The Great Fury by Thomas Kennedy Page B

his embarrassment.
    After breakfast Maedbh took Oengus into the campus of New York University. It was alive with students. Venus snoozed in her arms seemingly oblivious to the world about her.
    â€œI have to go to class,” Maedbh said.
    Oengus understood immediately that he was required to cope without her.
    â€œClass?” he asked.
    â€œI’m doing Math, Physics and Chemistry,” Maedbh added.
    â€œI thought you were a witch?”
    â€œApprentice witch,” Maedbh corrected, “There’s a lot to learn and magic is easier if you understand the laws of physics. When I have my PhD I will move on to witch training proper, but not of course, at New York University.”
    In her jeans, shirt and casual jacket Maedbh looked very young to Oengus.
    â€œYou’ll need lots of brains to be a mathematician,” he remarked.
    Maedbh smiled. “I got in on a scholarship. They do scholarships for high IQ people regardless of age. It’s for advanced intelligences. You have to be clever to be a witch,” Maedbh explained without seeming self-conscious.
    â€œO.K.” Oengus agreed, unable to think of anything else to say to detain her further.
    â€œWill I meet you later?” Maedbh offered.
    â€œSure. Right now I’m going to find the Bronx.”
    â€œThe Bronx?”
    â€œYes, my mother gave me Uncle John’s address in a place called the Bronx. I understand it is a place of penitence?” Oengus explained.
    â€œBe careful, all big cities require the exercise of common sense and I understand the Bronx can be rough,” Maedbh cautioned.
    â€œDon’t worry I sent Puca Beag out as a pigeon to reconnoiter.”
    â€œTry Google maps, it’s better,” Maedbh offered.
    As she spoke she smiled and handed Venus over. Venus woke with a startled mew and then settled back in Oengus’s arms. She liked an after breakfast nap. Maedbh turned and left them to it.
    Oengus felt a bit self-conscious walking the streets of New York with a cat in his arms and a pigeon on his shoulder. But no one passed remarks.
    Venus on waking up, had suggested a better way to keep a low profile would be if Oengus would keep conversation with herself and Puca Beag to a minimum, suggesting that talking in an animated way to a cat and a pigeon might draw attention.
    â€œFine,” Puca Beag said, but informed Oengus that based on his reconnoiter the Bronx was not to be found in Manhattan.
    â€œAnd don’t spend your time looking up at the Skyscrapers. That will single you out as a tourist and you might get mugged,” Venus added.
    Oengus would have been happy to spend the morning absorbing the bustle of Manhattan but he knew he had a mission.
    â€œI should have come to New York sooner,” he remarked.
    â€œYou needed a catalyst,” Venus mewed supportively.
    â€œI don’t think we’ll find the Bronx just wandering about. We need a map,” Oengus decided.
    â€œWe need a taxi,” Venus countered. “But Puca Beag will have to fly. No pigeons in taxi cabs.”
    â€œI do have an address in the Bronx,” Oengus said, cheered by the suggestion of a cab.
    Beag followed the yellow cab, riding the air currents between the skyscrapers. Beag was delighted with his new job. His previous job as a portal guard had been boring but now he could soar and fly.
    Venus paced purposely around the rear seat of the cab and mewed with emphasis.
    â€œThe cat all right?” the driver barked over his shoulder. “If it does its business, you pay.”
    â€œIt’s ok,” Oengus reassured. He pulled Venus onto his knee so she would sit and draw less attention to herself.
    â€œSay again?” Oengus asked.
    â€œI said you need a strategy to realize a vision and to realize a strategy you need objectives and you need to break the objectives down into key tasks and measures of achievement of the objectives,” Venus repeated patiently.
    Oengus