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As Henry was walking toward the school library, he saw Susie coming out from there. With lugubrious countenance, she trudged along, having left the library for lack of concentration. She changed her direction swiftly at the sight of Henry, having vowed not to have anything doing with him. Seemed like Susie had discovered something annoying about Henry.
Henry waved at her.
“Hi, Susie,” but she gave a yell. “Don’t you talk to me in your life! I loathe you, bloody liar!”
“Myself, liar!” wondered Henry as he looked on in horror.
“That’s what you are!” she affirmed, almost poking her index finger into his face. “You said you’re going out with Professor Wilson by six, I monitored you, saw you entering his office—only to come out few minutes later all alone. You never went anywhere with him. What d’you take me for, a fool?”
“Susie, you can’t understand…”
“I saw you, right. Deny it, you big liar!” said the sad-looking girl. “You used his office to cover up for it.”
“Not at all Susie—”
She was not patient enough.
“Okay, okay, okay, don’t you worry,” she said. She was almost weeping. “I’ll go ask him myself. If I found you a liar, bet me, every one will know about it in the campus. They’ll call you a white-lie monger. No one’s going to listen to your ‘I-hate-liar’ talks anymore.”
“Please, don’t do that.” Fear gripped him suddenly—the fear that the dean was soon going to know that he had told someone about the meeting. To deter her, Henry said, “Please for God’s sake don’t ask him. I’ll go with…” Henry had to pause, having seen that the girl had adamantly poked her fingers into her ears to block them as she doubled her pace, leaving him in jeopardy under the blistering sun. Henry had wanted to cajole her with his unfinished statement, but she wasn’t in the possession of sufficient patience to listen. He was going to promise a date with her immediately.
Henry had never wanted to insinuate the aftermath if Susie told the dean.
“Professor said tell nobody. He’ll have me roasted alive.”
Henry’s heart thumped at every thought of it. He had to skip the rest of the day lecture, retiring to his room for fear. That night he wasn’t able to sleep. He had known Susie for being incredibly daring. She could walk up to anyone to tell the person whatever she had got to say, regardless of whether such a receptor was going to be sad or angry about it. It seemed people were scared of her, perhaps as a result of her strange face and unusual physical structure. She was more like Kate in character.
While Susie was in her first year in the campus, she was incessantly disturbed by a male lecturer, who had asked to have an intimate sexual relationship with her, but Susie never liked him. The lecturer had often declared to Susie his ambition of getting married to her, calling her his fiancée publicly, whenever he was to address her. When she couldn’t stand the open insult anymore, she got upset. Right in front of every one in class that day she promised to slap the man’s protruded cheek, but he never took her serious, persisting in his wooing words.
“Whoosh!” landed the slap on his face. The lecturer fell flat to the floor.
Seeing the scene was one major reason Henry felt that he must try by all means to avoid her, though Susie had not begun to hanker after him then, since she’d not yet known the level of intelligence of Henry, because they were still new students then. Henry felt she was going to prove insurmountable for him; Kate she couldn’t subdue, let alone Susie, who never cared who you are, regardless of your gender.

