Free Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis Page B

you, is all too real."
      "What's in it that makes the book forbidden?" I asked him.
      "Spells, of course, along with descriptions of rituals, conjurations, directions for the making of certain implements and ingredients. Also, illustrations of certain... symbols."
      "So far, that sounds like a description of something that every practitioner has on his bookshelf," I said. "Or hers."
      Vollman nodded slowly. "In a general sense, perhaps. But the particular rituals and spells contained in the Opus Mago are used for the invocation and control of only the darkest powers. It is said that portions of the book were dictated by Satan himself, but that is probably a myth." He stopped, and stared at his hands for a moment. "Yes, a myth, almost certainly. In any case, this material is something no workaday wizard or witch would have access to. Nor is it anything they would wish to acquire."
      "You talking about calling up demons?" Karl asked. "Hell, we ran into one of them a couple, two, three months ago. No big deal."
      I wouldn't call almost having my head chewed off "no big deal", but I knew what Karl meant. Any number of wizards already had the knowledge necessary to conjure demons. Fortunately, most of them were smart enough not to do it.
      "No, the power of the Opus Mago goes far beyond that," Vollman said. "It is a great and terrible book. I have not looked within it myself, mind you. But I was present when it was given to Kulick for safekeeping."
      "Why?" I asked him.
      Vollman frowned. " Why? What do you mean?"
      "The way you put that suggests that you didn't give the book to Kulick, but you observed the transfer take place. Why were you there, if you weren't the guy handing over the book?"
      Vollman gave one of those little gestures that you associate with Mafia dons in the movies. It combined modesty and arrogance in exactly the right proportions. "There is, in this area, a loose confederation of those who are what you call 'supernaturals.' I have the honor to be its leader."
      Karl and I looked at each other for a second, then turned toward Vollman.
      "So it's you," Karl said.
      Vollman gave us raised eyebrows.
      "We'd heard that someone took over after Martin Thackery got staked," I told him. "But none of the supes we know would give us a name. You're the new boyar , the Man."
      "As good a term as any, I suppose," Vollman said, nodding.
      "Well then, Mr Man ," Karl said, "why don't you tell us who you think killed George Kulick, before my partner and me are too old to do anything about it?" Sometimes I really like that kid.
      But I didn't much like what Vollman told us next. "I have absolutely no idea," he said.

  So much for our hopes of clearing this case quickly. There was silence while Karl and I digested the bad news, then I said to Vollman, "But you must have some idea about the kind of person who did it."
      "I might," Vollman said. "But then I expect you have already reached some conclusions of your own."
      My chair creaked as I leaned forward. "Whoever did Kulick that way has got a strong stomach and good nerves," I said. "He didn't lose control, like they sometimes do. He just kept doing stuff to Kulick until the poor bastard broke and told him where the safe was. Gave up the combination, too. He must've, since the safe wasn't punched, peeled, or blown."
      "Kulick was tough, you gotta give him that," Karl said. "He took a hell of a lot of punishment before he finally gave it up."
      "He had sworn an oath," Vollman said stiffly. "He was chosen to safeguard the book because he was the kind of man who takes such oaths seriously."
      "Don't be too hard on him," I said. "He suffered for that oath, in ways you can't even imagine."
      Vollman gave me a bleak look. "Do not underestimate what my imagination is capable of, Sergeant." He gave a long sigh. "But you are right. Kulick's memory will be honored for what he did – or tried to do."
      "Still,