Mana in the Modern World non illustrated version (18 page)

When Mr. Weller is led into the room by Agent
Amanda, he shakes a finger at them saying, “What do you stupid
people want now? I told you where I was. It’s not my fault you
cannot find that prostitute bitch. It has been an interesting time
but this is the last time I will be accommodating to you cops.”

“Please have a seat Mr. Weller, there are a
couple things we need to clear up. I am Texas Ranger Stone and this
is Agent Albright,” Anna says quietly. Sliding pen and paper across
to him she continues, “Here is paper n pen so you can possibly give
a better description of the woman you were with. Or should you
perhaps decide to be more forth coming. I remind you can have a
lawyer present if you wish.”

“O my, my. A girlie Ranger? Am I suppose to
get all rattled and afraid? I am my own lawyer and a damn good
one!” says Weller with a sneer. Jack nods to Anna to start the
illusion and says to Weller, “There are some people that believe
you had something to do with the death of several children.”
“Bullshit, I have nothing to do with any kids, don’t even like the
little beasts,” says Weller. A small faint form is slowly becoming
visible at the end of the table. “What’s that?” says Weller
pointing toward the figure. Glancing over Jack says, “I don’t see
anything. Maybe it is a glare from the window; I’ll close the
blinds,” says Jack as the gets up, walks through the very faint
child figure and closes the blinds.

Eyes wide and now beginning to sweat, Weller
stands, backing into the corner. Still pointing at the now
recognizable transparent figure of a female child he says, “There,
there, O my God, is that a ..a ..ghost? It cannot be, there is no
such thing!” Another figure starts to form beside the first as Jack
returns to the table, this time walking through both figures. Now
easily recognized, down to the clothing, as the last two he almost
certainly raped and murdered. Both specters point then their finger
at Weller and begin walking toward him thru the table. He screams,
“Get away, get away from me, you’re dead! Please God; no closer!”
He has recognized them as the last two he tortured, raped and
killed, even to still wearing the outfits they died in; but now
clean.

The specters move slightly apart and to each
side of him; but still somewhat toward his front. Now hovering at
almost eye level to the crying, quivering man they start poking him
with their fingers. Suddenly Weller’s bladder lets go. One specter
then points to the wall and, using her finger, seems to write
CONFESS OR….. in the color of blood. Weller screams, “Yes, I killed
both of you!” The specter then pokes him harder and writes BOTH
ONLY? “Yes, yes, yes I confess, I killed eleven of you brats!”
Weller shouts. “Now get away from me!” Both specters point to the
table with the pen and paper and then move further apart to allow
him to go set at the table. As he sets down and reaches for the
pen, a ghostly pen appears and seemly prints on the paper +
locations of ALL our bodies.

Whimpering, Weller fills several pages;
including his agreement to life without possibility of parole or
appeal in exchange for avoiding the death sentence; then dates and
signs each page of his confession. As Anna and Jack begin to sign
each page as witnesses; Weller almost faints as the specters pat
him on the head and then fade. The people watching the
interrogation via the monitors, which included the prosecutor and a
curious judge, saw nothing but a scared man confessing. Amanda kept
quiet but thought she had very faintly seen something forming where
Weller had pointed.

The bodies of eleven children are found at
the four very detailed locations in Weller’s confession plus his
souvenirs in a safe deposit box. At his sentencing hearing he tries
to recant his confession, saying he was temporarily mentally ill,
when he suddenly feels something start poking him hard in the
stomach, then chest and then his hair is actually seen being pulled
up from his head.

He quickly decides, in court, to plead guilty
to life with no possibility of parole or appeal. The hair on his
head is then seen to be gently tugged and then patted. His clothing
again clearly shows a large wet stain and a puddle at his feet. The
hair thing and puddle was caught by the cameras and created much
discussion and speciation about vengeful ghosts.

All the victims families sue for wrongful
death; taking the half his wife did not receive in their divorce.
Plus everything he had made since the divorce. His ex was present
at his hearing and was wearing a big smile the entire time.

