result-wise. We’ve got same CGPA. He’s in the Petroleum Engineering. Professor said I’ll edge him if I join the magic.” Ted took it as a laughing matter.” “Will you stop the joke?” said Ted, giggling. “No one’s as brilliant as you, as far as this campus is concerned.” “I’m serious,” Henry said, face contorted in a grave manner, with wrinkled nose, typical of a Halloween wizard. Ted had to believe him. “So… someone’s as good as you here? That fellow must be a first-class recluse—for him not to have been known by all—like you,” concluded Ted. “Petroleum Engineering— uh! What’s the guy’s name?” “I don’t know.” “I’ll sure find out,” Ted resolved. Henry was bored already. He began to show some blasé attitude to what his friend was saying. He started with yawning, which culminated into sneezing, then coughing. Ted had known him for such displays whenever being bored. “Hmm—seems you want the topic changed,” said Ted fondly. He had perceived Henry’s thought. “Got it!” Henry replied. “Have you seen her lately?” “Who?” “None other than Cynthia.” “Oh Henry!” screamed Ted suddenly. “She’s yours already.” He rose up excitedly, spanking and tickling Henry lovingly. “Her destiny’s on your palm.” Henry was discombobulated, being unable to comprehend his words. “Stop the titillation and tell me what you mean.” “I mean if you want to have her you can. Take your mirror, call her name, talk to her and she’ll listen.” “You mean I should woo her magically— through the mirror?” “Exactly dude,” Ted said. “She’ll listen to you.” “You want me to spellbind a little innocent girl?” said Henry with no smile on his face. Ted shook his head vertically in agreement, not able to read what was going on in Henry’s mind, since his heart was no limpid object. “Are you crazy?” said Henry, outraged. “Listen, I’m not going to have her love through a spell, but naturally. I’ll get her someday… but not with the goddamn mirror.” Ted lowered his head, abjectly abashed. He managed to say, “Do as it pleases you Henry, I’m no longer interested. But I bet it with you, you’ll never get her by any other means. Why not go for Susie instead? Give her a chance to prove that she cares for you better than any other lady on earth.” It angered Henry, who gave a repulsive prompt response: “A chance in my life? Not that sloe-eyed thing. Never!” Henry yelled at him. “Besides, I can’t befriend a female magician.” “What d’you mean?” “Ain’t you aware she’s a witch?” said Henry in a critical manner. “Serious!” Ted said, expressing great shock as he repeatedly muttered the word ‘witch’ silently to himself as if enamored with it. “Yeah,” said Henry. He was going to prove his point. Then he continued, “Prof. said meet me six pm, you said the same and… she said exactly the same too. Dean wizard, you wizard, so she’s a witch also.” Ted laughed. “Coincidence!” said Ted. “She’s not into power. If she is, I bet you she would have been through with you long ago. By now you two would have exchanged the rings.” Ted made fun of him in a silly manner, getting Henry gutted. “God forbid,” he yelled. The white of his eyes had suddenly turned red. He turned heel to leave, but Ted said, “Let’s see in the mirror tonight—goodbye. “I’ve told you I’ll never use it,” said Henry, turning again to Ted. “You’d better reach me through my mail if at all you’ve got any important message to pass.” Ted guffawed again. “You’ll surely use it. I’ll force you into it,” said Ted in an authoritative manner, but in a seemingly unserious mannerism. “I won’t! Heaven knows I won’t!” vociferated Henry, whose parabolic forehead was almost touching Ted’s hyperbolic own, thus creating a kind of ‘face and vase’ illusion, typical of a scene common to Hollywood blockbuster movies, where two lovers were going to have a buss, or where the Hero and the Villain were going to see eye to eye, especially towards the end of a movie immediately after the strongest servant of the ‘Boss’ was dead. “We shall see,” Ted said, using a rather harsh voice. Henry replied, “We ain’t see nothing”, and left immediately. As Henry was walking toward the school library, he saw Susie coming out from there. With lugubrious countenance, she trudged along, having left the library for lack of concentration. She changed her direction swiftly at the sight of Henry, having vowed not to have anything doing with him. Seemed like Susie had discovered something annoying about Henry. Henry waved at her. “Hi, Susie,” but she gave a yell. “Don’t you talk to me in your life! I loathe you, bloody liar!” “Myself, liar!” wondered Henry as he looked on in horror. “That’s what you are!” she affirmed, almost poking her index finger into his face. “You said you’re going out with Professor Wilson by six, I monitored you, saw you entering his office—only to come out few minutes later all alone. You never went anywhere with him. What d’you take me for, a fool?” “Susie, you can’t understand…” “I saw you, right. Deny it, you big liar!” said the sad-looking girl. “You used his office to cover up for it.” “Not at all Susie—” She was not patient enough. “Okay, okay, okay, don’t you worry,” she said. She was almost weeping. “I’ll go ask him myself. If I found you a liar, bet me, every one will know about it in the campus. They’ll call you a white-lie monger. No one’s going to listen to your ‘I-hate-liar’ talks anymore.” “Please, don’t do that.” Fear gripped him suddenly—the fear that the dean was soon going to know that he had told someone about the meeting. To deter her, Henry said, “Please for God’s sake don’t ask him. I’ll go with…” Henry had to pause, having seen that the girl had adamantly poked her fingers into her ears to block them as she doubled her pace, leaving him in jeopardy under the blistering sun. Henry had wanted to cajole her with his unfinished statement, but she wasn’t in the possession of sufficient patience to listen. He was going to promise a date with her immediately. Henry had never wanted to insinuate the aftermath if Susie told the dean. “Professor said tell nobody. He’ll have me roasted alive.” Henry’s heart thumped at every thought of it. He had to skip the rest of the day lecture, retiring to his room for fear. That night he wasn’t able to sleep. He had known Susie for being incredibly daring. She could walk up to anyone to tell the person whatever she had got to say, regardless of whether such a receptor was going to be sad or angry about it. It seemed people were scared of her, perhaps as a result of her strange face and unusual physical structure. She was more like Kate in character. While Susie was in her first year in the campus, she was incessantly disturbed by a male lecturer, who had asked to have an intimate sexual relationship with her, but Susie never liked him. The lecturer had often declared to Susie his ambition of getting married to her, calling her his fiancée publicly, whenever he was to address her. When she couldn’t stand the open insult anymore, she got upset. Right in front of every one in class that day she promised to slap the man’s protruded cheek, but he never took her serious, persisting in his wooing words. Whoosh! landed the slap on his face. The lecturer fell flat to the floor. Seeing the scene was one major reason Henry had felt that he must try by all means to avoid her, though Susie had not begun to hanker after him then, since she’d not yet known the level of intelligence of Henry, because they were still new students then. Henry felt she was going to prove insurmountable for him; Kate she couldn’t subdue, let alone Susie, who never cared who you are, regardless of your gender. At the middle of the night, the urge came; the urge to look into the mirror. “Why should I?” Henry questioned himself, not having sensed the need for it. He tried very hard to restrain the strange urge, but he seemed not strong enough to do that. Rising up, he moaned. “Ted said I’ll make use of it—rubbish. I’ve got to prove him wrong because he mustn’t win me again this time.” Henry wouldn’t want to be at the losing end of any argument. He was always on the winning side and would do anything to see his ego inflated.” “I’ll get Cynthia without the magic,” he thought, pacing to and fro. He stopped pacing as he moved toward his wardrobe. He turned the knob and took out the mirror. Glancing at it rapidly, he saw Ted. “Hey little clairvoyant,” said Ted’s image in the mirror, in an amusing manner. “Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” Ted guffawed. Henry blushed with shame. In a swoop he had lifted the mirror above his head, about to smash it on the floor. He heard Ted shout, “Don’t smash me!” and off he went. The Professor’s image came up in it immediately, as though it had displaced Ted’s, but in the actual sense it was a coincidence. The fatherly voice Henry did hear made him look up into the mirror he was lifting above his head. “Henry G, I said don’t tell anybody, you told Susie. You got amnesia?” the dean yelled out from the mirror immediately. Henry’s lips failed to give the answer, his tongue having not received suitable message from the brain. “Come for your punishment—” said the dean, “tomorrow, in my office, 10 a.m. Be sure your retribution’s going to be terrible—for committing such large trespass. Bye-bye.” He vamoosed. Henry’s condition was far more exacerbated, having thought that he had heard the word “bad-bye”. No sleep until morning!

CHAPTER FIVE:THE PROFESSOR’S RETRIBUTION Henry rose from bed. The first place he headed was the bathroom. Turning on the knob, he had his bath under the shower. The ablution was done perfunctorily, something unusual with him. Henry had always taken painstaking care of his body in the past, spending over half an hour in the bathroom each time. But those bathing periods were never without deliberate complaints from Kate, who would always want to have her bath same time he was having his, neglecting the fact that there were several other bathrooms she could have made use of. She would bang the door forcefully, hollering on the top of her voice that Henry had lingered too long in there. Many at times Henry would come out, half-dressed, with lather all over his body, to deal brutally with her. Indeed Kate was the pugnacious type. Back to the thought of the impending punishment, Henry’s heart lurched. Though not intending to fast, Henry decided to skip breakfast. The first familiar face he saw that foggy morning was Susie’s own. Surprisingly her eyes were misty, almost like the prototype of the nimbostratus cloud covering the sky that morning. Henry was still trying to deduce something when tears began to flow down Susie’s face. Coincidentally, perhaps incidentally, the sky began to shed tears too. It was raining. Henry, never wanting to be cozened by her supposed slyness, made a U-turn away from Susie’s direction. “A second look could mean another trouble,” Henry thought, “Sphinx!” Henry had only trekked few distances when Ted and himself ran into one another. His countenance fell because he felt that he was soon going to be ridiculed for losing the argument. “Henry, how’s the mirror?” said Ted in a humorous manner. “I hope it’s not in pieces yet.” “Nope,” replied Henry, wanting to deliberately exhibit an amazingly humongous terseness. As expected, Ted said, “I won the argument, you lost.” “Agreed,” said Henry dissatisfied. “How did you make me use the mirror?” Ted smiled and said, “Oh, simple. Any member ready to speak with another need not do anything other than to pick the mirror, call the name of the one he would like to speak with. I bet you, the urge will come on such to pick up the mirror instantly. Communication begins from there.” “Wow!” Henry exclaimed. “I’ve been so foolish to have said I’m not using it.” “Maybe,” said Ted hilariously, giggling, but discovered that Henry was not in a good mood. He asked Henry what was wrong and the latter explained—the ‘Susie-Dean’ issue. Ted felt sorry for Henry and assured him that the Professor’s punishment was not going to be unbearable. Henry entered the dean’s office. Henry came out perplexed. It was his turn to have the kind of eyes Susie was carrying earlier—misty eyes. But this time there was no drizzle from the sky, even after a drop of tear had torn itself apart from the whole mass of the salty fluid being secreted from the lachrymal gland of Henry’s left eye. The tear ran down his cheek, into his mouth and subconsciously Henry licked it. Henry now had with him a pile of books, numbering up to twelve, each having some copious amounts of pages. He had entered with none, but had come out with twelve. Silently Henry recalled in his mind the event that had led to that: “Welcome Henry,” said the dean. “Here’s your punishment…” “Sir, I can explain.” “No explanation dudes. Nothing’s going to lift your punishment off you.” “I never tell anybody.” “Got no time for folktales. Yesterday’s gone, can never be mended—we’d better face the present, and—the future. Listen carefully now…to your punishment…” “You’re not going to punish an innocent soul, are you?” “Not at all,” said the man. “But I’ll punish the guilty you.” “Sir,” said Henry. He was going to try this last time, perhaps he could be lucky to escape the looming retribution that was soon to be meted out on him. “I didn’t tell anybody…but I told…” “Who?” “Nobody.” “Ssh!” said the man. “You’ve said this before, and it’s a lie for God’s sake. You told Susie, didn’t you?” “I’ll explain. You said I shouldn’t tell anybody, to me Susie was a ‘nobody’ and I told her. I didn’t tell anybody,” deduced Henry, not sure if his foxy skill would suffice to win the dean over. The man replied immediately, “To me Susie can just be anybody, I said don’t tell anybody but you told Susie—anybody.” Henry succumbed. The dean won. “Listen—I’m delivering a seminar on Nuclear Physics in eleven days time. Henry, competent Professors worldwide are presenting same topic, but Henry—I want to win the prize. I’ve spent less time preparing, because I’ve also got two more seminars to deliver on other disciplines.” “Wow!” screamed Henry. “See, winning may bring me much fame and —I need it. I guess it’s the reason I’m alive today—get whatever I can get and fade away.” He budged to the shelf, took out a huge textbook and handed it to Henry. As if that was not enough, the man lingered on before the shelf, taking more and more of such kind of book out of the same shelf and saying, “Take this… and this… and this” as he handed them to Henry one after the other. He stopped at the twelfth, when Henry was strained already, more than his ‘elastic limit’. “Henry, trust me, I’m not going to ask you to memorize everything inside there at once. Trust me.” Hearing such allayed Henry’s fear. He was already nursing the feeling that the dean was going to ask him to read all at once and tell him everything inside them verbatim before the dean had said otherwise. “Don’t panic. Just go through ’em all, prepare for me an award-winning synopsis for the seminar. Seven days to do this Henry, else…” The man paused deliberately. “Seven days?” “Yeah,” re-affirmed the dean. “I can’t,” Henry rebuffed acutely. “It’s Impossible!” “You can do it Henry. You’re a genius…” The dean saw him shuddering. “Listen boy, it’s a must for you to do it, else…” “Else what?” asked Henry, petrified with fear. “Else…” repeated the man, “something’ll happen to you”. “I won’t,” Henry said obdurately. “You’ve got no choice boy. Remember it’s a punishment—for your trespass. So go on, do it.” Henry had plodded out of the dean’s office, engrossed in the seemingly onerous task ahead of him. He blamed everything on his joining the occult world. “If I hadn’t joined, I wouldn’t have been asked not to tell anybody and…that sphinx wouldn’t have had anything to divulge to the dean concerning me.” Looking ahead instantly, he saw the so-called ‘sphinx’ distances away, coming towards his direction. The urge descended on him immediately to demo his yet unproved magical power by using it on her, but his attention was diverted instantly, having been snapped by some unknown persons, with some sophisticated cameras they had adventitiously carried with them. “poo!” Henry screamed when he saw the snappers scurry away, chortling hilariously. They were bevy of ladies, whose intention was unknown; perhaps they had been intrigued by the sight of Henry bearing twelve humongous textbooks and they had felt like having the scene preserved in a permanent format for easy reference. Henry made a surreptitious move, but Susie, being eagle-eyed, had seen him already with her bulgy frog-like eyes. Behind her was Ted Manuel, both walking toward him. Well at eyeshot, Henry could see them vividly. Susie’s face was gloomy and wet with tears as it had been earlier that morning. Henry was baffled. “I’m very sorry,” she said penitently, sobbing silently. Henry’s heart melted instantly, observing her display. “Sorry for what, Susie?” asked Henry, raising some speculative eyebrows. “I caused it all,” she said, pointing to the books Henry’s hands were laden with. “All you went through,” she added. “I’ve not told you I went through anything,” said Henry. “I’m sure this is the Professor’s retribution for my action. He told me that he was going to give you the most impossible task on earth. What are these for?” she said, touching the books being piled up on top of Henry’s adjoined palms. “Never mind,” Henry replied imperviously. “Just let me be.” At that juncture Ted barged in, having been mute all the while. Ted said, “Henry, Susie’s regretting her action now. She told me that she was wrong; that the dean had confessed to her that you both really had appointment yesterday—” “But it was suspended eventually,” said Susie, interrupting Ted to speak for herself. “I’m sorry for everything,” she said once more. Still speaking some other people came around again, releasing flashes of light on Henry from their capturing gadgets. They were males this time. Henry’s annoyance was aroused. He made swift movements to leave the scene, but Susie hurried to catch up with him. She stood right in front of him to halt his walk. “I’m very sorry Henry. It’s my fault. I’ll sure deal with those girls.” “Which girls?” responded Henry rudely. He was incredibly stunned that Susie had seen his first set of snappers, whom he had felt that she never saw, since she was not around yet when they did snapped him. Susie replied, “Those ladies that gave you the first round of snapshots a while ago.” It then occurred to Henry that Susie wasn’t the type to cast aside as far as optical genius is concerned. Her tears flowed down again in torrents and the raindrops began to descend again, this time in torrents. Henry handed the books to Ted, who had already placed his umbrella over his own head. Henry was going to hug her. During the moment of embrace there was snapshot again; this time Ted’s handiwork, having placed down the textbooks and spread the umbrella over them, being wary of the intense consequences that could accompany the destruction of the dean’s books if they got soaked with the raindrops. Ted bore them up again later and said, “Henry, these books are heavy” as he handed them over to Henry again…

