The Godforsaken Daughter by Christina McKenna

divided into eight segments, with titles and dates, the topmost being “Yule– Mid-Winter (20–23 Dec.).” She ran her finger clockwise, stopping at each section. “Imbolc (2 Feb.).” “Ostra (9–22 March).” “Beltane (1 May).”“Midsummer—Litha (19–23 June).” “Lughnasa (1 August).” “Mabon (21–24 Sept.).” “Samhain (1 Nov.).”
    On a page headed “Signs of the Zodiac”there were hand-drawn symbols and dates.
    It was followed by a poem. She found herself mouthing the words as her eyes traveled from line to line.
     
    To work enchantment every time,
    Be sure the spell be spoke in rhyme.
    Cast the circle thrice about,
    To keep the baleful demons out.
    Bathe in waters pure and deep
    If weighty answers thou shouldst seek.
    Honour every living thing,
    And Sacred Dana joy will bring.
    Treat the globe with guileless heart,
    To exercise the scryer’s art.
    Cingulum so unabased,
    Bind it three times ’bout the waist.
    Lay the cards, come rain or snow,
    And all our futures they shall show.
    Burn thy herbs in censer sweet,
    My new-born sickle for to greet.
    Place the disk upon the palm,
    And frenzy shall give way to calm.
    Raise the curv’d blade at the moon
    On the twenty-first of June.
    This rite shall make thy dreams come true,
    And wondrous powers shall thee accrue.
     
    She looked to the two tiers of objects beside her on the bed and sat up. Now she had a better understanding of what they were used for. The long, silver belt was called a cingulum, and you tied it around your waist. The pack of cards called The Rider Tarot was for looking into the future. The little silver dish was called a censer, and it was for burning herbs in. The silver disk with the five-pointed star made you feel calm. The knife with the curved blade was for saluting the moon.
     
    This rite shall make your dreams come true,
    And wondrous powers shall thee accrue.
     
    “My dreams?” she whispered, excitement mounting. “This rite will make my dreams come true and wondrous powers I will accrue.”
    Ruby took her diary from the locker drawer, turned to a blank page at the back, and began to write. Three wishes. Wasn’t that how it went, when you received power from “beyond”? You got three wishes. She knew what hers would be:
I want to see Daddy again.
I want to have lots of money.
I want to meet someone nice and be happy.
    The silver disk with the five-pointed star suddenly glinted. Ruby took it as a sign. She placed it on her palm, fascinated. It was a beautiful object, and the more she stared at it, the more relaxed she became.
    She felt her head growing light. Her eyelids droop. She tried to get up but her legs were like lead.
    She yawned, fell back on the pillows, and before she knew it, was sound asleep.

Chapter ten
    F ive-past nine Friday morning, and Miss King, at her desk, poring over the patient list for the day, was alerted to the swishing sound of the revolving door and a man’s voice raised in angst.
    “Ah, Jezsis! What sort of a bloody thing is this?”
    She looked up to see a shabbily dressed farmer type, pushing himself round in circles. Tut-tutting, she went to his aid and thrust a determined foot against one of the panels. But the man with his back to her, oblivious to her presence, responded by splaying his hands on the glass and pushing even harder.
    “ Stop pushing! ” Miss King shouted.
    He turned in red-faced shock and stared at her through the glass.
    “Jezsis! Niver seen you there.”
    “Apparently not. Now stay where you are and don’t move !”
    Gingerly, she eased the panel toward her, and as if by magic, the visitor found himself in the foyer, face-to-face with the secretary.
    “God, that’s the damnedest thing!” he declared, relieved that she’d freed him from his glass prison. “What kinda dour is that?”
    “It’s a revolving door,” Miss King explained, detecting an unpleasant whiff of alcohol coming off the farmer.
    “Ah, I see.”
    “It admits more people at one time