The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [184]
Putting his Mickey head back on, the little guy turns and motions for James to follow as he returns the way he came and exits through the door.
Following him outside, James stops suddenly and stares in absolute dumbfounded silence. “I know this place.”
“You should,” the little guy replies. “You’ve been here often enough.”
“Mommy, mommy!” a little girl squeals with delight as she runs over to the little guy in costume. “It’s Mickey!” She comes over and gives Mickey a big hug and then turns and poses while her mother takes their picture.
Mickey pats her on the head as she turns to him and says, “Bye, Mickey!”
“This is Disneyland!” James says incredulously, staring down Main Street USA, with Cinderella’s Castle at the end.
“Yeah,” the little guy says. “I love this place.” He begins to walk down toward the heart of Disneyland and kids continue to come up to him, giving him hugs and having their picture taken.
“How do you know about it?” he asks.
“I get around,” Mickey replies. “Besides, those of us who gravitate to what you call good, are drawn to such focal points in the universe.”
“Disneyland is a focal point?” James asks, astonished.
“Think about it,” replies the little guy. “What happens whenever someone mentions it? Those around them feel good, instantly. That makes it a remarkable place, there are few like it anywhere.” He pauses to have his picture taken with several children, their mother simply aglow with happiness.
“Everyone here on Earth knows of it and they continually direct good thoughts toward it,” he explains. “It’s almost a beacon in the night for those of us who can see it.”
“But why bring me here?” James asks.
The little guy pauses and glances back at James before more children requesting a photo op appear. When they are done he asks, “Would you like me to send you back?”
“No, not right now,” James replies hastily. He’s suddenly aware that his headache is gone as is the pain from the welts. Also, even though he is bruised, possibly bloody, and without a shirt, no one seems to give him a second thought.
“Ah, look,” the little guy says as he bends over to pick up something lying on the ground. He holds it up to show James, “Someone’s lost their wallet.” He walks toward one of the many workers and hands it over, saying, “My shift’s not over for a while, can you take this to Lost and Found?”
“Sure, not a problem,” the girl says as she puts the wallet in her pocket and then walks away.
“Sad when something gets lost,” he tells James. “When you lose something, you always hope an honest person will find it and work to get it back to you. All too often though, you never see it again. Such is life.”
“I suppose it is,” agrees James, not sure where this is going.
From up ahead, a group of teenage boys come running around the corner, hell-bent on getting to the next ride before their fast pass expires.
“No running in the park,” the little guy yells at them.
“Up yours, Mickey!” one of them yells as he swings around him and plows right into James.
Pain erupts in his head again and when he moves to get up, realizes he’s back in the chair strapped down. His headache is back though not nearly as intense as it had been. The pain of the welts across his stomach and chest on the other hand still throb painfully with every beat of his heart.
“James, thank the gods you’re finally awake!” Miko whispers with relief. “I was afraid you weren’t going to.”
The room seems darker and there are several lit torches in sconces around the room that weren’t there earlier. “How long was I out?” James asks Miko.
“A couple of hours or so,” he replies. “I’m not entirely sure. Night has fallen.”
“Was it all a dream then?” he muses to himself.
“Was what a dream?” Miko asks.
“Never mind, I’ll tell you later.” Looking around he finds there are still only the two guards that were there earlier. “We need to get out of here before ol’ One Eye returns,” he whispers to Miko.
“I think that would be a good idea too,” he agrees. “Magic?