CHAPTER SIX; RECEPTION BY DECEPTION Ted had gone miles in search of the said genius in the campus, who, according to Henry, was having the same Grade Point Average as Henry. If Ted had found him, he would have extended a hand of friendship to him immediately, not minding the fact that Henry could be skeptical about the motive behind such ideated friendship, but unfortunately Ted’s effort was not fecund. He never saw someone like such. Two years back, Ted had carried out such kind of exercise too, to discover Henry. Having heard about Henry then, Ted came to the Physics Department where Henry had belonged, to seek for him. Prior to that time Henry was without a single friend, having determined before getting into the campus that he was not going to have one. When Ted came around, Henry made it known to him that he was going to be faithful to his rather seemingly impossible resolution, but Ted assured Henry that it was not going to be possible. “It’s a lie young man. No man can live in isolation,” Ted had said. “Are you calling me a liar?” Henry voiced out, red with anger. He was undoubtedly a Prima Donna, never wanting to accept his flaws. “ That’s who you are if you are telling me that,” replied Ted, fearlessly. Henry moved closer and held the collar of Ted’s shirt rudely, shouting out some swear words: “Look at this idiotic mad fellow! I hate liars all my life. How dare you call me a liar!” “So that you can hate yourself,” replied Ted, “for lying that you can be in isolation.” Hearing Ted’s reply, Henry left the collar of his shirt in a way that seemed he had been affected by the boy’s speech. However, he looked at him with a wrinkled face and yelled, “Bastard” at him as he turned around to leave. “Ain’t you going to consider my proposal… to become your friend?” said Ted, remaining on the spot. “Never!” shouted Henry cruelly without turning back to look at him. “We can never be friends.” “You’re wrong,” said Ted. “We shall be best friends…soonest.” On hearing that Henry turned back. He was at it again, wanting to win an argument. He came to Ted. “I bet you, we shall never be,” yelled Henry as they hooked their index fingers together briskly to seal the bet. Hardly had Henry left when a female student walked up to Ted. She was Henry’s departmental mate—Susie. “Hey guy, you want to make friend with somebody?” she said. Ted was shocked, because he never noticed anyone was around during the course of his conversation with Henry. However he answered, “Yes… that boy over there.” “Hmm,” sounded Susie. “You can’t get him, I’m assuring you. Seems like he’s autistic,” said Susie in a critical and rather genuine manner. “Autistic or no I’m getting him, as far as he’s a genius and—I’m a geniophile,” Ted had said, not minding the fact that his last word could be grammatically unsuitable for what he had meant it for. Susie, not taking into consideration the fact that Ted was just meeting her for the first time, had demanded for a bet instantly, in opposition to what Ted had just said. Ted agreed to the bet and the wager was agreed upon by the two—some paltry amount of money. “Give me a week and he’ll be my best friend,” Ted had said. Henry was going to write a test. Suddenly, some groups of boys, who had on them some tattered jean trousers and bedraggled hair, encircled him. They were mixture of the Whites and the Black Americans. “Hey,” said one of them, snatching his schoolbag. “You’ve got to drop something for the guys.” “My arse,” replied Henry inimically, pointing a finger at his buttock ridiculously. “You’ll pay for that—with your test,” the gutted boys said. Henry soon realized it was no child’s play when his hands were suddenly held backward by those guys and he was lifted off the ground. He shouted. “Leave me alone. I’m almost late.” His words seemed not sufficient to make them have a change of mind. But Ted was around just in time to rescue Henry from their unfriendly hoist. “Leave the poor boy alone,” Ted demanded. “Who the hell are you?” said the guy in whose hands Henry was. “I’m Ted,” Ted replied, “He’s a gentle boy.” “It’s none of our business. He’s got to give us something,” they said with a tone of hostility. “He’s a genius,” Ted said. As if those boys were genius—freaks they put Henry down gently, each of them stretching their palms before him, this time not to ask for money, but to demand an autograph. “We’re very sorry,” they said. “Please your autograph.” Henry picked his pen, which had fallen off his bag, from the floor. Like a celebrity Henry scribbled his signature into the palm of each boy. “Thanks,” they said happily, leaving him. Henry stood like an idiot, looking shamefacedly at Ted. Just as he was about to say a word one of the boys ran back to them. Henry had almost run away for fear that he was coming for him again to ride roughshod on him, but to his utmost surprise the guy said, “My second palm too” stretching it before him. Henry signed into it again, then the guy skittered away childishly, looking into his newly autographed left palm. “Thanks,” said Henry to Ted in a whisper, “You won me.” He shook hands with Ted, who was grinning excitedly. Susie was watching them covertly too. It staggered her to see them together at last, being the seventh day Ted had given as a deadline for the bet. Since she did see clearly the event that led to the friendship between the two, she was going to find out the real cause of it at the expense of the test she was soon to write. She hid herself somewhere, watching Ted’s movement. After Henry’s departure, Ted walked slowly to the bullies. Seemed he had been in connivance with them from the onset to get Henry deceived. They gathered round him, stretching their palms towards him, but this time it seemed they were not asking for an autograph. “The money,” they demanded and Ted tucked his right hand inside his pocket, brought out some money and delivered it into the waiting hand of one of them. At this time the autograph signed by Henry was no more on their palms. They had all got rid of them by scrubbing their palms together, having spat little saliva into them for easy erasure of the unwanted autographs. Susie smiled, having got the mystery solved. She had it settled in her mind that Ted had colluded with those guys to get Henry deceived. She had to rush down to her class in order not to be late for the test. Ted later came demanding for his bet from Susie. She refused giving it to him, letting him know that he had achieved the feat in a dishonest manner. To make Ted agree to the non-remittance of the wager, Susie threatened to blackmail him. Ted had to forgo the money for good, since he wouldn’t want to lose Henry, whom he had paid dearly for, to earn his friendship. Susie was going to coerce Ted into telling Henry her feelings towards him. Henry was adamant. He never listened to Ted, telling him that he had aversion towards the opposite gender, using his sister as an example. “I’m not interested in girls,” Henry had said. In a short moment his keenness with Ted had become full-blown. Susie was jealous, having been chasing after Henry right from the first month on campus, but had never been considered once by Henry. Susie felt that by intensifying her threats towards Ted, much pressure would be mounted upon him to as well intensify the talks concerning her before Henry, believing that one day Henry was going to change his orientation toward her, but it seemed she was making a mistake. Henry was willful still. Susie began to blackmail Ted, receiving some paltry sums of cash from him often. Ted had no option then than to give them to her, to avoid losing his friend. All of a sudden Ted was fed up, but not until Susie had bilked him to bankruptcy. He told Susie to go ahead and tell Henry about it and she never hesitated to do such. Surprisingly, Henry was not a bit perturbed by the news. He only confronted Ted to confirm the authenticity of the news and Ted unequivocally admitted that Susie’s observation was the truth. Thereafter Henry didn’t take any step whatsoever to end the relationship with Ted. Instead his abhorrence for Susie congealed from that moment, on the ground that she had swindled Ted, his new friend often. Susie was sad that she had made a fool of herself by reporting the case to Ted, who could have been the only hope of bringing her into a chummy relationship with Henry. Realizing her mistake, she later went to Ted secretly to apologize, yet she never restored all the cash she had extorted from him since Ted never asked her for that. It went on that way between Henry and Susie until two years later (the day Henry had the hug with her in the rain) when she finally had his favor, but Henry had already begun to cast his eyes at Cynthia before then. Ted’s quest for geniuses on campus had also led him to a bully called Julius. Ted had misconstrued the macho man for a genius, having heard friends and foes call him ‘Genius’. He never knew that the senior student had only acquired such name by bullying on some weaker ones. Julius had asked to be called by such name and they had to give it to him to avoid his avoidable troubles. Ted, being a first-year student then, had approached Julius to ask for his hands in friendship, but the guy had treated him badly. “What level are you?” asked Julius cruelly as he grabbed Ted’s scruff forcibly. “A first year student,” Ted spoke in a shaky tone. “First year!” exclaimed Julius, expressing shock. He had counted it a discourteous attitude for a first year student to walk up to someone like him, a final-year student. He would have him disgraced. “I’ll teach you how to respect your seniors,” Julius had said, shoving him away and winking concurrently to his followers. As if under the influence of a remote control, they descended on Ted, beating him blue- black and getting rid of his trousers, but leaving him with his underwear, at least to let him have something to still make do with. However, they went away with his pocket money, pulling out the inner part of his pocket. Ted since then had kept an eye on the rogue, Julius, waiting eagerly for an opportunity to revenge. Going by the look of things then such opportunity might not come and therefore Ted might need to wait for long in vain. But Ted’s hope came alive suddenly when the dean, Professor Wilson, had him initiated into magic, having made the man his friend when he got to know that he was a genius. When Julius was graduating, he was preparing to receive an award for the hip- hop music he’d entertained the audience with (having sang in the graduation ceremony). He mounted the podium to receive his award from Professor Wilson’s hands, but something unbelievable happened. As he opened his mouth for a smile, his teeth, all of them, were discovered missing. Despite the disgusting sight, many still held up their cameras to take a view of the toothless bully. Ted’s doing!

