On returning home from church, Jack and Charlotte again fought over the guitar. He showed me a tune. Charlotte likened it to the cry of a donkey. A war of words broke out between them.
Aunt came scolding. "There are two, the Satan and the angel."
"Who is the Satan ?" Jack turned to Aunt.
"Who else but you?"
"She is not an angel, she is a bloodthirsty monster, a horrible monster."
"You are the servant of Satan." Charlotte fought back.
"Yes, I am Satan's servant. I'll put you in a black hole before too long."
"Tell me when you throw, I have to get ready." She showed funny gestures.
Jane and aunt burst out laughing.
A small smile came to me too, but his anger held me back.
I brought him out, took the witchcraft to relieve his anger, and asked him about Heriro Island.
"The pirate Henry Fogg lived on such islands. Maybe he lives on this island too? Sometimes we can't find his rusty lantern or knife. Haven't you heard of him?"
"I have heard of Henry the milkman here," Jack said with a bit of exasperation.
"Leave the joke, Jack."
"She doesn't know anything about the guitar, then she makes fun of me..? She doesn't understand my work, is it my fault? Because she doesn't know about it."
My friend was still in the heat of the battle. I laughed.
In fact, I was convinced that Charlotte was right and that he knew nothing about the guitar.
"You teach me the guitar quickly, and then I can give them a fierce performance? So let's prove what you are capable of in front of them?"
He looked at me suspiciously. "I am going to teach you Hell music, not a group of tones..! The sound of breaking sky. Angels and Satans alike will jump to hear it."
"They don't understand all the fuss. If they want to accept, they need a melody that seduces and calms the mind, a funny melody, you have taught me such a tune that is pleasant to listen to."
He looked at me for a few seconds. Looking for an answer in mind..?
"Okay, then let it be a dirge by the famous Italian musician Macassi Lamparni. If they hear that, they will run like the chickens left in the moonlight." He laughed.
"Is it a nursery rhyme?"
"Missionary Song," He lost his humor and said seriously." The story of God and Satan started a business. "
"What story is that?"
"This story of ours. Yeah, our life is a play of God and Satan. Both are giving us trouble. We play it funny with cries and laughter, like a clown."
"Is it?"
"Isn't it? We think we are brilliant and intelligent, but in reality, we are all clowns in a fun game to amuse God and Satan."
I shook my shoulder.
He stared at my smile like a clown.
"Come. That is how life is. Peace is only the feelings in the mind. When the thoughts and emotions are disturbed, the mind becomes turbulent and dark, and that blindness is restlessness. Nature has no part in it. It is in vain that we search for the shores of peace. If the mind is disturbed, any heaven will turn into hell. "
"What is the remedy?" I just asked.
"Remove the darkness from the mind that is unrest."
"How?"
"Remove fear from life. Fear is anger, fear is despondency, fear is selfishness, and fear is the feeling that leads man to all evils and makes him a sinner. So it can be said that fear is unrest. This is the only main enemy of the man who disintegrates life."
I saw a vision of life in the poet's words. Jack is a poet also, the poet makes poems in seconds. I also felt that it was the ultimate goal. Fear is a basic human problem. The various thoughts and feelings caused by it disturb a person and lead him to many actions and make him a sinner. When life becomes a fear, man becomes selfish, ruthless, and sinful. The purity of peace comes only in a fearless life.
"How to make the mind fearless? Are there any visions for that in your poetic imagination?" I asked the poet.
"Fear is in a troubled mind. It is our orthodox thoughts and views that are said to be narrow-minded. We live with many illusions. In our eyes, that's all life is. But the truth is that most of those concepts and precepts are false and unnatural, and none of them bring us peace and tranquility. So the mind should be directed beyond those thoughts. The mind should be shown the revelations of truth, and reality, which are the vistas of life and the universe. My opinion is that understanding life through that knowledge can remove the fear of illusions. As Lomeo said, the mind should be as wide as the universe, if so, we can live without fear. True saints are those who can live like this. Because only they can see God, universe, and life properly." He paused and continued. "Let us get out of this place before we are hit by the dried ghost wind that blowing in this barren land."
"Where to..? Isn't the weather nice? Can we spend some time here?"
"Shouldn't Satan be bound and handcuffed before he and his lovers go to frolic in the temperate waters of the Caribbean coral reef? Come on, let's go to the room for now. There are some parts about witchcraft to be written."
We went to the room. I could not help feeling a little apprehensive about the tasks that were to be done. Even in this modern era, we travel in a wooden raft till dawn, then we enter an island without human habitation, we do not even have physical strength..! I felt a shiver run through my mane at the very thought.
