A Blind Witch's Tale: Part 2

Of course, after I got through with my audience with Hugo I was anxious to test out my new gifts, well the ones I could try out. After composing myself, I asked Randal if he had genuine Atlantean artifacts? Randal was ahead of me, he already had an artifact out for my examination. He put a small figurine in my hands. I ran my fingers over the figure. It was made of metal. Randal told me it was a silver colored metal that is no longer found or forged on Earth. It was a figurine of a dolphin. After I told Randal, he told me that I missed the most interesting feature of the figure. I ran my fingers over the figurine again, the dolphin had only one eye in the middle of its head. As I held the dolphin and examined it I felt a tingling coming from the ring.That was the sign it was a genuine Atlantean artifact. Anyhow, while I was examining the dolphin Jai and Neck came into the room.Their romance was progressing, (hot and heavy), but at least they were easier to be around. Jai had stopped the hyena laugh whenever Nick said anything remotely funny. Anyhow, I told Jai and Nick about the audience with Hugo. Jai of course wanted to come with me. I told her I did not know, since I had not been contacted yet. Jai and Nick dropped me off at school. Yes I was getting a lot better at dealing with my audiences with Hugo. Anyhow, when I got back to my office I decided to try out the power of the anklet. I walked over to a class room I knew would be getting out soon and another class would be starting. In other words I found a place that would have plenty of foot traffic. I stood with my back against the wall a few feet from the door. I also had my cane out (that usually gets some attention), but not blocking any entrances. Test time came, people just walked by me giving me no notice. I even heard the voice of a Professor I knew as he entered the classroom a few feet away where I was standing. No one noticed me, I guess Hugo knows his stuff. I finished up the few things I needed to get done at the office and decided to walk home. I took a detour to a park near where I live to feed the crows, well to leave some peanuts in my usual spots for the crows. It was a pleasant afternoon, so I decided to sit for a while. to feel the breezes,the Sun on my face, and to listen to the birds. I was getting a lot better at recognizing bird calls, I felt like blind guy from Greek mythology Tiresiaus who could understand the language of the birds. This of course got me to thinking about my study of the Blind Witch, you know understanding the birds is something you would expect a Blind Witch to do. The Blind Witch is supposed to have strange powers that sighted people do not. I think the explanation for this is that sighted people have trouble with the fact that blind people react to non-visual cues. That blind people can build a perceptual world out of touch, sound and smell. That it is possible to think in tactile images instead of visual images. This non-light world must seem supernatural, especially considering all the associations light has with knowledge. That there is knowledge without light. You noticed I did not say dark world. That is because "darkness"is a category of sighted people. Instead the world of blindness is full of sounds, smells, and textures. You know, all those things sighted people don't pay attention to. I suppose what I am trying to do is to create a philosophy of Blindness, or more accurately a metaphysics of Blindness' to describe the general interpretation of what the world feels like. Anyhow as I was thinking and enjoying the afternoon, a man approached me. Yes I could hear the heavy footfalls of a large man, and he cast a large sound shadow as he was standing in front of me, so I said: "Hi" This must have been the opening he was waiting for, he addressed me in a serious tone: "I would like to pray for you, so you can recover your sight" I quipped back: "It won't do any good" Before I has a chance to tell him I had fake eyes, he interrupted me in a pious tone: "Never doubt in the power of the Lord, blah, blah,blah." I answered in an amused tone: "I am guessing you have done this before, how many times has it worked?" This seemed to take him back, so I continued: "You should save your prayers for someone who needs them. I am not broken." He retreated after this exchange, I did agree to take a pamphlet "Anyhow the next day the call did come about the Atlantean artifacts, the call came from Richard Chen. He was acting as an agent for the group. Richard knew that I was a necromancer, although I never did get it out of him if he recommended me. I did get the impression that this was very important to him. He started out asking me if I could identify Atlantean soiul jars, I said "yes". Then he offered me a lot of money. I told him I was not interested in money, instead I wanted 5 soul jars and 3 more favors frome him. I knew my demands were, but I also knew there was no one else. And in negotiations it is always easier to come down in price than go up. I really only wanted one soul jar. He told me he would have to get back to me. That he had to consult with the Order of the White Worm. That afternoon Jai, Nick, and Randal met me at my favorite coffee house. Of course the topic of conversation was Atlantis. Jai remarked: I would have never thought Atlantis ever existed. So it just sank into the sea?" Randal answered in his informational tone of voice, I could tell he was happy to show off his knowledge: "It did not just sink, Great Dagon destroyed Atlantis, The Atlantean leaders were making alliances with Yig's serpenoids. They were trying to breed human-serpenoid hybrids in order to conquer the Earth and other planets." Jai continued: "So they actually perfected a way to reduce people to their essential salts (dust) and bring them back to life?" Randal continued in a pleased tone of voice, he was really enjoying showing off his esoteric knowledge" "Yes they had reached a very high knowledge of necromancy, and the other occult sciences. They were very bold and ambitious people." And the discussion continued with Jai, and Nick asking questions, and Randal answering or I should say showing off his knowledge. Randal really liked being the smartest person in the room. Anyhow, later that evening Richard called me back with a counter offer. I could have two soul jars, and one more favor from Richard. I accepted. Richard gave me the travel arrangements for the trip. He told me I was going to a private Island off the coast of Massachusetts that is owned by the very rich, and very secretive Furnier family. And that I would be working with Horace Furnier, who was in charge of the project. I would be leaving on Friday and be back on Monday. Jai and Nick took me to the airport. They wanted to come with me, but the invitation was for me alone. I felt both hesitant and thrilled with this opportunity. I liked it that I had a chance to show off my necromantic skills, and my wardrobe. I was really feeling like a blind witch. Anyhow, I settled into my seat and the luggage was being loaded. Yes, I travel heavy. As all this was happening I was told we were waiting for another passenger. A men boarded the plane, he had a very deep masculine voice. You know I like deep voices. He sat down next to me. I introduced myself: "Hi I am Gwen Chu I am an expert on Atlantean soul jars" I said in a light hearted tone. He replied: "I am Victor (call me Vic) Hammett, and am an expert on gems" I was about to say "Glad to meet you" when I heard a sharp intake of breath, and he blurted out: "Oh you're blind!!" I smiled and asked: "Yes, something wrong with that?" He replied in both a flustered and apologetic tone: "Oh no, you just looked sort of hinkey with the dark glasses." I smiled and exchanged some pleasantries with him. I knew he was a cop.Only cops use the term "hinkey". I had noticed this being around Jai and her police associates. Well things were getting interesting.