Henry was engrossed in the taxing work that he had just been endowed with by the Professor. Fear mingled with horror at a gargantuan extent, had possibly thrust him into some ineffable actions for seven days. Having set everything apart, he had focused on the dean’s arduous task assiduously, though not trusting in his ability to write an award-winning synopsis for the dean. While at work only one thought sometimes crossed his mind—Susie, not Cynthia this time. Since having a clinch with Susie in the rain, Henry had developed a secret affection for her, though not yet made known to her. Henry had considered perusing the whole textbook a suicidal manifestation. He made up his mind not to open them at all. From the knowledge he had already acquired in the past on Nuclear Physics, Henry wrote the synopsis. He had had much cognition of the subject, Nuclear Physics, earlier in life. Thanks to the library he had made his ‘next of kin’ those times. Henry was through with it after seven days, but he waited till the eighth day to get it across to the dean, for fear of being snubbed by him, believing that a nineteen-year old boy of his kind cannot write out what was going to be award-winning amidst the intelligentsias across the globe. On getting to the lecture room, he saw his photographs with mates, made a cynosure. In them he was carrying twelve huge textbooks, the Professor’s own. “Hi Henry, bookworm,” he was taunted by a girl, who had burst into laughter. Another said, “I’m pretty sure you’ve got the content of these books inside your puny brain,” pushing Henry’s forehead roughly with a finger. Henry was abashed. He had felt like applying his yet unproved magical power on them immediately, but he declined. Susie came closer, still conceiving a guilty conscience. “I got you into these. I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Never mind Susie,’ replied Henry in a very polite manner, which had sent her smiling secretly, believing that she’d got him at last after about two years and a month of trials and errors to get his attention. On the marker board was written an implicating statement about Henry. He read it silently and the look on his face was that of dejection: Henry needs Cynthia badly. He will do anything to get her. Yes, things like carrying myriads of books in his hands—just to impress her that he’s such a genius. Still looking at the board in anger, Henry felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking back, he discovered it was Pete, Cynthia’s boyfriend. The boy smirked and said, “Young chap, you think you can have her love by this—impossible? She’s no braniac- freak.” Pete was loud-mouthed, but seeming to be the most easily cowed. He was a timid type who could even be intimidated by a tomboy, or any lady which had felt like scaring him. All such a person would need to do was to pose a threat at him. Pete had joined the school basketball team so that he could receive a level of protection from his teammates, who had helped him out of troubles at one time or the other. Henry said in annoyance, “Who’re you talking about?” as if he didn’t know. The boy replied, “Cynthia. She’s going to stick with sportsman—like me. She’ll kick your arse.” Though Henry’s care for Cynthia was no more wholesome, the urge to have her by all means so as to silence Pete who had been bragging all the while came upon Henry immediately in a gush. “I’ll sure get her one day,” Henry had thought, “but not with magic,” he had added.

ride on

Following

Ok

Following....

See diz guy o if uno fit use ur mirror just abeg borrow me for 2days u go see wonder

EVERYONE IS A GENIUS EVEN ME SELF.

Brain wash Pete to forget the part of not with magic

hmmmm... Thats what i call "a good story" ####### next please

You will surely get her someday....

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE PROFESSOR’S AWARD “Henry!” the man shouted. Henry’s buttocks were glued to his seat. “Are you saying that this can earn me the award?” The Professor waved the write up before his face. “I don’t know,” responded Henry, anticipating something worse. “Well, I shall go through it today. I’ll get across to you—at night.” “At night?” Henry yelled, “Hope not through the mirror.” Henry’s reaction depicted that he was possibly eisoptrophobic, but in the actual sense he wasn’t. Perhaps, he was just scared of the magical mirror in particular, which could even be illuminating at night when put to use. “Where else?” said the dean, not intending to ask a question, but was letting him know that he was bent on using the mirror. “You think I’m going to want to burn my credit unnecessarily on telephone calls when I’ve got my mirror—charge free—and every other benefit attached to it. Listen, if you don’t use it you don’t get wiser. Have you ever proved your magic at all?” the man asked inquisitively. “No sir.” Henry’s face glowered. “… and I don’t think I’ll use it at all.” “Why?” “’Cause I don’t see the need.” The Professor smirked and said, “You’ll sure use it…someday.” “Why d’you think so?” “Because Professor Wilson Gee say so,” said the dean, beating his chest in an egoistic manner. “I won’t—” replied Henry, “because I said I won’t,” he added in a mimetic style. “You’ve got goat-like characters indeed— stubborn.” “Can I take my leave,” Henry had said rudely. “Sure, if you want to,” the dean had replied, “Got no business with you till after the presentation of the seminar.” Few days later, early in the morning, the indispensable urge to look at the mirror came upon Henry again. Henry picked up an ordinary mirror at first. “Not this,” said Henry, quickly dropping it carefully to go for the magical one. His heart missed a beat on seeing the dean’s image in it. “What’s he up to again?” Henry had thought. “Shocked!” the laterally inverted image of the dean had said. “You’re thinking of what I’m up to again.” “What!” Henry exclaimed. “How d’you know that’s what’s on my mind? Does the magic include mind-synching?” “Sure. While looking into the mirror you’ve got the benefit of reading the mind of the other fellow in an unmistakable and precise manner—something that the psychologist cannot do.” “Really!” “Henry,” said the man going straight to the point, “I’ve obtained a flight ticket for you. We’re flying together to Washington today. Guess what, we’re going to the venue of the Seminar Presentation together, this morning. Meet me at the Port of Los Angeles presently.” “Must I come with you?” said Henry out of panic. “I don’t deem it necessary.” Henry was afraid that the man would vent his anger on him if he eventually did not come out the winner of the presentation, so he had felt that avoiding him would be the solution. The return flight would be full of reprimands, if the dean lost the award. “I’ve bought the flight ticket already—you have my word,” the dean said, and in a moment, he was off. Henry, being left alone still staring at his mirror in awe, was able to view the reflection his face. It was glum. Having no choice, Henry had to prepare to meet the dean. But he was going to visit the school library first, to return some of the borrowed books he had got with him. After taking a cup of coffee Henry left the apartment to get a cab that would transport him to the library. Henry saw the poster of the dean, placed side by side with that of Einstein, pasted on many suitable places around the school. It seemed both geniuses (Albert Einstein and Professor Wilson) were performing the same action in them—clicking their skulls. Henry moved very close to one of those amazing pictures with great interest. He read the statement on the poster: THE DEAN OF THE PRESTIGIOUS CALIFORNIA CITY UNIVERSITY IS PRESENTING A SEMINAR TODAY, ON NUCLEAR PHYSICS. IS HE A MATCH FOR ALBERT EINSTEIN THE GENIUS? LET’S WATCH IF HE’S GOING TO EMERGE THE WINNER OF THE GLOBAL SEMINAR PRESENTATION.” No one knew who had put those posters there. They just crowded around them, making silly remarks about them in a hilarious manner. The dean had seen it too, but himself was amazed, never remembering having taken any picture in the ‘skull- clicking’ pose like the one in the poster. But seeing it, Henry’s mind flashed back to his first encounter with the dean in his office, when he was bragging and clicking his skull subconsciously as he prided himself on being wiser than Albert Einstein, in Henry’s presence then. “Someone must have snapped him then,” thought Henry, calling back to memory the flashes of light he’d seen then, coming from the window.” Henry soon joined the Professor in the Airport. The plane arrived after some moments of waiting patiently. The two were not silent all through the flight period. They were busy all the while discussing, since their seats were abutting each other. The dean said, “Young man, have you been to the campus this morning—before coming to the airport?” “Y-Yes,” said Henry, already speculating what the lecturer had intended to do with the question. As conjectured by Henry, Professor Wilson said further, “I’m definitely sure you saw those pictures of myself and Einstein put side by side.” “I saw them. What about them?” “Who did that?” “I don’t know, “Henry said. “All I know is I didn’t do it.” Henry had quickly uttered such to get himself out of the trouble he was insinuating. “That fellow must be a silly plonker!” the dean had yelled. “Henry, d’you know the implication of the statement he’d written along with the picture? If I don’t win the award then I’m not a match for Einstein— that’s the implication.” The dean resumed his speech. “But…that’s not philosophically true.” Henry never uttered a word. His chin was leaning on his right palm, probably, engrossed in thought. “Dude, If I lay my hands on him I’ll sure tear him apart. I’m quite sure he’s going to be expelled from the CCUL,” said the dean frankly. He spoke on as Henry remained speechless beside him, like an android, which had been asked to keep shut. “I don’t even know when the picture was taken. I’ve never posed myself that way in any of my photographs. Checked through them yesterday and never came across any as such,” the dean murmured continuously. “I think I know when it was taken,” said Henry suddenly and the dean gripped the collar of his silky shirt immediately, demanding impatiently when it was. “The first day I stepped into your office, while you were telling me about your ability, which, according to you, surpasses that of Albert Einstein,” The dean, having remembered, said, “Then who snapped me?” Henry saw it as an opportunity to get the dean to tell him what the seventh question was all about. He was going to use diplomacy to get it. “Promise me you’ll remind me of the seventh question if I tell you.” “I will,” agreed the dean impetuously. “Sincerely I don’t know who…but, I saw flashes of light coming from the window. I’m sure the photographer was standing behind the window then. So… the seventh question,” Henry demanded. “At least I’ve told you all I know—about the incident.” “Sincerely I don’t know the last question —I’ve forgotten it too,” said the dean uproariously. “I’ll be a fool if I tell you that, when you didn’t provide an answer to my own question too.” “But will you tell me if I eventually find out and tell you who was behind the picture?” “Sure,” the man had agreed. “It’s a deal,” Henry had said. The plane soon touched down. A taxicab was already waiting to pick up the professor. “Sir, are you Professor Wilson Gee,” said the taxi driver and the dean said, “Yes.” The man noticed Henry and said, “Is he your kid?” “Yeah, my kid,’ the dean said, but the driver had got one more question for Henry, “What’s your name?” “Henry White,” said Henry, but his answer seemed not sufficient to satisfy the dean, who said immediately, “Henry Gee, not Henry White.” Nevertheless, they got into car and it sped off. Henry thought he’d known something; that the dean would stop saying “Henry Gee,” as soon as he had lost out in the seminar presentation. Henry was instantly lost in thought: “He’ll say, ‘Henry White, you’re not going back home with me. You’d better find your way back to campus yourself.’ I’ll say, ‘Sir I’ve got no airfare’ but he’ll say, ‘I don’t care’. I’ll say, ‘Sir… but you brought me here for God’s sake. Is this how you want to have me punished?’ He’ll say angrily, ‘This isn’t punishment. Be sure I’ve got stacks of punishments, real ones, waiting for you on campus. Be sure I’ll see to it that you don’t graduate Summa Cum Laude from the CCUL.’ “I’ll say, ‘But why? I think I said it then that I’m not capable of writing for you an award-winning synopsis. I’m a teenager for God’s sake.’ He’ll say, ‘Shut up there! Collins the youngest Professor in history was only nineteen when he became a professor. Ain’t you nineteen too—so what’s it you’re saying that you’re not capable of…?” Henry screamed suddenly, “I’m not Collins for Christ’s sake—got my own destiny to fulfill!” He soon became aware of what had happened. Henry had just let out a scream, a product of the ‘He’ll-say-I’ll-say’ imagination he’d occupied his addled brain with. “Henry, are you all right at all?” the dean barked. “I don’t think so?” he had added in disagreement to Henry’s head movement. “You yelled like that just because I tapped you to inform you that we’ve got to our destination? You’ll sure tell me who that Collins of yours is.” While the man spoke, Henry kept mute, but that doesn’t make the dean stop talking. Instead, the man became more persistent. “Are you dreaming or what…or did I call you Collins?” “I’m very sorry. I’d been in a reverie,” Henry had pleaded, intending to make him keep calm. “I’m very very sorry,” he said again, as if two adjoining “veries” would do instead of one to placate the dean. It’s alright,” said the dean. “Let’s alight.” Henry’s heart missed a beat. The presentations were broadcast worldwide. After all the hustle and bustle of the day, Professor Wilson was eventually announced the gold medal award winner to Henry’s amazement. He was given a check instantly, bearing a large amount of cash. The silver medal went to Professor Teddy Brown from England, while the Bronze medal honor was for Professor Kofi Johnson of Africa (who was a Ghanaian, known to Henry in Gyrus). Henry’s joy knew no bound on hearing his dean’s name called as the number one. Seeing Henry when the judge was about to announce the winners earlier, one would have clearly perceive that Henry was more under pressure than any of the contenders—even the dean. Henry had felt that somebody from bigger Universities such as Harvard or Oxford would have carried the day. He had almost collapsed when the judge was announcing it:

