Promethea Read Free Page B

powerful, teleporting space-folding burglar wizard? I better have a more convincing explanation to fend off the Senior Councillor.” The Austrian giant murmured. Yet, he was not alone in his bewilderment; all the other officers had unanimously witnessed the same implausible course of events, even if for obvious reasons vowed to remain sceptical. They had nothing to declare except for the exchange of vague yielding glances, as Brunner passed by on his way to the Senior Councillor’s office. “This is it.” He muttered as he stood by the black-rimmed frosted glass door of Senior Councillor Karl E. Schuster before twisting the doorknob nervously on his way in.
                  Schuster was a tediously organized man, and this is how he probably effectively climbed the hierarchal ladder. He never socialized nor talked in abundance with any of his subordinates, which created an allure of fear and respect. His wall was an extension of his arduous life; a shrine of achievements, shimmering with framed acknowledgments and merits. Stepping into his Zen theme inspired office interior was always a scene to behold. Soothing shades of whites, greys and hints of dark browns dominated his workspace, with only the most innate and primitive of furniture pieces present. No matter how much work he had to do, he always had his desk organized and uncluttered. The Senior Councillor was on the phone when Brunner stepped in, which to whom he signalled to sit down. The whole office seemed ablaze with the flickering lights indicating a frenzy of messages, emails and phone calls, yet somehow Schuster was characteristically prudent. He had always appeared calm and in control. In contrast, Brunner sat down anxiously, in acute discomfort. He looked down feeling unnerved when his superior ended his phone call and granted him his full, undivided attention.
                  “I have read your report. Do you have anything to add or perhaps, amend ?”
                  The room’s breadths started to shrink, or so felt Brunner. His heart drummed frantically as droplets of cold sweat slid hastily down his spine. He knew that the scenario suggested by his report seemed farfetched, almost ridiculous, which forced upon him a painful struggle; either to stand by what he believed was the ultimate truth, putting his professional credibility in question or to yield to the increasingly daunting pressure exercised by his peers.  “No sir, I know what I saw.” He nervously answered.
                  Schuster seemed unconvinced. He gawked into Brunner’s eyes as if peeking and sifting through his soul, attempting to validate his unconvincing recount of things. It created a moment of uncomfortable silence, which was a classic Schuster trait. Only he was able to weave such intense encounters, ones that can be seen as being built with such an elaborate theatrical talent. He had always been a condescending superior, a sadist perhaps, giving himself an unrestrained access to other people’s affairs. He considered these his ultimate playgrounds, places where he was allowed to push people around with his aggressive curiosity just to see what made them tick. Right now, he was merely laying the foundations for his next gambit. He relaxed his back on his extremely comfortable leather chair and released a long sigh, which was then followed by a command in the form of a proposition. “I have a chore for you.” He said, presenting his assistant with a deceiving illusion of choice.
                  The Austrian Conference of Catholic Bishops had appointed one of its own members, Maximilian Bauer of the Archdiocese of Wien, to oversee the case. He was to act as the primary link between the Church and the State in this particular sensitive issue. It was a move that left Schuster furious. He saw no reason for the Church to meddle with his affairs, but more importantly he had no time to spare entertaining their trivialities.