seymoure

Chapter 12

“A Treat From Zazo”

“Doubtless,” Sebastian Claus said, to the gathered group, “We should ready ourselves for the arrival of the books. Once we take possession, we then become targets ourselves.”

No one had the slightest bit of idol chatter to add to that statement, so all did whatever it was that they did to mentally prepare themselves for the coming onslaught of other worldly terror.

Sanchez began to gather his weaponry, which would dwarf most infantry units about to launch an attack.

Vaskania sat in the corner, cross-legged, and meditated.

Jeanne Gary was reading a book on the history of the printed word in England.

Screed was playing solitaire. Actually he was playing three games at once with three different decks of cards. It, at times, seemed to become very physical jumping from one to the next.

Ethel Muntz was chronicling her experience into her blackberry to send to her notebook file.

Sebastian Claus was sitting in a comfortable over-stuffed chair in the corner, savoring a ho-ho.

When the door bell rang several of them jumped, that group, most noticeably not including Vaskania. The Baron barely batted an eye. Emilio Sanchez locked the firing mechanism on a very large gun.

Screed and Gary stared in the direction of the front door.

Claus rose and walked to the door. After a dramatic moment he opened the portal and all those within the room seemed to draw a single breath.

A second later the large man re-entered the room. He was carrying a pizza box.

The “regular crew” (read, everyone but Muntz) leapt to the consumption of the lunch like it was a treasure.

“Hurry quick,” Claus informed the author, “It’s Zazo’s and it is the best.”

She joined them in eating some excellent pizza and noticed that Claus also deposited something in his chest pocket.

“Did someone else deliver?” she asked.

“They are our plane tickets. We leave at 9 tonight for London. There we will meet with the last surviving person who ever knew Collier Paige, and other people of interest.” Jenny Gary told her.

“I’d better call and book a ticket and a hotel room,” Muntz said.

“We’ll be staying at the Threadneedles Hotel, since the Baron keeps a suite of rooms there,” Claus told her, “And your airfare is already taken care of.”

She looked a little stunned, and then Screed smiled at her and took a deep bow.

She didn’t know how long it would take to get used to this. She also wondered if there was any pizza left.