CHAPTER EIGHT WINKIE! Searching everywhere for Ted, he was not found. Henry had endured much insult, resulting from the friendly wink he had made to Cynthia the day before. He had felt that if life could be rewound he was going to have the wink replaced with a wrinkled face to make a whole difference. The reason for this intention was brought about by the winks Henry now receiving from every side. Henry’s winking action towards Cynthia a day ago had become a household stuff, the happening having been spread by Pete. Henry felt it was the ‘law of sowing and reaping’ taking effect: “Give out a wink, receive back a handful.” Henry had been rechristened “Winkie!” by allies and foes. All the girls he had turned down their proposals in the past now had him in derision. “Winkie!” they called anytime they set their eyes on him, but one of those girls had a different view. She was Susie. “I’m sorry I caused all this,” she said to Henry. “You caused nothing, it’s my fate,” Henry told her, having the feelings that Susie’s continuous plea had got into a state of redundancy. But factually the more Susie was saying that she was sorry, the more Henry was getting enamored with her secretly. “I know you never put those posters out there,” said Susie. Susie seemed to be the only one who believed the pasting of the posters was not Henry’s handiwork, contrary to the belief of others, the dean included, who had opined that Henry had done it as a means to achieving some ends. However, her reason was backed up with the fact that she’d not only seen Ted putting those pictures in place everywhere they’d been situated, but she had also seen him standing behind the dean’s office to take some shots with his camera. Her evidences had justified, or rather, corroborated Henry’s claim. Getting to Ted’s door, Henry gave it some hard knocks. It appeared the boy was going to knock down whatever would come out of there the same way he was knocking the door, but fortunately—perhaps unfortunately— nothing came out of Ted’s room. “poo!” Henry vociferated as he turned back to go, having punished the door with frequent knocks. Just then he heard a clanking sound behind him, then a loud, “Winkie!” followed. Henry, shocked, looked behind him and saw the door opened as if of its own accord. Henry got inside and was gazing haphazardly at every corner to see who was in, but it was a futile exercise. He was gutted. “Winkie!” he heard again, and a thud came in tandem with the voice. “Ted!” screamed Henry, surprised. Ted had jumped down from the ceiling where he had hid himself. Henry, who was not in the mood to have any lengthy discussion, said, “You fool! I’ve been looking for you since yesterday. You pasted those posters, isn’t it?” “Yeah,” Ted had responded. “The dean’s picture in there, you snapped it—on February 27.” “Yeah, but how d’you know this?” Ted was amazed. “How I know these is none of your business,” Henry bawled. “Ted you’re in trouble.” Ted began to panic. “So… you two saw me rush out of the dean’s office yesterday.” Ted was thinking that Henry and Professor Wilson had seen him while he was trying to escape from the dean’s office. Hardly had he put the poster in there when they arrived. He had managed to escape unnoticed. “We never knew you were there, but Ted, be sure you’re dead.” It was Ted’s turn to bark at Henry. “Why then did you say I’m dead? Did the dean see me?” “No Ted, but I’m assuring you that you’re a dead man.” Ted was upset. He had managed to say, “I’m sure you guys saw me fleeing, which was the reason I’ve been hiding since yesterday. It was the second version of the poster I had just finished pasting there when you arrived—the one that has your picture. Henry, please tell me, how did you know I was responsible for it?” Henry left saying, “You are dead” to respond to Ted’s question. “The door was opened without a key, so what else? The dean will roast you alive.” “He saw me, isn’t it?” said Ted with great trepidation. “Not at all, but I’m quite sure he’ll discover it.” “How? Through you?” “As if you don’t know how. Ted, you’re the only one in the magic known to him apart from me, so what other clue does he need?” Ted laughed and said, “Stop fibbing Henry. We’ve got lots of us here—magicians. I know five, Ken, Joyce and Cheung inclusive— so leave that talk man.” “What!” Henry cried out. “Li Cheung a magician—Impossible? Not that gentle and naïve boy in the department of Mathematics.” “Who else?” Ted had said, using rhetorical question to affirm his confession. Ted went further to say, “You can’t tell from the face—Cheung can be pretending.” Ted added, “Back to what I’d said, there’s no way the dean would know it’s me—if you don’t tell him. By the way, how did you know that I snapped the man?” Henry told Ted about the flashes he had seen. “Wow!” Ted expressed great shock. “I never knew you were the guy in there with him that day; didn’t see you clearly through the panes.” “All the same the dean will have you strangled—by himself,” said Henry in a way that had suggested his disinterestedness in the tête-à-tête going on. “He didn’t know, did he?” “He’ll surely use his power to get you,” said Henry. His statement had evoked laughter from Ted, who said, “He can’t. He is not going to use it on trivia such as this. Listen dude, in the magical circus it’s forbidden to use the magic just anyhow. Every unworthy use of the magic reduces your lifespan gradually.” “Holy Connolly!” yelled Henry. “So, what’s the yardstick—used to distinguish trivial matters from cogent ones?” Ted’s sudden silence had suggested that he was confused, not able to clearly spell it out himself. At last he said, “I don’t know, but I’m feeling that this issue’s a trivial one.” Ted’s confession seemed to have opened the door to the room of questions for Henry, and he’d readily entered into it: “It means the issues of me getting Cynthia by magic or controlling Kate by it too are trivia, or what d’you think?” “Maybe—” said Ted tardily, “I’m not sure.” “So, how on earth is one going to know the difference between trivia and serious matters in the magic world if you keep saying you’re not sure?” Henry had yelled out his fear, but had only received a sudden muteness from Ted as a response. Henry was scared, having delivered his heart to a horrible thought decked with fear—the thought of reduction in lifespan. Since Ted was not going to speak, Henry’s heart began to pulsate and he started murmuring. “What has been my gain? Since getting into magic only fear has been my reward. The ‘winkie stuff’ is the current one now. Yet, any attempt to use this poo may reduce my life…” Henry hesitated and looked at Ted, who was still in the posture Henry had last seen him with, but this time sweating profusely. “Ted!” Henry shook him, but he wasn’t responding. Henry shook him the more and he responded. “I’m sorry for keeping silent on you,” Ted apologized. “What you said made me horrified—that the Professor will kill me if he discovers this.” “Didn’t you say it’s trivia and he won’t check it out?” “I’m not sure of that anymore,” Ted said secretively. “Please Henry, don’t tell him I did this,” pleaded Ted in a disposition suggestive of the fact that Ted was scared of something, even beyond the present issue. “Why should I? What’s going to be my gain if I tell him?” said Henry, deceiving his conscience again, and Ted too. Deep down Henry’s heart he had determined to tell the dean about it (though he would plead with the dean not to do anything to Ted) so that he could get the seventh question from the man. “Thanks a lot,” said Ted and Henry replied, “No thanks, dude. I’ve got to go now.” Recalling the response he had given to Ted, Henry gave a smile. He was proud of himself again. “Why should I? That was my response,” Henry thought. “At least I’ve not told a lie. I’ve only asked a question.”The day after, Henry began to walk to the dean’s office to tell him that he had discovered the photographer, or the designer of the posters. “Come inside,” said the dean and Henry rushed in with great alacrity. “Henry, you came so early. Hope nothing’s wrong.” Henry went straight to the point. “I know who pasted those posters—sir, you’ll have to promise me that you’ll not punish the chap.” “Don’t you worry Henry, It’s Ted. He had just left this place. You guys should have met each other outside there.” “We didn’t,” Henry whispered in disappointment. The man’s statement had enervated Henry immensely. “Did he tell you he was responsible for it?” “Of course!’ the dean said. “So…did you do anything to him? Remember, you said you’ll strangle him.” “Definitely, I did something for him. I gave him some cash. He had come pleading for mercy, but I surprised him when I threw some dollars on him.” “But why?” The man smiled and said, “That guy has done me proud. Placing me beside Einstein means I’m better than Einstein—that’s the impression he’d created in the heart of everyone who had seen those posters. If I’d lost the award then it could have been the other way round.” “Meaning that you won’t remind me of the seventh question anymore,” Henry had deduced sadly. “Forget it. Don’t talk about that question anymore. And—don’t even ask anyone about it.” “Alright,” said Henry in a frustrated manner. “So—what’s my reward for the award?” “It’s an open check Henry. Ask whatever you need,” said the dean. “But not what I cannot do,” he added as an afterthought. “Sir, I need your influence—get me into the school basket ball team,” said Henry in a very serious manner. Surprised, the dean said, “Is that the request?” “Yeah, just that,” Henry replied. “You’re unpredictable, he said. “Your request is granted.” Henry was going to have a great conflict with Ted. He blamed himself for not being fast enough to have got to the dean’s office before Ted. “That Ted’s always a stumbling block. I’ll end this relationship,” Henry soliloquized in the heat of his wrath. His vexation was hinged on the fact that Ted had cost him getting the seventh question. Henry walked down to the court. He was going to meet Ted, who was busy in the practice of Volleyball. Henry beckoned to Ted as he caught sight of him and Ted left his mates immediately, asking them to excuse him for a minute. After walking to a secluded place, the two began to discuss. “Ted, you’ve gone mad. Why did you go to the Professor?” Henry said angrily. “Didn’t you say he was going to strangle me? For fear I had to let him know I was the designer of those posters before he finds it out himself.” “And why d’you think he’ll kill you for such a minor issue?” “I just felt that way,” said Ted, “Can’t explain.” “With your action Ted, you’ve cost me knowing the seventh question and its answer. I’ve never failed this much,” Henry complained. Ted consoled him. “Calm down Henry, you’re a man. I’m assuring you, gradually you’ll acclimatize in the magic world. No one’s going to sit you down to tell you the heap of rules and regulations in the magic— you get them by experience.” “By experience?” said Henry, expressing disgust. “What if I inadvertently broke a rule whose penalty is death?” “That’s the risk you’ve got to bear. Listen, every great men face such risk too. Faraday died by what he invented. Marie Curie was not also exempted from this. She died by over-exposure to radiation,” Ted revealed. “Henry, If you stop taking risk then you stop achieving something in life. Life is a risk.” “Liar!” Henry uttered immediately. It stunned Ted, who asked Henry why he’d called him a liar. “Not you,” said Henry genuinely. “I mean life. Didn’t you say ‘life is a risk’ just now?” “So…” “Letter ‘l’ for ‘life’; ‘i’ for ‘is’; ‘a’ for ‘a’ and ‘r’ for ‘risk’— liar!” Henry deduced to Ted’s amazement. “Have you had that before?” “Not at all. Got it just now—as you speak.” “You’re a genius,” Ted said as if he was just knowing it.

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CHAPTER NINE: JEFF VERSUS CHEUNG Li Cheung appeared too immature to be in the university. He was only thirteen and was in his third year. Cheung was gentle, just as Henry had said. Seeing Cheung no one would believe he could belong to a magic cult. His face looked innocent. Indeed Cheung did not like the condition he had found himself. Cheung had not asked to be initiated into cultism. He had only got there by accident. What led into his initiation was his timid nature. Since becoming a freshman, at a tender age of ten and half, Cheung had begun to experience incessant troubles from Jeff, who had utilized the opportunity that Cheung was too little to fight back to ride roughshod on him. Jeff had asked Cheung to always share his pocket money with him; the bully would always part with the lion share. Cheung’s timidity had made him keep silent, not telling anybody about it. One day, while Jeff was cruelly dealing with Cheung, Professor Brown witnessed it per chance. Jeff took to his heels as he sighted the man. The man took Cheung to his office to have a rapport with him. He told Cheung to meet him by Six pm the next day, promising to take him to a place where his timidity would be taken from him permanently. Cheung had accepted innocently, not knowing where the man was taking him. Getting to the man’s office, he was asked seven questions, as usual with the magic world where the man had belonged. Cheung could not answer any. In that state, they left for Gyrus. Cheung was extremely scared. He wept sore in Gyrus that day. Professor Brown never lived to tell Cheung the answers to the seven questions, because he died that day in Gyrus in a fight of position with Professor Kent Robins, who was the ‘Power Guard’ in Gyrus. Cheung, who had remained weeping after the meeting, had to be brought back to earth by Professor Wilson’s touch on the head. Two years since becoming a magician, Cheung never used his magical power. He never even knew that he had any such thing. Jeff continued to oppress him. Ted saw the poor boy one day when Jeff was beaten him up. “Ain’t you from China? You must show me the Bruce Lee stuff,” Jeff said to Cheung as he threw his fist at his chest. Ted was unable to bear it. He approached Jeff and said, “Hey, leave the poor boy alone, bully. Don’t you have little ones at home you can use as a punching bag?” Jeff was surprised beyond measure. No one had ever challenged him in such manner. He came closer to Ted as if to beat him up, but Ted had backward fast to avoid him. “You want to fight for him, isn’t it? I’ll handle you both—with my smallest finger.” “You’re silly,” Ted said, not regarding the presence of Jeff’s followers. Jeff beckoned on his accessories to take hold of Ted and they did. After punching Ted on the stomach, they shoved them off and they fell. As the bullies were departing, Ted screamed. “Wait there!” His shout brought them to a halt. Jeff said, “D’you want to fight back?” Unexpectedly, Ted said, “Cheung will fight you back, not me.” They laughed. “No! No!” Cheung gave a frightful yell in disagreement. “You see, he doesn’t want it,” said Jeff, who was ready for the fight. Then Ted said, “Not today. He’ll surely fight you tomorrow, 5pm. Save your power till then— uh.” “It’s a deal,” said Jeff, walking away. Ted, who was on his feet already, helped Cheung to get up too. It was the first time they would be coming together, though Ted had seen him in Gyrus aforetime. “Thanks mister,” said Cheung. “He’d always been treating me that way.” “Since when,” asked Ted. “First day at school.” “What the hell!” Ted screamed. “Ain’t you with power?” “Power!” Cheung had said in abject ignorance. “I can’t comprehend you.” Ted reduced his tone and said, “You are a magician, isn’t it?” Cheung expressed shock and said, “How d’you know?” “I’ve seen you in Gyrus many times with this same kind of lugubrious face.” “You’re right,” admitted Cheung. “But it was against my wish that I became a magician. I want to quit, but it seems no way,” said Cheung, shedding tears. “Hey, stop that man. You’re a big guy.” “I’m not!” shouted Cheung. “I’m only thirteen.” “You’ve got much power Cheung. You should have stopped Jeff long ago—with your power.” “How? I’ve never used any such power. I don’t know if I’m in possession of such. I’ve got no one to put me through since joining the magic, so how would I know?” “The person that took you there, why didn’t he put you through?” asked Ted in a surprised state and Cheung said, “He died before returning from Gyrus that day.” “How?” Ted asked. “In a fight—with the Power Guard,” Cheung replied. “Who?” “Professor Brown.” Ted nodded and smiled having just discovered what the real death of the late Professor Brown was. Ted had earlier thought that some armed robbers, according to the news that was aired on TV, killed the man. Professor Brown’s age was only forty-one when he gave up the ghost. It was just two weeks after Cheung’s initiation that Ted was brought to Gyrus too, by Professor Wilson. To intimate Cheung with the possibility of achieving things with the magic, Ted revealed the mystery of Julius’ missing teeth. Cheung was intrigued. “So, boy, you’ll surely fight Jeff tomorrow.” “No, I can’t,” Cheung said, still timid. “Don’t panic. Listen to the plan. I’ll inform the Student-Gyrusers I know, Ken, Joyce and Henry. We’ll combine our effort together and you’ll deal with that fool, I can assure you.” Doubting, Cheung said, “How?” “Magically.” “Will they co-operate?” “Just leave that to me—uh,” said Ted and Cheung nodded childishly in the affirmative. “So—may I know you?” said Cheung giving him a hand. “Ted—Ted Manuel,” responded Ted. The boy smiled a reply, “Li Cheung my name,” he said. “As if I don’t know,” Ted had replied amicably. “Thanks a lot.” Leaving Cheung, Ted went straight to inform Ken and Joyce about the fight. The two had agreed willingly to give out their energies. Ted had sought after Henry, but he could not find him. Ted was told later that Henry was sick, and he was in the clinic.