I went over to Jack, who was reading Melville Crash.
"Jack, what are things in Satan's world?"
"It's hard to say now, Miki. They seem to be interested in butter. A few days ago I saw a bat flying over the butter jar in the kitchen."
I was angry at that reply. "I asked about their terror, not about greed."
Jack looked up from his book with a grin. "Are they greedy? They don't live by eating like us."
"How is it then? By drinking human blood?"
"They show that savagery only to those they have a grudge against. Once a year they head to the shores of Hudson Bay, where Plopmart plants thrive."
"Why is that? To see sea turtles among the plants?"
"To break the stem of that plant and drink its juice. It will give them more power."
"If so, it will be Satan Cola..?"
After a while, Jack, who was looking at the book without paying attention to my goose, looked at me and laughed. "It's all that's in this book, not the stories I'm making up."
"Looks like some storyteller's imaginary creation?"
"Isn't this life itself magic, as Lomeo says? Friend, the universe is very strange and mysterious. Beyond what we know, many things still lurk as cosmic mysteries. God and Satan are such mysteries."
I answered with a sigh. Because nothing made sense of it.
"Many of those secrets you will soon learn."
"Won't this spell end soon? In an hour or two..?"
"It can't be said. If the Satans are there, the task will end quickly. Well, you take some paper and a pen. A few things to write down, or we will be exhausted by searching and turning the pages of this Satan book."
I was ready with pen and paper to write down the notes he would give me.
"This Melville is a great magician..! How easily things are done..! " I heard him say.
I couldn't help wondering if the praise was meant to wake me up.
"Aren't the notes you're about to say about witchcraft?"
"Yes, Melville's deeds bind Satan." He started reading.
Charlotte and Jane's laughter and the strumming of the guitar rose from below.
"These are the pre-witchcraft rituals, the things we have to perform here before we leave for the island." Jack looked at the book and began to say, and so did my writing.
"All these deeds should be done on a moonlit night, at midnight by a deserted and quiet river. The first thing we are going to do is purify the candle stand. It is something to tempt Satan. It must be sanctified by smearing it with the blood of the sorcerer. This is how Satan is summoned to the spell. It should be immersed six times in the flowing river chanting mantras and then sanctified with blood by chanting another mantra.
"Blood?"
"With my blood, that is the blood of the witch who performs the spell. That is what should be applied to it. Then it becomes holy."
"Then, is that candle stand unclean?"
"Like good and evil, there are positive and negative particles in the cosmic energy around us, which affect all things. The negative energy may have touched this candle stand. This action is to remove it."
I didn't reply. It was like listening to a fairy tale.
He continued.
"The second ritual is to chant and pluck meadowsweet flowers to hypnotize Satan. They should be plucked on a moonlit night after reciting a mantra and wrapped in a white cloth with a feminine scent. Let's steal a shawl or scarf of Charlott. As she is a human Satan the Satan will love that smell..!" He rolled his eyes in amusement.
"If she finds out, she will chase you and Satan together. You know her nature..? She is fire..!"
"We're not doing this by letting her know, are we? If she has a divine eye, let her find out, the disturbance of her is a little more. Don't we want to give her an answer like this?"
"If she finds out, I will be punished along with you."
"You just have to say none of this anywhere. I'll take care of the rest. Fear should not be in our dictionary."
"Fear is my main problem."
He continued. "The third requirement is a horseshoe. It is to bind Satan in the field of the spell. That is what binds him. There should be no horseshoe of the war horse. This ritual needs the horseshoe of a white horse that likes women. And, tied it with a thread and after chanting the mantra immerse it in the river ten times. All that is needed is a copper coin. It is to weaken Satan and make him subject to the witch. Then there is a copperplate inscribed with a mantra to ward off Satan and other demons. Write some mantras on it and cover it with a wet cloth for three days. I have already done that deed. I sealed the copper plate with the mantra in a small bottle and kept it safe. These are the pre-mantra rituals. We have candle stand and an ancient copper coin for these rituals in hand. All that is needed now is a horseshoe. It can be arranged immediately."
"Where is that ancient coin from the Black Sea coast?"
"It is a very ancient coin. It is believed to be more than two thousand years old. It was said by an archaeologist who is a friend of papa."
"Is it that old? Where, shall I see it?"
He took a copper coin from the cupboard and showed it. The text and the image in it were unclear. But it didn't seem as old as he said. It was certain that it would not age beyond a hundred years at most. But I didn't go to argue, no use, he will bring creations beyond my arguments. Why should waste time?
