Witchcraft

of darkness, gathering the forces of the ancient magic as it rises, lifting up into the surface world, flooding in from the farthest reaches of emptiness ... " Cavenaugh slanted a glance at Kimberly who was still sitting on the bed. At least she was staying put although she appeared half-mesmerized by Ariel's chant. When he made his move he didn't want her getting in the way. "The time has come," Ariel shrieked. "Fill this space, oh spirits of the great void, fill it with fire and darkness and destruction ... "
    " Zorah ," Emlyn snapped, "this has gone far enough. She's nuttier than a fruitcake. Stop her!"
    "You, too, shall suffer for mockery and disobedience!" Zorah promised him. "Only my lady and I will be left alive in this room! "
    "Now!" Ariel yelled. "Let it be now!"
    "Now!"
    Zorah screamed, lifting her own arms high above her head. Emlyn lost patience and reached out to grab one of Ariel's raised arms. "Stop it, you dumb broad!" "Don't touch her, you fool!" Zorah shouted. "The power is flowing now!" It might as well flow now, Cavenaugh decided, agreeing silently with the woman. Emlyn's full attention was on Ariel and Zorah . There wasn't going to be a better opportunity. With a quick movement Cavenaugh reached behind his back and withdrew the flat metal case that he had concealed there. "The moment of power is here!" Ariel cried out. "Let it be now!" Zorah yelped, trying to fend off Emlyn .
    "You've got it, ladies," Cavenaugh muttered and hurled the flat case at the feet of the trio in the doorway. An instant later brilliant, blinding light flashed through the room. Screams from everyone except Cavenaugh echoed from one end of the house to the other as each sought to cover his or her eyes. Cavenaugh had already prudently covered his own eyes with his hand. He counted to five and then opened them. The fiery white light produced by the exploding chemical compound in the case was still blinding but the initial brilliance had faded. Cavenaugh was careful to keep from looking directly at the case as he leaped across the room. Seconds later he reached Emlyn who was shouting idiotically. The gun lay on the floor where it had been dropped during the first shock of the explosion. Zorah was screaming. "My eyes! My eyes!" Emlyn yelled. "I can't see." Ariel seemed stunned. She fell back, reeling, holding her hands protectively out in front of her.
    Temporarily blinded, she stared sightlessly at what she must have been convinced she had just unleashed. Kimberly was still on the bed, her palms over her eyes. " Cavenaugh !"
    "Right here, Kim. It's okay. You'll be able to see in a couple of minutes."
    "Oh, my God, Cavenaugh , what happened?" She lowered her hands to her sides, her head turned in the direction of his voice. Cavenaugh looked at his brave, temporarily blinded witch. "Everything's under control, honey. I've got the gun."
    She blinked rapidly a few times. "I can't see!"
    "It's just the light.
    You'll be all right soon," he soothed as he grabbed Emlyn and began tying the man's hands behind his back with the rope belt that Emlyn had worn. Soon the still-stunned Ariel was secured. He was working on Zorah when Kimberly got shakily up off the bed. She was still blinking rapidly. "That's a hell of an act, Cavenaugh . You should take it on the road," she murmured, still sounding shocked. "You never told me you were into witchcraft, yourself." He smiled grimly as he finished tying Zorah's wrists. "You learn a lot in the import-export business."
    "So I see. I think I've asked this before, but what exactly did you import?"
    "I'll tell you later. How are your eyes?" She shook her head as if to clear it. But when she looked at him Kimberly was focusing almost normally. "Okay, I think. Geez , Cavenaugh , what was that stuff?"
    "A chemical powder that reacts with oxygen. When the case is broken the chemical explodes in a bright flash."
    "Like a small bomb," she said in awe. "I could use that in a book."
    "Be my guest. How are you feeling?"
    "Odd."
    "Yeah, you look a little odd. Get some water from the bathroom and put out the coals in that brazier." Kimberly looked at the still-glowing brazier and then nodded obediently. She walked into the bath and returned a moment later with a drinking glass full of water.
    Very carefully she poured the contents over the coals. There was a hissing sound and a small cloud of steam. "Now go call the cops," Cavenaugh ordered distinctly. Kimberly started out of the room and then stopped a moment