“Ted,” Henry whispered on seeing him. “Henry, What’s wrong?” “I have a fever.” “Sorry,” Ted said. Not minding the condition Henry was, Ted said instantly, “Cheung will have a fight with Jeff tomorrow, 5pm. I’ll need you to help him.” “I don’t fight,” said Henry with an unusual lean voice. “I’m not asking you to fight. I only need you to combine your ‘em’ with mine, Joyce’s and Ken’s. We’ll blow up that fool, Jeff.” Ted had said ‘em’ in order to avoid using the word ‘magic’, justifying his thought with the fact that those in the ward could pick it up. Henry replied, “I’ve got no ‘em’ to combine… What d’you mean? Ted bent his back, lowered his face close to Henry’s head and whispered it to him. He got it. Henry raised his head too, to speak to Ted, “I’ve told you I’m not going to make use of it.” “Cheung’s using it, not you,” said Ted worryingly. “Or you want Cheung beaten up?” “Why should I? But I’m quite sure you guys’ own are enough to deal with Jeff, so leave me out of this. I’m sick over here for God’s sake!” “Jeff’s powerful, one more effort will do— yours. Henry it’s tomorrow, 5p.m, venue, my room, bye,” Ted had said, taking some quick strides to leave the ward. ‘I’m not coming.” Ted’s commanding tone was the most offensive to Henry. Though Henry would want Jeff beaten up, yet he made a resolution not to be involved in it, reason, the manner of approach Ted had utilized to disseminate the information. “ It’s going to be fun all the same, either Cheung loses or win,” Henry had thought. The following day was the fight. Funny enough, almost all the spectators were with placards, which were bearing the statement, “US versus China, who wins?” Seemed Cheung was the only Asian present. He was not a bit willing to take up the challenge, but Ted kept reassuring him of victory. Ted handed a camera to someone he knew among the throng, who had come to watch the fight. Amazingly, a commentator was available to narrate the fight. “Who’ll be the referee?” said a boy. “You do it,” he added, pointing to Ted. “Me? Never…have I got to go now,” replied Ted as he took some steps away from the scene. He soon came to his door to find out that Joyce was waiting. “You kept me waiting,” she said. “I’m sorry,” said Ted as he opened his door with a key. “Go in, Joyce,” Ted said, but Joyce replied in earnest, “I’m sorry I’ve only come to tell you that I can’t participate any longer.” “I’m having fever,” she announced with a countenance underscoring her point, but Ted did not countenance her excuse. “What’re you saying Joyce? Poor Cheung’s going to get killed. He’s too young to face Jeff all alone. He needs us now?” Ted barked at her. “I’m sorry I’ve got to go—now,’ she said as she made to depart. Ted obstructed her and said, “You ain’t going nowhere. Listen to me, half cake’s better than none —” “But I’m not better than none. I’m a girl, weak, sick and without strength,” she yelled. Ted yelled back, “You’re a giant, witch, skillful and with sorcery,” Joyce calmed down as if touched by Ted’s words. She began to weep, speaking vaguely, to expressing the pain in her heart. Ted drew closer to her and patted her back to console her. Already lost in the reverie of a future blissful marriage, Ted was jolted by the howls he was hearing, which was diffusing from the outside. “US! US! US!” came the never-ending chants from Jeff’s supporters. Cheung had been beaten to a decubitus position. The two Gyrus-citizens indoor could no more wait to perform the magic. They held each other’s arm tightly and power flowed. The door was suddenly pushed inward and Ken emerged. Ken had earlier gone to witness the fight with the thought that the other three, Henry inclusive, would carry on with the energy transfer at his absence. He did not want to miss the imaginary scene of a small man dealing with a big and muscular one. “What happened!” he screamed and Ted explained: “Henry’s sick, Joyce’s sick too. Our effort’s not enough here.” Ken hasted with great impulse to contribute his effort to form a strong magic bond. Just then Henry emerged too. “Enough!” Cheung suddenly cried out as if instantly invigorated by something. Jeff did not hearken to him, since the boy had been making same noises ever since the fight had begun. Cheung rose up swiftly and gave Jeff a heavy-duty punch on the face. Swollen face! Jeff held his face and fell headlong. He wobbled to his feet again, but Cheung doled out slaps to his cheek, coupled with a head- butt and a kick. He fell again, this time with a heavy thud. “Here’s the Bruce Lee stuff,” Cheung poked fun childishly to the horrified spectators, as he landed powerfully on the loser, whose body was already motionless. “Who’s next?” Cheung had said, after dealing ruthlessly with the unconscious Jeff, but no one was ready to pick up the challenge. “I said who’s next?” Cheung yelled even more, but himself began to hurry away before someone would say, “I’m next” having felt the withdrawal of a great deal of energy from his system at that instance. Henry, who was just convalescing before the energy transfer, had managed to walk away, unlike Joyce, who fell helplessly to the floor, having contributed the little strength she had got at that moment. Henry felt light and powerless after the dismantling of the bond. He staggered for balance as he trudged back to the clinic where he had earlier sneaked out. On getting to his ward, Henry met a surprise: A MONSTER ON THE BED!!! It was Jeff wrapped up in bandages. “Surprised!” said a nurse to Henry. “Your space was the only vacant one. Since you decided to sneak out earlier, you’re a-u-t-o- m-a-t-i-c-a-l-l-y discharged.

CHAPTER TEN:HARRISON BURTON Henry had discovered the name of the boy, whose seat Henry’s own was abutting in Gyrus. His name was Harrison. Ted had explained to Henry that Harrison was the son of the predecessor of the current Gyrus head of magistrates. His name was Sergius Burton. He was the most respected of all the past rulers of Gyrus. “Harrison’s father was Sergius Burton. He was the most influential in the history of Gyrus. He ruled Gyrus for quite a long year, died at seventy-five. His death occurred just a week before you were initiated, then his assistant, Patrick Rutherford, the current head of magistrates, was sworn in immediately to succeed his boss.” Ted took time to talk about Sergius. “Sergius was the only person initiated at birth in the history of Gyrus. He made immense contribution to Gyrus’ civilization too. He upgraded the mirror so that it became mobile of its own accord. No one knew the man had a son until he brought him to Gyrus recently to initiate him. Sergius died only three days after his son’s initiation.” “How?” asked Henry. “It’s a mystery. Harrison alone was the witness, since his father’s death took place in a large study in his home. Harrison told us that the man was murdered by some people he had called thieves, explaining that his father was stabbed by the thugs.” “Serious!”Henry expressed shock. “Didn’t you say he was powerful?” “Of course yes, Henry, but I perceive the man was on amnesia then.” “Amnesia—loss of memory?” “Yes, but that definition of yours is only valid on earth,” said Ted. “In Gyrus ‘amnesia’ means deliberate or unintentional loss of magical power, which could be as a result of the owner’s feeling that he needs to be without the magical power for sometimes, or had been stripped off it against one’s will by another magician. The second is often performed during fights between two or more magician. “It’s crazy,” said Henry. “What’s the advantage of the first—I mean the deliberate one?” “It’s just to make you temporarily become an ordinary person, you know, in feeling, thinking and everything—you’ll be without power.” “poo!” said Henry, expressing hatred towards the concept. “I can be with my magic and never make use of it, just as I’ve been doing ever since I became a citizen of Gyrus.” “Liar,” Ted said. “You can’t give me that poo—you used it against Jeff, didn’t you?” Ted revealed to Henry’s confusion. “I didn’t. It was Cheung that used it—not me.” “You used it to help Cheung, so you’ve used it.” Henry kept shut, feeling that Ted had won him once more. “You this guy, were you not the person that coerced me into it?” “Not at all. You can’t push blames on others if you want to make it in life. Henry, you can’t do without using your power as a magician.” “Hmm,” sighed Henry, “What about Cheung you told me of? He has never used the poo!” “Cheung always put himself on amnesia, always occupying himself with the thought of how to break lose from witchcraft.” Henry did not tell Ted how Harrison had proved to be an adversary to him without reason. It then occurred to Henry the reason Dolly and Harrison had never spoken to one another since Henry’s arrival. However, Henry had considered Harrison’s failure to socialize as an oversight, trying on each ‘Gyrus-day’ to make friendship with him. Henry soon discovered that Harrison’s hobby was to sit down watching Gyrus bloody fights, something Henry loathed with all his soul. In Gyrus, there had always been two kinds of contests between two or more citizens—fight of naturalization and fight of position. The first was a kind of fight between two people from different nations of the world, whereby one is seeking to naturalize to the country of the other. Such fight must always end up in the death of one of the fighters, meaning that if the one seeking to naturalize won the fight, he would take up the seat of the other among the nation he had wished to naturalize to. But if it was the other way round, the winner would maintain his seat, but would earn some points. The fight of position was a fight in which one is seeking the position of the other. The position-seeker must need win the fight to earn some points (though such may not be given the position immediately). If it was the other way round, then the original position- owner will earn more points. This may not involve death. Harrison had always harbored strong indignation toward a winner who had deliberately let alive his antagonist in the fight of naturalization. During the fights, Harrison had often looked to his side to discover that Henry was bowing his head, disinterested in the ongoing fights, not watching it.