Dedicated to Oluwatosin070

CHAPTER FOUR

THE SEVENTH QUESTION

“Welcome back,” said the dean.
“Thanks,” replied Henry. Silence followed.
“Now I think you’ve known what you didn’t know—eh.”
“What?” he asked.
“The answers to the seven great questions.” The dean laid more emphasis on the word ‘Great’.
“Yeah,” said Henry.
“What kind of power do great inventors have?”
“Magical power,” said Henry, having based his thoughts on the French inventor and some others he had seen in Gyrus.
“What’s faster than the rocket?”
“Movement in Gyrus,” Henry replied again promptly.
“I wouldn’t need ask on,” said the dean. “I believe you’ve got the answers to all—in Gyrus.”
“Not all.” Henry said, “I got one right back on earth before we left, but you said I was wrong.”
“Which one?” asked the dean, raising up three fingers and smiling.
“Yeah, question number three,” said Henry. “You asked where I would be in forty-five minutes, then I said, in the meeting. But—” Henry paused.
“Keep talking,” said the man.
“You said I was wrong.”
The man guffawed suddenly, making Henry feel embarrassed. The man said, “Ignoramus. Here’s ten minutes past six. We left for Gyrus exactly six p.m, so we’ve only spent ten minutes.”
Henry could hardly wait for the completion of his speech before protesting, “Untrue. I checked my wristwatch in the hall; discovered we’ve spent twelve hours. So, the time should be ten minutes past six a.m now—not six p.m as you’ve said. It’s next day already”
“You’re wrong Henry—still in today. We spent just ten minutes in the meeting.”
Henry said, “About four hundred people spoke over there. How on earth can that happen in ten minutes?” Henry believed he had justified his claim with the simple illustration he had just made, but the dean gainsaid it once more.
“You’re right by saying ‘how on earth’. It’s not possible on earth—remember Gyrus is another planet, where twelve hours equal to ten minutes on earth,” explained the dean.
His explanation appeared not good enough to convince Henry, who was always in his elements as far as argument was concerned.
The dean led him towards the window, opened it, pushed its blinds aside and they peeped. Through the window, Henry saw his colleagues walking about to their various hostels. They could not have been out there by 6 a.m. He also noticed that the arena was not quite different from how it was when he had entered the dean’s office earlier. Seeing same people at same places Henry began to believe the dean’s words. He knew they could not have remained in a spot for twelve hours.
“You’re right sir.”
“Always right,” boasted the man. “So, Henry where you’re going to be forty-five minutes from the time I asked the question depends on you.”
To keep his ego inflated, Henry quickly said, “Sir, the sixth question—what’s the answer to it?”
“About a friend, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” said Henry. “I said I will strangle him.”
“It’s not true. You won’t strangle such.”
“You don’t know my mind, do you?” said Henry. “I’ll strangle him.”
“You didn’t.” The man looked on him and said, “You met Ted, I’m pretty sure—your best friend—in Gyrus. He’s been into something good—magic—for the past two years, but he kept silent until you found it out yourself in Gyrus today.”
Henry became cold.
“You didn’t strangle him. I sensed that you felt at home instead, seeing him in there.”
“Yeah, I was,” concurred Henry. “It’s amazing. Sir, how did you know I won’t do that?”
“Seems like you forgot something.”
“What?” demanded Henry instantly.
“That I told you, prior to your initiation, that you can see someone else’s future.”
Henry’s eyeballs rolled to and fro inside their sockets. A sensation of enthusiasm descended on him and he said, a bit louder than how his voice used to be under normal situation, “Sir, the last question, what’s the answer?”
“What’s it about?” said the man, feigning ignorance.
“Can’t remember, but it was the most striking to me then when you were asking me about TEN MINUTES AGO.” Henry had intentionally stressed his last three words. “Can you remind me?”
“I’m not going to. You can walk up to me when you want—but make sure you’ve remembered it, cos I’m not going to answer a question that’s not asked me, cos I’m no simpleton.”
“Sir. I implore you to tell—”
“Forget it!” he yelled.
Henry looked at himself and discovered that the dark mirror was with him. He came with it from Gyrus.
“What’s it for?” said Henry. “Am I supposed to come with it?”
“Yeah, It’s for you. Do anything with it—look into the future, communicate with any member, do anything you want to whoever you want to see in it.”
Sadly, Henry rose up, preparing to leave, since the dean did not remind him of the seventh question. Coming out of the room, the Professor called his name and said, “It’s forty-five minutes! I was right by saying you are going to decide where you’ll be.”
Henry stooped, glancing at his watch. He saw that it was exactly forty-five minutes. The dean was right, because Henry’s ‘nick-of-time’ decision to leave had seen him out of the office at that time. Therefore, Henry had decided it, fulfilling the dean’s prediction.
Walking away dejectedly, Henry spent time thinking. Leafing through the ‘magazine of thoughts’ in his heart, Henry halted on the thought of his parents; what their reactions would be, should they know about his newly-found approach to life. Arriving at the conclusion that he would be disowned if they should know about it, Henry said, “I don’t give a damn.”
The following day Henry discussed at length with Ted. He asked Ted about the Seventh Question.
“Forgotten. I can’t even remember what it was, let alone supply the answer?” said Ted, transforming his visage to a wrinkled one instantly. Henry noticed it.
Ted said, “Henry, don’t ask me about it anymore.” To Henry’s amazement Ted was fidgeting visibly. Henry was dumbfounded by his friend’s attitude. Henry was about to ask him what was going on when Ted said, “At least for now don’t ask me that question anymore.”
Henry had known Ted for putting someone in suspense, so he felt he should not bother asking him that moment. Henry changed the topic:
“Let’s talk about your Uncle, shall we?”
“Go on, ask about him,” said Ted, wearing a happy face again.
“Ted, does your uncle know about your power?”
“He dare not. He’ll kill me.”
It baffled Henry.
“But—how have you been able to hide the mirror from him these two years?”
“It’s simple. I’ve got a private bathroom where I keep my mirror.”
“Uhm,” Henry said. “Our own bathrooms are free for all. We’ve got none personal.”
“Then try look for alternative.” Ted grinned and added, “How ’bout your parents?”
“They’re doing fine.”
“No—I mean do they know you’re now a magician?”
“They’ll disown me if they do.”
“It’s terrible,’ whispered Ted. “Your mirror—where’s it?”
“In my wardrobe, in the hostel.” Henry faced Ted. “I don’t think I’ll need it.”
“You’ll sure need it. You can’t do without it.”
“Hey man, I’m never concerned with people’s future, ’cos it’s no business of mine. Achievement is all I care for.”
“Was that why you became a citizen—in Gyrus?”
“Nothing else could have pushed me into it.”
“Stop kidding me Henry,” said Ted, disbelieving him. You have the potential already in you—to achieve things, You’ve won eight prominent laurels already, the Spelling Bee twice, International quiz and debate competitions, yet you said you became a magician just because you— ”
“That’s it Ted. I have to.” He brought his face closer to Ted’s and said, “A boy is contending with me result-wise. We’ve got same CGPA. He’s in the Petroleum Engineering. Professor said I’ll edge him if I join the magic.” Ted took it as a laughing matter.”
“Will you stop the joke?” said Ted, giggling. “No one’s as brilliant as you, as far as this campus is concerned.”
“I’m serious,” Henry said, face contorted in a grave manner, with wrinkled nose, typical of a Halloween wizard. Ted had to believe him.
“So… someone’s as good as you here? That fellow must be a first-class recluse—for him not to have been known by all—like you,” concluded Ted. “Petroleum Engineering—uh! What’s the guy’s name?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’ll sure find out,” Ted resolved.
Henry was bored already. He began to show some blasé attitude to what his friend was saying. He started with yawning, which culminated into sneezing, then coughing. Ted had known him for such displays whenever being bored.
“Hmm—seems you want the topic changed,” said Ted fondly. He had perceived Henry’s thought.
“Got it!” Henry replied. “Have you seen her lately?”
“Who?”
“None other than Cynthia.”
“Oh Henry!” screamed Ted suddenly. “She’s yours already.” He rose up excitedly, spanking and tickling Henry lovingly. “Her destiny’s on your palm.” Henry was discombobulated, being unable to comprehend his words.
“Stop the titillation and tell me what you mean.”
“I mean if you want to have her you can. Take your mirror, call her name, talk to her and she’ll listen.”
“You mean I should woo her magically—through the mirror?”
“Exactly dude,” Ted said. “She’ll listen to you.”
“You want me to spellbind a little innocent girl?” said Henry with no smile on his face. Ted shook his head vertically in agreement, not able to read what was going on in Henry’s mind, since his heart was no limpid object.
“Are you crazy?” said Henry, outraged. “Listen, I’m not going to have her love through a spell, but naturally. I’ll get her someday… but not with the goddamn mirror.”
Ted lowered his head, abjectly abashed. He managed to say, “Do as it pleases you Henry, I’m no longer interested. But I bet it with you, you’ll never get her by any other means. Why not go for Susie instead? Give her a chance to prove that she cares for you better than any other lady on earth.”
It angered Henry, who gave a repulsive prompt response:
“A chance in my life? Not that sloe-eyed thing. Never!” Henry yelled at him. “Besides, I can’t befriend a female magician.”
“What d’you mean?”
“Ain’t you aware she’s a witch?” said Henry in a critical manner.
“Serious!” Ted said, expressing great shock as he repeatedly muttered the word ‘witch’ silently to himself as if enamored with it.
“Yeah,” said Henry. He was going to prove his point. Then he continued, “Prof. said meet me six pm, you said the same and… she said exactly the same too. Dean wizard, you wizard, so she’s a witch also.”
Ted laughed.
“Coincidence!” said Ted. “She’s not into power. If she is, I bet you she would have been through with you long ago. By now you two would have exchanged the rings.” Ted made fun of him in a silly manner, getting Henry gutted.
“God forbid,” he yelled. The white of his eyes had suddenly turned red. He turned heel to leave, but Ted said, “Let’s see in the mirror tonight—goodbye.
“I’ve told you I’ll never use it,” said Henry, turning again to Ted. “You’d better reach me through my mail if at all you’ve got any important message to pass.”
Ted guffawed again.
“You’ll surely use it. I’ll force you into it,” said Ted in an authoritative manner, but in a seemingly unserious mannerism.
“I won’t! Heaven knows I won’t!” vociferated Henry, whose parabolic forehead was almost touching Ted’s hyperbolic own, thus creating a kind of ‘face and vase’ illusion, typical of a scene common to Hollywood blockbuster movies, where two lovers were going to have a buss, or where the Hero and the Villain were going to see eye to eye, especially towards the end of a movie immediately after the strongest servant of the ‘Boss’ was dead.
“We shall see,” Ted said, using a rather harsh voice. Henry replied, “We ain’t seeing nothing”, and left immediately.

