Read Spinspace: The Space of Spins (The Metaspace Chronicles Book 2) for Free Online Page B

have that talk now?”
    She brushed a strand of hair out of her face.  “Give me a minute.  I want to get this done before it warms up.”
    He smiled slightly.  “Here, I can fix that.”  He stretched out one hand, and as he waved it, the remaining snow slid off the porch to one side.  He turned around and put out both hands together, and slowly separated them, as if he were Moses.
    The snow on the front walk and steps parted and slid left and right, clearing a path to the door.
    Her jaw dropped.  “How did you do that?”
    He turned back to face her, smiling broadly now. “It's a thing I learned in Denver, using pathspace . Would you like to learn how?”
    She managed not to drop the broom.  “Who, me?”  Sure would be easier than sweeping, though. “ What makes you think I  could learn...that?”
    “Yes, Carolyn, you.  You can learn this and a lot more.  How do I know you can?  Well, it's something else I learned.  Would you like to go in and talk about it?”
    She looked up and down the road before answering.  “Yes, come in out of the cold.”  She led him in the front door and closed it.  “Have you had breakfast?” 
    “Yes. Don't worry about that.  Sit down. I have a lot to tell you.”
    She grabbed a chair, suddenly aware that she must look a mess.  He pulled out a chair for her at the little table, then dropped into another one.  In some ways he was still the same Lester, but there were differences.  “Are you...”  She swallowed.  “Are you a wizard now?”
    He laughed.  “I wouldn't say that.  I've still got a lot to learn.  I'm starting to get the hang of pathspace , but there's so much more to it than I ever realized.  I'm becoming one, though.  That's where I've been the last few months.  It all started in the Summer when Xander came to town.”
    She listened to him in wonder, as he told her about becoming an apprentice.  How he was shanghaied into it, but had decided it was something worth doing. 
    “So that's where you've been all this time?”
    He grimaced.  “Not quite.”  And then he told her about being captured by the Texans, about his time in prison, and meeting the Honcho and the Runt Jeffrey, who he informed her was the new Honcho now.
    “What happened to his father?”
    His smile became grim.  “ We did.”  And he told her about the invasion and how he and Xander had stopped it, and about the new peace with Texas.
    When he seemed to be finished, or at least paused for a breath, she spoke again.  “So Xander needs another apprentice?”
    “Well, yes and no,” he said.  “He's starting a school to teach more than one at a time.  Then the first graduating class will become faculty members – the teachers who will spread it to even more students.”
    “And you want me?  I still don't see why.”
    “Not everybody can become a wizard.”  And he told her about how Xander had found him, about the mental echo thing.  “I felt that same echo last night, when I was with your father.”
    At the mention of her father she felt herself frown.  “But I can't leave Dad.  He needs me, now that his striker's gone off to join up.  It's hard from him to do it all alone, stopping from hammering to  work the bellows and all.”
    “He doesn't need the bellows any more.  I made him a swizzle and he can adjust it from completely off to a gentle breeze to keep the forge warm while he hammers.  He can do a lot of jobs by himself now.”
    Mingled interest and doubts assailed her.  He thinks I could be a wizard?   “But...I've never heard of a female wizard.  Wouldn't I have to be, I don't know, a witch?  A sorceress?”
    He just smiled.  “You can use whatever word you like.  Xander prefers 'psionic engineer' but I think that's a little too much of a mouthful.  But why should men have all the fun?  Do it, Carolyn.  Come back with me to Denver.  If it doesn't work out or you change your mind, you can always come back to Inverness.”
    She