hell did she find us so
quickly? But I guess I should have known better than to
wonder.
“ You’re … with Wendell?
You’re a Facilitator?”
“ Oh please. Don’t be
worried. I’m just here to troubleshoot. We just thought you might
have checked in by now. Wendell said you would—”
“ I didn’t make any
promises,” I said. “I just told him I would try.”
She scrunched her eyes at me. “Can we
talk? Over coffee perhaps? There’s a nice little café around the
corner. We can get a private booth.”
“ We … uh … have a train to
catch.”
“ You have fifty-five
minutes before you need to board. We have plenty of time, I assure
you.”
“ Um. Okay then.” I
shrugged. Karla was being oddly silent and compliant.
We followed Sophie out of the building
and down a block to a row of converted warehouses. Her eyes darted
and probed the passersby, assessing every person we
passed.
The coffee shop had a Middle Eastern
motif. Persian rugs and sisal mats covered the floor. The tables
were low, with stools and a formidable array of hookahs in the
corner.
Sophie led us to a booth in the back
that had its own little privacy curtain. We took our seats, Karla
and I together across from her.
“ Instead of coffee, why
don’t we have chai all around? I’ve already had two espressos
today. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need any more caffeine.
Besides, what you’re trying to achieve goes much better without the
interference of psychoactive substances.”
“ What are we trying to
achieve?”
“ Well, apparently, you’re
having trouble making transitions. That’s what Wendell tells me,
and it’s apparent from your no show. So I’m here to coach you.” She
tilted her head at me and grinned.
“ Listen. Uh … I really
don’t need any coaching. I mean … I’ll go when I’m
ready.”
“ Yes, but you assured
Wendell that—”
“ I told him I would try. I
didn’t promise anything.”
“ That was most definitely
not his impression. Surely, you are aware of the urgency of our
situation?”
The waitress brought over three mugs
of spiced tea. I didn’t really care for it. It was way too sweet
and had too much milk, but I drank it anyway. A fly landed on my
finger. I let it stay, watching it preen itself with its front
legs. Seraf and Lalibela had irrevocably altered my relationship
with the insect world.
Sophie watched my every action with
the rapt attention of a primatologist.
“ You’re not bothered by the
little things, aren’t you?”
“ Why should I be? They’re
little things.”
She turned her attention to Karla, who
drank hungrily and had almost finished her cup already.
“ What’s with your
boyfriend? What does he have to be so smug about?”
“ Smug?”
“ Well … we have been
apart,” said Karla, who was still being oddly meek and quiet. “But
now we are together.”
“ Say no more. Young love.
All is right with the world. All polka dots and moonbeams. That’s
your problem right there.”
“ Say what?”
“ Keep in your mind that no
matter how rosy things look right now, your world is only moments
away from doing a 180 and turning to shite. All it would take is a
double decker bus to hop that curb and plow right into the shop
window. A terrorist deciding to toss a bomb. And if one of you
goes, I can tell that the other ain’t going to be too thrilled
about it, am I right?”
“ I knew it. You are an assassin.” I
searched for a weapon but all I had was a tea cup.
“ Not at all. I am a
transition consultant. Yes, I used to run with that pack, but no
longer. Now I deal with Hemisouls wishing to increase the frequency
and duration of their visitations to the Liminality. Those not
quite ready to take the plunge and become Freesouls. I’m here to
help you cross.”
I checked my watch. We still had
forty-five minutes. Karla nudged me and frowned.
“ I try to tell him, it is
all the state of mind. Is like surfing. You let your bad feelings
build like
quickly? But I guess I should have known better than to
wonder.
“ You’re … with Wendell?
You’re a Facilitator?”
“ Oh please. Don’t be
worried. I’m just here to troubleshoot. We just thought you might
have checked in by now. Wendell said you would—”
“ I didn’t make any
promises,” I said. “I just told him I would try.”
She scrunched her eyes at me. “Can we
talk? Over coffee perhaps? There’s a nice little café around the
corner. We can get a private booth.”
“ We … uh … have a train to
catch.”
“ You have fifty-five
minutes before you need to board. We have plenty of time, I assure
you.”
“ Um. Okay then.” I
shrugged. Karla was being oddly silent and compliant.
We followed Sophie out of the building
and down a block to a row of converted warehouses. Her eyes darted
and probed the passersby, assessing every person we
passed.
The coffee shop had a Middle Eastern
motif. Persian rugs and sisal mats covered the floor. The tables
were low, with stools and a formidable array of hookahs in the
corner.
Sophie led us to a booth in the back
that had its own little privacy curtain. We took our seats, Karla
and I together across from her.
“ Instead of coffee, why
don’t we have chai all around? I’ve already had two espressos
today. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need any more caffeine.
Besides, what you’re trying to achieve goes much better without the
interference of psychoactive substances.”
“ What are we trying to
achieve?”
“ Well, apparently, you’re
having trouble making transitions. That’s what Wendell tells me,
and it’s apparent from your no show. So I’m here to coach you.” She
tilted her head at me and grinned.
“ Listen. Uh … I really
don’t need any coaching. I mean … I’ll go when I’m
ready.”
“ Yes, but you assured
Wendell that—”
“ I told him I would try. I
didn’t promise anything.”
“ That was most definitely
not his impression. Surely, you are aware of the urgency of our
situation?”
The waitress brought over three mugs
of spiced tea. I didn’t really care for it. It was way too sweet
and had too much milk, but I drank it anyway. A fly landed on my
finger. I let it stay, watching it preen itself with its front
legs. Seraf and Lalibela had irrevocably altered my relationship
with the insect world.
Sophie watched my every action with
the rapt attention of a primatologist.
“ You’re not bothered by the
little things, aren’t you?”
“ Why should I be? They’re
little things.”
She turned her attention to Karla, who
drank hungrily and had almost finished her cup already.
“ What’s with your
boyfriend? What does he have to be so smug about?”
“ Smug?”
“ Well … we have been
apart,” said Karla, who was still being oddly meek and quiet. “But
now we are together.”
“ Say no more. Young love.
All is right with the world. All polka dots and moonbeams. That’s
your problem right there.”
“ Say what?”
“ Keep in your mind that no
matter how rosy things look right now, your world is only moments
away from doing a 180 and turning to shite. All it would take is a
double decker bus to hop that curb and plow right into the shop
window. A terrorist deciding to toss a bomb. And if one of you
goes, I can tell that the other ain’t going to be too thrilled
about it, am I right?”
“ I knew it. You are an assassin.” I
searched for a weapon but all I had was a tea cup.
“ Not at all. I am a
transition consultant. Yes, I used to run with that pack, but no
longer. Now I deal with Hemisouls wishing to increase the frequency
and duration of their visitations to the Liminality. Those not
quite ready to take the plunge and become Freesouls. I’m here to
help you cross.”
I checked my watch. We still had
forty-five minutes. Karla nudged me and frowned.
“ I try to tell him, it is
all the state of mind. Is like surfing. You let your bad feelings
build like
Similar Books