"If it is this old, it will fetch a good price if sold." I just said.
"That can be thought of after the spell. Or donate to any museum. It would be an honor."
"Once Satan is bound by witchcraft, will he be with us as our servant forever?" I asked. Just curiosity to know the end of this story.
"Once Satan is bound, he will be our servant forever."
"Can't we get rid of him?"
"Why avoid? Will anyone avoid the duck that lays the golden egg?"
"But is there no way to avoid him?"
"Yes, there is a way. Just put the horseshoe that tied him in the fire and burns it. A red smoke can be seen coming from it, which is a sign that Satan is freed from the spell power. But no witch would do that. Because he will never be able to enslave Satan again."
"So you're going to be a witch..?" I put on a surprised expression to amuse him. "Will Jack the Magician work miracles as seen in the movies..?"
"Witchcraft is for supernatural things. All supernatural things are miracles. I'm not the only one. You is also going to be a witch. If Satan gives us knowledge and power, then we can live fearlessly on this earth without fearing anything. True peace is being able to live without fear. But no matter how confident and knowledgeable we are, some human frailty always scares us for one reason or another. We live in fear of many things. That fear is the cause of the problems that complicate our lives. It disturbs us mentally and physically and puts us all in different ways with different thoughts and emotions. All the evils and sins we see on this earth arise from this basic feeling of fear."
"Is there anything left to write?"
"Next are the mantras."
"What are mantras..?"
"Don't write them down. Let's memorize. All these things should be done outside the house on a moonlit night. It is said that the riverside is best. So let's perform all these mentioned rituals before the spell here by the river. While doing all this, be careful if there are bats nearby. That's your job."
"Why need to monitor bats?"
"They are the Satan who is changing shape. It is said that they may attack."
"Will we be attacked?"
"Don't fear, we have taken precautions. That's the copper plate with the mantra written on it in a bottle. It will keep Satan away from us. That's what we carry when we go out."
"You have studied everything in detail, haven't you?"
"Yes, everything is well studied like studying for an exam. It has been behind this for a few months. It is just not a time pass. Isn't it a game to get supernatural things? Then we should be well prepared for it. Then the goal can be achieved."
When he finished that reading, I stopped writing.
"If the work on the raft is finished tomorrow, we can immediately finish all these rituals soon and leave."
"Don't we want money for travel expenses?"
Jack leaned back in his chair and began to look out. I guess he was thinking of a way to make some money for the trip.
The clock struck four o'clock. I heard the sound of uncle's car rolling and aunt shouting something.
"I have found a way." Jack walked over to the side of the cupboard. He opened it and took out a yellow leather bag from it.
"These are my old hats." He opened it and threw out the old hats.
"What will you do with these hats?"
"There is a shop in town that buys old clothes, can we take them there?"
"What do these hats get?"
"There are ten of these hats. The price is expected to be above twenty dollars." Jack scooped it all up and put it in a bag.
I imagined a confrontation with Satan. "Aren't there many mantras to learn?"
"It doesn't have to be studied. Let's take that book with us. We can look at it at that time and recite it."
" Right, there are so many mantras? It is advisable to take the book. How can the candle stand be sanctified with blood?"
"After chanting the mantra, place the candle stand in an empty place, then stand ten feet away from it and chant another mantra. Do this for half an hour. Then, it must be purified with blood."
I stared at him with a pale face. "Blood?"
"Yes, but why are you afraid? I am the one who has to take the blood and perform the ritual."
"I don't understand, Jack. It seems to be a bloody game?"
"Whoever has Satan's goods, will the Satan be his slave. So, after reciting the mantra the candle stand, that is Satan's goods that we have here, should be purified with his blood. Then Satan is satisfied."
"How to do it?"
"I'll take a drop or two of blood from my finger and put it on the candle stand. That's all."
"Oh, that's trivial." I breathed a sigh of relief. "When will this be done?"
"Tonight we must gather meadowsweet flowers, for there will be a moon. Those flowers should be collected on the moon. The next day we can perform the ritual of sanctifying the candle stand and the horseshoe, followed by the journey."
"So, when do you want to go to town?"
"Let's go now. But how to get this bag out of the compound without being seen by the family?"
That was a problem for us. If anyone sees it, the plan will fall apart. As it was getting dark, Jack suggested a way.
Jump over the wall behind the house.
But can't go down with the bag. So first one go down, then come back and stand at the bottom of the room. Have the person in the room drop the bag down through the window.
Although it is a risky method. It's getting dark. Jack went down.
