By the end of Wednesday night, everyone was pretty tired. David and Master Naka had an overwhelming amount of new information to process, and the Envoys were a little stressed over having to introduce complete newbies to this new way of seeing the world. Leigh took Angie home, and Tony crashed at the club house. Justin and Karen took Master Naka to his hotel, since he’d made arrangements before coming to the States, and then took David home to stay with them.

The next morning, David wanted to make the rounds of the casinos, to talk to his contacts about finding some work to keep him busy. Karen had office hours that day and, since she’d just handed back her students’ mid-term exams and there were only a few days until Spring Break, she knew she would have too many students coming in to consider cancelling them completely. Justin had already gone to work, so Karen called Leigh.

Leigh went out shopping early that morning, and her cell never seemed to get a strong enough signal when she was inside Eastern Market. Karen left her a message and called Tony. She was just explaining to Tony what David needed when Leigh called back. Both Tony and Leigh were free that day, so they volunteered to shuttle David around together.

By lunch time, Karen had finished editing all the information the team had collected about their SAVE work and was ready to give the rest of it to Master Naka. The team had given him what they could the night before. But Karen thought it might be prudent to delete the names, addresses and phone numbers of contacts they’d met over the past couple years. She wasn’t quite ready to pass that kind of personal information on to someone they’d just met who wasn’t even a member of SAVE.

She called Justin and asked if he wanted to have lunch with her while she was out taking the data to Master Naka. Justin suggested having Master Naka and Fr. Colin, if he was still in town, as well as Aiden and Angie meet them for lunch. With David busy, it would give them a chance to talk freely with Master Naka, to find out just how much he knew.

They called Master Naka first, and he told them he would meet them at their house shortly.

They called Aiden next, because if he and Angie were at home, Angie was less likely to answer. Aiden sounded out of breath when he answered. “Free for lunch?” Justin asked him.

“Can’t. I’m at work right now,” Aiden told him.

“How about Angie?” Justin asked.

“She’s...” Aiden paused and checked his watch. “She’s in New York by now. She got a call early this morning. Her dad had a heart attack last night, so she went home to paste her mom back together.”

“Shit. Wow. OK...let her know we’re thinking about her when you talk to her, and let us know how her dad’s doing. And tell her she’d better call if she needs anything.”

“Will do,” Aiden told the two.

Karen got home a couple minutes before Justin, since she worked closer to home. They were just finishing their conference call with Aiden when Justin arrived; and Master Naka got there a minute later. He’d gotten a room at a hotel as close to their house as he could, and a rental car since he didn’t know how long he would be in Detroit. So the drive over took only a short time.

While Karen took Master Naka’s coat and got him settled in the kitchen, Justin called Fr. Colin.

“Top ‘a the marnin’ ta ye,” Fr. Colin answered. “Glad ye called. Have ye got a bit a’ time ta chat?”

Justin was so surprised that Fr. Colin actually answered right away that he almost forgot why he’d called the priest. “Dr. Nakatomi is here,” he blurted out. “Can you join us for lunch?”

There was a knock on the front door, and Justin went to answer it, grabbing the gun from the kitchen drawer on his way. Since he was wearing his ear bud, it didn’t interfere with him talking to Fr. Colin.

“Ah! Didn’ know ‘e’d make it here sa fast!” Fr. Colin said.

Justin opened the door with his left hand, the gun hidden behind the door in his right. Fr. Colin was standing on the porch, cell phone to his ear. He grinned broadly at Justin. Justin swung the door open all the way and invited Fr. Colin inside.

“Trouble lately?” Fr. Colin asked, seeing the gun. “Er just mar’ paranaid?”

Justin lead him to the kitchen. “Neither, really.”

Master Naka stood at the sound of Fr. Colin’s voice.

“Ah! Naka! Good ta see ye!” Fr. Colin wrapped the slightly smaller man in a bear hug.

Justin stowed the gun back in its drawer. “So, where should we go?” he asked.

“I can just make something here,” Karen told him. “Then we can talk freely.”

“I don’t want you serving me like some slave,” Justin told her.

“I don’t wan’ta put ye ta any trouble, lass,” Fr. Colin said. The subtle crease between her eyebrows told him she was already a little stressed. “Can I make ye some tea while we talk about it?”

