The River King Page #6

Why come by to show these

to me tonight?

Why not wait till morning?

Because I couldn't wait.

Really?

Really.

Come on.

Please.

Well, folks, we got

a quick weather warning here.

A cold front has really come down

and it is cold out there.

Hi, it's Carlin,

Gus's friend.

Can I see you?

Great.

They have some stupid

'hazing' ritual.

Part of a secret society.

It's based on the doctrines

of some 16th century French guy...

called Martin de Pasquale.

They call themselves The Order

Of The Elect. It's pathetic.

And your friend Gus,

was he a member of this club?

Harry said Gus

was a mistake.

He used to have this nickname

for him. Faker.

Because you just didn't know

if he could be trusted.

Nathaniel Glass...

and Gus Pierce.

One hateful exploit...

will bind these two young men

to us...

they're brothers...

forever.

This night...

you must kill a rabbit

and drink its blood.

What if I don't wanna kill

a rabbit?

There is only one way

to avoid initiation...

and still retain membership

with full privileges.

And that is to perfect the trick

that our illustrious founder...

Doctor Howe insisted

his wife execute...

in exchange for her freedom.

All you have to do is take one

of the white roses...

that grow

by the girls' dorm...

and before our very eyes

turn the bloom red.

Turn a white rose red?

It's winter, they aren't

in bloom at the dorm.

Any white rose then.

As long as you turn it red.

I wouldn't try it, Faker.

It's easier to kill

the rabbit.

You see, Gus liked that.

He could do tricks,

his father taught him.

And he was desperate

to get one up on Harry.

- You in there?

- Come on in, it's safe.

- You ready?

- I'll just get my coat.

Why are you taking pictures

of empty rooms?

Do you think it's weird?

What's weird?

The smudge.

It's a thumb print,

isn't it?

Yes. It's a thumb print.

Now come on,

we're gonna be late.

Mr. Pierce,

thank you for speaking with me.

No problem.

How can I help you?

I'm just trying to collect as much

information about Gus as I can.

I was told that he liked

to do magic tricks.

Yeah. I taught him some.

I used to do it on weekends.

Kids' parties,

that kind of thing...

when I was younger,

when I taught high school.

Was Gus any good?

He had a gift for it.

Sleight of hand, card tricks.

Why do you ask?

What about a trick where

he could turn a white rose red?

You mean change its color?

It's not an illusion that I ever

taught him. I haven't done it.

Does he have any brothers

and sisters I could speak with?

No...

he was an only child.

Okay.

I'll give you a call

if I have any news.

Thanks again for your time.

I should never have sent him

to that damn school.

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