I waited by the window with the bag. I was standing ready to drop the bag as soon as I saw his shadow below.
I saw him crouching towards the room. My heart was pounding. If the family knows, everything will be settled..! They will question the reason for selling the hat. My limbs felt tingly. As I started to put the bag to Jack, who was standing with his hand up, I heard my aunt's heavy voice from there.
"Who is lurking over there?"
I quickly hid the bag under the bed and ran out of the room.
When came downstairs, I saw aunt questioning Jack.
I went there with fear. Charlotte and Jane laugh.
"Mickey, why was he lurking outside with his hands outstretched?" My aunt looked at me suspiciously.
I did not lose my courage. "We were doing a soldier's sports exercises."
"But why was he holding his hands up? Catch the bombs coming?" Charlotte burst out laughing.
Auntie looked at us alternately. "When will the soldiers have next camp? Don't be mad and cause danger. In the next few days, the school will reopen."
Another shudder gripped me when I heard school.
If I want to go to St. Louis, I have to leave here next week. But I have agreed to support Jack's mission. Believing in it, he lives happily. If I withdraw from it now, it will be a big problem. He will quarrel, and this warm friendship will break, in short, that dream is not going to come true. A sigh arose from me when I remembered all of it.
"Jane told me last night that you were going to boarding school in St. Louse because you were afraid of math?" Won't she be lonely if you go? You don't have to go anywhere, I will teach you math for the next few days." Charlotte looked at me and said reprimanded.
I saw a surprised look on my aunt's face. "Going that far to study?" Aunt's voices were serious. "Anyway, don't leave the house for this one reason. Charlotte will teach you that."
I looked up at Charlotte. She smiled and pinched my face. "Do you want to study? That is the first thing to know."
"Yes." I felt like I was in a bad situation.
"Then we can start studying tonight. If so, will you continue in the country school?"
That question is confusing. My aunt put her hand on my shoulder.
"Tell me the decision of a good boy, Mickey. Your uncle will not like your decision to leave the home for fear of mathematics." They said a bit harshly. "Brave kids don't go away scared like this. In any case, I did not include you in that group, did you hear? My Mickey is someone who bravely tackles any problem and achieves success directly."
Can you imagine my situation at that time? My aunt has questioned my pride in front of three people..?
Aunt's talk floored me.
Everyone is eagerly waiting for my reply. I gave a short reply, though I wasn't sure.
"Once you learn math well, I can change the decision."
"Good. You are a good boy." Aunt patted my shoulder.
"Now you must not break your word," Charlotte said.
I looked at them all blankly.
There was nothing else to do.
When they left the place, I turned to Jack in pain. He understood my sadness.
"Don't mind this. If we meet our Savior, Satan, then none of this math is a problem. He will give us all the knowledge in the world in a capsule form. With that, we will become living encyclopedias."
"This story is only two weeks long, Jack. After that, you and I will go back to being the same old fools with our delusions." I said with a sigh.
"What made Napoleon a warrior? Confidence..! That is the energy of every mission. It takes determination that dreams can come true. If you are affected by the cataract of fear, then you will not see any way forward."
We spent some time in the garden.
Two more weeks later, my mind swelled at the thought of that hard time coming again.
So I didn't listen to Jack's speech. He told many things about Satan hunting.
Charlotte's class started at night.
It started with the biographies of the greats of mathematics.
She holds a Masters in Physics. So she had a lot to say about the math. Along with mathematics, physics was also studied.
In the first class, everyone except my uncle was present to watch my performance. I felt so embarrassed and tired. But there was no performance to show. In front of them, I pretended to be a brave man and faced Charlotte's questions. Then I wished I could meet the devil who was giving me the information Jack had told me in capsule form.
Charlotte kicked out Jack for trying to cause trouble there like a mouse.
The next moment he came back with some antics with his hands, making his eyes and face look terrible like a ferocious sorcerer. As everyone stared at the performance, he chanted a chant he had learned from Melville Crash and reached out to grab something from the air, but at that moment something fell from his hand.
A small pencil...
Everyone laughed at me too.
The spell broke and he left the place.
The learning Mathematics went well. I understood some things in the first class itself. I learned a lot from that class that the math teacher and the man with the round glasses, Harry Wilkes, didn't tell me. I felt like the wild animal that is mathematics was tame. I saw Algebra and geometry smiling at me amicably. The teaching was very detailed. I figured if I continued studying like that for the next two weeks, I wouldn't have to dread math. However, when that math teacher's face flashed in my memory, I felt slight discomfort.