“That remains to be seen,” she replied ominously.
Zach felt a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. “Gamma said I could,” he retorted defensively. Even as he spoke, he winced at his infantile protest. He must sound like a five-year-old.
Maddie gave a mirthless laugh. “Just because your gamma said you could, doesn’t mean I agree.”
“But isn’t she the boss of you?” He peered up at her in confusion. She had to be almost six feet tall, and she wasn’t even wearing heels.
“The boss of me?” Maddie repeated in a menacing tone. “What do you think this is? Some stinking overlord pyramid where the guy at the top gets to shout orders at everybody below him?”
“Overlord?” Zach murmured weakly.
“We’ll get to that later. Sit down,” she commanded.
Zach obediently took a seat on the top step of the schoolhouse porch.
Maddie sat down beside him. Fishing around in her jacket pocket, she drew out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. “Mind if I smoke? Oh wait, I don’t care if you do.” She proceeded to light up.
Zach didn’t offer a comment. He watched her silently for a few seconds. At least she had the decency not to blow smoke in his face. “Do they let you smoke inside?” he asked hesitantly.
“Only in the chimney,” she said.
“The chimney?” He repeated, baffled.
“We’ll get to that later too.” She shifted sideways to face him directly. “That is if I decide you’re a good fit for this organization.”
“But Gamma said—”
She cut him off. “Your gamma, er, Faye can suggest candidates, but I’ve got veto power.”
“Oh,” he said in a small, disappointed tone. If Maddie was the decision-maker in this process, he didn’t stand a chance. He silently kicked himself for making such a bad impression when they first met.
“So, what do you think we do around here? In the Arkana, I mean.”
Zach shrugged. “I don’t know much. Gamma’s given me the brush-off every time I asked for the scoop. I know you guys run around collecting ancient artifacts. Like Indiana Jones.” His voice rose with excitement. “I mean, that must be so cool. Digging around in buried crypts. Beating the bad guys to the punch and collecting all the plunder.”
Maddie stared at him, clearly unimpressed by his enthusiasm. “Most tyros never get out of the vault. They do a lot of filing.”
“Sure, at first. Everybody starts in the mailroom, right? But after that. They get to go on assignment to someplace exotic and dangerous. Raiding tombs, fighting smugglers, and bandits. Jeez, that’s every kid’s dream!” He darted a furtive glance at her face to see how she was taking his pitch. Judging by her deadpan expression, his interview wasn’t going well.
“This isn’t some video game, junior,” she observed grimly. “People can get hurt. They can get killed. Some of them already have.”
Zach registered shock at her words. He thought back to the letter written by somebody named Sybil that had first given him a glimpse of his grandmother’s secret life. He averted his eyes, embarrassed.
“What’s the matter, kid? Did I burst your bubble?” Maddie asked sarcastically as she ground out her cigarette.
The boy shook his head. “No, it’s not that. I was remembering something. The whole reason I stumbled across the Arkana in the first place was because of a letter from a lady named Sybil. She wrote it to her sister Cassie knowing she might die. And now Cassie is on the same mission that got her sister killed.” He finally looked up at her. “I get what you’re saying. The risky side of your work. I understand it even better than you think.”
Maddie lit another cigarette. Casually blowing a smoke ring, she said, “Enlighten me.”
“I know because of Hannah,” he replied simply.
“Metcalf’s runaway bride?” Maddie treated him to a surprised glance. “What’s she got to do with the Arkana? She doesn’t know anything about what goes on here.”
“You’re protecting her,” Zach answered readily. “I know that much. I know she was forced to marry a guy old enough to be her grandfather. Spent her whole life locked inside a cinder block prison. When she first got outside, she was helpless. Didn’t know how to dress or talk or think or take care of herself at all. That’s because the crazy guy wanted it that way. He wanted to own her. I know the Arkana is fighting to keep him from getting hold of something that would make him more powerful. It seems to me a guy like that shouldn’t have any more power because he’s abusing the power he’s already got. It’s a drop in the bucket to protect one runaway kid, but I think if the Arkana stops this crazy guy from winning then it’s doing more than that. It’s protecting the world.” He hesitated, embarrassed that he had run on so long.
To his surprise, Maddie was watching him with a pensive look in her eyes. “Go on,” she prompted.
“I guess I only have one more thing to say. I always wanted my life to make a difference. I think the Arkana is trying to make a difference in the world and I want to be part of that.” He caught himself. “Er... that is, if you’ll let me.”
Maddie gazed off to the edge of the clearing and took another drag of her cigarette. A gust of autumn wind shook loose a clump of maple leaves that swirled in the air before fluttering to the ground. Finally, she spoke. “About eight years ago I had a tyro who was a lot like you. That kid rubbed me the wrong way from the get-go. So, I brought him out here and sat him down, and we had a chat. Just like the chat you and I are having today about why he should be part of the Arkana. Strangely enough, he gave me the same reason you just did.”
“Did he make it past the front door?” Zach asked nervously.
She finally turned to look at