oluwatosin070:
I really hope you finish this story this time... Kudos though

I will. Thanks.
You're getting the next dedication.

Ted rushed away, as soon as Henry had sat down, with a speed far far greater than the one he had initially used to get to Henry. But this time Henry observed it wasn’t Ted alone utilizing such enormous speed—many others were doing that too. There and then Henry felt he had the answer to the dean’s second question.
A whistle sounded, and then followed the chimes of bell, of incredibly humongous decibel.
Seated to the left of Henry was a young boy, of about the same age and stature, leering wickedly at Henry at first sight. He was putting on a silky shirt, having several colors, and a panama hat laid fittingly on his head which was only partially covering his hairs. His nostril was extremely narrow, but the looks of his eyes were piercing. His mouth seemed rotund as that of a koala bear.
To the right of Henry was seated a young girl, whose appearance was exactly the replica of Kate’s doll: Her hair was long and white. Her eyelashes appeared artificially glued to her face. Her teeth were the whitest Henry had ever seen. She was friendly, welcoming Henry as he sat.
“Hullo, I’m Dolly, what’s yours?” she said, speaking like a young baby, who had only learnt few words to communicate with.
“Henry,” he replied. To avoid further communication with her (since she was not Cynthia) Henry looked ahead, away from her. It seemed the presence of Henry was gladdening her heart, since she wouldn’t have to be the next to the leering boy anymore (Henry’s seat had only come between them that same day).
Looking lopsidedly to his left, Henry saw the section occupied by the Africans. Their population seemed to outnumber those of each of the rest of the sections in the conference hall.
“If we’ve got lots of them here,” said Henry to himself, “why has there not been much development there?” However Henry got no answer to his question, since no one was able to hear his question.
“I’m going to ask the Professor—when we get back to earth.”
Not long after, a voice was heard calling for order. The Lingua Franca over there was English, since the addressee was communicating with it and everyone appeared to understand it. It occurred to Henry that the French inventor he’d earlier seen, must have learnt the English language over there—in Gyrus.
Henry was able to see the anonymous voice owner through a large screen far ahead at the podium, having a base on which it stood. The Screen was convex, magnifying the image of the speaker ten times more than the way his stature was.
No loudspeakers were seen around, yet the speaker’s voice came out audibly, with ultra-high frequency, synchronously sourcing from the mouth of the speaker. A winged mirror flew towards Henry and hung before him. He grabbed it and its wings vanished instantly.
The speaker on the podium called the names of each first-timer one after the other demanding for an introduction from each of them. At last it was Henry’s turn to introduce himself.
“Professor Wilson,” said the man. “Is your boy here?”
The dean appeared in everybody’s mirror instantly, about to speak.
“You sure know that,” said the dean in a rather boorish manner. Then the speaker called, “Henry White, introduce yourself.”
Henry, about to rise up, was pulled back to his seat by Dolly.
“You needn’t rise up,” she said slowly, putting much stress on each word.
Henry coughed.
“I’m Henry White. I attend the CCUL, in the Physics department, born in 1965…”
At the mention of his year of birth, the boy to his left looked more intensely at him. Henry’s image on the large screen located on the podium, was made the cynosure of all eyes. Henry was shy.
Lots of people were given room to demand for whatever they needed. Some, craving for fame, made enquiries on how to make it. Politicians too, asked great deal of questions. What staggered Henry was the numerosity of the Africans who had asked questions too. Their population surpassed those of the other continents—but most of the questions they asked were clustered around personal interest instead of the good of the masses. There and then, Henry believed he had got enough facts to unravel the enigma he was having earlier concerning them.
A very long period after, the meeting was brought to a close. The rate at which Gyrus became almost empty made Henry felt that most of the people were nostalgic, wanting to be home on earth. Not knowing how to get to earth, he was pacing about. All of a sudden, he met himself right before the dean in his office. The man was sitting opposite him, just as they were before ‘skyrocketing’ to Gyrus…

Everybody is sleeping

Comment and get the next post dedicated to you

Dedicated to Michael123pelemo for his great comment.

