The Damn Artefacts. Lana Gilman

you, sir».

      «Alfred Fortescue, your classmate’s father. Well, already your ex-classmate Alice. We have met before. It happened way back, about four years ago».

      «Yeah, that’s right».

      Ted was embarrassed. Well it must be – he had come across Alice’s dad in the Magistrate! How could he have possibly forgotten that Alfred had been working as the Second Master’s assistant? He wondered whether or not it would sound impolite to ask how she was doing. All these thoughts flashed through Ted’s head at lightning speed.

      «May I help you, Ted? What are you looking for?»

      «I have got an appointment with the Third Master».

      «Ah, do you? What about, if this is not a secret?»

      «About my employment».

      «I wonder why he keeps bombarding me with questions,» – Ted thought and made up his mind to ask the man.

      «How’s Alice? What are her plans?»

      «Oh, Alice is doing fine! Well, good luck, Ted! Pleasure meeting with you. After all, Alice has told me quite a lot about you, especially after that case. Here is the elevator. The Third Master’s domain is on the third floor».

      «Thank you, sir. Good-bye».

      Mr. Fortescue went on about his business and Ted entered a hallway, where there were about ten elevators and a lot of people that were being herded in front of them. There was a sudden ring and one of the elevators opened up. It was empty and the magicians began filling in. In order to arrive at the meeting on time, Ted somehow managed to thrust himself into the elevator. The latter soared up, stopping by each and every landing.

      «The third floor,» – pronounced the electronic voice and Ted stepped outside.

      At the landing he looked around. There was a long hallway with plenty of doors where people were going in and out about their business… Ted was clueless as to where to go.

      «Can I help you, sir?» – A young magician wearing a dark crimson robe asked him.

      «Yes, sir. Thank you. I have an appointment with the Third Master. But I am here for the first time».

      «Then please allow me to show you the way,» – The youth kindly proposed.

      «Oh, I’m so grateful. This would be very nice of you, since I am afraid to be late. Thanks a million!»

      «Do not mention it. It is my job. My name is John».

      «Pleased to meet you».

      The magician guided him along the hallway, and then they turned right and went through a door. That was the Third Master’s anteroom – a tiny place furnished with bookcases full of books and folders along one wall and with a desk by the other wall, at which another young magician wearing the same dark crimson cloak was sitting. There also were a few chairs for visitors in the room. There was another door in the anteroom, apparently, leading to the Master’s office.

      John came up to the secretary.

      «This young man is has a meeting with the Third Master».

      The secretary looked at Ted with curiosity.

      «You must be Ted Spencer, right?»

      «Yes, it’s me».

      «Have a seat. The Master will soon meet you. Thank you, John».

      «Thanks,» – Ted in his turn expressed his gratitude to John.

      «Always at your disposal!» – said John and left.

      Ted sat down on a vacant chair, while the secretary was entering the Master’s office. A bit later he came out and nodded to Ted:

      «Please come with me».

      Ted got up and entered the office. The interior was pretty plain: a massive table, at which the Master himself was sitting, a couple of chairs and bookcases with books, three pictures hanging on the walls. Seeing Ted, the Master rose, gave Ted his friendly smile and lent him his hand, which Ted shook.

      «Glad to see you, Mr. Spencer. Very glad! Have a seat. Anything to drink?»

      «Coffee, please».

      «Two cups of coffee,» – The Master nodded to his secretary.

      The secretary left and a while later there appeared cups with coffee and cookies in front of the Master and Ted. The Master slowly sipped on his cup, nursing it. Ted followed his example, but the coffee happened to be too hot. He put his cup on the table.

      «Why are you not drinking? You should wet your throat before the conversation. Or, maybe, you did not like the coffee, did you?»

      «Oh, but I did. The coffee is very delicious. I cannot drink it hot though, sir».

      The Master took another gulp and began his story.

      «As I have already mentioned, there is a Magic Department in the British Museum. It was inaugurated four years ago after the top secret status had been removed. You were one of the key participants of those events, Mr. Spencer. For two years the Black Wizard had been terrorizing England, trying his best to subdue both all the local magicians and ordinary people. All that looked more than weird. After all, the Black Wizard had been known as an immortal conjuror that had never been interfered with, let’s say, mere mortal issues. Only you succeeded in pinpointing down his shelter and in rendering him helpless. It was you who managed to neutralize him. Right after the Black Wizard had been carried away to his world in sight of numerous magicians and non-magicians, and our existence had ceased being covert. Well, people accepted that fact quietly. Not all of them, of course, but let’s leave it at that. Then it dawned on us, the three Masters, to inaugurate the Magic Department in the British Museum. Many a magician has donated their supernatural artifacts for the sake of the Department. Apart from that, there are several rooms there that enable rank-and-file residents to feel as though they were true magicians. It resembles an amusement park, rather than a serious museum. Nonetheless, people are in raptures, henceforth, the Department was and still is a success. Roderick Steppen would have been the Department’s first tour-guide. As I have already told you before, he disappeared. Several days prior to his disappearance Roderick was here, in my office, and was inclined to share with me something. He then spoke about some cases of unauthorized penetration into the Museum, although nothing had been stolen. He also talked about some huggermugger. At parting he mentioned some idea that he had up his sleeve. However, he never shared it with me. After Roderick’s bizarre disappearance Merrill, the Fairy visited me. She claimed that thieves had attempted to get into her house. She does keep a great deal of artifacts. Now we are sharply in need of a new tour-guide to the Magic Department. Back in your School Principal’s office you agreed to become one, Mr. Spencer. Do you still agree?»

      «Definitely, sir, I do. Only on condition that my work isn’t going to be boring».

      «I can promise you that. Well, perhaps, retelling stories does not belong among the most interesting kinds of pastimes, but your primary mission is to clarify what happened to Roderick Steppen. In addition, you are to find out which secrets are hidden in the British Museum».

      «I will do my utmost, sir».

      «You have never told anyone about how you stopped the Black Wizard and what happened in the cave, have you?»

      «No, I haven’t. Nor will I ever do it. I have sworn and cannot break my oath».

      «I see. Here is the key to your flat and its address. Hopefully, you will like it there».

      «Thanks».

      «When do you think you will be ready to start working?»

      «Today is Wednesday. I can start tomorrow».

      «Excellent. Then I will call Mr. Merlegg and inform him of your decision».

      The Third Master called Mr. Merlegg