Chapter Twenty-Five

They were exhausted.

They had walked the water system for hours. But without further result. However it was clear that the contamination was gone. As mysteriously as it had appeared the water contamination had disappeared without trace.

It was dark as the cab pulled to a stop outside John’s apartment. Already they had dropped Jane off at a subway station so she could make her way home. John was next.

“Jane said I was to stay with you until you hand the sword over for analysis,” Peter said, expecting an argument.

“Actually, I would appreciate it if you would come up with me,” John replied.

Peter frowned, he knew John had lived with a man. Jane had filled him in on the gossip at the Station once she knew John was going to be assigned to the team. He looked at John. John seemed nervous but it did not appear he was hitting on him.

“Why?’ Peter asked.

“My partner was killed here. I just don’t want to go up on my own. The Crime Scene Cleaners are finished so it should be all right. But you know...”

“I understand,” Peter interjected. He felt sympathy for John. It couldn’t be easy to come back to what was a murder scene.

“I’ll get you a coffee. Just black, I don’t have any milk.”

“Great,” Peter said as they got out of the cab. John paid the fare.

As the cab drove away Peter felt further unease. This seemed a tough run down area. He wondered how easy it would be to get a cab if he needed it later.

John was waiting so Peter followed him into the building. As they entered, John took the sword out of his holdall, but not drawing it from the scabbard, abandoning the holdall in the lobby. This added to Peter’s nervousness and he wondered if John wanted his company in case danger awaited.

The apartment was in immaculate condition. John checked out the rooms and then felt himself relax.

His Espresso coffee machine was gone. So was the fridge. So was the television. He turned to Peter.

“All that’s left is the cans of Guinness I left on the fridge. Who ever did the apartment over mustn’t have liked the flavor. Can I offer you one?”

“Sure,” Peter said agreeably. “I’ve never tried one. I know the brand name and that’s about it.”

There were a couple of old glasses in a cupboard and John poured two and they sat on the sofa.

“Tell me the story of the sword,” Peter suggested as they settled.

“First let me use the wash room,” John said.

As he used the washroom John heard the shower curtain move.

“Hi,” the Greyman said.

“We need to talk,” John said, wishing he hadn’t left the ‘Great Fury,’ in the living room.

***

Nina’s mother put her eye to the spy-hole in the door wondering who was knocking at this hour. She was surprised to see a white faced young man with what appeared to be a pigeon on his shoulder.

“What you want?” she shouted.

“Tell Nina that Oengus is here,” Oengus replied.

Nina’s mother considered. She didn’t like Hugo but Hugo was in bed with Nina in Nina’s room.

“Wait,” she said.

She knocked lightly on Nina’s bedroom door and stuck her head in. They were both fast asleep. She shook Nina’s arm and Nina opened her eyes. Nina was startled to see her mother. Hugo would have a fit.

‘What,’ her look said.

Her mother indicated to come.

Carefully Nina got out of bed and slipped on a robe as she followed her mother out of the room. Hugo slept on in a deep peaceful sleep.

“What!” Nina hissed.

“There’s a boy with a pigeon on his shoulder.”

“Does he have a cat?”

“Can’t tell without opening the door.”

“I’ll talk to him, he’s a friend.”

“At this hour?”

“Hush and don’t waken Hugo.”

Nina went to the door and undid the bolts and chain. She was surprised to see Maedbh and the cat alongside Oengus and the pigeon. And both of them huddled in blankets.

“Help us please,” Oengus said.

“How? Hugo is asleep inside.”

“We need clothes and money and a place to sleep,” Maedbh said.

“Please,” Oengus added.

“My clothes won’t fit you Maedbh and anyway I might waken Hugo. And we have no money to spare,” Nina said kindly.

“What are we to do?” Oengus asked.

Nina looked at them. They seemed tired and spent. She knew she should tell Hugo and let him deal with them. But she worried that Hugo was in too deep already. Then she had an idea.

“The Contract Cleaners were in today and cleaned up the crime scene apartment belonging to the fireman. You can go down there. There might even be some clothes in the wardrobes.”

“Can you show us the way please,” Oengus asked.

It was with difficulty that Oengus had located Nina’s apartment in the building and he had no desire to wander further in the dark. He had remembered it was on the fifth floor and his uncle’s on the fourth, but it was a large building.

Nina shrugged. “I’ll drop you there and come back to you in the morning when Hugo is gone. Just stay out of sight. Did anyone see you arrive?”

“Not really, we got in the ground floor when an old woman came out. We pushed in but she paid no heed.”

“She thought we were tramps looking for a warm place for the night. She gave Oengus a dollar,” Maedbh explained.

Nina smiled, she thought it sounded like the kindly old lady on the second floor.

“Come on,” she said.

Nina led them down the stair to the floor below and over to John’s apartment.

“See,” she said, “they have taken away the crime scene tape, but it is probably locked. Looks like they fixed the locks.”

