The Magic Gateway part 5.

While I sat waiting for Reverend Karen to make lunch I picked up the local newspaper from off the coffee table in the living room where she had left me waiting. While the name remained the same the newspaper had changed from what I remembered. On the front page was an article about a leak from a fracking site that had caused damage to the natural habit to the east of the site. I was just finishing the article when the Reverend walked in with a tray with two bowls of soup and some buttered bread.
“You’ve read about the leak, it’s only a few miles from us here, we protested about them doing fracking here but the government didn’t listen to us.” Reverend Karen said as she put the tray down on the table.
Now understanding what she meant by fracking I accepted the bowl she passed me. “Is that what happened to the woodland down by the old archway?” I asked.
“Yes, we’ve had government specialist in who say it will recover in a few years but few believe them.” Reverend Karen said in disgust.
“I passed through there this morning, it won’t recover, that is why all the wildlife left.” I replied as I began to eat the soup.
“You sound very sure.” Reverend Karen said giving me a strange look.
“The poison in the soil is still spreading and it has entered the ground water, what you see at the wood will spread.” I replied.
“Are you a scientist, you sound like you know a lot about what is happening?” Reverend Karen asked.
“Not exactly, I’ve spent a long time studying nature and its power. I came here to stop things like this, if you destroy the lands you live on then everything will fall.” I replied.

“You’re an environmentalist?” Reverend Karen asked.
“Not exactly,” I answered and held up one hand as it was engulfed into blue flame. “I’m more or a mage, or as they say today a wizard.”
Reverend Karen’s spoon fell from her hand and bounced out of the soup bowl splashing soup all over before the bowl slipped from her fingers to spill all over her dress.
“Shit, how do you do that?” she asked.
With a wave of my hand I put out the flames that had engulfed my hand and smiled.
“I have spent centuries learning the secrets of the old ways, now I need someone to tell me everything I need to know about how you are poisoning the land, I think you are that person who can help me understand what is happening.”
“I’m sorry but,” Reverend Karen began.
“You will help me!” I commanded, it was a low shot to compel her but I needed information and I didn’t have time to be nice.
“I will help you find what you need.” Reverend Karen said with a glazed look on her face.
“Thank you, first you’d better clean up your spilt soup. It’s a shame you spilt it as it’s very good,” I replied with a smile. “let me help you.” I continued placing my bowl down on the tray.

To be continued.

(This story I am making up and writing as I go along, each part is being written the night before I post it as I sit with a few glasses of whisky. As yet I have as much idea where it is going as the readers of it.)

Part 1: https://steemit.com/fiction/@alienbutt/the-magic-gateway
Part 2: https://steemit.com/fiction/@alienbutt/the-magic-gatway-part-2
Part 3: https://steemit.com/story/@alienbutt/the-magic-gateway-part-3
Part 4: https://steemit.com/story/@alienbutt/the-magic-gateway-part-4