Harrison was a totally bad-tempered fellow. Seeing Henry not enthusiastic about such fight, Harrison had made a plan to relocate. He was going to give the fight of naturalization a consideration. Having endured the stay beside Henry for seven months, Harrison felt it was time to put his thought into action. He walked clumsily on the aisle separating the Chinese and the Japanese in Gyrus. The population of the Chinese nativity in Gyrus was approximately four times that of the Japanese. Such claim might just have justified their respective populations on the planet earth. Since every Gyrus citizen had got some freakishly large range of view, Harrison had no problem scanning through all those seated in the section of the large hall where the Chinese had sat. Spotting Cheung few kilometers away, Harrison made a swoop to him in less than a second. Harrison touched Cheung’s shoulder lightly, but inimically, and said, “Here’s the person.” Fear gripped Cheung, who had been hiding his face away from Harrison ever since his eyes were roaming the Chinese area for someone to have a fight with. Cheung’s tears flowed like rivers of water. Cheung was of the thought that his end had come. Cheung pleaded for mercy, but Harrison’s fiendish nature would not allow him to pick another for a fight. He needed to fight with Cheung badly, having sensed fear in his eyes earlier. “He’ll make a walkover,” muttered Harrison to the hearing of himself alone. Seated on the left of Cheung was a boy of about the same age as Harrison. His name was Kim Park. Kim had been awarded the coveted post of a Mystery Maker, having fought and overcome many fights. Kim had watched Cheung’s reaction ever since the time Harrison had challenged him. Seeing Cheung’s reaction, Kim had instantly developed a strong sympathy for Cheung at that instance. The Chief magistrate’s voice suddenly came up saying, “Li Cheung, you’ve been picked for a fight, so hurry up to save our time.” Cheung’s head ‘rang bell’ on hearing the suicidal call. Shivering to get up, he suddenly heard a voice beside him: “You can pick up a fight with me either.” It was Kim. Harrison was scared on hearing Kim’s pronouncement. Harrison had never fought since getting to Gyrus, but had seen Kim fight several times, defeating his antagonists. Though Harrison was very much afraid of Kim, he would not reject the fight because of pride. The magistrate’s voice came up again. “Hurry up Harrison. You may decide not to have a fight with Kim and go for Cheung instead—if you insist.” The advice did a great harm to Cheung’s system, who had instantly resumed his whines. Suddenly Harrison said, “Dear Management of Gyrus, I’m not a bit scared of Kim, but I’d loved it if you can just grant us some times to practice for the contest.” Harrison bowed his head to the magistrate as a sign of respect after his speech. “You’ve asked a hard thing,” came up the voice of the magistrate. Well, left to me I’ll grant you the permission, but I’ve got to consult my co-magistrates, generals and lieutenants to hear their views too.” Instantly the mentioned ones had crowded around the chief magistrate; all heads lowered to begin brainstorming. They had one voice at last. The magistrate came up again to say, “Permission granted, but you’ve got only two days.” Kim’s annoyance arose. He screamed, “No, it’s better to fight it out now.” “Shut up boy, we have spoken,” scolded the magistrate. Cheung’s gladness knew no bound. His bitter tears were transformed to tears of joy at once. When the meeting was rounded off, Cheung was the first to leave the planet. The Power Guard, Kent Robins, walked up to Kim. “Hello little boy, I can assist you to defeat that boy,” “Who are you?” replied Kim with a tone of hostility. “So, you don’t know who I am? You don’t know the magic Power Guard. One who maintains balance between Magic and Minors. I see you’re nervous, that’s why I’ve come to your rescue.” “Me? Nervous?” the boy replied insolently. “Sorry to say, I don’t need your help. I can always defeat him.” Harrison was listening to their conversation. He waited patiently for Kim’s departure, then he rushed to the Power Guard. “Sir,” Harrison called out. “Little boy, what d’you want?” “What Kim had just refused.” The man ran his hand through Harrison’s hair and said, “You’re a wise boy Harrison, like your father. We shall see tonight in the mirror.” Ted heard the brief discussion between Harrison and the Guard while he was passing by, but he had only walked past them as if he was not concerned, since he had no single interest in Gyrus fights. Ted found Henry still glued to his seat. “Henry, ain’t you leaving?” “I’ll see Professor Wilson first.” “About what?” “To get the seventh question, or have you remembered it?” “No!” exclaimed Ted. “I don’t think I can ever remember such question for the rest of my life. Why can’t you pretend as if you’ve forgotten there was any seventh question, so it won’t bother you anymore?” Henry ignored his suggestion, quickly changing the topic. “Ted, what d’you think about the fight in the next two days? Who’ll win?” “I don’t like watching such fights. Whoever is more powerful should win.” “I don’t enjoy watching too, but this time I’d prefer the Chinese boy.” “Why d’you want him to win?” “It’s obvious he’ll win.” “I can bet it with you, Harrison will win,” Ted said. Henry laughed a great deal. “Let’s watch and see who wins this argument.” Ted was about to leave the planet, but Henry said, “Ted, are you not going to wait for me to see the dean?” “No, Henry, I’m perceiving that my uncle’s at my bathroom door. He’s always watching my moves these days. It’s already six minutes since I’ve entered the bathroom.” “Okay Ted, give me a minute more. We shall be through.” Ted agreed and remained. Henry said, “Why d’you think Harrison will win? I don’t want to take chances. If he wins I’ll sure drop my magic.” “Why d’you say so?” Ted asked, full of surprises. “I don’t like him.” “Why? He’s the son of Sergius. His father was a good man.” “For all I care Harrison’s nothing like his father,” rebuffed Henry sharply. “Why?” “Because he hates me. Ted, remember I told you I don’t like anyone who does not like me and I like anyone who likes me.” “What about Cynthia?” Ted reminded. “She doesn’t like you but you love her.” Henry said funnily, “Sorry, I’ve got to modify what I’ve just said: it was a slip of tongue.” Ted looked on to hear what Henry would come out with. Henry said, “I don’t like any boy who doesn’t like me.” They laughed. Ted said, “What has he done for you—I mean Harrison?” “He’s always wanting violence. He almost made me lose my life one day while I was racing to my seat to escape the death-bell. He placed his leg on my path and I stumbled over it. I wobbled to my seat just two microseconds before the death-bell rang.” “Huh!” sounded Ted in awe. “And when I got to my seat he gave me a thunderous slap; then I was still very new in Gyrus.” “So such a thing happened and you never told me!” Ted said expressing shock. If you had told me then I’d have picked a fight with him; I’m his senior—got here before him,” boasted Ted as if Gyrus position had been awarded according to arrival time. “Why should I tell you?” Henry said. “I thought you said you don’t enjoying watching two citizens fight.” Henry evinced his victory in the argument by a grin, but Ted had something to say. “But I never said I don’t like participating myself. What I don’t like is standing back while the fight’s going on.” The two burst into long-lasting giggles. Henry howled, “Again!” and added, “Ted, on a more serious note, did you use the magic to know that Harrison will win?” “No,” he replied. “You’re wasting my time,” Ted expressed his uneasiness. “Oh, I promise I’ll not exceed one minute.” Henry remembered as he glared at his wristwatch and screamed, “Wow! It’s one-hour already! I wonder what it will be on earth!” Ted hurriedly poked a hand into his pocket and took out an object. It was a Gyrus converter. Ted was intending to convert the time mentioned to its earth equivalence. “It’s not necessary Ted, I’ll use—” “What else can be faster?” “Einstein’s magic,” said Henry. “It’s the human brain,” admonished Henry and added excitedly, “Forty-five seconds approximately, fifteen seconds left.” “I don’t believe you. I’ll confirm that with this,” said Ted as he hurriedly pushed a button on the converter. The answer came clearly. Henry was right. “C’mon boy, you’re damn right,” ululated Ted. “Yeah, won you this time.” Henry put his arms up to celebrate his victory, but Ted was not ready to give up the debate. “No, you didn’t win me. You–said,” Ted was thinking of what to say. “Talk! Talk!” Henry said laughing heartily. “I said I don’t believe your conversion, but —” “But what?” “I believe in Einstein’s Magic which you used.” The two guffawed. “You know something Henry?” “No,” he replied. “You’re a genius, like Einstein.” To poke fun the more Henry said, “But Einstein’s a pure genius, but I’m backing mine up with magic.” “That’s why you are unique,” said Ted, then he added, “Who can tell if he had also patched it up with the big letter ‘em’?” Henry was still on it. “Do you agree I won the argument?” “Sure, I quite agree.” “Then it’s infinity-one—” declared Henry, “our arguments score line so far.” Another laugh followed. “Ted, tell me why you want Harrison to win, or why you think Harrison will win.” Ted then explained what he had heard the Power Guard tell Harrison. Henry yelled, “No, we mustn’t allow it. We’ve got to report to the magistrates.” “Let’s tell Kim to be careful instead,” suggested Ted. “Yes, in a mirror conference communication tonight,” Henry said with unwonted zeal. It seemed he was now, for the first time, interested in using the mirror. “That’ll be cool,” Ted uttered softly. The two saw the dean at that instance. He’d just ended his protracted discourse with the head-magistrate. “Hey, Ted, here’s the dean; let’s hurry to him,” Henry suggested, but Ted contradicted. But raised an apparent better, “Let’s shout his name instead. Can’t you see he’s already set to take off. Let’s shout now.” The twosome hollered, “Professor Wils—” They had to pause, since the dean had vanished already. It irked Ted that his stay in Gyrus since the close of the meeting was only a wasted endeavor. Before Henry could say “I’m Sorry for the delay” Ted had gone too. It was Henry’s first experience to be left alone in a whole planet. “Awesome!” he screamed, but was not preparing to leave yet.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: HENRY MET GRANDWALA Henry was tempted to take a tour round the planet, perhaps engrossed with the thought that he would include it in the autobiography to be written later, that he was first man to travel round a planet other than the earth on foot. Henry had earlier been told by the dean that it would not take more than forty-five minutes Gyrus-time for any citizen to take a tour round the planet, but had warned him that the adventure could be impossible because of some dangerous animals in the jungle there. Henry had not proved the authenticity of the Professor’s confession before then, so he felt that now would be the most suitable moment to try that. Henry, as well as many other citizens, had never seen the said jungle before. As a matter of fact most of them never knew if such a thing was existing in the planet. All they knew about was Gyrus garden, which was a bit farther from the meeting hall, though an average citizen could get there within a matter of seconds. Henry discovered a cave. It was conical and seemed like a palatial edifice. To his utmost surprise Henry had got a metallic door of unimaginable modernness. It glittered with the greatest splendor ever witnessed by Henry. Attracted by the structure, Henry’s curiosity was heightened. He was going to get inside by all means. Henry pulled hard at the door handle to get it opened but nothing seemed to change. The door was standing as rigid as it was before the pull. Then it occurred to him that an entirely different method would pay off—but which one? He felt that using the magic would provide the solution, but he’d never used it before. “Using it for something worthwhile is reasonable,” he thought. Naturally, but shockingly, some obscene words flowed out of his mouth in whispers. The door shook at the first and second attempt, but was wrenched open without a hand at the third attempt. The interior of the cave seemed to be two times the size of its exterior. But unfortunately, it was only opened for a period of one second before it was shut of its own accord again. But Henry had seen the inside already. It was empty and partially dark. Still of the thought of what to do, the whole planet went dark suddenly and thunder struck concomitantly with accompanying lightning in a humongous amount. Henry fell. It seemed his fall had resulted from a struck by the lightning. Still managing to get up, the whole planet appeared swirling at a great rate. That was all Henry saw due to the great kick he had just received from behind, from a thing he did not see as a result of the poorly lit environment at that time. The kick had sent him flying in the air and then fell with a heavy thud—blackout! The creature, which had sent the kick, drew closer to Henry. It had the visage of a spider. It was almost twice as big as an elephant, but amazingly it spoke. “Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” laughed the spider as it spun some webs at an inexplicable rate to trap Henry in. Awesomely, the webs were black. “Henry. A boy whose destiny remains hidden to all—even himself,” the spider uttered noisily with a mixture of many different voices, almost ten times deeper than a bass tone of a normal human. Just then a swarm of insects made its way toward the Spider, but he got them swallowed up in a single gulp. “Naughty little mosquitoes,” sounded the Spider as it picked Henry’s fallen mirror and made it stand facing the web Henry was trammeled by. Then the humongous ugly looking creature traipsed away into the rubbles it had initially come out from.

