"Practice them, but tell no one what you see.  Pinky swear," his uncle
instructed.

"Pinky swear," the boy agreed.  They hooked fingers, then the man
beckoned his nephew to continue.  "Show me," he said.

"Okay."  And the boy began.

"The Ten of Pentacles."

+ + +

Arcana
  created by Scott Schimmel
Chapter Forty-Six: A Thin Line Between
  written by Erin Ellis

+ + +

The goblet held a love potion, something to sweeten the feelings of
whoever imbibed it.  The fumes were slightly hallucinatory.  Rather
useful, High Priestess considered, when you thought of it in the right
light.

But his plans had changed.  A simple potion wasn't enough for what he
wanted to do.  Plus, he didn't trust the little Cup girl.  He'd seen
what she did before, giving her potion to the Magician and Fool earlier.
Whether her aim on that was a demonstration of her powers or a slap in
his face was still unknown.  He thought more likely the latter.  Perhaps
they could speak again... renegotiate.

High Priestess could not walk the World of Dreams, but he could enter
it.  He slept, and thought only of the one he wanted to meet.  The Ace
of Cups.

He dreamt.

+ + +

The courtyard was barren, save for four chairs around a large, ancient
table.  Only two others were in sight.

--AND FINISH PREPARATIONS.  SOON WE WILL MOVE OUT, a voice finished.

Curious, High Priestess stayed silent, drawing closer to the pair who
seemed to be listening to the voice.  one was tall and large, somewhat
attractive, but nothing special.  He also seemed familiar, somehow.
With him was a delicately built girl dressed in red.  The Ace of Cups.
His lips curved into a hungry smile.

WE HAVE INTRUDERS, the authoritative voice stated.  The boy looked
about, startled, while the Ace stared right at him.

"I thought our dealings were concluded, High Priestess."

The cloaked figure walked forward, amber eyes glinting.  "It seems the
situation has changed.  I knew the real reason you were so 'kind' wasn't
because of your Page."

Her face screwed into a lovely scowl.  "Quiet yourself before I do it
for you."

By this time, his strides had taken him to face her.  He grabbed her
chin, turning it towards him.  "So beautiful... it would be a pity to
have to damage that face."  His fingers clenched more firmly at her
jawline.

The tall boy, finally acting, sprang forward, but High Priestess felled
him with a wave of his hand.  "Seems your allies aren't as strong as
you'd think.  You shouldn't underestimate a Trump," here he let the
title linger, "especially the benefits of having one on your side."  The
others were silent, so High Priestess continued.  "What do you plan to
do with Tower?"

The boy was still dazed on the ground, and the Ace flared her nostrils
defiantly.  "It's nothing that would concern you and your debauchery,"
she spat.

"You're right, I don't care what happens to Tower.  There is only one
Arcana who I must destroy.  And in exchange for my help taking the
Tower, you will help me crush the Magician."

"I believe I speak for us all; we won't be party to murder," she said
self-righteously.

The tall man wrinkled his nose, an elegant gesture that accompanied a
slight narrowing of his eyes.  "Don't be so barbaric.  I have no
intentions of killing the Magician in cold blood.  I will take my time
and break her, then build her up and break her again.  Everything that
she has, everything she holds dear, I will take and turn from her."  He
released the Ace from where his sculptured nails had begun to draw
blood, the brilliant scarlet against her skin much more striking than
the pale red of her hanbok.  To the girl's credit, she did not wince as
he released her, simply wiped off the blood with a hand.  He grabbed it,
lapping at the redness with a sensitive, cat-like tongue.  Now she
flinched, and the High Priestess smiled.

"I will keep the Magician, the Fool, and the Magician's friends who use
the Tower Reversed from interfering.  In return, you will provide me
with the services I require.  Now, doesn't that seem fair?"

The Ace of Cups looked more than a little shaken as she cast about for
support in the deserted courtyard.  "I-- I will never give you the Page
of Cups."

"King."  There was a heavy silence, as High Priestess knew the King
considered his offer.  The Ace was silent as well, in deference to her
King as opposed to any respect to himself.

AGREED, the voice boomed.  REMOVE THE OBSTACLES FROM OUR PATH, AND THE
USE OF OUR SERVICES IS YOURS.

"King!"  The Ace's voice was filled with hurt, and High Priestess
reveled in it.

