“If you say so,” Nate said.
Mozag handed the platter to John and removed a fortune cookie from his pocket. He handed the cookie to Nate. “Don’t crack it open,” Mozag instructed. “Eat it in a single bite. Chew it well.”
“Is there a fortune inside?” Trevor asked.
Mozag studied Trevor, eyeing him up and down. “Nate will get about seventy years back by consuming it, so yes, I would say that the contents of that cookie are definitely worth a fortune.”
“Just eat it?” Nate asked. “Right now?”
“No time like the present,” Mozag said.
“I don’t have any teeth,” Nate said.
Mozag smiled. “Let it soak in your mouth for a moment.”
Nate put the cookie in his mouth, and waited while his saliva gradually softened it. The cookie tasted slightly sugary as he waited. Finally, when the cookie began to feel mushy, Nate started chewing. The inside of the cookie was pasty and salty, not hollow like he had expected. It tasted like there was sausage in the cookie, and corn, and raisins. Finally he swallowed it. “All done,” he announced.
Mozag squinted at him. “Feel any different?”
“My stomach feels a little sore,” Nate said. Suddenly he began to tingle. The sensation intensified until it burned through all the tissue of his body. His stature diminished. Wrinkles smoothed away and age spots faded. His features became less droopy. His clothes and shoes became loose. Nate stared at his young hands in giddy disbelief.
“It worked!” Pigeon cried triumphantly.
“Almost perfect,” Mozag said, looking at Nate closely. “You’re about seven hours older than you would have been otherwise. Close as I could manage.”
“He looks a little green,” Summer pointed out.
“You’re right!” Trevor echoed. “In his cheeks and around his eyes.”
“Green is good,” Mozag said. “A necessary side effect. The coloring will fade away soon.”
“How long will it take?” Nate wondered.
“Three to five days,” Mozag said.
“Five days!” Nate exclaimed.
“Breaking a curse is no small matter,” Mozag said. “Five days with greenish skin is a small price to pay. While you’re waiting, help yourself to the sardines.”
Mozag grabbed a sardine off the platter and dropped the entire fish into his mouth. He turned and walked toward the door.
“Thank you,” Nate called.
“Don’t mention it,” Mozag replied. “You bailed us out of a tough spot. It’s the least I can do. Don’t forget the temporary preview of your winter years. What a rare opportunity. It will take quite a while to earn your way back. John, a pleasure, as always. The Council will tie up your other loose ends.”
“Thank you,” John said, bowing slightly.
Mozag waved a dismissive hand and walked out the door.
“You sure Nate isn’t stuck with a green complexion?” Kyle asked after the door closed.
John nodded. “You were just in the presence of arguably the most powerful magician in the world. The spell will hold. And the Council knows its business as well. We’ll get Sebastian back on two feet, find a home for Linda, and restore you and Eric to your proper ages.”
“How did Mozag get here?” Pigeon questioned. “I thought magicians needed to remain in their lairs.”
“You don’t miss much,” John said. “He came in a portable lair. And, of course, this is a lair. Plus, that Cubs hat he was wearing is almost as good as a lair. It grants him abnormal mobility for a magician.”
“It looked old,” Trevor said.
“He’s caught eleven foul balls in that hat, all at Wrigley,” John said.
“Let’s get going,” Kyle said. “I’m antsy.”
“Relax,” John assured him. “The hard part is over. This trip will be a piece of cake.”
“Can I use the rest room before we get started?” Linda asked.
“Of course,” the coyote said. “Down the hall on the left. There’s no mirror. It’s a long story.”
Linda walked off down the hall.
“What about you, Sebastian?” John asked. “Want me to let you out back before we get rolling?”
“Actually, sure, if you don’t mind.”
John and the coyote went into the kitchen.
“Well, guys,” Nate said, tossing his cane aside, “I guess we did it.”
They huddled together in a group hug.
“Thanks for saving us, Nate,” Pigeon said seriously.
“You can stop saying that,” Nate said. “A million times is enough.”
“I’m not sure we’ll ever stop saying it,” Summer said.
“We all owe you big,” Trevor added.
“Including Diego,” Pigeon said.
“I’m just happy to put all of this behind me,” Nate said.
“All of it except the jeweled goblet,” Summer reminded him.
“John thinks he might be able to get a lot of cash for it,” Pigeon said.
Nate shrugged. “He said any gold we found was ours to keep. We’ll see.”
“Think he’ll really split the money between us?” Trevor asked quietly.
“I think he keeps his promises,” Nate said.
Linda returned from the bathroom, and John entered alongside the coyote. “Should we get rolling?” John inquired.
“Yes,” Kyle replied. “Before I die of old age!”