The Witch of Agnesi by Robert Spiller Page B

her head. “Possibly, but not necessarily. There might be deception inherent in his dis- appearance. In which case, he would be the deceiver.”
    Before Bonnie could frame another question, Rhi-annon snapped another card onto the table in the space above the three-card pile. “This crowns him. It repre-sents the aim of the individual.” The card featured a crowned man in flowing red robes seated on a throne. In one hand he held a sword, in the other a balance. The word Justice was written across the bottom of the card.
    “In extreme cases ‘what crowns him’ represents the last resort of the individual, the best he can hope for under present circumstances.”
    “I don’t understand.” She felt dense and resented Rhiannon for making her feel that way.
    Rhiannon traded glances with her daughter.
    Ali sat up and stretched. In that pose, she looked like a younger version of her mother. “Think of it this way, Missus P. Seeking justice may have been the reason Peyton took off, or the driving force of his desires at this very moment. Does that make sense?”
    “I suppose.”
    Rhiannon flipped the next card. It went below the central three cards. “The Fool is beneath him.” The card showed a vacuous young fop and his dog. Both were so absorbed in staring at the clouds and the sky they failed to notice they were about to step off a preci-pice. “This represents the basis of the matter.”
    “Basically, Peyton is gone because Peyton is a fool,” Bonnie said.
    Rhiannon shrugged. “That seems the most logical explanation.”
    She turned the next card and placed it to the right.
    “The King of Swords.” A stern man sat on a throne situated in a field. He held a sword in his hand as if he intended to use it.
    “That which influenced the subject in the most re-cent past. It either refers to why Peyton may have run away, or what influenced the boy directly in other areas of his life.”
    This needed no explanation. The man seated on the throne even looked like Colonel Ralph Newlin, right down to the cruel turn of his lip.
    The next card, which Rhiannon placed left, showed a woman sitting up in bed, her face buried in her hands in despair. Nine swords hung on a black wall behind her. “Nine of Swords is before him. This is what will in-fluence him in the near future. With this card, what you see is what you get—failure, despair, and hopelessness.”
    “Is it significant the figure is a woman?”
    Rhiannon nodded. “The cards reflect and are in-fluenced by one another. Considering the mother was there the night the boy disappeared, I’d say gender is very significant.”
    She tapped the next card she intended to upturn. “This card will speak to the individual’s actual attitude in the present circumstances.” She placed the card face-up to the far right. “Two of Pentacles reversed.”
    A young man danced on a beach while he held a sidewise eight, the symbol for infinity, in his out-stretched arms. In the background two ships sailed on a rolling sea. “Normally this card represents gaiety, but reversed it speaks of agitation, as if the youth is being forced to dance.”
    Being forced to dance with infinity. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
    Bonnie fell back into the wingback chair. Her head throbbed. A part of her wanted this whole Tarot thing done with. “How many more cards?”
    Rhiannon stroked the top card of the deck with a di-amond encrusted nail. “Three. Do you want to quit?”
    Might as well see it to the end. “Go on.”
    “This is his house.” The card showed a blindfolded woman holding two crossed swords. She sat on a stool. Behind her a sea full of rocks and shoals crashed onto the shore. “The two of Swords represents his environ-ment, the influence of the important people in his life.”
    When Rhiannon hesitated, Bonnie asked, “So what does the card say about Peyton’s house?”
    Rhiannon shook her head and smiled mischievously. “Impatient little bugger, aren’t you? I thought