"Thank you, your highness."  High Priestess gave a shallow bow, grinning
wickedly.  "Then Ace, if you would?"

+ + +

"Strength."

+ + +

The news reports were oddly muted for such an event; to all outside
appearances, the sudden, stricken illness of the LDP Chairman and Prime
Minister-elect was an everyday occurrence.  The topic rippled through
conversations on the streets, in cafes and train stations, conspicuous
by its absence from the papers.  Even the police were kept from
investigation, politely turned away by JSDF forces when they tried to
approach Oda's residence or office.  Sergeant Sagara was not pleased.

Kurayami Maki, on the other hand, seemed ecstatic.  "Uncle Sagara!" she
called, breezing into his office.  She ignored the glance he slipped to
his partner, neatly picking her way around stacks of paperwork that sat
around the policeman's desk and clearing a spot to sit down before it.
"What do you think of the papers today?  Pity about the Chairman, isn't
it?"  Her sunny expression indicated that to her, it was anything but.

"Yeah," the policeman grunted.  "They say it was a heart attack.  He's
young to have one."

"He was old and outdated.  All those who cannot change will fall."  Her
voice was the woman's again, dark and ominous.  Then the girl returned,
an open smile on her face.  "How's Auntie doing?"

"All right," he said, tightly, eyeing his partner, who seemed to be
ignoring the exchange for the most part.

She clasped her hands, seemingly with joy.  "Great!  I heard that she
had a surgery last night, but today she's fine.  I'd better get to
school then, so I'll see you later, Uncle!"  Bouncing up, she leaned
into him and gave him a peck on the cheek.  "As you can see, I reward
those who follow my bidding, especially when they go above and beyond
the call of duty," she murmured into his ear.  Then, with a smile and a
wave, she was gone.

Sagara froze, features slowly moving into a frown.  He hadn't heard
anything about his wife going into surgery, and Maki had seemed
surprisingly unkempt today.  Usually dressed to a T, her uniform seemed
hastily pulled on, without earrings or any other decoration.  Also, he
was sure her carefully applied makeup was covering a bruise or two.  His
police instincts called for an investigation, even if it was for someone
who was blackmailing him.  'You didn't refuse,' he reminded himself.
"Justice really is blind," Sagara murmured.

"What?"  Nakamura's response was sharp, and his eyes were beams into
his.

Sagara opened his mouth, then closed it.  "I need to run out for a
minute; wife needs something.  Cover for me, eh?"  He left before his
partner could respond.

+ + +

"Nine of Wands, reversed."

+ + +

"Call your Court."

The clipped words, then a click and amplified silence.  Not only had he
dared command her like some rabble, he had hung up on her.  Maki pursed
her lips, finally unclenching her fists and returning the receiver to
its bed.  No one had right to command the Queen of Pentacles -- one who
was almost the Empress.

'But you aren't the Empress,' her mind reminded.  She had been cocky
with ambition, and now she had to pay for it.  She as still sore from
before, when Will--

The Queen's face hardened further.  Dwelling on such things would only
waste her time and effort.  She should have just killed him when she had
the chance.  To be honest, he ought to have been dead, by rights.
Perhaps her Knight had forgotten that part of the order, not that she
had followed the other part -- killing the Magician -- either.

She was losing it.  Will was right, though she loathed to admit it.  She
had become too involved in her own internal planning, too comfortable
with leaving things to others.  And while the 'truce' with the King of
Blades seemed mutually beneficial, Maki was no fool.  There was no
choice in the matter.  The King of Blades probably asked her to Call the
others to see if he could consolidate their Courts' powers as much as to
flaunt his power over her.  She hated to lose control, and she despised
those who would take control from her.

With Will's Trump cronies, revenge would have to wait.  But when it
finally came...  "I will kill him myself," she mouthed, hands trembling.
Thrusting her arm out straight, she slashed a pentacle in the air,
issuing the summons.

+ + +

"Nine of Cups, reversed."

+ + +

The High Priestess smiled at the red-clad girl in his doorway.  "Come,
Ace, aid me.  In half a day, the Tower Reversed will be emptied, and we
can both return to visit your darling Page."

"You revel in causing others pain."  Her voice was so bitter he could
taste it.

"I revel in beauty.  It is not my fault that some forms of suffering are
so beautiful."

"You are sick."

He mocked thinking, then cleared his face as if having a revelation.
"Then, why not send the Healer to fix me?"

