Free Hilda the wicked witch by Paul Kater Page A

being on the run, and her patience was slowly
cracking up. "It broke when someone hit it with a door."
    "It... broke?"
    "Yes. In two pieces."
    "Oh..." Something seemed to crawl down his spine
for a split second.
    The waitress brought the coffee and was treated
to a nod from the witch.
    William sat back and studied the strange woman
who was sipping the hot coffee. She was a very remarkable person,
he thought. Intriguing. Her behaviour, the haunted look in her
eyes, the way she spoke. As if she did not belong here.
    "How was Bert when you last saw him?", he asked
Hilda, as the uncanny feeling that had gone through him lately
reared its tail again.
    "He did not say much. He was knocked out."
    "Strange. Only a few days ago I saw him and he
looked fine," William said.
    Hilda shrugged and drained the last drops of
coffee from the cup. She felt more empowered again, better and
ready for anything. She turned towards William Connoley. "You have
something I need."

12. Going home

    William looked at the woman. "I have
something..."
    "Yes. Something that I need." Hilda was positive
and determined, and she radiated that. She also wanted it ten
minutes ago.
    "And what might that be?" William Connoley was
paying full attention to her and confused as hell, but he was not
going to let her know that.
    Hilda picked up the man's uncertainty as if he
was waving a banner. "I don't know. I'll recognise it when I see
it."
    "Ah. And who told you this?" William was more
than curious to know how she could be so convinced, as he had never
seen her before. She hadn't even introduced herself to him yet. The
feeling licked his heels again.
    "Nobody. But I am certain of this. I got your
name, and the - ehm - source is reliable." Hilda had to be very
careful now, not saying things that might chase away this
extraordinary ordinary man. This man, after all, was the key to her
return. Angering him could have the adverse effect, and she was
becoming desperate to get out of this world. The insanities were
stacking up against the walls of her awareness, and she was not
sure how much more of that she would be able to take. There had to
be a point where either the insanities themselves, or the walls
that they were leaning against would crash down upon her.
    "I'll tell you something. I will go to my truck,
wrap up this book, and take it to the person who is buying it. You
sit tight and have another coffee. After the sale I come back here
and we'll talk about what you are looking for. I am very curious,
believe me." William smiled his most reassuring smile and patted
the woman on the hand. The feeling now not only licked his heels,
it was tugging at his hair also.
    Hilda stared at the hand and fury was firing up
over this impudence. An ordinary was not to touch a witch - but
this was not your average ordinary human, she reminded herself, and
forced herself to calm down. She had to battle the pressure down,
but she managed it, be it just.
    William sensed how Hilda tensed up and quickly
withdrew his hand. "I am sorry. It seems that touching makes you
feel uncomfortable."
    "If it is okay with you," she said slowly,
swallowing and fighting for control, "I will go with you. I am
going to stay in the background. You will not have to worry about
me being there." Hilda was humiliating herself tremendously and she
knew it, but it was the only way.
    William smiled. "Very well. You can come along
with me. And you can tell me about yourself, if you want. Your name
for instance." He reached for his wallet and put a few dollars on
the table, to pay for the coffee.
    Hilda picked up one of the pieces of paper and
looked at it for a few moments. It was green. It had letters and
numbers on it, and the drawn picture of a person in awkward
clothes. With a shrug and an expression of not understanding on her
face she put it down.
    "Is something wrong with it?", William
asked.
    "No... no..." She shook her head, wondering why
he did not put copper or silver on the table. Hilda had no