At last they gave her the freedom. She had had fought for it hardly and her young brother supported her. The magician also infused in me was on her side. She was allowed to roam freely with me as long as she was observing the customs. The customs that prohibited her from having romantic affection towards me. She enjoyed it so much. Just like a caged bird who is at last freed, she jumped from side to side, cheering. She asked where we could go the next day. I didn't want to see animals. She hated many people. The town library staff was on leave. I had an idea. I was to learn about the magician. I wanted to take him off my mind.
Accompanied with Kacey, we walked hurriedly towards the forest. I had one aim. To reach the magician as early before our parents could have in mind where I had gone. Kacey used to walk slowly, and the day sun was getting hotter as number of people on the road doubled with each thirty minute walk. I had to hold Kacey's hand when crowds began overtaking us. It was like they were heading for somewhere. I think it was a function that was to be held at a nearby stadium. I was almost right. They all were heading to the place to support their football team, Nax 1Fc.
Once we reached the stadium we diverted our way to another road that headed to the forest. This was the road the magician used to come to the town. There was no other way. He had no car so I thought he could just walk and if he left we could meet him. Our movement was sluggish due to the shoes Kacey was wearing. She was wearing shoes that were heavier for her legs. The sole was few centimeters higher than mine. This was the lightest shoe she had. At first she walked faster but after sometime it seemed like her legs were tired. She began dragging herself on the tarmac. I thought of getting her some skaters but who had time to teach her?
Time moved so fast as the sun rushed from the east to the middle of the sky. It seemed like every minute had been halved. It was like each minute had thirty seconds. If I were to reach the place at the right time. Time that will allow me to learn more about the magician and be able to get back home before sundown. We had walked for more than a hour. Distance that we used only thirty seven minutes. I had to carry her on my back. She resisted but I overpowered her.
As we walked down the road a black high power silent engine car docked near us. I wanted to run as I remembered how the police had told me of kidnappers. I knew most kidnappers used black cars with translucent glass. I even thought their windscreens were translucent. I was short to see who was in the car. I hurried to leave before the one inside to get out and catch us.
"Kid!" I heard a voice behind us calling. If I could remember it well, it were of the magician.I turned back to see the man wearing a black hoodie. I saw just another thing. A man in a blue designer suit. His shoes matched the suit. His long beard I think was his tie. My memories told me that I had seen that man somewhere before.
"What if he was the kidnapper?" my mind asked me as my heartbeat grew louder. Someone could hear it from a distance. I began to sweat as fright grew in me. I tried to figure out where I had seen the same person. It did not come into my mind. It was fruitless. The more I tried to remember the more I forgot.He began to walk towards us.
I began to run. Scared, Kacey began to scream. "Help!" she cried as I ran towards the forest. There was no house nearby. This was a forest reserve. Only tall elephant grass was on both sides of the road. What I knew was that this road headed to the magician's home. I ran but the sun was becoming hotter consuming much of my energy.As I ran, I saw the magician standing on the road before us. I remembered his words, He was a projection. I ran towards him as we shouted, "Help us!"
I bumped into him. Hiding behind his legs breathing heavily and both tears and mucus coming out though I had no cold. He had not stopped following us. He came near us. What I noticed about the magician was that he was not moving.
"Kids, your imagination is too strong. You will fall for tricks and illusions that people do in this world. You will create problems even where they are not. You must beat your imagination. Or else you gonna be manipulated. Take care of it," he said as he brought forward his hand towards us. He was the real magician. As long as your imagination is too strong, you will think that his projection is real. The projection did not disappear.
" How did the projection come? "I asked him.
" It is in your imagination. I'm not seeing anything here on the road. You imagined of me coming to rescue you. You created it from my energy. That's how you saw me. I will teach you how to stop that. There's something you have. Something strong. I don't wanna see it melt away, " he said as we walked towards his car.
" Where are we going to? " I asked.
" Hekima Studios. That is where I make a living. Hekima TV and Hekima Radio is where I give my wisdom for free. I have worked in Hekima Radio for years but before that I worked for government channels."
"About how many?"
"Many. That's all kid."
"Ok," I said with dissatisfaction as we entered the car. I was still carrying Kacey on my back. She was silent but I could feel the horror in her heartbeat. Her breath was still rapid."
Are you scared?" I asked her as I fastened her safety belt.
"Yes, what if he is not the magician? What will we do?" she said as she covered her face to cry.
"I'm sure he is," I told her.
"Then tell him to take us to the stadium. When they ask us where we come from we shall say the stadium. Even if we were to come here for the whole week we can. Because the games span for two weeks."
"Do you agree with what she has said?" I asked him.
"Yes, no problem. But your cousin has some mental condition. I don't know how she will react on seeing many people. I think I will have to hypnotize her. This way she won't be scared by people," he said as the engine roared.
"Ok, but don't hypnotize her. When I'm with her she can't fear. She'll just assume them," I said confidently.
"Oh this girl? Maybe, but I don't think so. She will even run away when she sees many people. I tell you. She has a phobia of crowds."
"I am great scientist. I have medicine for her fear of crowds. It's due to the inferiority that her parents had infused her for years due to the way they used to treat her. But now she'll be well. Wait and see. I'm sure the one who informed you about her condition didn't know what was going on with her," I said watching her tiny smile and her moving green eyes.
" So you mean a father can't know about their children? So you mean fathers are misinformed of what their children go through? What are you trying to say? Please clarify yourself, " he said angrily trying to avoid his voice being thunderous.
"What did you hear?" she asked boldly.
We drove towards a parking lot near the stadium. We then left for a nearby food shop to buy snacks and entered the stadium."
Do you fear?" I asked her.
"No," she said as we read the outline of events at the entrance. It was an all games tournament. They were preparing for the International All Games Tournament that was to be held in the next two months in China.
"Can we sign up? I see some games are still vacant. Darts, arrows, chess, table soccer, table tennis, golf for children, skating, biking for children, and many more."
"You know mother won't allow it. If she could then I would sign up. But she can't," she said sadly.
"Oh, you can play chess. I'm going to ensure you participate. I shall be your manager. Okay. I will try to convince your parents."
I was happy with the magician. "will you use your magic to make them accept?" my curiosity asked.
"No magic is not used to benefit yourself. You shall have to use it for benefit of all," he said as we left to watch football.