6.
The next morning I absolutely don’t feel like going to the pub I work for. But if I want to hold up a somewhat normal life, I’ll have to. Last night was a hell in which feelings of guilt were thrown at me in extreme waves and I cursed myself so many times I can thank my lucky stars when I’ll ever end up in heaven. Not that I’m a believer, but well, you never know.
I take a quick, cold shower and put on a comfortable jeans and white blouse with trimmings. With a little bit of mascara and lip gloss I’m ready for the day. Too bad I have to leave my weapons at home. I grew up with my weapons and learned to shoot when I was eleven years old, so not surprisingly I feel so much better when I have them with me.
I stroll to the kitchen in which the lovely smell of coffee meets my way.
Diedie, as usual in a simple stretch pants and summery shirt, stands whistling at the cook stove, baking eggs.
‘Good morning,’ I mumble and take a seat on the kitchen chair.
Diedie turns around and looks at me with a smile covering her entire face. ‘Good morning sunshine. Coffee?’
‘At least half a liter,’ I moan. I put my head on my arms on the table.
‘I’ve checked the computers,’ she says.
‘And?’
‘Nothing’s wrong. Not a single trace of hackers.’
The full cup is put in front of me. Slowly I tilt my head and take a sip.
‘Are you really sure about that?’
‘Pumpkin, I know computers just as well as I know magic.’
That’s true. Not only is Diedie a wonderful housekeeper and a powerful witch, but above that she’s also a marvelous computer expert. If those things, of which I don’t get much, would be living creatures, Diedie would certainly marry one.
‘I’ve been so stupid,’ I say pouting.
‘You learn from your mistakes. That’s the way life goes.’ Diedie turns to the cook stove and sprinkles some pepper on the omelets.
‘Where’s Jabar?’
‘In the herb garden, as usual. He can think about things best out there.’
Diedie takes a plate from the cupboard and shoves the omelet on it she puts in front of my nose.
‘Eat,’ she orders. ‘You still have to work for an entire day and I don’t think you’ve slept that much tonight.’
She also lays two toasts on my plate.
‘Is it that clear?’ I ask.
‘Darling, I’ve known you since you were dropped in front of the door. I know every trifling change in your condition like the back of my hand.’
‘Can’t you cast one or another magic spell on me so the tiredness disappears?’ I heave a deep sigh, because I already know the answer.
‘No, sweetie, I won’t and you know that. Witches only use their magic when it’s uttermost necessary. Like Chaucer said: ‘It is not good a sleeping hound to wake’.’
‘No, only making me to wake up is enough already.’ I grin.
‘Just eat your omelet.’ She starts emptying the dishwasher.
I obey and take a bite from the delicious omelet with coriander and chopped onions. Diedie is a real mother hen. Not only in her behavior but it also seems to be in her outlook. She has a little, plump figure, ginger hair and a round, ruddy face that still looks smooth and youthful despite her age of sixty-five.
Without a decent breakfast that I have to eat entirely she won’t let me go. Believe me, she can stop me without touching me, only by using words. I’m defenseless against it, even with an elaborated practical experience in defense and martial arts.
When my plate is empty, she comes to take it away and kisses me on my crown.
‘Jabar really isn’t angry at you. He understands you’re still a beginner and still have a lot to learn.’
Autch. Sweet of her, but on the other hand I feel so immensely small hearing it. It wasn’t my first order and I goddamn thought I could really deal with it without making mistakes.
‘Thanks, Diedie.’
‘You’re welcome love. By the way, the spell that protected your brains against telepathy and manipulation has been removed.’
‘As far as I’m concerned, it could have stayed. It worked splendid.’
‘Of course it worked splendid, but it’s never a good thing to keep walking around too long with magic inside of your body, honey.’
‘I could have known.’
‘Something that shouldn’t be inside of your body, always has its consequences.’
‘Will I than get a third eye all of a sudden?’
Diedie first looks shocked and than chuckles. ‘Silly. But it may be the case you’ll have to go to the toilet the entire day.’
