Read Online Black and Blue Magic by Zilpha Keatley Snyder - Free Book Online

said. “It’s just a stubbed toe. I’m used to them.”
    “I’m very sorry. I feel I am responsible.”
    “It’s nothing,” Harry said. “It doesn’t hurt.”
    “Well then, I shall attempt to explain my nocturnal call. You must be very puzzled.”
    Harry shrugged and tried to look as if mysterious midnight visitors didn’t bother him a bit.
    “You see,” Mr. Mazzeeck went on, “I had intended to arrange this interview at a more conventional hour; however, I have just received word from my superiors that I must proceed at once to my next assignment. As you see, I am leaving immediately.” He gestured toward the closet door, and Harry noticed for the first time that it was open and the closet was quite empty. On a chair near the closet was the small suitcase. The little table had been pulled out into the middle of the room and the big suitcase was sitting on it. The lid was down, but Harry noticed that the three heavy, old-fashioned latches were not fastened.
    “Firstly,” Mr. Mazzeeck went on, “I want to tell you how very grateful I am to you. Not only for returning my suitcase to me when we first met, but also for my pleasant stay in your mother’s home. I have not been so comfortable since ... well, since I started upon my wanderings. And the food—ah—it was delicious.” Mr. Mazzeeck’s wrinkled cherub-face smoothed into a faraway look, as if he were in the midst of a pleasant dream. Harry waited until Mr. Mazzeeck reluctantly pulled his mind away from Mom’s pies and cakes and went on with his story. “I’ll have to admit,” he said, “that I have purposely prolonged my stay because I hated to leave such comfortable surroundings.”
    Harry couldn’t help smiling a bit. He’d suspected Mr. Mazzeeck of hanging around longer than necessary—but Harry imagined he was waiting for an opportunity to use that sword on someone. And all he’d really been after was a few more home-cooked meals. The thought made Harry feel so good that he got generous. “Well, we’ve enjoyed having you as a guest,” he said. “We’ll be looking forward to having you stop here the next time you’re in San Francisco.”
    Mr. Mazzeeck suddenly looked very sad. “Ah,” he said, “I’d like that, but I’m afraid it’s impossible. You see, the next time I return to San Francisco, you and your lovely mother will no longer be alive.”
    For a minute, Harry didn’t believe his ears, and then it felt like his heart exploded in an enormous shattering thump. So Mr. Mazzeeck was a crazy man, after all—and he did have plans for that terrible sword. Harry got up stiffly, and started backing toward the door.

A Strange Gift
    A S HARRY BACKED AWAY toward the door, his face must have shown the horror he felt, because Mr. Mazzeeck suddenly seemed to realize what he had just said. He struck himself impatiently on the forehead. “Wait a moment. How foolish of me. You don’t understand, of course. You must let me explain.”
    Harry stopped backing up, but he didn’t come any closer.
    “You must understand,” Mr. Mazzeeck went on, “that you shall not be alive when I return to San Francisco, only because my orders do not include another trip to this area until the year 2071.”
    “The year 2071?” Harry gasped. “You must be kidding.”
    “No, it is quite true.”
    “How—er—how old will you be then—in 2071?” Harry asked edging back a bit into the room. He was beginning to be pretty sure that Mr. Mazzeeck wasn’t dangerous. Crazy maybe, but not dangerous.
    Mr. Mazzeeck thought a moment. “Just a bit over 3,000 years,” he said. He smiled his sad little smile. “You must have guessed by now that I’m not an ordinary peddler.”
    “Well, I did notice that you were—uh—not too ordinary,” Harry admitted.
    “Yes,” Mr. Mazzeeck said. “You see, I am an employee of the A. A. Comus Company and, although I am no longer a sorcerer myself, I am still a member of the A.O.A.T.S., with some of its rights and