The Cypher Read Online Free

apply?”
    “It’s still available?”
    “Yes, it is.”
    “Can I set up an interview for tomorrow?”
    A longer pause. “I shouldn’t say this but if you really want the job you should come in today. There’re a couple of people already scheduled tomorrow.”
    “Well, uh, sure, where’s your office?”
    “I can give you directions. Where are you?”
    “At home,” Thomas blurted and the girl giggled.
    “I mean what street?”
    “Mulberry Tree Lane. On Carlsbad.”
    “That’s great, you’re just two blocks away.”
    “You’re on Sycamore?”
    “Well, two and a half. Just drive left from your house and two and a half blocks away and you’ll see two brick columns and the private road on your left. The street name is Pervagus Road. Just follow it until you reach the mansion. Got it?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Great, what’s your name so I can put you on the list.”
    “My name is Morgan Byrne,” he lied. “I’m seventy two years old,” he added.
    He expected another pause but the girl answered immediately, “You don’t sound seventy two.”
    He heard Grandpa’s car pulling up the driveway. “But I am,” he said. “Does it matter?”
    “For the job? No. You can be ninety eight or say… fifteen and you’ll still get it.”
    Grandpa opened the front door. “I’m home,” he yelled.
    “At what time should I come in for the interview?”
    “It’s five and a quarter, let’s say in fifteen minutes?” the girl said.
    “Great, thank you very much.” Thomas hung up the phone just as his grandfather entered the kitchen.
    “I brought some hummus,” Grandpa said as he lifted a bag from the supermarket. “And popcorn.”
    “That’s great Gramps, but we’ve got to go.” Thomas grabbed the grocery bag and placed the hummus in the fridge.
    “Go? Where to?”
    “Your interview,” Thomas said pushing his grandfather out the door.

Pervagus Mansion

    Finding the two columns wasn’t hard at all. They both wondered how they had missed them before. They were right there — two brick columns between two houses marking the entrance to Pervagus Road. The brick wall extended to where the road opened up after the properties in front.
    The wall was topped with black cast iron, and small stone gargoyles sat on top of each column. The road ended at a large iron fence and they could see a huge brick mansion beyond.    
    Thomas felt like he was in front of a postcard taken from an old European castle. The stone gargoyles sitting on the columns by the fence were huge and looked ready to pounce down from their posts should the need arise.
    The mansion looked like those Thomas had seen on T.V. or in movies. It belonged in old countries like England or France, not in Carlsbad, California, and especially not just two blocks away from his house, on streets he skateboarded through almost every day.
    “Ready?” His grandfather lowered the window and extended a hand toward the ringer. A sign read, “Welcome to Pervagus Mansion,” and an Egyptian eye symbol was etched in a metal plate – the same eye that was on the ad.
    Thomas felt like the gargoyles perched on each side of the gate were analyzing them. A chill ran down his spine.
    “Wait,” Thomas said. He swallowed a lump in his throat. “What do you think about this place?”
    “What do you mean?” Grandpa said fixing his glasses.
    “It’s two streets away from the house,” Thomas said. “How come we’ve never seen it?”
    “Don’t ask me. You lost the remote for three days under the couch.”
    “That’s different.” Thomas peeked at the gargoyles. They seemed to be waiting for an excuse to move. “Just look at this place…” he said, his voice trailing off as he leaned forward, taking a peek at the side of the mansion. The buildings were surrounded by trails and fountains, and then opened to a forest beyond. The mansion felt out of place and Thomas tried to remember how far the rows of houses extended to the sides and back of the mansion. From