The Ace failed to completely suppress a shudder.  "I hate you."

"I know."  They traveled in a calculated silence, stopping before a
typical, two story home.  "The lovely Page did not seem to mention you
when he was in my employ as much as you do him," he commented lightly.
She returned a dangerous look, but said nothing.  High Priestess
laughed, the clipped tones a sad approximation of true mirth.  "You are
quite the amusing diversion.  Perhaps if you wished to enter a more
long-term relationship, I'm sure it could be arranged."  The look on her
face was priceless.  The Ace of Cups certainly was a more animated
companion than the Page.  It was so much more fun when they resisted.

"Why not play with your precious Fool?" she spat.  "We've given you more
than enough resources to take him.  What's so great about him anyway?"

A reflective gleam came over his amber eyes.  "The mere fact that he is
so close to the Magician makes him one of the most attractive things in
the world.  I will have him, and I will keep him from Her.  But he is a
Trump, and therefore watched by competing forces.  So I must take a
different tack."  He waved a hand and the window before them opened to
reveal a sleeping girl.  "This is Natsu Forrester, the Magican's best
friend.  She has had various occurrences that have caused her to be
against Arcana as a whole.  She particularly dislikes the Fool, and
resents the wedge she perceives in her relationship with the Magician.
She also has close relations with the others who inhabit the Tower
Reversed.  As you can see, she will be perfect for achieving both of our
goals."  He brushed back her short blonde hair, causing the girl to
stir, but not wake.

"Can't you just force her to do what you want yourself?  All of this is
distasteful to me."

"If the mind is not willing when I come to it, the magick is easily
thrown off," he said, resentfully remembering his previous experience
with Joker.  "If she welcomes my Touch, then there is no known limit to
the influence I could impart.  She could potentially follow me forever.
Though I'm sure I would tire of her before then.  She is not as
interesting as you are, Ace."

She grimaced, but said nothing.  Producing a small vial from her robes,
she walked to the sleeping girl, chanting softly.  A slight glow
enveloped the liquid, then it overflowed, spilling crystal drops onto
Natsu.  She too glowed, then faded.  The blonde shifted, dreaming eyes
working beneath her lids.

The Ace of Cups returned to where the tall man stood, looking archly at
him.  "When she wakes, all previous emotions she had will be enhanced.
If she truly was annoyed by the Magician, she will certainly dislike her
now."

Thin lips curved into a smirk.  "Excellent."

+ + +

"Eight of Wands."

+ + +

Oda Kazuhiro was greeted with laughter as he walked into the darkened
room, eyes closed.

"Pardon me," Hanged Man apologized, "usually I had to follow Hierophant
around to give him information... its nice to work with someone who will
come to me for something they want."

"That is not the main concern here.  It has been a long time since I was
last in Tokyo, and it seems you haven't changed at all.  What is your
goal, Hanged Man?  I see no need to have destroyed Hierophant, even if
he is a sufficient vessel--"

"It is not your place to question, Justice!"  The Hanged Man rarely
raised his voice, but now his face was narrowed with anger.  "We work
for the Council Arcana.  Our will is that of the Emperor himself!  Never
forget that."

Justice's face slackened, taking a step back.  "The Emperor is back in
the Spread?"

The inverted man nodded.  "There is a reason I am in charge of this
operation, and a reason why Hierophant is dead.  You, of all people,
should realize the effect the Council has on the world."  He paused a
moment to let this sink in.  "We have called you here for a purpose.
The Prophecy will come to pass whether we like it or not, and the
Council Arcana would rather take its deserved place at the top of it
all.  Our job is to ready the others, so that when the Emperor comes, he
can take his rightful place as the head of the Council.  So, let them
play their petty games, warring over the Tower Reversed," his voice was
full of contempt.  "As if they could conceive of real power.  When their
resources are spent and wills broken, they will have no better choice,
no other choice than to join us.  In the meantime, I want you to be our
eyes and ears.  You are much more mobile than the rest of us.  As young
ones appear, find if they are fit to join us.  If not, let them be
destroyed."

The Asian man's face was tight, torn.  "To deny them a choice... that's
not very fair."

"Then hopefully they will be fit.  The World will seek you out, so try
to keep out of her Sight if possible.  She must not interfere with the
coming of Judgement."  He stepped back, giving a long look at the other.
"We are the last to act, and those who must be the most prepared.  The
Council asks little but loyalty, for just a little longer."  The words
hung, slowly melting into the silence.