As Ted ended his speech, Henry inferred that the French inventor he had met must have known who he was when the Professor was broadcasting it as Ted had said.
“Hmm!” Henry sounded. Then he asked, “Ted, it seems you’ve got the swiftest speed over here.”
“Why d’you say so?”
“The rate at which you got to me.”
“Oh,” said Ted laughing. “It’s because I was running—to meet you—every other person here was walking.”
“The riddle is solved, I’m glad. Glad seeing you here. I’m not going to feel lonely in here.”
“It’s true. Seeing Ken here on my first arrival made me glad too—then.”
“So,” said Henry. “Ken belongs here too!”
“Of course yes.”
Henry asked, “But, I’ve not seen the dean since arriving here. I don’t think he came with me.”
“You came together. You couldn’t have come here alone—ordinary person.”
“So where’s he?”
“Seated over there,” said Ted pointing, though Henry could still not see him. “All members land directly on their seats—new-comers are left to wander about in search of their seats themselves. That’s the situation we’ve got here.”
Ted looked around.
“Wow!” Everyone’s almost seated,” Ted yelled. His face looked worried instantly. Henry was going to ask him why, but Ted hurried him up to get his seat.
“Let’s go find your seat.”
As they scurried along, looking at every empty seat they came across, Ted spoke.
“We get information on whatever’s going on around the world over here. Many inventors get solutions to problems—here. Doctors, lawyers—even some pastors—get their powers from here too…just feel at home here Henry.”
“I’m doing that already—since I found you,” smiled Henry.
Ted said, “When you’re called upon to introduce yourself, you need not stand up or walk to the podium. There’s a screen right there that’s going to show you wherever you are, and every one will see you through it. Also, a fairly large mirror will be given to you when you get to your seat. Through it you can communicate with anyone you wish.”
“What part of the earth’s this?”
“We’re not on earth. We’re in Gyrus—a planet not discovered yet,” said Ted, with a note of sincerity.
“What if some men discover it while we’re in here, ain’t we going to be relayed over the satellite—for all eyes to see?”
“It’s impossible,” said Ted. “We’ve got some astronauts here with us. They tell us the planets they’d discovered, the ones to explore, when and how. Then we give them the go-ahead or say no.”
“Splendid!”
“At last,” said Ted, pointing to an empty seat. “Here’s your seat,” he said pointing to a cushioned seat having metallic edges and a backrest. On its top was written “HENRY WHITE”, in the Lincoln typeface. The Lincoln was Henry’s best font, so seeing it he was greatly attracted to the seat. Every member’s name, before his or her arrival, was written in the type of writing style such was best enamored with.

Observing the celerity of his own paces, Henry detected that those in there were not actually running—but walking. Everything in Gyrus was happening at a great lick.
Walking aimlessly, looking for the dean, he began to see signposts on every aisle in the large auditorium, each narrating how to get to one place or the other. Intrigued by one of those signposts, Henry stopped abruptly and read: WELCOME TO GYRUS. EIGHTY KILOMETRES TO THE U.S. KEEP MOVING.
Henry knew at once that that was where he would belong, since he was a US citizen back in the world he had come from. Taking fast steps, he got there rapidly. He saw ahead of him a metallic cuboidal signboard of gargantuan dimension, suspended from a lofty height by nothing. Yet, many sat underneath, without the fear that it could fall on them.
At that juncture, Henry began to see names written on all the empty seats he did saw as he strode along. Each seat had flat object hinged on one arm of it such that the object could be flipped and used as a platform for placing something such as book if one was desiring to write something. Many were already seated.
Still battling with the thought of what to do somebody came rushing towards his direction. The speed was tremendous, much more than those he had witnessed since arriving the great hall. To avoid collision with the coming fellow of which Henry had felt would be fatal, having fiddled with the calculation of the resultant momentum of the figure in flight directly before him, Henry swerved to the right. Funny enough the figure stopped abruptly beside him. He was a young boy.
“Hello, may I help you?” asked the boy, whose neck was bent downward as if having some spinal cord problem.
“Yeah!” said Henry. “I’m trying to locate my seat.”
“Oh, you must be new here?”
“Yes.” Henry fixed his gaze firmly on the boy and identified him at once.
“Ted!” Henry yelled as he recognized him.
“Surprised!” said Ted, winking.
“Sure. What’re you doing here?”
“I should rather ask you that.”
Henry said, “This is where Professor Wilson brought me to.”
“He brought me here too, two years ago,” said Ted. “D’you know why?” Ted asked and Henry said, “No.”
“My passion for sport. He saw me doing badly in every sport I participated in. Then he told me I can make it if I join the magic.”
Henry revealed without being asked, “Mine, because of my result. He said I can do better.”
“He’s right. How on earth do you think I’ve got to know that you would be coming here today?”
Henry remembered instantly how Ted had said, “Henry, see you in the meeting this evening” back in the school, then he yelled, “Oh my goodness! How do you know?”
“He said it.”
“Who?” asked Henry inquisitively.
“The dean,” said Ted. “Before bringing anyone here you’ll inform the whole congregation, telling the name, age, status and everything you know about such a one—and the day such will be coming.”

michael123pelemo:
This is different. I like itl

Thanks. I'm dedicating the next post to you.

Singing

Lonely, I feel so lonely
I have nobody
All alone..

There's nobody in da house

Good morning everybody in da house

Readers, your comments are highly welcome. Let's make this thread fun.

Hearing lots of lingoes, Henry’s ears were unable to convey meaningful words to his brain—all he heard were balderdash to him. Despite the fact that Henry had found himself in such a strange environment, he wasn’t excessively afraid, since the dean had earlier made it known to him where he was going—the Magic World.
Looking around, Henry saw fanlights, of extra-ordinary dimensions, appearing to be made of crystals, around the four corners of the large hall he had found himself in. He could see through those fanlights, though they were very far from him.
Not knowing where he was, he fixed his gaze on those in there, and each step they took amazed him; it was like everyone he saw moving was running. None was walking. Somebody fled past Henry. Henry was surprised at the enormous speed and the resultant sound produced by such swift motion. The way they fled was to him as the image on a TV screen when being fast-forwarded.
Tired of standing, he took a step, then another, but was shocked at the great distance himself had just covered with those two steps he had just taken.
Another person fled past him again, though with enormous speed, yet he was able to recognize who such was. The fleer was a great French inventor, whose stupendous contraption had evoked much argument in the Science World. They had criticized it for lack of sufficient scientific background. The said scientist never had formal education, yet was able to come out with such great invention. Seeing him, the dean’s first question came to his mind.
Henry concluded in his mind, “Great inventors possess magical power.” He was going to tell the dean that by the time they get back to his office. Henry turned back, aiming to catch up with the scientist, perhaps to ask him some few questions. He was soon side by side with him.
“Sir,” he called, “I’ve once seen you on TV.” The man’s muteness brought Henry to the realization of the fact that not every one in the world understood or communicate in English language.
“I’m sorry you’re a Frenchman,” said Henry in an apologetic tone, turning instantly to go. Just then the man spoke in English, “Young man, who the hell are you?”
“I’m Henry—Henry White.”
“Oh, the Professor’s boy.” The man smiled.
“How d’you know me?” asked Henry in a puzzled manner.
“Check that out,” said the man as he ‘ran’ away.