“We’ll have to force them again,” Oengus said.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Nina said. “Don’t be too noisy. If there is trouble they won’t call the police. The neighbors will just throw you out or worse.”

Nina slipped away and they were left in the dark looking at a locked door.

“Suggestions?” Maedbh said.

“Ssssh,” Venus said. “I hear noise within.”

Oengus put his ear to the door.

“I think it’s John,” he said.

He knocked gently.

Inside John startled and nearly dropped his beer.

“Was that a knock?” Peter asked.

John grabbed the Great Fury and pulled it partly out of its scabbard. He cautiously approached the door while Peter stared at him wide-eyed.

Outside the door Oengus felt a stab as if he’d got a fright but he was not afraid but he knew there was something powerful inside the door. He stepped back while Maedbh regarded his reaction with concern.

There was no sound.

Gathering his moral strength Oengus again knocked gently on the door.

John peered out through the spy-hole in the door but it was too dark in the corridor to discern anybody.

“If someone is knocking on the door they can’t be trouble,” Peter said reasonably.

“Rubbish,” John hissed, pulling the sword fully out of the scabbard. It glowed and pulsated energy in a low purple green light.

“Get the door, Peter,” he instructed.

Alarmed, Peter went to the door and drew the bolts and then turned the locks. Dramatically he drew back the locks and threw back the door, stepping back with the door to leave a full view to John with the pulsating sword.

John’s jaw dropped when he saw Oengus standing there in a blanket.

“Hi,” Puca said in his best pigeon voice, “we meet again.”

“The stone?” John asked.

“Hi.”

“Is that the Great Fury?” Oengus asked.

“Come in,” John insisted, putting the sword back in its scabbard. The menacing light disappeared.

Peter stared as Maedbh adjusted her blanket and followed Oengus, Venus and Puca into the apartment.

“Hi,” he said weakly.

“Hi, I’m Maedbh,” Maedbh said with a smile.

Peter just stared. He’d never seen a more beautiful woman.

Maedbh knew he was smitten. Not bad either she thought and watched as he locked the door.

“Do you know where I can get some clothes,” she asked. “I’m naked under this blanket.”

Peter swallowed hard.

“I can lend you my shirt,” he said.

“Take it off then.”

“I have some stuff in the wardrobes,” John said with a grin, having overheard the conversation.

“Is the shower working?” Maedbh asked.

“And there should be some towels in the cupboard if the thieves left them behind.” John added.

“Let me check,” Peter offered.

“Anyone for a Guinness?” John asked.

“If I can be a Kerry Fisherman,” Puca replied.

“Just a saucer full,” Venus said.

“May I have my sword?” Oengus asked.

“It’s not your sword,” John said flatly.

“What!”

“You were sent to get it. That doesn’t mean it is yours.”

“You told me where it was,” Oengus said.

“I lied, sorry, wrong location.”

“Do you think it is yours?” Oengus asked.

“I stole it after I stole you Oengus. That makes it mine.”

“Who did you steal it from?” Venus asked.

“Oengus the God of Love,” John said.

“I’m Oengus.”

“Your father is the Oengus.”

“I’m told my father was expelled from Otherworld in disgrace.”

“Right there,” John said. “We came back to the Bronx.”

“My father and you?”

“You don’t think as a mere mortal I could have stolen the son of Danu, a God.”

“He helped you,” Maedbh guessed.

“He was going down anyway. He wanted the sword and they wouldn’t let him take it. So we stole you together with the sword. It was his vengeance.”

“And you stole the sword from my father,” Oengus asked.

“I thought it was an antique and I’d sell it. Help get an apartment in Manhattan.”

“But you didn’t?”

“Turned out it had a life of its own. It pulsates. It called out for its owner. That is your father. I had to hide it in a special place. That way your father couldn’t find it.”

“Do you still see my father?” Oengus asked.

“No, he became an aggressive alcoholic. Couldn’t stand him.”

“Was it Oengus’s father who captured me and Oengus?” Maedbh asked.

“I doubt it. I expect they are creatures of a different hue.”

“One of them is a vampire,” Maedbh said.

“And one of them is called the Greyman. He can kill with an embrace,” John said.

“Hi,” the Greyman said. “Nice to meet you all.”

The Greyman had stepped out of the bedroom, having slipped around by way of the en-suite door when Maedbh came for a shower.

They froze in shock at this sudden apparition.

“There’s one in the shower, and this here is my colleague Peter holding the towel, and the other is Oengus,” John said.

“The prisoners, well done,” the Greyman said.

“Sorry,” John said. As he spoke he drew out the Great Fury.

“Sit ,” he instructed.

“What?” Peter asked, totally startled by the turn of events.

“Is this all of them?” the Greyman asked.

“No, in addition to the girl in the shower, there’s one more,” John said. “We need to wait. He’ll come. The sword is calling him.”

“Will someone tell me what is going on” Peter demanded.

“Sit and be quiet Peter,” John said coldly.

“You’ve sold us out,” Oengus said, the realization dawning.