Ted woke from sleep at eleven-thirty pm. His uncle was fast asleep in a separate room. Ted walked furtively to his bathroom to pick up his mirror. He had intended to have a mirror communication with Henry as earlier agreed upon by the two, back in Gyrus, but he was not aware of the fact that Henry was still remaining in Gyrus then, captured. Ted, now with his mirror, gazed expectantly at the mirror and said, “Henry.” As Ted said so, its lustrous face became darker than it had been initially. Such happening sent a great fear down Ted’s spine, believing that such could only happen if the person at the other end was dead. “Henry, speak to me,” Ted called again, but the mirror became darker even more. He remained in front of the mirror, some minutes, sweating, but nothing changed. Fear gripped him. “No! No! No! This can’t be,” he wept in the middle of the night unwary of the fact that his sobs could jolt his dozing uncle, who was in another room, out of sleep. When Ted realized this fact, he bowed his head gently and tried to suppress the weeping. At last an idea hit him. “Maybe it’s my mirror that needs replacement,” said Ted, though he had never witnessed a ‘mirror-replacement’ scenario before; he was not even sure of the existence of such envisaged event. To be sure of it, Ted felt that trying the mirror on another fellow would be the solution. Whatever case, by so doing, he was going to detect what had gone wrong. At a single mention of Kim’s name the boy appeared. Sighting Kim had evoked a sudden loud sob from Ted, which was accompanied by some showers of tears. “Coward!’ cried Kim, yawning somnolently into the cavity made by his right fist, “Why should you disturb my sleep?” Ted was afraid that his uncle could be awakened by Kim’s loud tone. He said rashly, “Ssh! Lower your voice, you’ll wake up everyone at home” demonstrating the abstract with two of his fingers placed across his mouth. The action angered Kim, but Ted’s uncle had heard Kim’s voice already. Willis Brown rushed impulsively to Ted’s room to confirm what he had heard. Ted hid the mirror under the pillow quick. “Hey, Ted, who’s with you there?” said the man as he pushed the switch that was controlling the bulbs there. The room had acquired illumination in a flash. “Nobody, I just had a terrible nightmare.” “And somebody in your nightmare made such hell of noise, isn’t it?” Ted was confused, but he tried hard to maintain his composure. “No, it was my voice. I screamed out of bed. It was a terrible nightmare,” lied Ted again. The man shook his head sideways, grinned suspiciously and said, “Terrible nightmare indeed. You’ll come with me to see my pastor today. He’ll pray with you.” Ted seeming to loathe prayers, responded immediately, “No need. It’s only a nightmare.” The man sauntered to the door, pushed the switch again and off went the light. Then he left the room silently. Ted was relieved. He tucked his hand under the pillow and took out the strange mirror, which had provided him with the illumination needed before his uncle’s arrival. He turned up the face of the mirror to behold Kim again. Startlingly, Kim had not vanished from there, but was snoring heavily inside the mirror having slept off while being ignored by Ted. Were it not for the absorbing character of the mattress and the pillow, Ted’s uncle would have detected the whole secret through the snores the mirror was making. “Kim,” Ted called to wake him up, but there was no response. The only response that came was the sudden change in the pith of the snores from a lower to a higher note. Ted had to put his mouth very close to the ear of Kim’s virtual image in the mirror to repeat the call. “Kim!” Ted shouted into the mirror and Kim’s heart missed a skip as he jerked up in a shocked manner. Kim vituperated at Ted as complained about his aching left ear Ted had made the noise into. “Hey, what’s wrong with you man? You want to damage my aching left ear. Mama still treated it before I sleep.” “I never spoke into your left ear,” protested Ted. “It was the right one I spoke into.” “Liar! You did,” Kim argued, almost shouting again. “I didn’t,” rebuffed Ted ignorantly still. “It was the right ear I used.” “Shut up! Liar!” Kim yelled at him and Ted kept silent at once, insinuating that his uncle would son come around again. Ted did not realize the lateral inversion problem of the mirror until the topic was changed, though he had been taught in all the schools he had attended about such kind of properties always exhibited by a plane mirror. The two blind debaters had concluded falsely that the other was a liar. “So, what d’you want to say?” “I’m sorry for the—” “I said what d’you have to say, I’m longing for bed?” yelled Kim as if no one was at home at his own end. “Well, I’d called to tell you to beware of Harrison.” “Hold it!” he said. “I’ll send him to his early grave—tomorrow.” “Kim you’d better be watchful ’cos Harrison’s seeking the assistance of the Power Guard, you know what that means?” Ted warned critically. “And so what?” “I suggest you report that to the Gyrus Magistrates before it gets out of hand.” “Shut up! Don’t you know who I am? I’m a Mystery Maker. I can always perform a single trick on them both to get them confused.” “Kim, please heed my warning before it gets late. Let’s report to the—” “I said I’m not reporting to any goddamn person,” he yelled, even louder than the way he’d done previously that had attracted Ted’s uncle’s attention; this time the wearied man was fast asleep, so he did not show up. “Alright! Alright! Goodbye,” said Ted as he began weeping afresh, but silently, at the remembrance of Henry. “Wait a minute,” expressed Kim. “Is that why you’re shedding tears?” “No—yes, I mean yes,” said Ted, swapping between the truth and a lie, like a Sphinx. Ted had told the lie for two purposes; to prevent Kim from asking further what the reason was and to also make Kim believe in and ponder gravely on the warning he had given him. “Coward!” Kim pronounced and evaporated. Ted had insinuated that Henry was dead since Kim did appear in his mirror while he did not. Ted was going to put forward a second trial by demanding to see Henry once again. “Henry White,” he spat into his mirror, but no response followed still. “Henry is dead!”

FTC...... Dammmm!! Nope,he can`t die

Diz henry must wise like me

Can't be

don't tink so,

Henry just passed out he can't die..... impossicant.

i really love dis story line

waiting patiently 4 d next episode

pls o, where is d writer?

Henry was still unconscious inside the gigantic black web. The blackout had spanned for twenty-seven days already (just nine hours earth time). Opening his eyes in a flash, Henry noticed how rough and unkempt he was. The stench of his body was like the remains of a carcass half-eaten by a vulture. He had to squeeze his nose firmly to block his nostrils from paving way for the foul-smell to gain entrance into his olfactory nerves. Maggots scampered about on his bedraggled cloth as if they were happy about his predicament. When Henry’s lips paved way impulsively for shock, he shut them back with great impulse, because a strong nauseating and pungent smell had instantly emanated from his teeth. It was a smell of rotten egg. For a period of twenty-seven days since Henry had remained behind in Gyrus, no one visited the planet. The reason was undoubtedly because such great period in the Gyrus was only nine hours and on earth. Henry had forgotten what had led into such condition—the thunder, the lightning, the quake, the kick. Touching his jowl, Henry could feel a spiky outgrowth piercing his hand. Withdrawing quickly he desired to take a look at his mirror at once, so that it would reveal the prickly things that had just injured his hand lightly. It was a surprise for Henry seeing his mirror outside the encapsulation of the web but standing erect and facing him. He knew there was no way the mirror would have stood that way of its own accord. Something or somebody must have been responsible for it. Henry employed every mean he could to reach his mirror but was not able to get it, since it was far away from him and himself was inside a web posing a great deal of challenge to his mobility. Each strand of the web was as thick as the leg of a mature elephant. At last Henry decided to resort into the paranormal method. This he did without further ado by calling it with a strange language himself did not know how it had come upon him. Then the standing mirror moved closer to the web where his finger tips could touch it lightly. Using much ingenuity Henry managed to drag it in by putting out his hand from beneath the web forcefully and patiently. To see his own image in it Henry had to rub its face with its palm (that was how the mirror could reveal the image of oneself) so that he could view the reflection of himself. What he saw looked to him as a hirsute bizarre person, having beards as long as two inches and a shaggy handlebar moustache, which seemed to make him even weirder. Henry almost crashed the mirror in horror. Eventually after much fixation of his eyes on the image he got to know that it was himself. “How did I get here?” screamed Henry. “I must speak to Ted now.” With mirror on hand Henry seemed not to have any problem putting a ‘mirrortone’ call across to him (that was the name given to the mirror communication). Ted appeared instantly in the mirror. “Henry, Henry you’re alive,” the boy frolicked in the middle of the night. It was the drive to look into the mirror that had jolted Ted out of his drenched bed, which had all the while been soaked in sweat and tears, because of the notion he had had that Henry was dead. “Was I dead before?” asked Henry, having forgotten what had brought him into the situation he had just found himself in. “No, not at—” Ted had to pause after taking a closer look at the one he was speaking with. “What is this?” he ululated. Just then the smells was from Henry’s body were conveyed without any abatement to Ted’s nostrils and Ted had to quickly apply some deodorants into the room to lessen the nasty reek. It seemed the lack of synchronization between the smell and the visual display was brought about by something scientific, but Ted never had any thought inclined towards that direction then. Henry said, “I’m the same Henry, your friend. I need an explanation concerning my predicament.” A maggot crawled around his lips. Henry flicked it away. “How do I know?” replied Ted. “I called for you few minutes ago but all I saw was darkness. You didn’t appear in my mirror. Where were you and what happened to you?” “The ambience here looks Gyrusic,” said Henry. “But Ted, I don’t know what the hell I’m looking for in here. I’m in a stronghold here,” bewailed Henry. “Gyrus! I thought we left there together yesterday.” “I don’t know. All I know is, I just found myself here, haggard, awkward and like a ragamuffin; got no inkling what’s my business here. Look, my beards, as long as a broom and my moustache, as wide as a dust parker. Can someone tell me what’s happening to me?” Henry screamed very loudly. Then Gyrus began to shake again. Ted was scared that his uncle would be woken up by the sounds from the mirror, but he managed to neglect the fear to continue his conversation. “Henry, Gyrus’s shaking, what’s happening? My mirror’s shaking me.” “How do I know?” replied Henry whose look appeared even more bamboozled than Ted’s own. “Henry, try to remember, myself and yourself were waiting for the dean, but he vanished suddenly. Maybe you stayed over in Gyrus after my departure.” Henry’s brain seemed healed by the statement Ted had just finished making. Henry said with a little emotion of elation, “Now I remember Ted, but that should have been quite an age now, for these beards and moustache to have grown,” said Henry touching them and getting pricked by the spikes at every contact his hand was making with it. Ted was glad now that Henry had finally remembered something. He said, “Yeah, Henry the mystery is solved. You just try converting nine hours here to Gyrus time and let’s see what it will yield.” “I can’t,” replied Henry promptly to Ted’s amazement. “Not without the converter,” Henry added. “Why? I thought your Einstein’s magic is effective. So—’’ “Not under pressure. It’s addled for God’s sake,” Henry vociferated with a more humungous tone of voice. Ted thought that for Willis Brown not to have woken up this time his sleep must have reached a stage of quietus; somebody Ted had known afore for thumping up from sleep at every single drop of any tiny object such as pin, needle and many more. “Okay, I’ll get mine,” Ted assured, rushing to his locker to get his Gyrus converter. Turning his head back to the wooden edge of the bed where his mirror was leaning upon, he saw a big spider inside his mirror. Ted screamed for fear. Ted’s uncle was jolted from sleep, this time by Ted’s scream, but he wasn’t sure of the main source of the sound that had just made the terrible jounce on him. He checked the bathroom and kitchen before he finally adjourned to Ted’s room. Ted had lain on the bed pretending to be fast asleep, saw wooding along. Willis Brown, whose eyes were now bulged out for fear instantly began to give Ted several short taps to get him up from bed. Ted delayed for few seconds before getting up with a simulated wide, yawing mouth. “Ted, did you scream—” he said, “just now?” “Scream? No, why should I? I was fast asleep,” Ted yawned again. “I heard a powerful scream. It woke me up.” “I heard nothing. Maybe it’s a hallucination.” “Maybe—” said the uncle in agreement, yet doubting it. “Sorry for disturbing your sleep, Ted. G’night!” “G’night,” responded Ted. As the man was about to pull at the door, Ted said in a low tone, “Uncle.” He looked back at him and said, “Yes, Ted.” “Maybe you should try to see your Pastor today; he’ll pray for you.” “Sure,” replied the man scarily without detecting Ted’s jest, “First thing at dawn,” the man added as he trudged out of the room, putting off the light again.