“Alright,” said Henry, waiting to hear him speak. “Ask on.” The man heaved a deep sigh, then he said, “One, what kind of power do great inventors possess?”
“Power of creativity,” said Henry promptly, as if he had premeditated on it. The man nodded in disapproval.
“Two, is any mean of transportation faster than the rocket?” Henry was not going to say anything this time, since his first answer had been rejected. He kept quiet.
“Three, where will you be forty-five minutes from now?” Gladly, Henry said, “In the meeting.”
“You’ll know this later,” said the dean. “Fourth question for you; which is best, making names or living long?”
“I don’t know.” Henry was gutted.
“I’m forty-four, am I fulfilled if I die at forty-five?”
“Sir, I beg your pardon, is it supposed to be the fifth question?” asked Henry, showing reverence for the man.
“Yeah!” he replied.
“I’m not sure,” said Henry as a reply to the question.
“Sixth question,” the man said, pointed a finger at him swiftly, and continued. “If your bosom friend is into something for two good years before letting you know about it, how will you feel?”
“It can’t happen.”
“What if it does?”
“Then such’s no friend. A friend wouldn’t wait for so long.”
“What will you do if such fella’s your friend?”
“I’ll choke him to death,” said Henry in earnest, his facial expression revealing the outpour of rage on the abstract friend.
“You won’t,” said the dean. “You’ll stick closer the more—to him.”
“How d’you know that?” Henry asked baffled.
“I saw into your future.” The man’s face gestured his expression. He looked piercingly into Henry’s eyeballs, sending some sensation of fear into him.
“Seventh and last,” the man said at last. “When will you die?”
Henry answered rudely this time, “How am I suppose to know?”
“Well, you’ve just justified the fact that ordinary genius like you can’t give a right answer to any of the questions. But, they’ll become simple to you by the time you return as extra—ordinary genius.”
At last the dean asked, “Shall we go now?” Henry was going to yell a block letter “YES!”. About to open his mouth, Henry found himself in the midst of thousands of people, in a different ‘world’.

Henry ideated the Professor asking him if he had told anybody about the meeting. He quickly got it settled beforehand the response he would give.
Few minutes to the scheduled time, Henry got to the dean’s office, but leaned against the door for few moments before summoning the courage to go in, being afraid that the dean, utilizing the said magical power, would perceive his breach of promise.
“You’re here at last.”
“Yes sir.” He gazed on the tiled and glossy floor. Keeping silent, he fixed his gaze on the well-painted wall, then to the glass of coffee, placed on a small table between himself and the dean. The coffee in it was so little that it would hardly satisfy the thirst of a newly born baby.
The man looked earnestly on him and said, “You’ve told somebody, isn’t it?” Henry was not going to let the dean beat him to it. He was going to see if the man was establishing a fact or only asking a question. He kept quiet, expecting him to say it again.
The man felt that Henry did not hear his speech clearly, so he said, “Have you told somebody?” in a louder tone. To give an answer seemed difficult, because Henry’s conscience was actively knocking the door of his heart, as if to burgle the rib cage and get him arrested if he told a lie. To keep it quiet Henry was going to play a trick on it, which should also be effective enough to trick the dean.
“Uh—” sounded Henry as he kept silent, thinking, “Susie isn’t worth somebody to me. She’s nobody.”
The impatient man shouted, “Hey, tell me, have you told somebody?”
“I’ve not told somebody. I only told—”
“Who?” shouted the Professor, extremely curious.
“I only told Nobody,” he said trickily, and the man fell for it, chuckling ignorantly as he said, “You and this repartee of yours…”
Henry had many strategies he used in deceiving people and his conscience too. The one he had just used was only one of those numerous strategies.
“Have your seat.” The dean pointed to a rocking chair directly opposite him. “You’ll see for yourself today in the meeting, the coming together of lots of people from all works of life. Just count yourself lucky that you’ll soon be in their midst.”
Henry coughed. It was a sign to tell the man that he was bored of too much of talks, but was expecting to begin the journey instantly, to the meeting place, not knowing how far or near the place would be, to the campus.
Making his right hand into a cylindrical form, by folding his fingers, the Professor yawned into the cavity formed as he continued:
“You’re going to meet with great men of great achievements. Doctors, Lawyers, Professors, Inventors, Astronauts, Students ...”
“People of different caliber,” intruded Henry. “What will they be doing there?” he asked.
“Sharing great ideas. That’s why I said you’ll have all knowledge and the ability to see the future.”
“How?”
“Combination of skills from all the represented profession over there will tantamount to power—for you… for me… and… for all.”
Already losing patience, Henry decided to hasten up the discussion. Just as he was about to say something the dean said, “I’m going to ask you seven questions Henry, then we shall leave after you’ve provided the answers.”[

MARCH 1, 1984

Henry walked eagerly to school next day, from the hostel. He saw Ted waving at him distances away. He spoke loudly from where he was:
“Henry, see you in the meeting this evening!”
“Meeting?” Henry thought. “I thought I’ve told him I’m not gonna make it.”
After the day lecture, Susie approached him. If Henry had been aware of her presence on time, he would have sneaked away. She was already very close before Henry was able to realize it. Not that she had a small stature for him not to have noticed her presence on time. At least she was having an enormous stature, just like Kate, Henry’s sister.

