The Damn Artefacts

«I’ll see you off».

«No need, Ted. I told you there’s firewall there. I don’t want them to spot you and track you down afterwards».

«Do you believe nobody knows that we’re friends? Don’t worry about me. Everything will be O.K.».

«All right then. Walk me to the Museum exit only. I’m glad that I have spoken with you».

«So am I. you can always rely on me, Jeff».

«Thanks».

They went downstairs and stopped by the Museum gate.

«Be careful, Jeff. Don’t risk anything in vain. They will have to weigh kidnapping you and blackmailing your parents afterwards. Give me a phone call tonight».

«Certainly».

«I must buy a cell phone. Thus, I shall be always available, no matter where I am».

«Yeah, me too. Bye, Ted. Thanks for all!»

«Bye. Take care of yourself!»

Jeffrey pressed his signet-ring and transported himself home. Ted came back to the Museum. He had already forgotten about the Museum mystery and search of Roderick. Jeffrey’s story worried him. His best friend is in danger and it is his sacred duty to help Jeff out. But how?

Ted looked at his watch. Another two hours were left before the end of the working day. He will be languishing for two long hours, completely unconscious of whether or not Jeff got home safe.

to portaland – to emerge from the portal

On coming home Ted immediately called his friend. He had to wait for a long time until someone picked the receiver. Ted even began worrying. At last he heard the familiar voice at the other end.

«Hello».

«Jeffrey! Why so long? I had already started to worry about you».

«Ted! I wanted to call you, but a bit later. Sorry, but I was in the shower».

«How’re you?»

«Everything is fine. I „portalanded“ exactly at the wicket. There was no one around, but, most likely, „someone“ had decided not to show up and to catch me as soon I lose vigilance».

«Right, everything’s possible. Don’t lose vigilance under any circumstances. Stay in touch. In case you need something don’t think twice and give a phone call».

«Absolutely, Ted! Please don’t tell anyone that I have been persecuted. Neither Alice nor your parents – nobody!»

«Self-explanatory, Jeffrey! Don’t you worry, bud. I didn’t even think about it! I know how to keep secrets».

«I know, Ted. What if love has turned your head?»

Ted laughed.

«Not to such an extent! Yes, I love Alice, love her very much, but I haven’t lost my head yet».

«Thank you! We’ll chat later. I’m going to have supper now».

«Fine. Bye for now, Jeff!»

«Bye-bye».

Another two days flashed past. Ted was working, calling Alice from time to time, trying not to impede her preparations for the examinations. He was talking with Jeffrey on the phone on a daily basis though. The latter had not seen anyone suspicious ever since then and even started to assume that someone had assaulted him by mistake. Ted wanted to believe that it had been a drawback, yet somewhere deep inside he was confident that there had been no mistake at all, and that those who had attacked Jeffrey, made up their minds to alter their tactics.

About three weeks have passed since Ted began working in the Museum. He got accustomed to the place, made friends with his co-workers and even found it amusing to introduce magic objects to people and to perform his own magic tricks in front of the audience. The search for the mystery among the books had yielded zero outcomes; however, he realized that some of those books were quite informative and bore a lot of useful data.

«I should ask Mr. Merlegg to permit me to take some of them home, in order to read through them and to study. Novel knowledge will never do any harm, especially before the joust. This coming Saturday I am practicing again and, hopefully, I shall be able to be with Alice all day long,» – Ted was dreaming. «How kind of her to find time in her packed schedule and to devote it to meeting with me!»

Thursday morning Ted was walking to work as usual, not even suspecting that this very day would change his life. He kept thinking about Alice on the way. She was having an exam that day; therefore he was worried about her.

Ted entered the Museum and immediately proceeded to his study-room. There he changed his clothes and went to the Department to wait for curious visitors. Some ten minutes later Mr. Merlegg dropped by.

«Good morning, Ted! How are you doing? As far as I see, you are coping with your job responsibilities pretty well. I have already begun receiving positive feedback from our customers».

«Morning, Mr. Merlegg! Thanks a lot!»

«Tell me something: do you know Mr. Iron Starr?»

«I’d rather say that I know of him, sir, since we haven’t met each other in person. The only thing I know about him is that he is a magician and works as a lawyer. A very expensive one, by the way».

«I got a phone call from the Magistrate.Mr. Iron Starr would like to meet me, you and the Master. We are to be there at two o’clock».

«No problem, sir! Which Master exactly?»

«Ah, yes. The Third Master. In his office».

«All right. Then at twenty to two p.m. I shall be in your office».

«Shall we be on time?»

«Certainly. We’ll use my portal».

«Fine».

Exactly at the hour previously agreed upon Ted was coming into Mr. Merlegg’s office.

«Are you ready, sir?»

«Yes, I am. But where is the portal?»

«Here you are, sir. This signet-ring on my finger is the portal, sir,» – Ted showed. «But in order to apply it we must leave the building of the Museum».