Karen rolled her eyes and wondered if Justin was just trying to save Master Naka from her cooking. She wasn’t really that bad; but she was no gourmet chef. “Tea would be nice,” she told Fr. Colin warmly.

Fr. Colin filled the kettle and put it on the burner, then started preparing the tea pot. “Tea, Naka?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Are you vegetarian, Master Naka?” Karen asked, still thinking about their lunch options. There were plenty of places that offered vegetarian meals, but a few that would definitely be off the list if he was.

“I am.”

That seemed to stymie Justin, and he tried to think of vegetarian restaurants. Personally, he preferred a good steak, or fall-off-the-bone-tender ribs, or roast, or....

“Do you like Greek?” Karen asked. There were plenty of vegetarian offerings at Greek restaurants.

“I have not had it since Knossos.”

“Then I know the perfect place,” Karen said. “We’ll go to Pegasus, in Greektown.”

“Sa...what have they told ye sa far, Naka?” Fr. Colin asked his friend, as the tea steeped.

“Something about Dr. Carter reading ‘the card.’”

“We have another young man joining us, too,” Karen told Fr. Colin. “David Red Elk. He was sent by Weeping Sparrow to be ‘my apprentice.’” Karen grinned. She wondered how long it would be before she felt even moderately comfortable with that idea.

“He has his law degree from U of M, specializing in Corporate and Business law, and he passed both the Michigan and US bars. But his father wanted him to study with a shaman, and apparently Weeping Sparrow thinks I have something to learn, too, and sent him to me,” she explained. “Right now, he is absolutely certain that we’re all nuts and has no intention of being duped by us. So we couldn’t very well talk freely in front of him yet.”

“Well, I s’pose ‘e’ll be findin’ out soon enough,” Fr. Colin said.

“Hopefully before his face gets chewed off by a zombi,” Justin complained. It was still bothering him that the guy just refused to believe what he was seeing on the recordings.

“Anyway, Leigh and Tony are shuttling him around to the casinos right now,” Karen told the other two men. “He’s gonna need something to fill his time when I’m at work, and his contacts should be able to give him something to keep him busy until we can make a believer of him.”

They continued to chat over their tea, made perfectly in the Irish manner. “Well, I can take ye over ta the house, Naka. But I don’ t’ink Feng Shui is gonna fix it,” Fr. Colin told him.

“That is Chinese.”

Fr. Colin blushed at his mistake. “Sarry. Sa...do ye want ta tell about yer experiences, Naka?”

“Well, judging by your friends’ experiences, I have had nothing similar. I have read much in the literature.”

“What about Kitsune?” Fr. Colin prompted him.

Justin and Karen looked quizzically from one man to the other.

“Like Coyote in the Native American traditions,” Master Naka explained. “A trickster.”

“Can they possess people or objects, too?” Justin asked.

“They can, but it is not their usual mode of operation. I have also studied Hengokai.”

“Wait,” Justin interrupted, setting down his cup. “So Dr. Nakatomi has never encountered anything?” he asked Fr. Colin.

“Neither had most of us before our first time,” Karen pointed out. She thought about all the people she’d met over the past few years, including Justin. He’d had a horrifying encounter with the Unknown in Iraq; and yet, when the team went out on its first investigation, he was still a little overwhelmed by what they encountered. As was she, even though she’d been seeing ghosts all her life.

At least Dr. Nakatomi believed in the existence of the Unknown already. Some of the people that had become Envoys with their team, like Angie and Gary, didn’t know anything at all about that stuff before being dragged in by a friend’s struggle with it.

“So he’s a virgin?” Justin asked incredulously.

Fr. Colin put his napkin to his mouth and tried to suppress his laughter without shooting tea out his nose. “Well, if we’re done, why don’ we head up ta th’ house?” he said, dabbing the tears from the corners of his eyes.

“We could pick up something to eat on the way,” Justin suggested.

“We can’t stay there long anyway,” Karen said. “It isn’t safe. So why don’t we just go downtown and eat when we’re done there.”

The four took Justin and Karen’s car, and headed up to Warren. Along the way, Karen explained how Mental Shields and Spheres of Protection worked.

