Chapter 7 [Two Hours Later]

Gwen mulled over Thoughts and Questions. She glanced up at Peter. "This is really fast, Mr. P. How'd you squeeze us in?"

Peter leaned against Rail's support. "I think Mr. Dubois got us in, Gwendy. He really trusts her. Hopefully, she'll be more help than that Masters lady last Spring." He looked about the car. Spider Sense offered nary a tingle. "Robbie and Ms. Mercado aren't going to like another stone walling."

"Those dark clouds aren't our fault, Peter. You set up the appointment. She didn't show. Mr. Dubois apologized to the Bugle and us. Right? Dad's satisfied. We're due for our pan to hit gold. Chin up now! My guy can't be dragging moods forever." She rubbed his left forearm. "That old Sun's going to shine soon."

Composure's breath helped relax him. "You really need to patent that smile, Kid." He helped her up. "This is our stop." He led her toward the doors.

"Why thank you, Peter! It is so nice to know! You do your share too!" Her lips whispered Amor's tune across his cheek. "Dr. Dubois, I'm sure, will be fine. Maybe she might have some info on our stalkers."

"We can hope so." He led her out of the train. They ascended Stairs one at a time up to the top. "This is the Village all right." He pointed across the street toward Granite Wall and Slate Rooftops poking over it. "That's the college."

She looked over her own notes. "Guess we're looking for Mulberry Hall? That's where the gal in question's set up shop." She started across Bleecker Street in the midst of Pedestrians' Herd. "Hope she's in. This is what he said." She waited by the curb for him to join her. "So, where next?" Her eyebrow arched. "That gate?"

"The gate it is." He accompanied her through Vine-Encrusted Entrance and into the enclosed area within it. Well-Manicured Lawn and Stately Brick Buildings popped up around them. Stones lined Sidewalks between the half dozen or so structures. Their wanderings took them to just about every place within the walls. Finally, they found Mulberry Hall nestled in the complex's southwestern corner. "Figures it'd be the last place we'd try." With all of the other mysteries, what's one more? Right?

She shook her head. "It almost seems to be growing out of the walls." She peeked at her watch. "We've got ten minutes. Sure glad we came early." She noted a slender yet very fit dark-haired woman striding toward them. "She seems to be in a hurry. Gosh! Where's the fire already?"

He turned toward the approaching woman. Despite Academic/Businesslike Trappings, he could almost feel her presence. Spider Sense nudged him. Who is she? "Excuse me? I guess this is Mulberry Hall. Would you know Professor Jennifer Dubois?"

The woman stopped in her tracks. She assessed the couple in front of herself. "Mr. Parker and Miss Stacy, I assume?" She nodded. "I'm Professor Dubois. David told me about you two." She shook hands with Peter and Gwen. She looked around at their surroundings. "Follow me." She ushered them inside the door. Their shoes clicked-clacked against Tile Underfoot. Oak Paneling extended to Waist Level. White-Painted Walls continued from there to the Ceiling. She stopped about halfway down. Key appeared in her hand. She unlocked a door and opened it. "This is my office. Can I get you some coffee or water? I was going to get something for myself."

"A coffee would be great! Thanks!" Gwen accepted.

"I'm good but thanks." Peter assessed the bookcases surrounding an oak desk. Antique Bindings intermixed with Modern Texts. Shelves strained to hold American History—both Regional and National—European and some Middle Eastern history. Literary Works dotted the left hand bookcase as well. A few pictures sat on aforementioned desk. "I wonder if this is the campus library's history wing?"

"Gosh! I'd love to look at that Tennyson!" Gasp escaped Gwen's mouth. "That's got to be a first edition!" She put her hand over her mouth. "Wow!"

"It is." Dubois walked back in with two coffees. "There you are, Miss Stacy." She offered the cup in her left hand. "Milk and sugar as you requested." She held her hand out toward the chairs. "Please take a seat. We have plenty of time." She shut the door behind them. "I assure you that you may say whatever you wish in here. You are quite safe."

"Quite safe?" Gwen raised an eyebrow. "Has Mr. Dubois told you what's going on?" She took a draught from her cup. "Thanks by the way. This is great!"

