Page 86 of Disco Witches of Fire Island

“He’s got it,” Howie said. “Or rather, he had it. I saw it in a photo he took with his late ex-boyfriend Elliot. It was right there, the winged-heart mole on his right shoulder blade. He must have had it removed.Andhe’s been blabbering all summer about that hot Gladiator Man. The one Lenny just saw in the bushes.”

“The egregore.” Dory’s eyes grew heavy with fear. “Your instincts were right after all, Howie.”

“He’s who Lucho was talking about.” Saint D’Norman sucked his cheeks knowingly. “He’s the chosen one.”

“Fuck the Great Darkness and the dragon it rode in on!” Lenny pounded the table with his fist, clearly having overcome any skepticism. “We’ll just make sure not to leave Joe’s side until he’s off the island in September. It’s our fucking job.”

“It’s too late for that.” Howie’s expression turned desperate again. “Joe packed his bags. He’s planning to leave the island without telling us—or maybe do something stupid or—oh, I don’t even want to say it out loud. He even threw away Elliot’s mixtape case. I’m certain he’s at the same breaking point as poor Lucho.”

“Well, we have to try something!” Lenny blurted. “Let’s put on our fucking dancing shoes!”

“How can we?” Howie’s eyes flared at Lenny’s ignorance. “You know we don’t have any power without a quorum—”

“Tell him now, Saint D’Norman!” Dory demanded. “Quickly, please!”

“That was the other reason for Lucho’s visit.” Saint D’Norman cleared his throat. “He wanted us to know that we still have a chance for a quorum.”

“Is it Max?” Howie smiled, clutching the necklaces around his throat. “Please tell me Max is going to rally.”

Saint D’Norman looked into Howie’s eyes and shook his head. “I’m sorry, honey. Max will be crossing over anytime now.”

“Heshy left a message this morning.” Dory wiped away a tear as Lenny gave her a hug.

“Shit,” Howie mumbled, his voice wobbling. “And we’re not there with him …”

“Heshy and their best friend, Melon Blossom, are there,” Saint D’Norman said. “Max doesn’t want us to worry. He knows we’re needed here.”

“So then, how can we have a quorum if it’s not Max?” Howie asked.

“That’s the thing.” Saint D’Norman lowered his tone to sound soothsayer ominous. “Lucho said there’s another witch on the island who has the gift.”

“Another witch?” Howie shook his head in disbelief. This fact did not adhere at all to what he knew of the history of their order. “Someone we didn’t recruit ourselves? Back when we started, Max said—”

“That was then!” Lenny barked. “Stop being a fuckin’ nostalgic naysayer. It’s 1989! You heard what Lucho said. We have a chance of getting our collective powers back. We just have to find this fifth witch!”

“Or let them find us,” Dory added. “With some of our old magic back, we’ll have a chance.”

“I wonder if that’s the additional strangeness I’ve been feeling?” Howie’s voice was almost a whisper. “Since the beginning of the summer, I’ve felt a presence, a power. My own ability to see auras has been stronger. I thought it was just because of it being my own Saturn Returns year—”

“I felt the same thing,” Saint D’Norman said. “I thought it was my medication.”

“Count me in.” Lenny raised his hand. “I felt it in the Meat Rack when I saw the egregore. And I’ve had some moments where I’ve been able to mind-read almost as well as the old days—something I don’t recommend when you’re cruising Low Tea. Those bitches can be cruel.”

Dory raised her finger in an aha gesture. “I do recall feeling a kind of electricity at the ACT UP benefit when we were all there, and once more when the four of us met for lunch at the Leviathan.”

“That means this potential fifth witch was near enough to be creating the electro-cranial-magnetic bond,” Howie said. “Do you remember who was near us when you felt it?”

Dory shook her head. “There were dozens of other people around. I can’t remember anyone in particular.”

“I’ve been trying to make contact with Lucho again all afternoon,” Saint D’Norman said. “I get the feeling the Great Goddess Mother wants us to discover the fifth ourselves. We should prepare the sacred circle on the dance floor in our regular spot. My gut says whoever the fifth is, they’ll be drawn to us.”

“We have to try.” Howie stood. “Lenny, go see if Vince and Ronnie can look for Joe?”

“Gotcha,” Lenny said.

“I’ll see if Elena wouldn’t mind helping too.” Dory picked up her purse.

“Definitely ask Elena.” Saint D’Norman smiled at Lenny and Dory. “It will be good for her to get out and do some service.”

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