KnockOut

and he was feared; no one dared touch him. All of us are here to try to understand the source of his powers, and of those who are gifted here among us. I wish Corinth were here, but he is not. Like poor Grace, Corinth is no longer of this earth.”
    “Where did he do all these things to manipulate his fellow man?” Joanna asked.
    “Corinth was an intimate of the Medici—first Cosimo, then Piero, and finally Lorenzo. He was their confidant, their adviser. It is written he left Italy after Lorenzo’s death in 1492. His death marked the end of the Golden Age of Florence. After came strife and war.”
    Ethan said, “And you believe everything fell apart because Corinth was no longer there as the power behind the throne?”
    “Yes, of course. It is said he died, that his time was at an end.”
    “Where is all this written?” Joanna asked.
    “You will ask no more stupid questions, woman.”
    Joanna said, her face expressionless, “All right. Are we to assume that you seek to make yourself into this Corinth? Peas Ridge, Georgia—not exactly Florence, is it? Where’s your Lorenzo?”
    Whistler looked as if he would explode.
    “I never heard of him either,” Autumn said.
    Whistler calmed at her voice. He smiled down at her. “You will, child, you will. It is believed by many, the Father included, that Corinth did not die. Father believes Corinth went to Spain after he left Florence, that he joined a cult of psychics that eventually ran afoul of Torquemada. They were called Los Niños en el Atardecer— Children of Twilight. Torquemada murdered them. He wrote of it, in great detail. He called them Adoradores del Diablo —devil worshippers.
    “It is a concern that Torquemada did not write of Corinth’s capture along with the cult members in Spain, since the lunatic wrote about everything.
    “The Father believes his incredible family descends from Corinth.” Whistler shrugged. “Who can say? It is appealing.”
    Ethan said, “I thought you said Corinth was chaste.”
    “He was. It was written that he had no family, but who knows?”
    “So you see yourself as recreating this group in fifteenth-century Spain? Who is this Father you keep mentioning?”
    Whistler nodded. “You will find that out if he wishes it, Sheriff.” He looked again at Autumn, and his voice softened. “We have made great strides here at Twilight. This is a place of peace and seeking. It is a place where you will be happy, child.”
    Autumn didn’t answer him. She didn’t look happy yet.
    Ethan said quickly, “How many people are here now, Caldicot?”
    “We have only twelve here at present. One is from Spain. Of course all who are admitted to Twilight vow secrecy, just as the Children of Twilight did so long ago. But it did not save them. Torquemada heard of them, hunted them down, and destroyed them. That will not happen to us. We have always known we must be careful, we must guard our secrecy well. Very few people know of this place, and it will remain that way.”
    “How can you be certain they don’t tell others of this place once they leave?”
    Whistler shrugged. “Some doubtless do. But it hardly profits them. They all agree to arrive blindfolded and leave the same way. And al-ways at night. They do not know our location. And if they did know and were unwise enough to try to lead someone back here, they know our reaction would be—extreme.”
    Joanna asked, “What do they all do here?”
    “All those who come witness incredible powers. They seek to understand and to learn if perhaps they can develop these powers in themselves.”
    “Have you found another Blessed?” Ethan asked.
    “No, not as yet, but it is early. Today Autumn will join our ranks; she will become one of us. It will take time to find other gifted ones, the ones who will stand beside Blessed and the Father. Eventually we will become more powerful than your common minds can imagine Perhaps the boy from Spain is right. Perhaps Corinth will appear again.”
    Ethan hadn’t noticed the phone on Caldicot’s desk until it rang. Whistler picked it up, listened. When he hung it up, he said, “It is time for you to return to the meeting hall with Kjell. Autumn, you will remain here with me.”
    Autumn went nuts. She screamed, “No, I won’t leave my mother, I won’t leave Ethan! I won’t!”
    Whistler looked ready to blow. Then he pressed a button on the side of his desk.
    They’d come to a decision, Ethan thought, and he knew what it was. He had to