Shade of Pale by Greg; Kihn Page B

involved with something beyond his control, something as vague and ethereal as smoke.
    She leaned forward and touched his temples with dry, leathery fingers; their eyes met. O’Connor wanted to pull away but didn’t. There was too much at stake He stared into the yellowy, red-veined orbs in her wrinkled face and clenched his teeth. Her left eye twitched; her face seem to sag even more.
    â€œShe’s here,” the old woman whispered. “She’s right here in New York. I can see her in your future.”
    O’Connor shuddered. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t find words to express himself. The old woman tightened her grip, pushing in on the sides of his head.
    â€œNow is the time,” she hissed. “Strike while you can.”
    He found himself nodding at her, agreeing.
    The old woman squinted. “You remember what your father told you?”
    â€œYes,” he answered.
    â€œAll of it? Every word?”
    â€œYes.”
    Her hands fell from his temples, and O’Connor felt relief.
    â€œGood. In the Book of Kells there’s a coded page that gives instructions for the ceremony. I have a copy of that page and a translation. You’ll need to learn the incantations.”
    â€œYou have a translation from the Book of Kells? But … Who did it?”
    She laughed a short, humorless cough and released his arm. “I did. Who do you think? Gaelic, in the ancient form, is very difficult to decipher—the old ones were a tricky lot—but I have it all right here.”
    She removed an envelope from her sweater and slid it across the table at him. He took it and held it reverently in his over size fingers.
    â€œThe Book of Kells is mostly untranslated, you know. No one has seen these pages but me … and now you.”
    â€œOK,” O’Connor said. “Supposing I know how to take care of the Banshee, how am I going to find her?”
    Mrs. Willis smiled for the first time, showing her cracked and yellowed teeth. “Fate will lead you to her. It’s all about intertwining lines of fate and destiny. That’s the way it always has been and always will be. If fate has chosen you to be the one, then you will find her.”
    â€œWhere do I begin?”
    Mrs. Willis further wrinkled her already incredibly wrinkled face. She wagged a brown-spotted, bony finger in his direction. “Are you sure your father taught you?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThen you should know. Begin by clearing everything out of your mind. Start by doing nothing.”
    O’Connor smiled. “Nothing, eh?”
    The old lady took a slow, deep breath, as if the gravity of her words pushed her down.
    â€œEverything will be revealed in its own time. When the answers come, they will appear to be a series of unlikely coincidences, but beware. There are no coincidences.”
    â€œDamn confusing, if you ask me.”
    â€œAll I want you to do right now is get everything ready. Can you do that?”
    O’Connor nodded.
    â€œGood. Now I just hope fate has chosen the right man for the job.” The old woman crossed herself and muttered something.
    O’Connor waited for her to speak again. She closed her eyes and seemed to go into a trance for a few long seconds.
    â€œShe will strike again soon; even now she stalks her next victim. Your job is to track her down by finding that person. Look for a sign. If you are truly chosen, a sign will come to you.”
    O’Connor’s face remained impassive. “Can you tell me anything about who that victim will be?”
    The old lady sighed. “I can’t be sure.… I … I think it’s someone close by.”
    â€œIn this neighborhood?”
    Her eyes clouded. She ignored the question and whispered, “It’s somebody who is … two people, I think.”
    â€œTwo people,” he repeated.
    â€œThat’s all I can say.”
    O’Connor waited for more, but none