Chapter 17 The Poison
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She is immensely relieved when she sees the entrance empty and the door open.
She is not feeling completely safe, because they could be somewhere inside. She enters quickly and anxiously looks around on her way to the reference section but sees no one. She descends down the steps and finds the library completely empty except for the old, grey-haired Linda, the librarian, at the counter. Linda looks up when she comes down and Kadin knows what she will be asking but she has her answers ready. Earlier on Linda introduced herself and helped Kadin when she looked for specific books but Kadin is not sure if Linda remembers her. She helps so many people.
Linda speaks with her strong English voice: "Why aren't you at school this morning, dearie?"
Her eyes focus on the school blazer: "Framesby High School is quite a far way off. I remember you. You are a frequent visitor, but in school time? What is your name again? It sounds so exotic. Ah yes, why are you not at school, Kadin?"
Kadin is surprised that she remembers her name. "I am doing a special school assignment that counts for a great part of my year mark and I got permission for a very important meeting here in the library, Madam."
"Important meeting? With which project are you busy, Kadin?"
"Religious studies, Madam."
Linda is pleasantly surprised: "Are you going to meet a reverend?"
"The leader of an occult group here in Port Elizabeth."
Linda's expression changes to shock: "An occult leader! It sounds dangerous. You must not allow this person to exert a bad influence on you or lead you on a wrong track! You are such a beautiful, intelligent girl!"
"I want to deal with all perspectives and also the paranormal, but don't be worried, Madam, I just want to listen to him like an impartial journalist and ask logical, objective questions and leave it to the one who reads my assignment to come to his or her own conclusion. I want to give a broad survey of as many of the philosophical perspectives as possible and therefore I include the occult and hope to get good marks for this."
The librarian now looks quite impressed. "You surprised me in the past with your intelligence and that is why I remember your name, Kadin. I am only surprised because you are usually interested in history. Do you know where the section on philosophy is? You will find very interesting books there."
Kadin realizes that she will have to get reading material that makes sense to Linda so that she will leave her alone until such time that Billy and the wizard arrive. Maybe Linda will come and peep at what she is busy with and then it must appear that she is working through the appropriate reading material.
"I know, Madam. It is in the farthest room back in the left corner of this building. There are interesting books on spiritualism, the paranormal and the religious section is there also. Will you keep my school bag at the counter while I go and look for some books, please? I want to work on my assignment in the meantime while I wait for my visitors. A school mate works with me and he will bring the occult leader here."
"With the greatest pleasure."
Kadin hands over her school bag to Linda who puts it behind the counter somewhere and Kadin proceeds to the philosophy section. Now the booklet is hidden and safe. She examines the interesting reading material. In the past, she often wondered about ghosts and spirits and the idea of an alternative reality and she has visited this section more than once on her search for books about paranormal science and found very interesting facts. And now the secret script led her on a detour to this section again. Is this pure coincidence? Can the wizard really take over one's thoughts if you look into his eyes? She remembers the warning: Put me back where I was found before the world comes to an end, and if the devil visits you, don't look into his eyes?
Kadin finds the Bhagavad-Gita that the swami suggested; a book about meditation; a book about paranormal science and then a book with a name that reminds her strongly of the Bhagavad-Gita, the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Kadin takes place on the same stool that she occupied the day she met Billy. This is the place where the evil started and is hopefully going to leave them. She reads in the Bhagavad-Gita while she anxiously awaits her eleven-o'-clock appointment. Initially, it is only her and Linda in this section of the library and she wishes more people will come because it would make her feel safer. She has never been here inside school hours and the place is empty. Eventually, a middle-aged, white man enters and greeting her friendly with a nod of his head, he passes her and makes his way towards the newspaper and magazine section. He takes place at a table opposite her and starts to read in a magazine.
Later two, aged pensioners come in and also start to read newspapers and magazines. Three young students later arrive, and seat themselves at another table opposite her. It is clear that they work on a project. They frequently whisper to one another and with their fingers show the others something on the pages of books spread out in front of them. Nearing eleven-o'-clock Kadin feels much more secure because the library is busy enough.
The clock shows three minutes to eleven when Kadin's heart suddenly excitedly starts to flutter in her chest. Billy comes down the steps with the wizard right behind him. Billy is walking strange with unnatural stiff movements and he doesn't look good. He recognizes her but doesn't smile. Pale in the face he looks intensely at her while he comes straight towards her. She wonders whether the accomplices are waiting outside. Linda marvels at the wizard in his smart, tailored suit with his lush beard and the bulge on his head when they pass her.
Kadin rises and wants to kiss Billy but he turns his head and she kisses him gently on the cheek. He whispers softly to her: "Sorry, my mouth is rot, Kadin." He gives a little embarrassed smile: "They gave me something rotten to drink. We must sit down and obey and everything will be fine. I'll have to sit erect. My back is killing me. Go and sit down. I will be alright."
Billy's eyes are red and he looks weak and tired as if he hasn't slept at all for a long time. He sits down with difficulty and stiffly erect on the edge of his chair and put his hands under the table. Kadin also sits down while the wizard takes a chair opposite them.
Kadin whispers into Billy's ear: "Don't look into his eyes, he will capture your soul."
He whispers back: "Don't worry; I know ..."
The wizard speaks softly in his hoarse voice and Kadin hears the sarcastic tone. She avoids his eyes and looks at his hands.
"Do you see now, Kadin, there he sits beside you just like I said. Give me the booklet now."
Kadin worriedly looks at Billy. "You said they gave you something rotten to drink. Was this just before you have entered?"
He frowns. "Yes, they forced me. That is the most horrible, black potion. My mouth is still full of the stuff. That's why I did not want to kiss you. I don't want you to be poisoned as well. It is poison. You must give him the booklet before he will give me the antidote. Kadin, do as he says, please!"
From somewhere within her fury boils to the surface and staring at the wizard's hands she explodes: "Damn! What is wrong with you? Was this really necessary? We aren't interested in your stupid booklet! Give him the antidote so that I can give you the booklet!"
She looks at Billy and whispers urgently: "What have they done to you? Why do you sit so erect with your hands underneath the table?"
Billy looks worried and doesn't answer and she takes his nearest arm carefully and docilely he let her take his arm from under the table. Shocked she inhales deeply when she pulls up his blazer's sleeve and sees the deep cut marks around his wrists.
Nauseously she whispers: "What is wrong with your back?"
She tries to lift up the back side of his blazer but worried he prohibits her and whispers softly: "What now, Kadin? You can have a look later on. Give him the booklet."
Angrily she looks at the wizard's hands and aggressively whispers: "You said he should take the antidote before 11:15." She looks at the clock. It is already seven past eleven! Only eight minutes spare Billy from certain death. She whispers urgently: "Please, give him the antidote now. I promise I will hand the booklet over when I see he is okay. There are only eight minutes left."
The wizard has a mind of his own: "You'd better do what I say. Give me the booklet now! Time is running out and then the poison will devour Billy from inside!"