Susie wasn’t athletic too, but a bit plump instead. She had frog-like eyeballs, which appeared as if glaring at anyone she had come across. However, it seemed they had functioned like Galilean telescopes, since she did profess that everything she did saw appeared closer to her than they really were. She was so proud of such exceptional ability that she gave herself the name “Mrs. Spy”.
Susie was among the myriad of ladies, who always felt that having Henry as an inamorato would be the best thing that could ever happen to them, believing that Henry, who was the most brilliant in their level, according to a general conclusion, could bring them to limelight, if only they were intimately close to him. However, Cynthia wasn’t in such school of thought. Her predilection for sport, basketball especially, had possibly affected her choice. She loved sport men.

Susie, being Henry’s departmental mates, had invited him to her parties several times, but he had never honored one, giving flimsy and shoddy excuses. Susie was never tired of inviting him and he was never tired of rejecting her invitations too. Susie was not a tetchy type of person. She did show much level of maturity, beaming with incredible auspiciousness, believing that persistence was the secret to getting whatever one was craving after. But, if her principle was a general type, she might not win Henry over, because Henry too was working with the same principle—to get Cynthia.
“Henry,” she called. She was going to ask him out once again. “I’m sure you won’t say yes.”
“To what?” asked Henry.
“What I’m about to ask—”
“I’ll say yes,” said Henry rashly, not looking up at her face.
It was Henry’s usual practice to frustrate her effort, by saying something to negate her words, but Henry was not aware that Susie could be tricky sometimes.
She smiled and said, “Are you going to come with me—” She lowered her face to look into his eyes, “for dinner at dusk—six pm?” she concluded with a smile.

Henry discovered his foolishness at once. He had earlier promised to say yes.
“Sorry, can’t say yes this time,” said Henry regretfully.
“Why?” she asked. “I thought you said you don’t tell lies and you hate liars.”
“It’s true.”
“Then why changing your words? You said you’ll say yes.”
“I’m Sorry,” said Henry. “I would have loved to come with you, but I’m having a date with someone else.”
“Do you care if I know who?” said Susie. She had never seen Henry hang around with any girl, so she was eager to know who it was Henry would be dating. Henry hesitated.
“With the dean,” Henry grimaced after his speech. Susie mustered superficial laughter.
“Are you guys gays?” she japed and laughed again. Amidst laughter Henry said, “No. just that we’ve agreed to meet… for something important.”

Ending his speech, Henry felt like a betrayer for telling her about the meeting. The Professor had asked Henry not to tell anyone that he would be taking him somewhere, but Henry had just made the mistake of letting out the secret to Susie. His visage was dull instantly. He left her on that spot, striding away with fast and quick steps usual with a fella who was ten minutes late for duty.