Now it’s my time to look shocked.
‘Just kidding,’ she says with a wink. ‘If you can do it, I can too.’
‘Ha ha ha.’
‘The fact you’re so tired is probably the result of the magic.’
‘Pfuh, that’s everything? How long does it last?’
She shrugs her shoulders. ‘At the most one day.’
‘Okay, so be it. You made a delicious omelet, Diedie.’
She beams with pride, as always when someone praises her cooking skills.
‘My program will start in a minute.’ She puts the last dirty plate in the dishwasher and snaps it shut. ‘See you this evening.’
Diedie and her endless soap series. At this moment she’s totally hooked up on ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’. I think it’s just a dense and boring business, but she loves it and seldom misses an episode.
The coffee meanwhile turned lukewarm so I swallow down several cups. I collect the remains of my energy, put the empty cup in the washbasin and walk into the garden.
I look at the lake with the little isle melancholically. How many times have I swum in it when I was still a little child? Then I pretended to be a drowning person that washed ashore on the isle. Together with Oded I once even made a raft out of wooden planks and old barrels. I can still see Oded standing aside and laughing with my plays. Like the time when I made the raft shake and shrieked out because I was pretending there was a shark underneath it. Those carefree childhood years are over and done with now.
Past the lake I arrive at the garden shed where the herb garden is located. Jabar is weeding on his knees. Being an elf, he has the ability to influence nature. Not only the flora, but also every animal species. From insects to elephants, birds and reptiles. Above that he can manipulate the weather; making fog appear, make the wind change its direction, local showers, and even more. Nevertheless he doesn’t use his gift to keep the entire garden in order, he namely loves a challenge. Luckily he has green thumbs.
I don’t know much about vegetables and forget their names often, no matter how many times Jabar has told them to me. There are only a few that I remember because of their specific shape or characteristics. The Lady’s Mantle, which is valued for the leaves when covered in morning dew because it would keep the skin forever young, is blooming well, I see. Further on I only know Devil’s nettle with its tiny leaves and Feverfew, because I think the name is pretty cute.
Jabar doesn’t realize I’m right behind him. Between greenery he can lose himself and be so wrapped up in it he wouldn’t even notice it if the world stopped turning. I love to see him work and for a while I enjoy looking at his rooting hands in the earth. He digs a hole, puts some homemade fertilizer in it from our own compost bin and carefully puts a plant in it. Every plant is touched and handled with the same amount of care and love. They are like his children.
‘Jabar,’ I say softly so he doesn’t startle.
He looks up at me. ‘Manon, good morning.’
‘I’m going to Tempus Fugit.’
‘Say ‘hi’ to Oded and tell him I still have a great bottle of whisky we need to drink together.’
‘Okay, I’ll pass it on. Something else?’
‘No, nothing that comes into my mind right now.’
‘Diedie told me she didn’t find any tracks of a hacker.’
Jabar stands up sighing and dusts down his pants.
‘Yes, it stays a curious case that probably isn’t over yet.’
‘I believe you’re right,’ I say and look away contrite.
Jabar looks at me intensively. ‘Manon, that Selena had overpowered Ben and already collected the necessary information. You didn’t have anything to do with that.’
‘I shouldn’t have taken it for granted she was the new contact person.’
‘And then what? What would you have done then?’
I shrug my shoulders. ‘I could have interrogated her.’
‘Listen, you finished the order and what will follow now, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.’
He softly lays his hand on my cheek and tenderly looks at me. ‘To err is human.’
Fine, it’s just that I’m not a human being.
‘I know.’
‘So? The next time you won’t take it for granted, so you’ve learned from it.’
‘Uhum.’
‘Take care, will you?’
I nod.
Then Jabar turns around, leans down and continues with his gardening.
‘What time are you ready?’ he still asks.
‘Around eight, I guess.’
‘Good. Don’t worry too much, Manon, it’s doesn’t have any use.’
‘Yes, Obiwan.’
I walk to the garage and get in my car.