~2.21~

Mama’s final appointment of the day was at Heathcliff Tower, in the most sumptuous residence of anybody still connected to tribe, the apartment of the witch and professional psychic consultant known as Madame Wow.

“So it worked,” Wow said after seating Mama in the kitchen and serving her tea. She made it a statement rather than a question.

Mama nodded.

“After what you told him, Ivan’s likely to stick to me like glue for the next little while,” Mama said. “Which means I can finally keep a bit of an eye on him.”

“But it also means that your pet bear’s got a license to go all over town now,” Wow said. “Instead of being penned up in his half of the city. John‘s screaming… well, muttering… bloody murder over that one, you know.”

“John’s good at keeping the peace within his neck of the wood, but he’s not so great at dealing with threats from without… anyway, Ivan can’t quite go ‘all over‘,” Mama said. “He can travel between east and west but he’s got to stick close to me to do it. He might think he’s been let off his leash, but really he’s only just put it on.”

“Just as long as he doesn’t ignore the possible threat to my sister,” Wow said. “You said you were going to downplay it. I hope you haven’t discouraged him from looking into it at all.”

“A man like Ivan doesn’t need encouragement,” Mama said. “You’ve got to discourage him a bit just to get his response down to a reasonable level.”

“Do you think Ivan knows you’re yanking his strings?” Wow asked.

“You have to ask me?” Mama returned.

“I’ve never been able to get a read off Ivan, you know that.”

“I know,” Mama said. “But what do you think, then?”

“Well, bearing in mind that my advice is given ‘for entertainment purposes only‘,” Wow said with a sly grin which Mama briefly returned, “I think you’re playing a dangerous game.”