Alchemist's Cookbook

Page 9

       Page 9:

       In the northern United State mix:

       2 Alchemists

       1 Merc

       A whole lot of ice

       A crazy cult

       A crazier foe

       And in Casita’s words, “ROAD TRIP!!!!!!”

       

       “I, hate, Alaska.”

       This was Casita, sitting by a fire, with a cold. We had found an old hunting cabin right near our location and had taken shelter. There was a forest nearby so Wally and I grabbed some wood for the fire place. There wasn’t any food, but it was better than being outside. The fact Wally can do alchemy without a cold forge was a real blessing, and something he IS going to teach me. 

       “Could be worse, at least we’re in America. What would have happened if we landed right in the middle of the Cartels?”

       “Why couldn’t we have landed someplace nice, like Florida?” 

       “Truth be told, it’s nice to be back on Earth.” I paused, thinking. “How long has it been? Longer than a month. Wish I had kept better track.”

       “Let’s see, you arrived at the end of July, it’s just about October now, and you’re doing pretty good.” Wally said. “You’re alive, you’ve got a home, you’ve got a great hobby, and you’ve got a circle of friends.”

       “Virgin.” Casita coughed. I gave him a look. “What, you’ve been there two months and haven’t slept with one girl.”

       There was a loud crack at the door. Wally stood and approached the door. He opened it, letting in a ferocious gust of wind. Outside it was almost impossible to see due to the lack of light. He slammed the door and latched it.

       “Must have been the wind.” He muttered. I thought I saw something go past a window, but it could have just been snow. Slowly my hand crept to my rifle.

       “Something up?” Wally asked.

       “Thought I saw something.” I paused. “Are there Fisch in Alaska?” My parasite twitched. I wonder what that means, or if it was just my own nerves making it do that. 

       “Well, if you do, wake me up.” Casita said. He picked a spot and was soon asleep. I moved closer to Wally.

       “Hey Wally, you have a parasite too, right?”

       “I guess, I haven’t exactly gone to the doctor’s in a while, and I never got that report back from Colonel. Why, it bugging you?”

       “Well, sometimes I wonder how much of what I do is really it. When I hurt my leg on the volcano it took over and helped me fix it, and I once almost forced May’s arm into a tub of parasites.”

       “Don’t know, like I said, I didn’t know about it until you gave me that report. It would explain the anger.” He paused. “But blaming everything on that makes it too easy. Still, it would explain a lot.”

       We were both quiet.

       “So how are we getting home?”

       Wally grinned. “Have I ever told you about my third trip to Earth?” 

       “Third?”

       “I was a soldier before I was a refugee.” He paused. “That’s a painful story, but I’ve been an alchemist for a while. Once I was experimenting with a new formula I had never heard of with Camille. It was supposed to cause visions.” He chuckled. “It sure did, after about the strangest hour I’ve ever had I woke up some place in Mexico. Wiped out half a cartel getting Camille back.” Despite the fact they had just tried to kill each other, Wally smiled at the memory. “Those were simpler times.”