Police and bomb disposal people respond to a
911 call about an explosion in a Houston family’s home. Neither
bomb dogs or forensics can find any trace of explosive material or
residue in the home of an amateur geologist. Very tiny pieces of a
glass or crystal like material is found around the area said to
have exploded but did not contain any explosives or explosive
residue. The two detectives gathered the wife and husband together
in the ‘lab’ to recreate the incident.

The amateur geologist said he and the wife
were in a heated argument when something in the rocks he brought
back from his gem hunting trip in the New Mexico desert exploded.
“Gems, gems, gems, then why is the charge for a room for two and
meals for two people charged on our card?” yells the wife. “Honey I
told you, that was the only time sweetie, I swear! Never again,
please Honey I beg you.” stammers the husband.

One detective notices that one of the clear
crystals on the table is vibrating and then a high pitched eeee
sound is heard increasing in volume. He quietly takes their arms
and leads everyone away. Pointing to the crystal he whispers, “Is
that normal?” “O my word, no,” whispers the husband, backing
further away. The crystal slowly stops vibrating. Remembering
certain notices about strange occurrences, the officer says, “I
think it best if you two stay somewhere else while we get some
specialists to check this out.”

Houston, being one of the ‘port’ city
locations to memorize; Jack n Anna arrived with the usual loud pop
of displaced air. “Wish there was a silencer for the port spell,
especially when two of us ‘port’.” says Anna while rubbing her
ears. “I hear that, maybe ear plugs?” says Jack, “Now that we
‘graduated’ to porting maybe it’s time to see if we start designing
our own transportation spells.”

“O yea! Did you see the personal actually
transform shape spell in his Grimoire? Won’t be long before we are
strong enough to do it and I still wonder why he refuses to allow
anyone to read Juneau’s Grimoire. O well, moving on. I really love
the pellet spell that Carol built, like a laser streak and makes
cool shooting stars; especially when at the end they get so hot
they flare. She still hasn’t figured out how to do specific colors
yet and I think that is starting to irritate her. I suggested she
try something else and let it lie so maybe it will come to her.”
replies Anna. “Yeah, sure glad we have plenty of space for our
practicing,” says Jack.

“But this crystal thing sounds a bit hokey
tho. An exploding crystal?” asks Anna. “Well we are now seeing and
hearing of strange things almost every day Anna so why should this
quartz business be any different? Remember Hiy-u’s crystal? Plus I
am beginning to think he is much older than he lets on too.” Anna
smiles and replies, “I hear that. And in the last agency email
bulletin he thinks more crystals may be showing up as the Mana
level continues to increase. Agent Kerrie seems to have a real
knack with cracking codes and languages. That information on the
clear, green and the red makes me hope she is translating
everything fully and most certainly correctly! Especially the
partial translation of what the Mages of Atlantis used a red
crystal to do! If true it is downright horrifying!”

“O yeah, just imagining having your mind
switched with an animal as punishment really, really, grosses me
out!” replies Jack with a shiver. Anna says, “I certainly hope
Kerrie is able to locate a source of some green ones too. I would
love having something that increases the power of our spells.
Especially as sooner or later we will be in a fight and using magic
for defense and to fight with.” “Yes and that makes me think; the
agency should consider finding a first rate gem cutter to put on
retainer in case it is decided to attempt cutting and polishing
some. Maybe one that is also capable of using the energy?” replied
Jack. “Wonder if the energy can be used to actually cut n polish
them?”

Meeting the couple outside their home Anna
and Jack went over the event once more to see if they remembered
anything more or different. Once inside the couple show Jack and
Anna to the ‘rock’ room. Anna, being the more ‘sensitive’ of the
pair, used her detect and noted there were two small, almost tiny,
clear and one cloudy crystals that indicated a slight bit of
energy. There was also a very tiny sparkly red one whose energy
actually had a ‘greasy’ look and ‘feel’ to the energy. Seeing and
feeling it made Anna a bit queasy in her stomach.

Jack, closely watching Anna, notes her
expression and says, “You OK Anna?” Tilting her head, raising one
eyebrow Anna quietly says, “Jack, I think the tiny red one is very
dangerous, if you catch my drift.” “O, you mean?” replies Jack.
Anna simply nods, swallowing hard, sweat beginning to bead on her
forehead.