"That's all?" Justice asked.

"That's all," Hanged Man replied.  "You can go back now."

"Hanged Man--"

"You should return before anyone finds Oda missing.  I will contact you
again soon."  And he was gone.

Nakamura opened his eyes.

+ + +

"Five of Cups."

+ + +

"Ohmigod I'm late!"  Taking perhaps five minutes between sitting bolt
upright in bed and jumping into her clothes and raking a brush through
her hair, Hotaru ran through the kitchen, grabbing an errant rice ball
as she passed by.

"Honey, it's Saturday," Mrs. Komatane reminded mildly.

"I know Mom, but I promised I'd meet Natsu ten minutes ago!  Can you
give me a ride?"  Actually, the words came out much more muffled than
that, being spoken through a mouthful of rice, but Mrs. Komatane, used
to such conversations, got the gist of it.

"Sorry, your father drove off somewhere this morning.  You're a good
girl, she'll understand.  Tell Natsu hello for me.  Oh, and that nice
Ishido boy called again; he said something about meeting for your
project later today?"

"Oh, uh..."  Hotaru paused, not quite remembering anything about plans
to meet with Ishido today... or much of the previous evening, for that
matter.  No.  Focus.  Natsu.  "Goodbye, Mom," Hotaru hollered, running
out of the door.  Of all the days for her alarm -not- to be set
forward...

She arrived at the House of International Pancakes fifteen minutes of
hard running later, doing her best not to collapse as she slipped into
the booth opposite her friend.  "I'm so sorry," she panted, wiping sweat
off her brow.  "I overslept, and couldn't get a ride."

"I gathered," Natsu said.  Her voice was hard, and now that Hotaru had
determined her heart was not going to explode, she looked up to find the
blonde staring out of the window, a look of mixed betrayal and malice on
her face.

"Natsu, what's wrong?"

"I'll tell you what's wrong," she said, whipping her face towards the
brunette.  "It's a little thing called respect.  You've got time enough
to spend with that murderer, and can't find time to see me, and if so,
you're twenty minutes late.  Probably met up with Joker, did you?"

"No," Hotaru protested, face reddening.  "Natsu-chan," she pleaded.
"You're making a scene."  The other patrons had quieted, and many had
turned to look at the pair.  "Come on, don't be mad.  I just overslept.
I do it every day.  I didn't mean to... I really want to see you."

"Do you?  So you can make fun of me with the other girls in school
later, is it?  Or is that your hobby, collecting freaks?  Am I not
enough of a killer for you, Hotaru?  Had to trade me in for someone with
a knife?  Or is it that you just like how he wields his blade, if you
know what I mean."

Hotaru slapped her.  She hadn't meant to; she had been angry, and it
just happened.  As the blonde's head twisted with the blow, Hotaru's
rage melted, leaving her frightened and empty.  "I-- I'm sorry," she
stuttered, then halted as Natsu slowly brought her face back forward.

"No, you're not."  The girl took a tired, shuddering breath, but spoke
slowly and purposefully.  "Before, I asked you to leave me alone for
your own sake.  Because you didn't deserve to be with a destructive
person like me.  But now, with what you've done, with who you've decided
to spend your time with, I want you to stay away from me because you
sicken me.  I hate you.  Never talk to me again."

The brunette did nothing, stunned.  "N-natsu..."  Hotaru cringed as
Natsu raised her hand, but she did nothing but throw a couple yen onto
the table.  By the time Hotaru looked back up, Natsu had left the
restaurant.  She had.. she couldn't...

"No!"  Throwing up a field, she ran after her.  She caught Natsu at the
edge, grabbing her arm.  "Don't go.  This isn't over."

Natsu turned, face radiating pure hatred.  "Never try your Arcana tricks
on me again."  Wresting her arm from Hotaru's grip, she walked out of
the field and didn't look back.

+ + +

"The Devil."

+ + +

"That went better than planned," High Priestess commented.  He stood
beside her, both unnoticed on the roof of an apartment building looking
over the neighborhood.  From their perch, they could clearly see the
developments between the two former friends.

"I was unaware her feelings were that deep," the Ace of Cups murmured.
She pitied the girls; they just had been in the wrong place at the wrong
time.  While eventually they would have had to confront their problems,
more than likely somehow they would have worked out.  And now...

