The Wizard

Chapter 18

"You don't need to have your eyes open to see the sun, nor do you need to have sharp ears to hear the thunder. To be victorious you need to see what is not visible."

Sun Tzu (The Art of War).

A narrow gap appeared out of nowhere in a corner surrounded by trees in the Redenção park, in Porto Alegre. On the other side, a city made entirely of crystals could be seen. Stealthily, three living beings crossed it and the opening closed right after. They looked around to make sure there was no one to see what had happened and went out to the street.

"Are you sure he's here, my love?" Eduarda asked.

"He's not far, according to the detector," Igor looked at his fiancee and laughed. She learned to disguise herself and had the appearance of an old woman all wrinkled and hunchbacked. "Ouch, Eduarda, you're too ugly. Couldn't you have toned it down a bit?"

"Look who's talking." She also laughed. "And you look like an old pirate with that parrot on your shoulder and the eye patch."

"Parrot, parrot," Gwydion shouted. "I feel kind of ridiculous this way, so see if you can find him soon."

"Igor, where could he have gone?"

"According to what you said, he was in Rio, involved in politics and in about fifteen days he returned to Porto Alegre," the groom commented, thoughtful. "Is there any event here involving politicians?"

"Isn't it the time of the Expointer?" Eduarda wondered. "It is, and now I remembered that the president was going to the opening of the fair."

"You're right, angel, but the fair is in Esteio and he's in the central region of Porto Alegre," the groom agreed. "It would be the perfect time for that bastard to take over the president. Personally, I hate that woman, but that demon would be incomparably worse."

"Let's check the Piratini Palace or the downtown hotels.

Igor transported them to the Matriz Square, next to the Júlio de Castilhos monument, a place that should be empty, but, to his bad luck, there were a lot of people there. A woman saw the three appearing out of nowhere and started screaming and pointing at the couple. Forgetting that they looked like beggars, they hurried towards the governor's palace and, soon after, they were surrounded by three cops who held them. At his request, Gwydion took off and flew overhead, while the couple was taken to the front of the Legislative Assembly building, where there were some police cars. With the privileged position, they both saw the president and the governor getting into the official car under a shower of boos from the population watching. The two looked at each other and laughed, while undoing the handcuffs. They held hands and disappeared into nothing, leaving a bunch of policemen very astonished and also scared. The jump was short, just a few blocks ahead because he needed to guide Gwydion, who appeared two minutes later. They still saw the special escort group doing their jobs, but that didn't interest them anymore.

"It doesn't seem to me that the attack will be here, in the city," Igor said, thoughtful. "Sweetie, take care of us that I will concentrate on the crystal locator."

As soon as he picked up the detector, he found out that the creature was no longer there but about twenty kilometers away. The couple held hands, looked around and disappeared from the street to reappear next to a group of trees, near the entrance of the Assis Brasil park and already inside it. Igor pointed ahead:

"There are the information counters, but it's better to change disguises. Beggars, here, will attract attention right away."

"That's true, honey." Eduarda pointed to some guys who were walking around. "How about we play the cowboys? That way we pass as exhibitors. Faking a badge is a piece of cake!"