Part 31 (1/2)

Try. Try hard.

”You speak just the way you did when-”

How else would you recognize me.

”Silver, will this ever happen again?”

No.

”Silver-”

I love you. I'll see you again. Don't ever be afraid.

The gla.s.s stopped.

”Wait,” I said.

The gla.s.s didn't move.

I reached and touched it, and it didn't move.

It didn't move any more.

”My G.o.d,” said Leo.

I sat still, and the others began to move about. Clovis got up. He went to the drinks dispenser. Clovis and Leo were drinking, and Clovis brought me one of the drinks and put it down on the table, and his hand shook. Before I knew what I'd do, I caught his shaking hand.

”Let go, Jane,” he said.

”Tell me first.”

”I can't. Let go.”

I let go of him.

”Who the h.e.l.l was it?” asked Leo.

”A friend of ours,” Clovis said. I began to cry, but vaguely. I'd thought I'd never cry again, but this was only a sort of reflex. ”Jane,” said Clovis, ”look at the gla.s.s. The seance gla.s.s. Inside, where the magnet was.”

I picked up the gla.s.s and peered into it, rubbing the tears out of my eyes. There was no magnet. There wasn't even the chip missing-it was another gla.s.s.

”Austin,” said Clovis, ”burst in here one evening, picked up the table and hurled it at me. I ducked and the table hit the wall. As for the gla.s.s, I thought he'd try to eat it. We had a lovely uninhibited time as he ranted about fake seances and liars (both of which he'd known about for days; clearly he is a fermenter rather than a creature of impulse), and sobbed and threatened to throw me or himself out of the window.

I told him which of these two alternatives I'd prefer, whereupon he decided I'd make an interesting pattern on the street. He left hurriedly when I reminded him about my policode and suggested I might just have pressed it already. The rigged wiring in the table was torn out, and the gla.s.s was in twenty- eight separate pieces... or was it twenty-nine? It isn't likely I'd have asked Jason for a replacement after we all went off him in such a big way. I planned to work the gla.s.s myself, this time. But I didn't get a look-in. I don't think this drink is helping me at all.”

”Then it was real.”

”Disgustingly so. Unless you did it by willpower and telekinesis.”

”Cogito ergo oops,” said Leo ironically.

Clovis half turned to him. ”Leo. It's been great fun, but I'd really be happier if you packed your bag and left.”

”You what?” Leo asked, surprised.

”Get out,” said Clovis. ”We are through.”

”Charming,” said Leo. ”Decided to go straight, darling?”