Looking Through The Mirror
I watched the man as he showed me his house and his fear. Nervous sweat covered his face, which had gradually grown pale as he revealed his secrets to me. He wasn't sure of me yet, but pride relaxed him somewhat as each object came forward to claim my attention.An ancient Seth clock hung between two Turner landscapes. A two hundred year old Chinese Fu dog, perhaps two feet high, glared from its perch in the corner. On a shelf, at eye level, were four finely blown wine goblets with a very old bottle of champagne, long gone sour, but still impressive in French dress.
There were chairs by Chippendale, rugs from Persia, Ming vases, and gold tableware. And
sitting on twin mahogany stands, enclosed in a glass case, were two exquisite Ranzi
raku tea bowls, smoke and fire still visible on their lips. I saw in them a flicker
of the freedom in which they were made.
In the foyer, he showed me a small, gray, metal box near the floor on the wall by the door. He inserted and turned a key. Instantly two lights mounted on a panel above the box begin to flash in unison. The house seemed to swell, its perimeter walls trembling with the surge of power. He told me that every window, every door, every opening in the entire house was now protected by ElectroCop. The small gray box beamed with excitment.
In the foyer, he showed me a small, gray, metal box near the floor on the wall by the door. He inserted and turned a key. Instantly two lights mounted on a panel above the box begin to flash in unison. The house seemed to swell, its perimeter walls trembling with the surge of power. He told me that every window, every door, every opening in the entire house was now protected by ElectroCop. The small gray box beamed with excitment.
He smiled as he readied his demonstration. He pushed a button to cut communication to the police monitor, reached over his shoulder to turn off the floor lights, and then, in the sudden dark, and I swear, almost giggling, he cracked open the outside door.
Lights in every room came alive as one, as well as the flood lights outside. In the same instant, there came from various parts of the house piercing screams that called all my body guards to attention and stood me on my toes.
Every objet d'art was screaming its terror...
...there were no dogs.