“Who are you?” screamed Henry. His memory had returned to him. “You asked for my help, didn’t you?” the gargantuan spider spoke. “I didn’t,” argued Henry who was already prepared for the worst. “Didn’t you shout that someone should tell you what’s happening to you?” “Was that why you’re here?” Henry asked. “Yes,” the spider replied in a friendly gesture, “I’m the guard of the power of this kingdom. Where you opened last month is called the Power House. It contained all the powers of this kingdom.” “I don’t believe you,” said Henry in an audacious tone. “I never saw a single wand in it—in fact I saw nothing,” Henry expressed repugnance for the weirdo right in front of him as he spoke. He had earlier fixed his thought on the fact that giving up the ghost right there now would be preferable to staying alive, since the difference his initiation had made ever since becoming a citizen was just that it had, according to his own thought, raised his troubles to the power of ten. The yardstick Henry had used no one knows. “I said I never saw a single wand in there,” Henry repeated, “So, you ain’t guarding any power,” deduced Henry. To Henry’s surprise the creature’s face beamed with what Henry had felt was a smile, then it said, “You’re right Henry, I’m guarding nothing, yet I’m guarding the Power House. Since its construction about four hundred years ago, no one had come near it let alone open it.” “But I opened it, what’s the consequence?” said Henry with great brusqueness, not wanting to dabble into the Spider’s ambiguous speech, since he was not expecting anything other than ambiguity from an ordinary animal, which had even made amazing attempt in the first place to speak. ‘Death of course!” said the Spider. “Then go ahead, kill me,” replied Henry like one tired of life. The large spider released a great draught from his nostrils and it blew Henry away along with the mighty black web which was taken off Henry’s head, yet Henry’s feet seemed glued to the ground. Henry’s mirror, having been airlifted by the gust from the spider’s mouth, was smashed on a rocky structure behind Henry. The spider moved a foreleg, which was about twenty meter long, and almost placed it on Henry’s head. The great spider had only four legs; two forelegs and two hind legs. His forelegs appeared to be twice the length of the hind ones. Henry had envisaged dead, so he fastened his eyelids together, as though not wanting to witness the death of himself. Amazingly, the creature said, “Henry, I can’t do that.” The spider placed his leg to the ground again. “Why?” Henry asked, overwhelmed with shock. “Because you’ve got a destiny no one can reverse.” “Tell me, what’s my destiny?” asked Henry immediately, his head raised as if to look probingly into the large face of the spider, but Henry wondered if the strange thingamabob before him would notice his two puny eyes at all. “It’s not of me to tell,” it replied soberly. Henry was gutted. “Then free me and let me go.” “It’s not of me to free you either,” it replied, but in an amiable manner. “You see Henry, nobody can spend up to a week in Gyrus and survive, but you did it. You’ve set a record nobody can break. You’ve spent over three and half weeks in Gyrus. Can you see those beards?” Henry was not a bit interested in the Spider’s natters. All he needed was instant freedom or death, but the first appealed to him more now, since the spider had already said he had got a destiny. Henry had already made up his mind to try find it out, at least, before bidding earth (or Gyrus) goodbye. “Great spider let me go.” “It’s not of me to free you, I’ve told you before. Ain’t you enjoying my company?” smiled the spider. “Not a bit,’ shouted Henry with a tone of bellicosity. “You’re not wise scraggy old spider. If you spare my life and keep me captive here the magistrates will kill me. Why not kill me now or let me go now?” “None of the two is good for an option. You still have about four more months to stay in bondage here.” “Then after that—” “After that I’ll release you to the Magistrates to do whatever with you.” “Okay, I’ve got two things to ask you, perhaps you’ll tell me the answers,” said Henry who was feeling that the time had come to clear his mind off the doubts and uncertainties that had befuddled him most. “Ask them, I’ll answer,” said the spider to Henry’s elation. “Professor Wilson’s Seventh Question, can you remind me what it was—now?” he said inquiringly, but the spider said, “Huh—uh, one problem about you magician is ‘now’. You want everything done ‘now’. Fame now, answers to mysteries now. That’s why you’re powerless.” “Powerless,” Henry’s eyes developed into a bulge. “What d’you mean?” “You’ve got no power all you magicians. The ordinary ones are more powerful than you are.” “It’s a lie,” said Henry without giving it a second thought. “It’s the truth,” the spider affirmed. “Ordinary men have power of self-control, magicians don’t have. They can refrain from revenge, you can’t. They even live longer than you do. Tell me, do you know when you’re going to die?” “How can I know?” said Henry. “Why should I want to know? All I want to know is the Professor’s Seventh Question,” he added still. “That’s what I’ve just told you,” said the spider slyly. “You’re lying,” cried out Henry. “You never told me any Seventh Question.” Henry never realized that the spider had provided the answer in the course of its conversation. “It’s better for you not to know, but if you insist on knowing someone else will let you know the answer to it later.” Henry said, “What about my second request?” “Ask on, I’ll answer it.” ‘Kim will be fighting with Harrison, but Harrison’s receiving help from the Power Guard. I want to pass this message to Kim. Can you tell him on my behalf?” “Someone has told Kim already,” said the Spider. Then it sighed and said, “It’s that same chap that will give you the answer to the Seventh Question.” “You’re not straight forward,” Henry maligned. “That’s because I’m bending backward. It’s my posture,” replied the spider. “That’s not what I meant?” grimaced Henry, then diverted, “Go away from me spider, you’ve not rendered a single help.” “Are you saying that my help’s no more needed?” asked the spider playfully. “You’ve not helped me before now, have you?” “Look behind you, your mirror,” the spider called his attention to his broken mirror. Henry looked back and realized that it had been mended already, just as it was the day he had received it. “It’s a small thing. Nothing to fuse about,” shrugged Henry intending to frustrate the spider. “You sure of what you’re saying?” said the spider in a disappointed tone. “Yeah, sure—just a mirror.” “Well, magicians are ungrateful; I’ll never mend a mirror for anyone again in this planet. It’s an oath that cannot be altered,” said the Spider with a tone of sincerity. Then it sulked and withdrew from him. It swiftly made a hollow in the ground and got itself into it. Of its own accord the hollow closed its mouth to bury the spider alive. Harrison smiled as he placed the mirror gently in a safe place. He had just finished communicating with the Power Guard through it. The man had asked him to come to his place to get his own wand. In a short moment, Harrison was there. “Here’s it,” said the Power Guard as he handed Harrison his wand. “You’ve got to practice with it overnight. You know Kim’s a Mystery Maker, so don’t be fooled by his tricks.” “I’ll be very careful sir,” Harry assured. “You can go now.” “Thank you sir,” said Harrison as he bobbed briskly to the Power Guard. As he pulled the door open the man said, “Harrison one more thing.” “What sir?”

CHAPTER TWELVE STARVING IN GYRUS Henry had spent three months in Gyrus already without food. His stomach was completely deflated and he was lean and weak, unable to be on his feet. The spider had made a new web around him. Henry cried out: “Great spider, I need food!” All of a sudden there was a great quake; such had always preceded the arrival of the spider. Arriving, the spider said, “Young boy, hope you’re fine.” “How can I? Not when you abandoned me for months without feeding me.” “Didn’t you say that you hate my company? Well, if you’d asked me for food all this while I’d have fed you three square meals twice.” With the brief information the spider had just given (about the three-square meal twice) Henry was able to evaluate how many days he had spent in Gyrus—two earth days—three months. “Okay, I need to eat something now,” Henry screamed. The spider dropped a piece of meat he had brought for Henry to feed on. “Eat it,” said the spider. “Raw meat,” said Henry. “Why should I eat raw meat? Can’t it be roasted?” “It can, if you want.” A little fire descended on the meat and got it roasted. Henry picked up the nub of roasted meat instantly and began to feed on it in a way that had conspicuously revealed his esurience. A question crept up in his mind: “This meat, where d’you get it from?” He put a chunk into his watery mouth. “It’s part of my meal.” “Here you go again, prevaricating. I’d only asked you where you got it from, not—” “Where do you think? In this planet people die, just like it happens on earth too. You know citizens die here every five Gyrus calendar months and their carcasses no one cares for. What d’you think happens to those remains?” “You feed on them? So, Mister Spider what you’re telling me is that you feed on those things, isn’t it?” Henry asked, horrified. “Exactly,” said the spider and added, “Address me with Grandwala, any time.” Henry ignored its new instruction and said, “Gargantuan Spider, You’ve just made me a cannibal, isn’t it?” “Well—if you say so,” said Grandwala, giggling. Henry was perspiring. He hung his head in disappointment. He was not able to continue feeding on the meat.” “Get me out of here or kill me instantly,” Henry shouted at him, but Grandwala said, “I’ll go for the third option.” “I’ve only given you two options.” “Yes I know,” said Grandwala. “But in life, there’s always a third option and that option is ‘nothing’. I’ll do nothing to you.” “Nothing!” “Hear this, the earth is filled with nothing: no power in it. I read this from a book, Henry and that book had made me wiser. It’s the best of all books. The book said the earth was void and filled with darkness.” Henry’s façade expressed boredom. “I’ve got no time for fables,” he made known. “It’s no fable. The universe is filled with nothing, no power, no light, no life— vanity.” “What do you mean?” asked Henry impetuously and quickly said, “I’m sorry, I’m not asking a question” when he realized that he would not need to hear any further explanation, but Henry was late. “Okay, you’ll understand it better now,” said Grandwala. “You went to the Power House, flung it open and saw something in it, isn’t it?” “No, I saw nothing,” countered Henry. “It was empty.” “Yeah, that’s exactly my point. You’ve just confirmed that the power of the universe is nothing. You felt you’ll see powers in it, but you saw nothing.” Henry said, “So, where do I seek power, since according to you, the power of the universe is nothing?” “Seek it in the Celestial Planet,” preached Grandwala. “Only few possesses this celestial power. That’s the only power that can conquer all other powers.” “Then let me have this power, will you give it to me?” asked Henry quickly. “I can’t give what I don’t have.” “Then why disturb me about such a power which is not feasible?” “It’s because of human destiny,” said the spider. “Human will live forever either in the fire or in the garden of the fruit.” Henry was angered by Grandwala’s parables, which was baseless, according to Henry’s judgment. “Enough of your riddles!” he yelled. “That book of yours—” “Correction, it’s not my book,” corrected the Spider. “It’s the Book of Power. Every solution to every problem is in it.” “So—” said Henry. “How can I get it?” “You have a copy already,” said the Spider. Henry’s eyes widened in disbelief as he continuously paid attention to the Spider. “Listen boy, in the book was written, I WRITE UNTO YOU YOUNG MEN BECAUSE YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE WICKED ONE.” Henry was sick of the spider’s ambiguities. He blocked his ears with his index fingers and the action vexed the spider, which at that instance, had begun to dig a hole which he got into after making an end of its excavation. The hole closed back on it.

It was going to be celebration day in Californian City University in Los Angeles (CCUL). It was Halloween day. As usual with the school, awards were going to be remitted to those who could scare other people most. Every one was in the business of painting there bodies with colors of different kinds, that would make them look weird and scary, for the single sake of winning the awards. Susie came to Henry’s apartment to see him, but she met his door locked. She waited for few minutes behind the door, but Henry never came. As she was leaving, she met Ted coming to Henry’s apartment too. “Hi, Ted,” she greeted. “Hello Susie,” Ted replied fondly. “I can see you’re getting set for the Halloween.” “Sure,’ she replied. “I came to see Henry, but —” “Did you meet him?” Ted asked promptly, not affording Susie the chance to complete her ‘but’ statement. “No, where has he gone?” “Don’t know. I was coming to see him too.” “Hope Henry’s going to participate in the Halloween,” she said, “’cos he could be impervious to it.” “Yeah, he should join,’ said Ted, then he added, “Maybe he has gone to get some costumes to make him look awful for the Halloween, so he could win the awards.” Ted had only intended to deceive Susie into ending the discussion. “Well, whatever, I’ll scare life out of him tonight. I’ll catch him unawares,” said Susie, wrapping it up with laughter. “You think so? I’m sure Henry’s not going to be scared of you a bit, because he’s a genius,” remarked Ted. “You’re wrong Ted. Genius or no genius has got nothing to do with this,” she said, expecting to hear Ted’s view again, but Ted having suspected her motive, said, “Maybe. You’re right. Bye.” “Bye,” replied Susie, smiling as she walked away. Ted remained on that spot, gaze fixed at Susie’s back part. Ted revealed a smile and whispered, “She’s in love with Henry.” Harrison’s gladness knew no bound, because of the Power Guard’s wand he had now acquired. He had proved it and found it very effective, having used it several times to tune the TV. The door flung open of its own accord and the Power Guard entered in. “Harrison,” he called softly. Harrison was scared at the sight of the Power Guard. “Yes sir,” the boy managed a reply. “I can see you’re busy practicing with my wand.” “Yes sir,” said Harrison. “ I’ve used it to achieve a lot. It’s quite potent.” “Hmm,” sounded the man. “Boy, it was the wrong one I gave to you,” declared the man to Harrison’s surprise. “It will work against you.” Harrison was speechless, focusing his gazes at the man’s face in awe. “Here’s the real wand. Have it and bring the one with you,” the Power Guard said as he stretched the wand toward Harrison, who hastily collected it and gave the man the one with him. “Sir, but I’ve been practicing with it for more than twenty-four hours and it has been working well. It’s only an hour left for the fight. How do I get used to this new one within the short time left?” Harrison expressed his fear. “Never worry Harrison,” the man calmed. “You won’t need practice with this new one at all, because it’s a powerful wand, knowing what to do by itself.” “Thanks,” Harrison said as the man prepared to depart. “You shall defeat Kim,” assured the Power Guard lastly guffawing along. As the man got out of the door, he became Kim. “I am the Mystery Maker,” Kim whispered as he walked away gladly. “Great Spider!” screamed Henry and a quake took place again. The spider climbed its way out of the rubbles made by the quake. On getting to Henry, he said, “I’m Hungry.” “You should be,” Grandwala supported. “You’ve been here for five months and have only fed once. Here’s your food.” “Hope it’s not human meat again.” “It is,” said Grandwala. “I know you’ll not reject it.” “Well—it’s just because I’m starving,” said Henry, collecting the chunk of meat and began to chew immediately. “That’s what I’m saying,” concluded Grandwala. “When will I be liberated from this bondage?” “Today—in fourteen hours time.” “How?” asked Henry stridently, but in a friendly manner, since he’d recognized that being rude to the spider would only bring him nothing other than loneliness. “By the magic magistrates,” replied Grandwala. “Impossible!” Henry doubted. “Will you tell them a lie, that I didn’t approach the Power House?” “No, I’ll tell them the truth.” “Then be sure I’ll be killed immediately.” “No Henry,” said the Spider. “Magicians don’t believe the truth. They’ll not believe me if I tell them you opened the Power House.” “Why?” “Because it’s the truth, so they’ll ignore it,” said the Spider. “They’ll sure believe that my statement is spawned by a conspiracy between you and me to make them believe you’re such a powerful person, so that you can earn points and position.” ‘I don’t think so.” “That’s what I’m saying. You’ll never think that the truth is the truth, because you’re a magician too.” Henry was obliged to keep silent, in order to end Grandwala’s never-ending vicious attacks on the status of the Magic Folk of which he belonged. However, Henry spoke later. “The fight between Harrison and Kim today, who’s going to win?” “The wiser of the two,” said Grandwala. “It depends on who plays the tricks most. The contest is won already before the fight.” ‘I want Kim to win.” “It’s not of me to decide. It depends on who plays the tricks most,” re-affirmed Grandwala, then added, “You know Magic’s all about tricks.” “Yes, Kim’s a Mystery Creator, I’m glad he’ll sure win,” deduced Henry, smiling for the first time in five Gyrus months. His action only had only incurs another malicious attack on the Magichood as Grandwala uttered: “You’re bias, so also are all Magicians in the universe. That’s one reason you’re all powerless,” declared Grandwala and Henry was mute.

thanks 4 d update @selimdon i very much appreciate ur answering to my yearning

am so loving this... just mmmuuuuuaaaaah... next plz

Please come continue.

please don't abandon dis fantastic story @ d writer

I think dis story hv been abandoned ,pls writer do sometin

where is the writer of vhis interesting story?