One Eye Less

The Magician

This is chapter 3 of the novella. Chapter 2 is still missing but you will enjoy this one anyways because each chapter is a thrilling stand-alone.

Early morning. In the pale light of the spartan 90s lamp, George sat at the table and hastily ate his breakfast while Martha, his wife, entered the kitchen,  “What’s the hurry, today?”

Still munching his flakes, he answered half baked, “Guests from the new company are going to arrive today and want to take a look at our house.”

Martha raised her eyebrows quite surprised as she sat down next to him, “They want what? Why do they want to see our house?”

He shrugged. “Probably trying to get to know me. They had a long trip and want to be shown around.”

“Sounds like quite a courtesy.”

“Yes, it is a bit much, but not too uncommon with international companies.” George took a sip from his glass of orange juice to underline his words.

Martha observed him tiredly. She didn't particularly like these global corporate courtesies. In a way, they were too intrusive, she thought. But companies were like that. Trying to be the life of the people. And George was involved in that kind of business. It was good money, but there was some distaste to it as well.

Wearisome she sighed, “Okay, but I will go to my room and hide because I am not in the mood for surprise guests.”
He nodded. “I understand. I guess it will be brief.”

##

A few minutes later, the guests actually came by. An enthusiastic ringing at the door announced their arrival. George rose to go to the door, and at the same moment Martha jumped up to reach her room at the other end of the corridor before anyone could catch a glimpse of her.

Relieved she shut the door behind her. George didn't mind spontaneous visits, but Martha preferred to have some time to herself during the week without having to deal with strangers all the time. She liked planned meetings, but not spontaneous ones.

Muffled noises came from the kitchen. Strange. Judging by the distinction in their voices, it seemed to be two women, a man and a small child. Martha wondered why there were so many of them at once on this business trip. It was more reminiscent of a family outing.

And then the voices came closer. Apparently George was leading them through the corridor and showing them the rooms of the house.
Martha took a deep breath and hoped that her husband would at least manage to keep her door closed.
Their chatter sounded bumpy through the walls, as they seemed to be the exhausting kind of people who never stopped talking.

In silence, Martha felt sorry for George. It was difficult to entertain such guests, she supposed. Then she realized that the cacophony of conversation had somehow faded. What had happened? From the last sounds, Martha could tell that the guests had somehow stayed in one room. But what would come about there now?

Suddenly the door opened, George hurried in and closed it quickly with deliberate caution. Wearily, he turned to Martha and hissed. "I need your help!"
Exaggeratedly, she whispered back. "Why? What's wrong?"
He looked around and made a grand gesture. "We need another room! Somewhere where they can't hear us!" He started waving his hand back and forth. "Come, come with me!"

##

He hurried to open the door and flew outside. His wife quickly followed him. They wound their way through the corridor past the room where the guests were staying, and at the end of the corridor George finally grabbed the doorknob, behind which was a staircase leading down to the cellar. Again he waved his hand nervously to signal Martha to follow him. The two of them hurried elegantly down the stairs after she had timidly closed the entrance behind them.