INITIATED

“Henry, I’m a club member and I’ll like you join me in it,” Ted said.
“Club? When d’you join?”
“Two years ago.”
“What’s it all about?”
“All about getting the best in all aspects of life. Academicians of various calibers are there.” Ted said. “I’m sorry I’ve not told you this long ago.”
“Why?” said Henry, face looking a bit disfigured. “Why’re you just telling me now?”
“I’m sorry; It was because I had erroneously thought you won’t have interest in such.”
“Why d’you think so?”
“You don’t like meeting people, do you?”
“You’re right,” said Henry. “But I’m already working on my social life, since the day I set my eyes on Cynthia.” Ted frowned because of the name Henry had just mentioned. Then he said, “That’s good friend. A hundred percent social life will do no harm to anyone. ”
“Okay, your club, where’s it situated, California here?” Henry asked inquiringly, already developing interest. For a reply Ted said, “Just come to my room 6pm—tomorrow. I’ll take you there.”
Henry Exclaimed. “6pm! Oops! Ted I’m sorry I can’t make it.”
“Why?” asked Ted.
“Cos I’ve got to go somewhere with another man—same time, same date,” he said coolly. “Maybe another time,” Henry concluded.
Ted was nosy, so he asked, “May I know who you’re going with and where?”
“Never worry,” said Henry. He wished Ted would not insist on knowing it.
Ted said, “When did you begin to hide things from me? Is it Cynthia you’re dating tomorrow?”
“She’s not,” said Henry point-blank. “She’s adamant.”
“No problem if you don’t want to tell me.”
Henry could have told Ted, but he was not going to. However, Ted smiled and left Henry alone. As Henry walked towards the lecture room, (he was an hour late already) he met Cynthia.
“Hi Cynthia,” he said, already having the thought of forfeiting lecture to spent some time with her, but she was in a hurry.
“Hi Henry,” she replied, leaving without saying more than that.
Professor Wilson was already in the class when Henry entered.
“Henry, you’re an hour late, why?” he asked.
“I- I…” Henry stammered and every one laughed. He overheard someone say that he had seen him in the library studying. Another shouted, “Bookworm!”
“Henry, you’ve got to see me after class,” said the professor. Henry’s eyes bulged on hearing it. The students laughed.
Actually, Henry was in the library all the while. He was coming out from there when he met Ted. He was not studying in there, but was reading some novels instead. Since he had the ability to read very fast, he was enamored with reading novels, which had eventually become his hobby. He had read many of Chase’s books and had begun to write his own too.
Henry soon went to the dean’s office.
“I’m sorry I came late to…”
“Sorry for what? I’ve not called you here to discuss your lateness. The early comers what have they got to show for it? Nothing!” He looked at Henry’s face and smiled, “Henry guess what!” said the dean. The expression on Henry’s face on hearing the words had passed a message to the man’s brain. Henry was scared of guessing.
“Okay, I can see you have phobia for guessing, isn’t it?” said the man and Henry nodded pretentiously, in order to let the dean say what he had to say. Henry was only trying to save time by his deeds.
“Well,” said the man, smiling. “It’s my birthday—today,” he said. “It’s special to me—happens only once in four years.”
“February 29, it’s true,” said Henry.
“I have never remembered to celebrate it. Since it is once every four years, it skips my memory.”
“Really!” exclaimed Henry. “It’s creepy.”
“Funny too. Last year, 1983, on February 28, I informed family and friends about my birthday to come next day, February 29. They all agreed to show up at the party. The party ground was set early enough as planned, the next day, but no one showed up.”
“Why?” asked Henry, pretending as if he never had an idea.
“Well, asking a friend later, he said that he checked his calendar the day that was supposed to be my birthday, only to discover it was March 1. So he felt there was no need for coming to my party anymore, since February 29 had decided not to surface.”
“Wow!” screamed Henry, amused by the short story, then the dean changed the mood abruptly.
“Hey, I called you here—” said the dean, “to remind you of tomorrow’s schedule. You still remember?”
“Yes sir—vividly.”
“You’ve told anyone?”
“No.”
“That’s good,” said the man. “You need not tell any one. Is that okay?”
“Yes sir,” he replied, but got some instant formation of questions in his brain, to ask the dean.
“Sir, where are we going tomorrow? Is it by rail, air or road?”
“Don’t worry your head,” the dean said. Meet me here tomorrow, okay?”
“Sure sir.”
At night, Henry could not sleep. He was overworking his brain, giving it lots of thoughts. Such had been his manner whenever he was curious about something.
What his parents’ reactions would be was part of what he was ruminating.
“Will they disown me? But Kate wasn’t disowned when she became a musician eventually.” At the thought of Kate, Henry’s countenance metamorphosed into a gloomy type. “I hate her. I’ve never prevailed over her.”
When Kate eventually joined herself to a professional music band called ‘The Lioness’, though secretly, Henry discovered it and divulged the secret to their parents. Kate came home one fateful day with her friends. Henry had kept a voice recorder somewhere in the room. Though Henry was not home when they came, yet the device recorded their speeches. In the course of the discussion, the friends spoke about a cassette, which they had kept in Kate’s school bag. Henry was able to locate the cassette as a result of the information he had got from the hidden device.
Henry played the cassette. She was performing on stage in it with her colleagues. Henry was almost carried away with the music, which was played andante. Kate was the lead singer in it, with an angelic voice. Henry was already nodding his head from side to side to the rhythm when he suddenly came to himself. He stopped abruptly and frowned.
Henry kept the cassette. He was not going to let her know about it; else, his plan would go awry again, like the one that had led him to prison.
Henry showed his parents the cassette at their arrival. They saw Kate in it, dazzling in front of many spectators. She was caught red-handed this time. Kate was shown the cassette. She was taken aback by it.
Henry was patiently waiting for the verdict, disownment, but he was making a mistake. Mr. and Mrs. White said, “What did we tell you Kate?”
“I shouldn’t become a musician,” she said, looking miserable.
“Then why this?” They pointed to her image on the screen, which was twirling in rigorous dances.
“Mum, dad, you can’t understand—I mean that’s the only talent I’ve got in the world,” she said, weeping solemnly.
“But we want you to be a doctor,” Mr. White said.
“Unfit. I can assure you lots of lives will be lost,” she said. Everywhere was silent after her speech. Henry was leering inimically at her, but she took no heed, probably because of her sight being blurred by the accumulation of tears dropping like dilute acid from a pipette, in drops—then in excess.
After moments of thinking by her parents, they said, “Kate you know what?” she could not answer, since her voice had become hoarse by the incessant weeping. “As long as you’re not going to join magic cult you are allowed to be a musician.”
Hearing such, she jumped from her seat to hug them. They received her with open arms. Wiping her face, she made eyes at Henry. Henry was jealous. He was getting prepared to leave the lounge when his father suddenly said, “Henry, please can you just raise the volume of the music, so that we can clearly hear its lyrics?” Henry ignored them in embarrassment and walked out of the room, abashed. Outside the door, Henry hit hard on the floor as if to artificially generate seismic wave from it—the type that would result into intense earthquake, which would swallow him up. Since the floor was the reinforced type, it did not pave way for “Henry’s wave” to pass through.[

Hello readers.
Here we call each update meals.
As long as you keep asking for 'meals' I keep updating

