The Damn Artefacts. Lana Gilman

wand, opened the dimensions gate and went to the restaurant «At the Three Magicians’». The moment he disappeared, Jeffrey, in his turn, pressed his signet-ring gem, but he miscalculated a little bit and found himself standing on a sidewalk across the street from his house.

      Chapter 7

      Now we will follow Ted and transport ourselves to the restaurant «At the Three Magicians’». When he arrived he found that Alice was not there yet. He decided to wait for her near the restaurant. However, his joy of the upcoming date was overshadowed with the thought of his friend. He was anxious about Jeffrey. After all, his best friend was in need of him, while he was going out with a girl! Ted could not cancel his meeting with Alice – after all, she also needed his consolation.

      «Hi, what are you thinking about?» – He heard Alice’s voice. Ted turned around. She was standing right behind him, as usual, beautiful and elegantly dressed.

      «Hello. I was thinking about you,» – Ted lied.

      «Were you? How cute!»

      «You look perfectly well, as usual! Shall we go in?»

      «Yes. It’s getting cold».

      They entered the restaurant. A waiter met them at the entrance and showed their way to a table.

      «Here is your menu, please».

      «Thank you».

      Alice opened the menu and got absorbed in the list of dishes.

      «Alice…»

      Yes, Ted?»

      «Will you resent me, if I leave you for a while? I must make an urgent phone call».

      Alice looked at him surprisingly, but said nothing.

      «Everything is fine, Ted. If you need, go and call».

      «Thank you. I am sorry».

      Ted got up, came up to a telephone that was placed on the bar and dialed Jeffrey’s number. He heard the dial tone.

      «C’mon, Jeff! Pick up the bloody receiver!»

      Finally he heard the familiar voice on the phone.

      «Hello».

      «Jeff, how are you? Is everything all right?»

      «Ted? Sure, everything is O.K. why are you calling? You are on a date, aren’t you?»

      «Right you are, bud. But I was worried about you».

      «Thank you! You shouldn’t, really! Enjoy yourself. Come by tomorrow, as we have agreed».

      «All right. Definitely. Bye!»

      Ted cradled the receiver and came back to the table. He felt serene at heart once again.

      «Jeffrey’s fine. It means that I may relax and enjoy conversing with Alice. How beautiful she is tonight!» – Ted was thinking.

      «Pardon me. Have you ordered yet?»

      «I have chosen, but have not ordered yet. I’ve been awaiting you. Is everything all right?»

      «Yes, all is fine. So, what’s the matter with your exam?»

      «Let’s order the meals first and then we’ll talk».

      «Sure».

      Ted opened the menu, made his choice and ordered. Alice followed his example. Several minutes later the meals appeared on the table in front of them.

      «So, what about the exam?» – Ted repeated his question.

      Alice shrugged her shoulders.

      «The results will arrive in a fortnight. But I keep thinking that have I failed».

      «Why so?»

      «I don’t know: too much anxiety, all the correct answers escaped me…»

      «You got confused. It happens».

      «Yes».

      «Why didn’t you take some sedative pills?»

      «No idea, Ted. Well, forget about it. I’m not distressed. Or, maybe, I am distressed. I’m clueless».

      «What are you planning to do, if you don’t pass the exam?»

      «No idea by far. Dad will talk to the Master and he may help me out getting some job, but not in the Magistrate – it’s too boring there. The Master is a very kind-hearted man».

      Ted was sipping his juice while Alice was speaking and, on hearing such compliments paid to the Master, he choked a little and started to cough.

      «Are you all right?»

      «Yes, I am. Who were you talking about a while ago?»

      «The Second Master, of course».

      «Ah, right».

      It had long been rumored in the magicians’ society that the Second Master is up to solely running the Magistrate. His subordinates were all haughty and power-thirsty magicians. Unfortunately for Ted, Alice’s father was also part of this bum lot. He felt the need to prevent Alice from becoming part of their wicked circle!

      «In other words, you won’t regret a lot, in case you fail your entrance examinations?»

      «I don’t know. But I shall definitely try again next year. How are things with you? How’s work?»

      «Okay. Today I was in the Magistrate, therefore we missed each other at the Museum. Meryl the Magician died and left an inheritance to the Museum».

      «Really? Anything curious?»

      «Books, papers. Tomorrow I’m heading for her apartment».

      The dinner was over.

      «Shall we go to the movie theater?»

      «Maybe, next time? I feel a miserable wreck».

      «I understand. You had a very tiresome day».

      «Yes indeed. Maybe, tomorrow?»

      «Tomorrow I can’t. I promised to spend the evening at Jeffrey’s place with him. To talk to him. He feels quite lonely».

      «Is it because of me?»

      «No way, Alice! What do you have to do with it?»

      «Well, you spend much time in my company, not with him. By the way, I told my parents that we are dating. They approve of it».

      Ted was bewildered.

      «Did you? How nice of you!»

      «Did you inform your parents about me?

      «Yes, I did. Remember, I visited them with a broken lip the other day? They don’t mind our relationship, either. This coming Saturday I am having another practice. Would you like to join me? We may then go to the movie theater afterwards».

      «Yes. Cool! What are your plans for Sunday?»

      «Nothing special. But I usually visit my parents on Sundays. Will you come with me?»

      «I’m going to give it a thought. I’ll tell you on Saturday».

      «Then see you on Saturday!»

      They left the restaurant. It was time to part.

      «Bye, Ted!»

      «Bye, Alice!» – said Ted. He took her by her hand and brought her closer. «I don’t want to let you go».

      Ted leaned forward and touched her lips with his. Alice felt as if a butterfly touched her with its wings – so fleeting was the kiss. Her heart beat faster – she expected that from Ted by no means, because Ted had always been a modest and timid youngster. Still it pleased her and she even felt like letting him kiss her in a true and adult manner.

      «Bye, Ted!» – Alice smiled at him after that nimble kiss and pressed her ring gem.

      The