She waited for her tall companion to make some choice comment, but he
was silent, watching as the distraught Magician found her way into the
Fool's arms.  Looking questioningly at the hooded figure, he flared his
nostrils, snarling.  "It is his power to appear coincidentally, even if
he does not try.  Be happy, it means they will stay away from the Tower
Reversed.  She does not like to take him there."

"And the other girl?"

He returned some of his humor, a strange look crossing his face.  "She
will go to the Knight of Wands.  They will not trouble you either.  I
Suggested that she go," he answered her unspoken question.

"You control her already?"  Trumps were strong indeed.

"No.  As I said, minds are willing to accept suggestions they are
already partial to.  She had a traumatizing experience, and now she
wants to be comforted.  I just gave her a mutually beneficial direction
to run to."

The Ace shook her head, disgusted.  "Playing with emotions like it's
some sort of game.  That is true cruelty."

"Interesting words from one whose companions wield similar powers, even
extending to life and death."  He said nothing more as she stared at
him, unable to find any meaning, any spark of life in the cold amber
eyes.  Suddenly, she very much wanted to be back with the Page-- back
with the others.

"Is that all of the inhabitants of the Tower Reversed?"

"The Page of Pentacles, but she is not here, nor is she a threat if she
appears.  You can tell your companions to begin."  She nodded, readying
to transfer back into the world of dreams.  He grabbed her wrist,
holding her.  "I am an accomplished ally," he stated more than asked.

"I will report that you did your part satisfactorily, and that I also
did mine."  She pulled away, but he did not release her.

"Not quite, little Cup.  Even you must admit that I did more in this
alliance than your companions.  I was serious about a long-term
relationship between us."  He was very close now, breath unnaturally
cold on her face.  It reminded her of death.  "Others, less easily
swayed, also pursue the Tower."  She pulled; his grip was grinding the
bones in her wrist.  "Ask your King if he favors Trump against Trump to
the alternative.  Ask him," here he shook her slightly, "or I shall.
And my terms tend to be more costly than the ones you would negotiate
yourself."

Then, he casually released her hand, vaulted over the guardrail of the
building, and was gone.

"There are few things I'd rather do than deal with you," she spat, then
took a step backwards and was gone as well.

+ + +

"Ace of Blades."

+ + +

Chuyama Atsuko had dropped her controller, straightening like a bolt of
lightning had run through her.  "Did you feel that?" she asked, a
desperate, searching look on her face.

"Umm," Chris Forrester trailed.  "Not really."  He fingered the crystal
around his neck.  He was antsy, he wanted to finish playing, he wanted
to go somewhere.  "Atsu?  What was it?"

"That was the Queen calling us."  Emotions warred over her face, then
she seemed to make a decision.  "Come on, Chris... I think it's time to
meet your Court."

And so he'd followed her to a huge estate.  They'd sneaked down the
street for a while, then she'd held him, and next thing they knew, they
were inside a dark, narrow hallway.  "I'll introduce you.  Stay here,"
she'd instructed, entering the only door and closing it firmly behind
him.

He'd stayed unprotesting, stunned both by her display of powers and her
willingness to get so close to him this early in their relationship.
Maybe they could get close in other ways, he daydreamed.  When his moral
conscious kept him from those thoughts, they changed to her
teleportation.  If he was their King, then did he have powers like that
too?  And what were they?

He was definitely antsy, though markedly less so since moving to the
hallway.  Atsuko had said she would call him.  From the sounds coming
from inside of the room, things weren't going well.  Chris didn't really
know what to expect from Maki, other than the fact that Atsuko seemed to
either really respect or really fear her.  Maybe both.

The sounds from inside the room had changed... was that Atsuko's voice?
Screaming?

"What's going on here?" Chris yelled, sounding a lot more sure than he
felt, slamming open the door and bursting into the room.  Atsuko kneeled
on the floor, bones slack.  A familiar pretty blonde girl stood near
her, attentions torn between being the three older people in the room.
And in front of them, standing within a pentacle and seething, was
Kurayami Maki.

"Forrester," Maki bit, voice dripping with hatred.  "What are –you-
doing here?"

"I'm--" he swallowed, voice cracking.  "Don't hurt them.  I won't let
you."  He slipped the crystal over his head.  "I'm your King."

