Order of the Majestic by Matt Myklusch

Author:Matt Myklusch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2019-05-06T16:00:00+00:00

12 Journey into Mystery

Shazad and Leanora were shocked. “What are you talking about?” Shazad snapped.

“That can’t be true,” Leanora said.

“I think it can,” Joey replied, looking grim. “I’m not saying I want it to be true. I’m just saying it’s possible. You don’t think it might explain why Redondo’s been living here like a hermit all this time?”

Shazad’s and Leanora’s expressions cycled through a mix of emotions ranging from confusion, to uneasiness, to skepticism. “Where’s all this coming from?” Shazad asked. “We asked you what happened over there. This is what you tell us?”

“Joey, focus,” Leanora said. She took him by the shoulders. “Go back to the beginning. What happened in the mirror world? Start there. We’re in the dark right now. Fill us in.”

“Right.” Joey took a breath. “Sorry,” he said, settling down a bit. He wasn’t used to being the one dispensing information. Joey backed up and went through the whole story, trying to stay calm. He told Leanora and Shazad how the Invisible Hand had ambushed him on the other side of the mirror and how Redondo had saved him but needed help getting out of there. Shazad balked at Joey’s account of using Houdini’s wand to defend himself.

“I’m sorry, this is too much,” Shazad said in a huff. “That didn’t happen.”

“He did come out of the mirror holding the wand,” Leanora reminded Shazad.

“I know. I saw,” Shazad said, a hard edge to his voice. “I also know no one else can use the wand while Redondo’s alive. How do you explain that?”

“I can’t,” Joey admitted. “Even Redondo couldn’t figure that out. You think I know?”

“Do the rules change when the wand’s master is dying?” Leanora asked. “Maybe it’s testing the waters. Trying new people out.”

“It doesn’t work like that,” Shazad said. His voice was firm. Certain. “The wand obeys one person at a time. Everyone knows that. We all held it yesterday. Nothing happened.”

“I’m telling you what happened today,” Joey said. “You don’t have to believe me, but it’s true.”

Shazad looked concerned. “Why would the wand pick you?”

“Why would you say Redondo got his old assistant killed?” Leanora asked.

Joey went back into his tale, repeating what the man in the top hat and scarf had said about Redondo not being able to take care of his people. He followed that up with the story of the first time the two of them had crossed paths. The late-night threats… the death-by-fire illusion… It all lined up with the articles Joey had read about the Majestic Theatre burning down and the child who was lost in the blaze.

“What did you say his name was?” Leanora asked.

“The boy? Grayson Manchester.”

Leanora’s eye twitched. Joey noticed.

“What is it?”

She shook him off. “Just go on.”

“Redondo told me the kid was his assistant,” Joey continued. “He seemed pretty broken up about it. I’m guessing he must have died in the fire. Look around. The burn marks are right here on the stage. You’re standing on them.”

Leanora nodded, looking down. “They seem to come and go,” she observed.

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