“Sam, Edna, we are going to have to take
several of the crystals as you previously saw they are potentially
very dangerous,” says Jack, holding up a hand to forestall an
imminent objection from Sam. “But, we are going to compensate you
some for them. Might you have GPS coordinates of where you found
them?” Giving his wife a smug grin Sam replied, “Yes I have the
coordinates but first, just what is your offer?”

A tough bargaining session concluded;
crystals now in separate bags and out of sight Jack and Anna,
‘port’ home with the customary loud pop only this time they also
hear screams. “Will you guys please ring a bell or something before
you pop in?” exclaimed Beth, Anna’s mom. “Yeah, that startled us
half to death, especially after my run-in with Adam today!”
exclaimed Carol. “Truth, and what if one of us or one of the
‘ghost’ servants happened to be where you popped in?” says an
agitated Beth.

“Him again? You would think he would have
learned better by now but he did not strike me as being very
bright. What happened, do we need to chat with him again? O, and
did you get a chance to introduce Bob to him?” asked Anna. “O boy
did I ever! I think he may have pooped his pants! He certainly wet
them!” replied Carol, half her face in a grin, running in place,
and fists pumping with excitement.

“Beth, I think you are right about one or
both of us ‘popping’ in. Plus there may be a time when Hiy-u or
others need to pop in. So I will set up a designated room upstairs
to port into as outgoing will not matter except for the noise. Good
catch on that Beth.” says Jack. “Now spill your story Carol; before
Anna has a meltdown!”

“OK, here goes.”

**

“I went to Conroe to get some stuff for my
little truck Lucy; and thanks again for my eighteenth B’day
present. I’ve been thinking about switching her to bucket seats.
Anyway, I was in Braum’s having a milkshake when Adam plops his
butt down across from me. I asked why he wasn’t in jail. He said he
was paroled early for good behavior but I think he was lying. Then
he claimed I owed him lots of money because he missed drug sales
and for the drugs found in his car. When I told him I owed him spit
he started to reach for my bag on the table; so I had Bob crawl out
to meet Adam. Man did he ever get scared! He actually pissed his
pants and everyone was laughing at him! He did say he would get me
for that so I thought maybe you guys can get his parole
revoked?”

All laughed at the explanation and image of
the drug dealer so scared. Still chuckling; Anna says, “Yes we can
probably get it revoked as he clearly violated the restraining
order and more likely also see to it he will stay in jail this time
and without parole being allowed this time. Well done Carol. I am
so proud of you girl! Gimme a hug!”

Hug complete and glancing over at Beth who
nods, Carol says, “Uh …..something else I should tell you guys
about. The illusion I do of Bob….. well; after showing him to Adam
and when I had him crawl back into the bag I realized ‘he’ seemed
to actually lift the bag opening to go back in. I did not do that
part! Once home I told Beth about what happened and then I had Bob
come out of the bag to show her and …… well; Beth was able to
actually touch, pick him up and hold him as if he were real! I
don’t understand and it’s kinda freaking me out!” as Carol stamps
her foot in emphases.

Beth says, “Bob actually had some weight but
weighs a good bit less than a normal Tarantula would of one half or
less of his size. He has the Tarantula hair and fuzzy look but did
not feel fuzzy and he is very well behaved. He actually seems to
actually enjoy being petted.”

“O boy, it looks like another email to Hiy-u
to see if he has an explanation.” says Jack heading to email Hiy-u
who answers in about ten minutes.

Email answer:

Kerrie is about ready with another bulletin
with information that helps along those lines.

Check to see if Carol has a green crystal
somewhere. That is the only thing I can think of offhand to explain
the unusually solid Bob. Might be a good idea to have IMS agents
investigate a few rock shows and do a detect on not just crystals
but also everything they can see. Maybe check the museums too.

You three sure find interesting things.

Half an hour later a chime sounds denoting
another Bulletin has arrived in the secure room from Kerrie. All
rush in to read it.