She and Justin wouldn’t be approaching within the perimeter Weeping Sparrow had marked the first time she’d been there, she told the men. Their close relationship made them too attractive to the attention of the Evil. But they would be as close as was safe, and they would be keeping an eye on the men, in case they needed help.

“The Shield only lasts for a minute,” she finished as Justin drove up Dequindre, “and I can only do it once every twelve hours.”

“You should probably save that for when we’re done, unless it’s an emergency,” Justin suggested.

Karen nodded. She and Justin were both a little surprised that the house didn’t try to divert them this time. But then, it wasn’t trying to prevent them from stopping a rape this time, either. Justin pulled into the driveway behind the shop and rolled up just until they could see the house. Fr. Colin and Dr. Nakatomi got out and walked over to the house.

Near the fire pit left behind by Weeping Sparrow the last time she was there, Master Naka sat down and began to meditate. Fr. Colin stood beside him, his head bowed and hands clasped behind his back, a rosary woven between his fingers.

As Master Naka sat there, he noticed that he could not hear any birds singing. Even in urban areas, there were normally birds. As he considered this, he realized that he could hear none of the normal suburban sounds. Even the ubiquitous sounds of traffic seemed muted, though they were very close to a major road. He didn’t feel directly the Evil presence, but he could tell that it was affecting this space. To have such an effect, it must be quite strong.

After about ten minutes, Master Naka effortlessly rose to his feet from Lotus position. He looked at Fr. Colin, who nodded. The men returned to the car.

“Well?” Justin asked, turning to look over the back of the seat at them.

“It’s deep and old and....” Fr. Colin started

“I don’t think an exorcism is going to do it,” Master Naka finished.

“We could bless th’ place,” Fr. Colin suggested. “But th’ beastie inside isn’ gonna like it.”

“It’s older than Catholicism,” Justin told them.

“Perhaps older than the Buddha,” Master Naka agreed. “I can understand why Weeping Sparrow feels it is necessary to be concerned about it. I am very interested in speaking with her.”

“We can certainly go up and talk to her when she’s feeling up to it,” Karen told him.

“It occurred ta me,” Fr. Colin explained, “that perhaps a different philosophy might have a better chance of sinkin’ inta its weak spots. Naka speaks sa knowledgeably that I didn’ realize that ‘e’d never encountered the Adversary.”

“The Adversary?” Master Naka asked.

“People call it different t’ings,” Fr. Colin said. “I call it th’ Devil. But I’ve been around Jesuits enough ta know that not everyone does th’ same.”

“Now...we were speaking of lunch?” Master Naka said, smiling.

When the four got to Pegasus, they asked for one of the small private rooms, and began to talk again after ordering.

“You said you had more of your research for me?” Master Naka asked Karen. She nodded and handed him the thumb drive loaded with everything else she was able to gather. She had never really bothered keeping notes herself. But most of the others had kept info about the team’s cases, usually in electronic form. Karen simply made copies of it all, and edited out personal information about SAVE contacts and some of the victims they’d helped.

Justin glanced over at Karen, and nodded. She got the hint and raised a Mental Shield. She winced at the effort it took, but there was a subtle change in the air. It was like there had been a constant loud noise that they’d gotten so used to being there, they didn’t notice it until it was gone.

Neither Fr. Colin not Master Naka had even felt the weight of darkness pressing down on them until the Shield removed it. Even Justin straightened a little, as if Karen had opened a window and let fresh air and light into a dim, musty room. She glanced around at the men, and they all nodded their thanks.

“So, what do you think about the Hell Mouth?” Justin asked Master Naka.

“It is an interesting challenge.”

Justin and Karen described the effects the Evil there seemed to be causing, from the increased incidence of domestic problems in a wide area around the property, to the things they’d personally felt when inside the house, to the incident with Vinny and Marie.

“So It has a significant environmental effect,” Master Naka said.

“And it seems to be getting worse,” Fr. Colin added.

“What is feeding It?” Master Naka asked.

“We think It feeds on the ill feelings It creates by Its presence,” Karen told him.

“Ah. It is creating a field of effect and potentiating itself.”

“It seems ta have a t’ing far destroyin’ good relationships,” Fr. Colin agreed.

“So, what do you know about SAVE, Father?” Karen asked the priest.

