must have been the teak wood and gravy- stained wooden railings leading upwards to the next level. Even the staircase reminded him of his childhood days racing up and down the stairs as he changed classes.
Tom led them alongside the staircase, and they entered a large musty-smelling room to the left. It resembled a drawing room or lounge room. It was spacious and had two large windows looking towards the gardens. Two mantelpieces with marble surrounding the large fireplace caught Adam’s eye immediately as he entered the opulent room. One of the walls was covered in books, stacked from top to the bottom, neatly arranged on a wooden bookshelf that looked as if it was purposely built into the wall. The two large windows facing east only let a quarter of the morning sun stream through, as the heavy drapes hung effortlessly, pulled up slightly, only allowing a small peek outside. “Nice house,” Joey said as they came to a stop.
“Tom, this is my friend, Joey.” Adam quickly introduced Joey, as Tom had turned around momentarily and seemed to study Joey. Adam knew instinctively that Joey was scanning, Tom, too.
“Very pleased to meet you, young man,” was Tom’s welcoming response. “So tell me something,” Tom continued as he began pulling up some chairs. “What is the relationship between the two of you?” The question took Adam by surprise, as he was not expecting such a question, and before he could think of a response, he heard Joey ask Tom if he owned the house and if anyone else lived in the house.
“Yes, my young friend, and no, only I live here.” Tom muttered as he gestured for them to sit down. “Okay, everyone comfortable? Anyone wants a beverage or something?” Both visitors shook their heads.
Surprised at Joey’s direct and personal question to Tom, Adam quickly thought he’d change the subject and went back to Tom’s earlier question. “Tom, I hope you don’t mind me bringing my friend with as he sometimes helps me with my work.” Adam then gave Joey a stern look.
“Oh, that is fine, don’t worry about it. You know what, I think you did the right thing, Adam.”
Joey sat quietly observing Tom and quickly looked away when Tom peered in his direction.
“So what is this all about?” Adam said, grabbing Tom’s attention.
“Are you sure you both are comfortable?” Tom said, rubbing his hands together, seeming to delay what he wanted to tell them.
“I’m fine.”
“Me too,” Joey announced in the corner. Joey sat a little further from the two men, as he purposely pulled his chair away when they first sat down. Tom had pulled chairs together, forming a little circle of sorts.
“Okay.” Tom whispered, looking down and suddenly worried. “I am a bit anxious, to say the least. Please bear with me. I was fine all the time and now, now having you gentlemen over, right here in my house, well, I feel quite overwhelmed with what I am about to tell you.”
Joey sat forward to hear what Tom was about to say. He also couldn’t help noticing that Tom was acting a little strangely. He wondered if Tom was a little senile or perhaps had lost the plot in some way. He also looked bored; maybe he was just lonely and wanted some guests.
“Sounds pretty important,” Adam responded, making small talk and wondering where all this was heading.
But Tom was silent. He seemed to be miles away.
“Sorry Tom, but can you get to the point, I don’t want to be pushy, but I am just aware of the time. I actually have a client soon and we need to leave shortly.” Adam had to say something as Tom was stalling. Adam also had no clients booked later as he was on a week’s break, but used this excuse to put weight behind his comment.
“Sure, Sure,” Tom fumbled, looking even more anxious as the minutes ticked away. He suddenly looked grey and sickly, his eyes misty. “Deep breath,” he said softly to himself and then clapped his hands and sat up, looking more confident as the colour appeared to come back to his pale blue cheeks. “Okay. Here goes. Now this may sound ridiculous, but I am telling you the truth.” Joey and Adam nodded simultaneously as Adam sat forward in his seat.
Tom informed them that he belongs to group of clandestine people who possess paranormal abilities, and their mission is to help people and themselves. These people are special people, and they seem to know many important and spiritual things. He told them that he had been involved with them for over twenty years and had taken on the role of an Overseer, someone who organises meetings and get- togethers. He finances some of their activities and vice versa. Covert meetings are held at his home, and they discuss their premonitions and other mystical information and compare their dreams and notes with one another. He stated that there are groups similar to his all around the world, and that he had already made contact with many of them in Europe and America and elsewhere.
“What do you mean?” Adam found himself asking. “About what,” Tom looked confused.
“I mean, why are you telling us this?”
“Oh,” Tom chuckled to himself, “I just thought that you may be interested in groups of that nature.”
He sat back in his chair and studied Adam before looking over towards Joey. Adam smiled and realised that Tom was probably expecting him to be more up to date with the topic or perhaps more enthusiastic. After all, he did advertise looking for psychic people.
“So who are these people and how did you meet
them?” Adam thought he’d better say something and play along.
“Very special people,” Tom said, sitting forward
again. “You know it is a genes thing, don’t you?” He added. “A genes thing,” Adam repeated.
“Yes,” Tom said, “it’s handed down from family member to the next and so on. Some people are born with it and others are not.” He paused and looked down for a moment before completing his sentence. “Some of them actually shun their gift, calling it a curse, of sorts,” Tom said, expecting a reaction from Adam. But there was none.
Adam knew about some psychic people shunning their abilities so it didn’t come to him as a big surprise as Tom may have been hoping.
“So why are you telling us this?” Joey finally spoke.
Tom turned towards Joey and then faced Adam and slowly mumbled something about something getting worse.
“Worse? What do you mean?” Adam looked restless.
“We had a meeting here last month, and they told me that things are beginning to heat up. Most want to go into hiding, but they feel that they can’t. They need to expose what they are picking up.” Tom looked hard at Adam as if searching for something. He then cast his eyes downwards.
Adam looked over at Joey, and they both silently acknowledged each other in a way indicating that it was time to leave.
“Tom?” Adam called out, feeling a little uncomfortable. Tom jumped back to life.
“Yes! Sorry! Where was I. Oh, yes, something big is going to happen. It seems that lots of people are going to die.”
“Die,” Adam asked calmly, as he was now more confused than ever.
“Yes, die. And not just die of natural causes, but killed somehow in the