Dedicated to Dlawsamesq


At noon, Henry’s father arrived, almost around the same time with his wife’s arrival too. Henry never remembered to greet them. He said, “Dad, Mum, let’s get going.”
“Ain’t we going to have little rest? It’s only 12.45 pm,” said Mr. White, pulling the button of the collar of his shirt. Then Mrs. White said, “Gaby, were you granted permission?”
“No, I sneaked out. I pray my boss will not discover.”
“I’m lucky,” said Sally. “I was permitted, unlike you.”
They set out some minutes to 2pm. At Henry’s advice, two cops escorted them. They had truncheons with them—something Kate wouldn’t want to be hit with. Their cars pulled up in front of the place. It was then few minutes past two. The Police officer got inside the edifice. They combed everywhere but could not find Kate and mates. Henry suggested that they waited for her in hiding.
For forty-five minutes, they were in a corner, peeping to see if she was coming. Just when they were about to give up, Mr. White’s phone rang.
“Dad,” Kate spoke. “I’ve been waiting here for the past one-hour. Henry’s not home, so I can’t get inside, since he’s with the key.”
“Kate, where are you?” asked Mr. White.
“Home,” she said. “For the past one-hour now,” she had exaggerated, having arrived only few minutes ago. She could be justified since no one was around to gainsay the claim.
“Alright, very soon we shall be home too,” Gaby said, feeling highly embarrassed. Henry was looking here and there like a vigilante.
“Henry!” screamed Mr. White. Then his phone rang again. It was his boss this time. He smelt rat instantly. Trouble!
Reluctantly, he picked it.
“Where are you Mr. White?” Gaby’s employer spoke instantly without any salutation coming before.
“Em—I- I…” stuttered the man in reply.
“Alright—” said his boss, “just consider yourself suspended for three weeks.” The man at the other end cut the call. The police officers said, “What’s going on?”
“Sorry for everything,” apologized Mr. White. “It’s this boy; he misled us all.” The man gesticulated as he spoke. “Thanks—you can leave now.”
“Leave!” they screamed, “Somebody must be arrested!” said the cops in fury for the time they had wasted in laying ambush for a ‘wild goose’.
They all went silent. Mr. White spoke:
“Well…you can take him. He caused it all.”
Henry’s mother was in full support of her husband’s decision. She said, “Yeah, go with him.”
Henry could have raced away, but he knew it was not feasible, rifles being pointed at him. They led him to their vehicle.
“Come for him with a bail whenever you are ready,” said the more elderly of the cops.
Kate was not as foolish as Henry had thought. Since Henry had disclosed to their parents that she was in a music club, she knew he was also going to tell them about the rendezvous for practice, (Rendezvous Guest House) so she had informed her friends of this, therefore the earlier scheduled meeting was annulled.
When Henry was trying to pull the wool over her face by the pretentious hug and the chocolates, she was not deceived at all then. While Henry was busy with the gruesome thoughts, during the hug, Kate was thinking too. It seemed she did see him with a knife then, intending to stab her. She was convinced that Henry’s attitude to her at that moment was a bogus one, when she heard him laugh loudly immediately he had entered his room that day after the clinch. Having discovered the truth, Kate had immediately called for the cancellation of the earlier scheduled rehearsal.
Mr. White never had any feeling of compassion for Henry during the periods he did spend in the cell, chafing at his wife often during her several attempts to inveigle him into releasing their son. His extreme annoyance could be traced to the fact that Gaby had detested the manner in which his superior had humiliatingly dished him the suspension. He had never loved to be home idle when a lot of work was waiting to be done by him somewhere. It pained Henry’s workaholic father that he would have to be home for three weeks, doing nothing.
Eventually, Mrs. White pleas stopped falling on deaf ears. Gaby agreed to get Henry out on bail, but he had spent one month already in the dungeon without being paid a visit by his father.
Undoubtedly, Kate’s halcyon days were those days Henry was away, in prison. She enjoyed every thing both of them should have had to share—money, meals, merriments and lots more. She gained a great deal of weight within that period. She wished Henry never returned, preferring to see him dead in the cell. But contrary to her wishes, Henry arrived, lean, wan and feeble, face pallid, hair bedraggled and mouth smelly, since he did not take care of his teeth properly while in gaol.
As if Henry had not been humiliated enough, Kate, upon his arrival, aggravated her brother’s condition by her words to him.
“Your chocolate is yummy in my tummy,” she had said, wrapping it up with ridiculous smiles. Such statement was the regurgitation of Henry’s mocking expressions in the past, whenever he was forcing himself on Kate to get her chocolate. Now it was Kate’s turn to pay him back in his own coin
Henry was silent. He did not say a word to anyone at home. He had got a whole month to spend before resumption, having spent the first half of his holiday in police custody.
Three days later, Henry was missing. His parents feared that he must have gone out to kill himself, but Kate knew such could never have happened, suggesting that he had gone back to school. His parent’s visit to the school confirmed Kate’s thought. He had left secretly for school.

He felt a touch on his shoulder, which jolted him out of his reverie. It was the dean’s hand.
“Henry, you must have thought about it—”said the dean, looking directly into his eyeballs, “long enough.”
“Uhm,” Henry said, “Maybe.”
“So…” said the dean, gesticulating, “D’you want this power?”
“Em—sir what’s going to be my profit?”
“Don’t let me repeat myself. You’re going to have power—to control whatever—see the future.”
“I’m interested,” accepted Henry. At least he was going to have the power to control his younger sister.

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Monday came and Kate was set for school. Since the day the two had first hugged each other, it had become a routine for them to keep doing such, but always in the absence of their parents. Henry had eagerly been waiting for the advent of that Monday, when that apparent cordial relationship would be checked.
As it had been for three days, Kate hugged Henry once more as she was set for school that red-letter Monday morning.
“The last hug,” thought Henry, smiling benignly in an attempt to conceal his evil intention. Their parents saw them in such state for the first time and the sight staggered them. However, they controlled the urge to intrude into the matter until Kate had left for school.
“Who used the spell—” said Mr. White and paused briefly. Then he resumed, “between the two of you?”
“Which spell?” said Henry, pretending as if he never had any idea as regards what his father had just asked. His father expatiated, “I mean, when did you start to like your sister?” Henry grimaced suddenly and snapped his fingers (both the ones on his right and left hands) as he said, “Like her? Never!” They were confused the more, looking at their son with poker faces.
Mrs. White soon found her voice, then she said, “Why the embrace then?” in an inquisitive manner. Henry chortled and said, “Just pretending, so she won’t suspect what’s going to happen today.”
“What?” sounded the four-letter word from their lips, synchronously, in a humongous mode, having been amplified by the synergic effect of their voices.
“Music practice at RENDEZVOUS of course!” said Henry and the two exclaimed, “Huh!” remembering it.
“It’s true, today’s Monday,” said his father with a loud voice.
“Henry, you’re small devil,” added his mother jokingly.
Henry spent his time at home that day thinking of how the outing would go.
“She’ll run at our sight, but I’ll chase after her,” thought Henry.
“No, she’ll not see us at all,” he argued all alone. “She’ll be engrossed in what she’s doing, so she won’t be aware of our presence. Dad and Mum will tie her; her friends will scatter; their plans will be shattered.” He then smiled. “Me? I’ll pinch hell out of her body when she is taken to the Black Maria, because a cop will be involved.”
“She will be dumped in the prison. Yes, got it.” He left the front of the large mirror in the lounge where he had been all the while, speaking out his mind.

Still entwined in the embrace, innumerable inimical thoughts of different grievous gravities flipped endlessly through Henry’s brain. Henry had brought to mind the thought of a villain in the movie he had watched while still young, who stabbed his father, a king, with a dagger while in a hug. He also remembered a biblical character, called Joab, who did the same to Abner while embracing too. Figuratively, that was exactly what he was doing with her sister.
Tears teemed down their cheeks passionately, with no suspicion of hypocrisy. At last, Henry lifted her up and said, “I love you.”
It was a statement Kate had never heard from anyone all her lives. She smiled innocuously in a conspicuous manner and said, “Love you too.”
After the scene, Henry retired to his bedchamber, not to sleep, but to release the belligerent laughter he had managed to keep away while with Kate. He had hardly entered when he burst into a loud and long guffaw. He had to sink his face into the pillow to suppress its loudness so Kate would not discover his cant.