"My pleasure. Yes. He has mentioned a few things to me. So has the Child. They both respect you." Dubois coughed into her hand. "That is quite the feat given the short time you have known them, Mr. Parker. Your friend has made quite an enemy in a certain wizard with a Puritan fetish. I'd tell him and both of you to be very careful. The Dark Rider packs quite a punch. Its coven is far worse. But, Cybelle and Deirdre have already told you that." She settled into her own padded chair. "So what would you like to know about Wabash itself?"

"Maybe some broad background? Mr. Dubois and we have already been to Cherry Plain and the historical society." Peter took out his notepad. "The town itself was incorporated in 1788."

"Incorporated but settled a generation prior. David's and Angela's ancestors settled the area that is the village today." Dubois took a mouthful of coffee. Memoria painted Forest's scene in her mind once more. She noted Strife and Conflict on several levels. Co-Existence fought its own battle to emerge and set itself on the land. "Their log cabin was the first in the area. That was built in 1751. The first commune existed for years by itself, my Friends. Eagle Plain spat on its inhabitants as accursed and sorcerers. Still, some in that town came to understand and befriend the commune. The Mohawk and Iroquois understood Captain Dubois, his family and unique allies to be necessary friends. Whereas Eagle Plain encountered difficulties, the Commune did not. Those residents traded with the natives. Such alliances survived the eighteen century wars and westward expansion. Eventually, a wall went up around the original settlement. The congregationalist church and the general store date from 1760. The brick medical clinic comes from about the same time period. MacLindy's is on the same site as its namesake tavern. You should try the chili and burgers there. They are very good by the way."

"And the Rider has been there?" He gave her a look. Spider Sense suddenly buzzed at him anew.

"The demon has intruded upon Wabash too often for the residents' liking. In 1752, it and the coven attacked the settlement. They very nearly destroyed it. Captain Dubois' granddaughter, Grace, disappeared only to resurface in Rowenshire. There, she became a demonic priestess herself. It is an unfortunate story." Dubois released Pain-Filled Sigh. "There have been other standoffs in the eighteenth and in our lifetime. Be aware, my Friends. David offers you help. I hope you have been using it." Admiration prompted Nod and Smile from her.

"He's offered Spider-Man help. Mr. Dubois gave me a bag of herbal powder to pass on. I've done that." Peter rubbed his chin. Instinct told him that Dubois knew more than she was letting on. Danger wasn't the question there in spite of his own senses. Rather, her manner had changed in the previous few minutes. Much like Gwen's father, she seemed to have figured out a puzzle of sorts for herself.

"Yes. That's right." Dubois stood and walked over to the bookcase on her right. She pulled one of the aforementioned Older Books. "This is Wabash's history. Dr. Masters is working on an update." She opened the book and laid it across her desk. "There are pictures in here that will interest you." She motioned them closer. "Just leave your coffee there, Miss Stacy, if you please? This is a very rare book indeed."

"Gosh! Are those originals?" Gwen glanced at some of the lithographs therein. She discovered an old blacksmith shop, a tavern and the orchard. The original brick schoolhouse attracted her eye.

"Things seemed to be built to last up there." He pointed at the clinic. "So that was there back then?"

"Angela's namesake ran it as such until just before her death in 1792. It has served as a hospital as well. Now, she practices in there. Miss Stacy almost ended up there last winter from what I understand. Instead, Angela helped you there. The regional mill was actually in Cherry Plain. Eagle Plain had one as well. Still, until 1768, animosity prevented the Commune from doing business there. Despite being a part of Eagle Plain for fifteen years, the Commune was isolated. The Revolutionary War helped quite a bit to boost Wabash's notoriety. It broke away from Eagle Plain in 1788. It remains as it always has. It is a small village surrounded by farms." Dubois rubbed her chin. "The historical society has some other prints. You might use those for your articles, my Friends." She shut the book and walked it back over to its shelf. "Make sure you get all of those details right, Mr. Parker. You have missed certain things in the past." Purpose glinted in her eyes.

"He's…what?" Gwen scratched her head. "Excuse me? We've just met, Professor. Peter's very careful!" Protest stiffened her.

Spider Sense affirmed Gwen's sentiment. "At least when I know what's going on. Gwen's right. We only met. I'd like to know what you mean." He leaned closer to put emphasis on his words.