“Only what Damian told me. They’re meddlin’, they recklessly endanger others, and yet they’re oddly effective. I t’ink that’s what stuck in ‘is craw. Every time ‘is team and a SAVE team got inta somethin’ together, ‘e lost men and they didn’t. An’ they were mostly women.” He grinned and winked at Karen.

“You keep referring to ‘critical mass,’” Master Naka said. “Presumably you do not mean in regards to nuclear reactors.”

Karen laughed. It wasn’t far off.

“No,” Justin replied. “Frank, this other guy who’s part of the team but taking a break to deal with some other things right now, had this idea that if too many SAVE Envoys get together in one place, we attract ‘attention.’”

“Ah! You’ve gained a reputation,” Master Naka said, almost admiringly.

“That’s not such a good thing when you’re talking about the Unknown..or the Adversary...or whatever,” Karen told him.

“My first experience was when I was a grease monkey for the Army, in Iraq,” Justin said.

“Why don’cha tell ‘im about it,” Fr. Colin suggested.

Justin took a deep breath while he thought about it. Karen wondered if he would. She thought it might help him if he talked about it more, got it off his chest. But she knew it was extremely painful for him, like talking about her time in the ‘hospital’ was for her.

Justin let out a long sigh and stuck his head out the door to wave over a waiter. “Can I get some ouzo, please?”

“Of course, sir.” The waiter disappeared.

Master Naka grimaced when Justin asked for the ouzo.

“Sorry about the drinking, but it helps me get through the story,” Justin told him.

“It is not that,” Master Naka said. “It is your choice of beverage. Excuse me, but it brings back memories of a very bad pub crawl.”

“Now, I didn’ farce ye ta drink it,” Fr. Colin objected. “In fact, if I remember, it was a dare that I didn’ instigate.”

All four laughed, and the waiter came back with a bottle and four glasses. Justin downed a glass right away, then poured himself another, which he fidgeted with as he began talking.
Fr. Colin poured a glass for himself, and another for Karen when she nodded. But when he offered Master Naka some, the professor simply held up his hand to decline, with the hint of a smile.

Justin told Master Naka about how the creatures attacked and overran the base, killing every living person they came across. No amount of bullets seemed to stop the things; and the soldiers, both men and women, were forced, again and again, to pull back. They called for evacuation, but by the time the choppers got there, loaded up, and lifted off, only 15 soldiers were left alive from the full unit of more than 200.

“When they got us back to HQ, we were debriefed,” Justin told them. “Three days of tellin’ the story over and over, and they weren’t believin’ it anyway. All the Army wanted to do was hush it up because it wasn’t makin’ sense. So I finally gave up and went along with the story they told me I was s’posed to be tellin’. Otherwise, it would’ve meant a Section 8.”

He slumped back in the chair and threw back what was left of the ouzo in his glass. But when he leaned forward to pour more, he had to stop or risk squishing Drew against the table. The small cat climbed onto Justin’s chest and curled up there, purring.

Both Karen and Justin quickly checked for wait staff. “You always seem to know when someone needs you, don’t you?” Justin whispered to the cat. “Just, if anyone else comes in here, don’t get caught.” Drew head-butted Justin’s chin, then crawled down between his arm and the arm of the chair.

“So...how much do you want to know about SAVE?” Karen asked Fr. Colin and Master Naka. If they were ready to commit to membership in the ‘club,’ she would tell them everything she knew. But if not, then she would help them in any way she could short of giving them information that might put a contact at risk. Or, at least at any more risk than they were at already.

“Societas Argenti Viae Eternitata,” Master Naka said. “I know a little.”

“A ghost-bustin’ arginization ‘a sarts,” Fr. Colin added. “It’s not as active now, after somethin’ wiped out a lot ‘a th’ members back in th’ 80s.”

“I am aware of the organization,” Master Naka continued. “Like many, it grows slowly, gently, then its prominence brings too much attention.”

“The attention had help,” Justin told them.

“Like the Knights Templar,” Master Naka replied.

“Depends on who ye talk ta,” Fr. Colin told him.

“Lots of people have contact with the ‘other side,’” Justin said. “Sometimes the bad plays with the good. Other times the good fights back. That’s when the target gets drawn on you.”
“Joining SAVE doesn’t get the target off, but it gives you at least a modicum of back-up if you need it,” Karen added. “Certainly people can survive on their own after interacting with the Unknown. I lived most of my life interacting to a small extent with ghosts and am still here to talk about it. But I’ve come to realize that it’s only because I wasn’t a threat to the Unknown until I joined SAVE and started fighting It.