+ + +

"Six of Blades."

+ + +

The actual taking of the Tower Reversed was over so quickly it was anti-
climactic.  Shirosawa Keisuke had imagined busting in with guns-- well,
with -something- blazing, having to fight for every inch gained.
Instead, they just walked in through the dream world, directly into the
Tower Reversed.  Or, not exactly.

"This is the Tower Reversed's dreamspace," the Healer explained.  "If
you think of the land of dreams as a physical identity, this is where
the Tower Reversed lies in this plane."

The tall boy frowned.  "But no one is here.  I thought someone might try
to... you know... stop us."  He had dreaded they would -- he couldn't
fight them.  He didn't want them to see him like this.  He had hoped
they would -- he needed to know everyone was alright.  Miyuki-chan.
Tetsuya.  He wanted to know that he was doing the right thing.  "No
one's resisting," Keisuke continued, almost pleading.

"The Ace has taken care of that," the Page said, face tightening.

"The Ace?  I thought she had gone ahead with the others," the teen said,
confused.  "Wait, does this have to do with that guy earlier today?"

"We must find the Tower himself," Healer said, tone and expression
stating that the matter of the Ace was closed.  "Come."  The boy started
walking, following a length of chain that ran behind and before them as
far as Keisuke could see, which, granted, was not very far.  They
followed the wending chain towards increasing darkness, something which
played horrible tricks on the Knight's eyesight, as just when he thought
it was as dark as could be, it became even darker.  It was a blackness
different from the dankness of the courtyard of Cups, more the absence
of light than darkness itself.  The inky black seemed to grasp at his
very soul, doing just as much as the zero visibility to slow Keisuke's
progress.

"Come," the Page repeated, farther ahead.  He seemed to have no troubles
following the chain, his steps sure over the metal links that rushed
like tributaries to the main chain they followed.  A stumble proved that
the central length was made of impossibly large pieces of metal that
seemed to reflect a light that had no source.  "What could possibly need
to be this well imprisoned?"

A faint "come," was the Knight's only reply.  And suddenly they were
upon him, the chains swirling and converging, linked to huge manacles
and shackles worn by a thin, crouching man.  The Tower looked up at them
with old, heavy eyes.  "I've been expecting you."

+ + +

tbc.

+ + +

[cards]

+ Strength - recovery of sickness; strength needed for future
+ Devil - locking self into plans, bad company
+ The Star - hope for future, don't waste opportunities
+ Eight of Wands - putting plans into action
+ Nine of Wands (rev) - be vigilant not to lose everything
+ Five of Cups - loss of a friend, defeat
+ Nine of Cups - soon have satisfaction
+ Ten of Pentacles (rev) - minor success in a new project
+ Ace of Blades - taking control of situation
+ Six of Blades - travelling; new companions

[notes]

+ Okay, this stayed light and cheerful for all of about two lines.
  At least Sagara's wife is doing better... kinda sorta... *sigh*
+ No Blades were harmed in the writing of this fanfic... sorry 'bout
  that.  I put in Hotaru for once, be happy with that...
+ Maki commanded Atsuko to kill Will waaay back in chapter 33, but
  instead she turned him in to the cops (38).  She also told Sagara to
  humiliate Oda (also 38), and went out with Chris back in ch. 25.
  Kickin' it old school.
+ Yup yup, normal folk are not kept in fields.  Natsu was paying
  attention when all this was explained. (chapter 1??)
+ Yeh, yeah, I'll finish those summaries someday...
+ Sorry Anthon.. didn't give you the action cliffhanger, instead, left
  you the emotional ones... ^^;

eme 22.december.2001

+ + +

"The Star.  But I don't see anything for that."

+ + +

"Are you playing with those cards again?"

The boy shifted quickly, sweeping the cards back into a neat pile before
placing them back into their velvet carrying case.  "I'm putting them
away Mama, and going to bed."

"All right, honey."  She gave him a hug, tucking him in and leaving the
door open just a crack, so the hall light could come in, but not the
monsters.  Mama always knew what to do.  "I'll have to tell your
uncle... I'll bet he never knew you'd like his gift so much.  Good
night!"

"'Night, Mama."  Mama did know an awful lot, but not this.  His uncle
definitely knew how much the cards meant to him.  "Pinky swear.  It'll
be our secret," he whispered.

The figure hanging outside of his window nodded.