Dubois rolled her eyes. "This is the first time we've met, Mr. Parker. It isn't the first time you've been around here. I try to be subtle." She sucked in a deep breath. I'm a tele-empath. I can read thoughts. I have not looked in either of your minds. I do feel auras much as the Duboises and the Child do. "There's a reason I closed the door and made sure to meet when it's quiet here. I asked the Priestess Deirdre to seal this room so nobody can overhear our business." She looked him over again. "Not many would suspect. Certainly, not that fool, Jameson." Cough escaped her mouth. She pulled another book out. "I would never have suspected save for your aura." She handed it to him. "Look at that. Page 43-50."

"My aura?" He flipped to the pages in question. "It's about the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Wait. Hidden history?" Shock and Discomfort forced him to squirm.

"Peter? What is it?" Gwen placed her hand on his forearm.

He shook his head. His eyes took in a first-hand account of the entire wretched affair. He read of Mather's ghastly affair. Then, he noted the author's mention of a real Coven within Salem's borders. Finally, he saw drawings of the battle around the town's edges…

…the battle between Doom, the Vision, Scarlet Witch and himself on the one side and the Dark Rider on the other hand….

"There was really a coven there?" He blurted out.

"The ghost that attacked you. Her mother was the high priestess." Dubois took the book back. "Yes, Spider-Man was seen back then. Pity you let Rebecca Lichtenfeld and the accursed grimoire slip away."

Gwen sat stock still. She could almost hear Trap snapping shut over them. She refused to betray his secret for anything. Still, after months of watching out for everything and everyone, Questions peppered her mind. Hard Earned Scientific Knowledge deduced the impossible. I just heard her speaking in my head not my ears. There are really people who do that? Freaky…. She bit her lip. "Peter? You let that happen?"

"Gwen, we didn't know that book was there. We had a bigger problem like trying to stay alive. As she said, the Rider distracted everyone with Mather's crazy rantings. It took all of us to beat that creep. I'm glad Doom didn't figure that all out." Peter facepalmed himself on that note.

"Those are very good points." Concession forced its way over Dubois' lips. "The 1752 attack certainly would attest to that as well. Still, that is why David gave you the blue powder. It allows you to defend yourself. Use it wisely." She handed him a manilla envelope. "I copied the drawings. Here are the copies for your consideration. Take care with them."

"Lady, you don't have to tell me twice." He slid them into his bag. "Anything else you'd like to add?"

Snort escaped Dubois' nose. "I could add a lot more if I wished to. You have enough there for now. Certainly, more than enough for a general audience. Dr. Masters will account for the later events in Wabash during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries." She put the book back on the shelf. "You can both relax. I can certainly keep secrets." She seemed to disappear. Breeze kicked up in her wake.

"Peter, where'd she…?" Gwen looked about the room. Conversations and Interviews were fine. This one, however, had just gone right off Believability's Deep End. She shivered. Skin dimpled.

He shook his head. Spider Sense offered not a tingle on that note. Still, he understood Dubois' potential threat if she chose to be such. He figured out that their host knew his secret. Still, he wasn't about to jump to the ceiling and survey the territory. A telepath who reads auras and can disappear? What else is up her sleeve anyway? All right, Sister. You move like Quicksilver. I get that. Where are you?

"I'm right behind you." Dubois opened the door. "I was just making a point. As you can see, I have secrets of my own. Thank you for stopping by." She allowed them a smile and a nod apiece. "It was good to meet you both."

Gwen shook her head. "Uh…yeah. Thank you, Dr. Dubois." Skittishness slowly raised her hand toward the host. "It's been a real eye opener." She cast a weird glance toward him.

This is going to be some conversation all right. "Thanks for seeing us. Good to know you're a friend." He shook Dubois' hand as well. Then, he guided Gwen from the office. And now there's nothing. She just went from being a threat to not being a threat? He considered the copied illustrations in his bag. Mr. Dubois did send us here. She seems to have your back. Leave it at that. "Come on, Kid."

Gwen watched the door close. "Sorry, Peter. I know she just gave us a ton of information. She gives me the creeps though." She hustled back down the hall toward the outer door and campus beyond.

What else does Dubois have up her sleeve? Why do I get the feeling she knows a lot more than she's saying? He hurried to catch up with Gwen.

That session had indeed proven eye opening….