The Hollow Man Excerpt 3

The Hollow Man   |     The Hollow Man Series, International Espionage​

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We spent the morning putting word on the pavement that I needed to talk to Bobby. Hitting the typical tourist attractions frequented by panhandlers, pimps, prostitutes, parasites, grifters and gangs of children, Zita and I talked to too many of these migratory workers with the same result. No one knew Bobby or exactly how to get in touch with such a person. But slightly before noon, a small, balding man well under five feet pulled me from the crowds accumulating around the base of the Eiffel Tower and offered to read his tarot cards to help give my immediate future some meaning.

I turned over the gypsy’s fee and he turned over the cards. The small man laid out seven cards in a V-shape turning each face up; the Moon, the Magician, the Five of Cups, the reversed Queen of Cups, the Eight of Wands, the Four of Pentacles and Death. He slowly moved his fingers over the cards as he studied them in great detail. The diminutive gypsy’s hand went to his chin and he thoughtfully rubbed the stubble between his thumb and forefinger. It was quite a show.

“Mmmm. This is interesting,” he said, perusing the figures on the mystical cards.

“What is?” I asked, playing the game.

“I see you will be in Montmartre this afternoon near the base of the Basilica. Monsieur, do you have an appointment today at Sacre Coeur?”

“No.”

“Well, the cards never lie. I suggest you be there at 1:30 p.m. The Magician you seek can be found near the steps.” Without warning, the little man jerked upright, grabbing my wrist at the same time. “Sir, there is more. You’ll need to know this. The other is the message but this is what the cards truly tell me.” Our eyes locked.

“Okay,” I said. He released my arm and slowly turned back to the cards. Only then did our eyes separate.

“I see an unknown man, lost and alone in the Five of Cups. He has wandered into an unfamiliar world of secrets and lies. Much is hidden from him by Death’s black cloak. Though Death is all around this man, he is not Death’s chosen. If he wants to know where the secrets are hidden, we must ask the cards close to Death.

“Death is at the bottom of the V so that means the cards just above it; the Four of Pentacles here and the Moon here. The Four of Pentacles represents the truth he seeks but the Moon creates deception and confusion for him. The Eight of Wands over the Moon carries news of an important event but this information is in opposition to the man’s success. Be very careful. Our Magician may provide the direction, but, the unknown man’s destiny lies with Death.”

“And the Queen?” I asked, pointing to the top on the left side.

“The Queen is an illusion who hovers above the unknown man. She is watchful but no match for his monsters.”