nacks. I hit the buffet at a steakhouse a
couple of times a week, too. You're saying I'll be able to recharge on house
current?"
"I'd recommend two-twenty current. It's faster."
"No problem. I can rig something for the dryer outlet."
Swallowing some fries, Mandi said, "Yeah, that should work. You'll need
about a fifty-amp breaker."
"How long does it take to recharge?"
"It varies. Fifteen minutes to an hour."
They ate in silence for some moments, then Cade asked, "How long in direct
sunlight?"
Grinning, Mandi asked, "With or without a shirt?"
Returning her grin, Cade said, "Say without."
"Five hours or so. Maybe a bit longer. You won't have to worry about
sunburn, so get naked. You'll cut your recharging time in half."
Shaking his head, Cade said, "Reason enough to become a beach bum, I guess.
Nah. I'm too old for a career change."
Cocking her head as she looked at him, Mandi asked, "Do you really believe
that?"
Her tone got Cade's attention. She was up to something.
"No, not really," he said. "If I was, I wouldn't have started WiccaWorks.com
or written over a dozen books. I figured you had some reason for converting me,
but not wanting me to let John know about it. What's on your mind, milady?"
Pausing -- probably for effect, Cade thought -- Mandi said, "I'm putting
together a special response team. I was kind of hoping you'd volunteer to help
train people."
Taking another bite of burger and creating a pause of his own, Cade said
thoughtfully, "Uh, huh. 'Volunteer', indeed. You were going to wait until after
I'd finished converting and had changed so much that my old life wouldn't be
enough, but your doubts about me made us reach this point a little earlier than
you had in mind. Who's coming at us and what's the setup?"
"What made you ask that? 'Who's coming at us'?"
With a shrug, Cade said, "Just figures, as I see it. You may only be
assembling a team to help with natural disasters and work with cops and firemen,
but I'd have to doubt that. If you were, you'd be shopping for cops and firemen;
people with that kind of training, who'd know the limitations of the equipment
and people involved. Instead, you drafted me."
"Drafted you? Volunteerism isn't mandatory, you know."
"How long would my conversion be a secret if I turn you down, ma'am? When
would all the government agencies and anybody else who figured to hire a
super-