“I don’t know what the survival rate is for people who fight the Unknown on their own. It isn’t that great for Envoys. But it’s worse for people who joined SAVE then later decided to leave behind the safety net they’d grown accustomed to. That’s why I don’t want to force David into it unless he’s totally committed.”

“Sa,” Fr. Colin said brightly, “I wonder if Weepin’ Sparrow is lookin’ far a fella.” There was a gleam of mischief in his eye as he looked over at Master Naka.

“Age brings experience and wisdom and stamina,” Master Naka replied. “Until you’ve had Buddhist Tantric sex with a partner 15 years older than you, you do not know.” His eye glittered with mischief as well.

Justin and Karen just blushed.

“I gave it up about 15 years ago, for Lent,” Fr. Colin joked. “But I do know a little about it.”

“Better than a ham sandwich,” Justin teased him, referring to an old joke. “Do ya like the hat?” He made a little motion with his hand.

When he saw the blank looks on the faces of the other three, he told the whole joke, about how the ‘Sign of the Cross’ came to be: “Hey, you tall guys and you little guys, off’a the lawn Do ya like the hat?” The ‘Do you like the hat’ part referred to the little wave the Pope gives when he’s speaking from the balcony in St. Peter’s Square.

Then Justin rubbed his stomach and complained about having switched from the beer he had with lunch to the ouzo he had with the horror story.

“I’ve been resistin’ crossin’ th’ line,” Fr. Colin told Master Naka, “but I’ve seen some t’ings that would curl yer hair...if ye had any.” He grinned at his old friend. “95% of cases of possession are mental health issues. But the other 5%.... I didn’ realize, because ye speak sa knowledgeably, that ye didn’ have direct experience. But yer in th’ right place now. These people break th’ law of averages. An’ there must be somethin’ in th’ water, because they have a recurrin’ problem with zombies.”

“Well, it IS the Detroit River we’re talking about,” Karen laughed. She looked at her watch. She did have office hours that afternoon; but most of the students she expected to visit her had already come in that morning. “We could go to Mt. Pleasant this afternoon, if you’d like, Master Naka...so you can talk with Weeping Sparrow....” She looked at the others, waiting for their thoughts on the idea.

“Well, I’ll have a couple days off...unless someone calls,” Fr. Colin said. “But since I didn’ leave a travel itinerary....” He grinned. He’d been working hard the past few months, more so than usual. The Holy See didn’t generally condone taking vacations when there was an unusual outbreak of possessions taking place around the world. But if he didn’t take a couple days off to relax, he might not have the energy to do his job as well as he needed to.

“There are a few things I would like to retrieve from my car before we leave,” Master Naka requested, “if it is not too much trouble.”

On the way, Karen called Leigh and Tony to let them know that she and Justin would be taking Master Naka and Fr. Colin to visit Weeping Sparrow. If they weren’t back by the time David was done, she asked Leigh to stay with David at their house.

The group’s first stop, when they got to the reservation, was at the tribal police department. They would know where Weeping Sparrow was, since Karen wasn’t sure if they would be keeping her at the hospital or at her own home. Gordon One Tree, a nice guy who had been one of Weeping Sparrow’s bodyguards about 5 years ago, was at the front desk.

“She’s in the ‘Shaman Ward’ at the hospital,” Gordon joked. “I’ll lead you over there.” He tossed a ring of keys to another officer and led the group back the way they had come in. He grabbed a mountain bike from the rack near the curb as the others got into the car, and they followed slowly as he pedaled ahead.

“I thought you knew the way to the hospital,” Justin commented to Karen.

“I do,” she replied. “The escort is just kind of a ‘respect’ thing.” Most everyone in the tribe knew she was one of Weeping Sparrow’s students and a close friend. That relationship accorded her a certain level of attention, to which she’d actually become accustomed over the years, though she always thought it was a little unnecessary.

When they got there, Gordon parked the bike in the rack and held the door open for Karen. He gave Master Naka a respectful bow as he followed her through. Fr. Colin got a nod, and Justin, bringing up the rear, got a grin and a slap on the back. Then Gordon jogged ahead and led them toward the back of the building. At the end of a hallway, he pushed open half of a double door, and the group walked out into a large atrium.

