Hilda - Lycadea Read Free Page B

most worrying approaches to this came from Hilda
and Maurizio. William decided to break up all conversations.
"Folks! Silence! And that means you too, sweetwitch," he hastily
added as Hilda shot him a look. "I think we have to do some more
constructive talk and explaining, okay?"
    Rebel agreed. "About time. I'm getting brain
wrecked here. Can I hold that kitty?"
    Obsi meowed and jumped down, seeking safety
with his sister.
    Maurizio straightened his back. "Va bene, I
suggest we go down to the lounge and talk over cappucino or
espresso."
    "What's that?" Hilda wanted to know. William
quickly explained that it was coffee, which lit up her eyes.
    "Xander, can you take that away?" Maurizio
said to one of the sailors, pointing at the metal shape. The man
nodded, and Maurizio asked his guests to follow him. To the
lounge.
    Hilda and William carried their cats. The
animals did not seem to mind that one bit; the black heads with the
yellow eyes looked around and seemed to take everything in, as did
their humans. After going through the black door, the sounds of
someone operating the large metal man fading behind them, they went
down a few steps. Maurizio led them through a large iron door and
they came in an immaculate white corridor. From that side, the iron
door was not iron, but just as white as the rest.
    "Holy Bejeebus, this looks like science
fiction," said the wizard as he stepped into it.
    "This is the Mimosa, wizard William,"
Maurizio said, "this is better than science fiction."
    Hilda looked at her wizard, in need of help.
William was talking all kinds of rubbish again and the worrying
part was that now there were people around that actually understood
what he said. She did not trust the clean white corridor with its
smooth walls, barely visible doors left and right and light that
seemed to come from nowhere.
    William sensed the unease in his witch and
put an arm around her shoulders. Hilda wasn't sure if that would
make her look vulnerable, but considering this weird environment
she did not really mind the protective touch of her wizard.
    "This way, per favore," the redcoat captain
said. His attire looked as out of place here as did that of the
magicals.
    At the end of the corridor, Maurizio touched
a panel as they had seen next to every door. It radiated a faint
yellow light and it became red as the man lay a hand on it. A
moment later, without a sound, a door slid open and Maurizio
ushered them in.
    "I have redecorated it," he proudly told them
once they were all inside.
    "He means that he made the ship redecorate
itself," Rebel burst his bubble, as she quickly made her way to a
large counter with all kinds of gleaming objects. "Who's for
espresso, who's for cappucino, who goes for latte and I believe we
have tea here also."
    William and Hilda looked around the lounge.
"Maybe," he said, "that thing there is safe to sit on." He guided
the witch to a deafeningly loud yellow blob that had the makings of
a couch, but missed something to convincingly impersonate one.
"I'll have a cappuccino, please. And I think Hilda can do with one
also."
    Maurizio looked pained but shrugged.
"Espresso for me, cara," he said and pulled a sack covered with a
flower design towards the almost-couch. He sat down in the thing,
which seemed to blow itself up and mold itself to his body.
"Welcome," the captain of the Mimosa said, smiling a big smile that
revealed a silver front tooth.
    From far away heavy thuds shook everything.
Bong... bong... bong... Xander was obviously moving the metal
man.
    "Welcome, welcome," Polly babbled. The parrot
was still on Maurizio's shoulder, feeling quite at home there.
"Coffee!"
    Hilda laughed over the antics of the talking
bird. "Maybe we should get our cats to talk too," she suggested to
William. "Ouch!" she added as Grimalkin buried a set of nails in
Hilda's knee. The cat did not approve of the idea.
    "Here we go, guys," said Rebel, carrying a
tray with cups of coffee. She stomped her foot and the floor in
front