Teamwork

Chapter 4

"The Headmaster has approved of our demonstrations." Rabe seemed excited. He put down his few rolls of parchment and waited for some kind of response from his staff.

Jones wondered why this was so important. She waited for a few seconds and, along with most of the rest, went back to grading. Kessler poured himself another drink.

"He has decided that we should demonstrate to the school as a whole. That should increase next year's enrollment!" Rabe waited. Kessler finished his drink and poured yet another. Gregorov followed his example. Jones fired up yet another cigarette.

"When? What's our budget?" Wronski asked, deciding that someone had to ask the obvious questions.

"All Saints Day. After the Halloween Celebration."

There was much snickering. Sounding slightly slurred, Gregorov remarked, "All Saints Day. Us? You must be joking. Pass me that bottle." The Russian was well on his way to a roaring drunk.

"No, I am not. We will all do one demonstration for the school. We will start with Professor Haken, continue with Professor Kessler, then Professor Lowenstein, then Professor Gregorov, to Professor Wronski, to Professor de Rais, and then to Professor Jones. We do have time restraints. This cannot take more than a few hours in the evening."

A general moaning and groaning commenced. "How can we do all the set up work and presentations in that time!" Jones whined.

"So. We need to plan carefully and do it quickly." Rabe attempted to take on an air of command, but no one was looking at him.

Kessler emptied his bottle. He seemed frighteningly sober for a man who had consumed an entire bottle in less than an evening. Practice. Lots of practice. "We will work together. It will look like the work is harder than it is. Much more impressive."

Jones was disappointed. She wanted to do her work alone. Just like she always had.

"I suggest that Yuri summons his demon after Ludwig sets the wards," Kessler said jovially. "Ludwig can make sleeping look like hard work."

"Rolf, well, Rolf can do something simple." Kessler ignored Haken's scowl. "I can perform some kind of curse. No, I do not know what kind yet. Let me think about it. Wronski can brew a melting potion. I saw him do it once to a rat."

Still on a roll, Kessler continued, "Gilles can take whatever is left over and make it do something..."

De Rais' dead eyes sparked. "Make sure that it is mostly whole. Piecework takes too much time."

"Professor Jones, what do you want to do?" Rabe had a suspicious air as he waited. Jones knew that Rabe didn't like her very much.

"If Paul is doing a melting potion, then I can do the Separa spell. Haven't tried it in years, but it's properly grisly. How many subjects do we get? That really should be how we plan this out. Will there be anyone to patch the poor bastards up between our demonstrations or do we each get one?" Jones pulled out another cigarette and lit it.

"We are budgeted at three. I know we can do our demonstration within those bounds." Rabe sounded confident as the rest of the staff shrugged or nodded and continued with the endless paperwork.