The room was filled with green, growing plants, including a few larger trees. Steel trusses supported a glass ceiling, which allowed in natural light, and an artificial pond in one corner housed goldfish. There were even a couple large cages with finches and doves of several types, for patients to enjoy.

Smack in the middle of the space was Weeping Sparrow, in a bed with no electrical equipment attached. Running Elk had a bed nearby, and Evan, Fran and Jimmy were sitting between the two.

“See ya later,” Gordon told them, waving as he let the door close behind them.

“How are you, ma’am?” Justin asked, as the four approached Weeping Sparrow’s bed.

Weeping Sparrow nodded, and Justin quickly looked around for a white board or something for her to write on.

“I can talk,” she whispered, sensing his intentions. “I just don’t much, yet.”

Master Naka bowed deeply to her.

“Colin, you should introduce your handsome friend,” Weeping Sparrow whispered loudly.

Fr. Colin grinned. “I make known ta ye Dr. Ryokuro Nakatomi.”

Weeping Sparrow offered the professor her hand, which he took and kissed.

“I have heard much about you,” Master Naka told her. “I look forward to speaking with you when it is more comfortable for you.”

“It’s nice to have visitors,” she replied warmly. “Where’s David, Essiban?” she asked.

“He wanted to meet with contacts at the casinos today,” Karen told her. “Tony and Leigh are driving him around. He’s not at all willing to believe in any of the things we’ve told him so far. In fact, I think he thinks we’re all crazy.” Karen grinned.

Master Naka mirrored her expression. He had also noted David’s firm refusal to accept even the possibility of the truth to which he was being introduced.

“He has a great talent that he refuses to accept,” Weeping Sparrow said. “He has suppressed it so thoroughly that he may not even know he has it.”

“He seemed a little surprised to find out Karen was white,” Justin laughed.

Weeping Sparrow grinned, a twinkle in her eye. She had obviously anticipated that.

“At least she’s not as dumb as her white husband,” Justin said.

“Mons, you are knowledgeable in other ways,” Weeping Sparrow told him. “I think it will be good for you,” she said to Karen. “I know it will be good for him. In fact, his disbelief my provide some protection for you. Dr. Nakatomi, what brings you here?”

“Besides Fr. Colin? Your student’s house and the troubles of her and her husband. But to this room? I’ve heard you are a very wise and knowledgeable woman, and we can have many very good conversations.”

“We just came from the house,” Karen told her. But before her mentor’s frown was even fully formed, Karen explained that she and Justin had stayed as far away as possible while still keeping an eye on the other two men, who needed to ‘meet’ It in order to determine if they could help.

Weeping Sparrow nodded, understanding the necessity of going there, and approving of her student’s precautions. “You are Buddhist?” she asked Master Naka. The two proceeded to discuss Eastern thought for a few minutes, and Weeping Sparrow asked insightful questions that showed she was not merely being polite.

After about ten minutes of visiting, Weeping Sparrow was showing signs of tiring.

“I will look forward to having more conversations with you,” Master Naka said with a slight bow.

“I do have one important question for you before you go,” she told him. “Are you married?”

Justin blushed.

“I am not. And Mr. Kazotchek,” Master Naka said, “I believe this is in reference to your house, not to herself.”

Weeping Sparrow grinned. She was being a little playful, and it made Karen feel better to see her being more like her old self.

From across the room, the nurse gave the four a stern look.

“We should probably get going now, and let you rest,” Justin told her.

Weeping Sparrow nodded. “Stay a few minutes,” she said to Karen, holding out her hand.

Karen took it and sat in the chair beside the bed. Justin took Fr. Colin and Master Naka over to meet Running Elk, Jimmy, Fran and Evan.

Weeping Sparrow slowly drifted off to sleep, her hand warm in Karen’s. Karen dug in her pockets, and pulled out a pretty little stone she’d found on campus the other day. Careful not to wake the older woman, she slipped her hand free and wrapped Weeping Sparrow’s hand around the stone. Then she stopped to give Running Elk and the rest of the posse hugs before she and Justin, Fr. Colin and Master Naka returned to Detroit.