Читать книгу The Damn Artefacts - Лана Гильман - Страница 3

Several days after graduation, Ted agreed to meet the Third Master. He was interested to find out which kind of job was awaiting him, as well as which flat he was supposed to get hold of.

The long-awaited day arrived. A quarter of an hour before the previously set appointment Ted had thought about the Magistrate and pressed the gem. Naturally, he had immediately found himself in front of the main entrance to the sanctum sanctorum of the magic world. The Magicians’ Magistrate was located and functioning in London. In clandestine times it would have been invisible to the rank-and-file citizen. Now that the top secret status had been cancelled and ordinary people had already learned about the magicians’ existence, and furthermore, had even put up with them, the notorious spell had been removed, and, as a result, everyone was able to see this huge building.

There were special tours around the building at certain hours. Lest people be bewildered, there was not a single clue, not the slightest hint of magic indoors. However, it only seemed so at first sight. There were lots of doors in the Magistrate, invisible for uninitiated visitors. Those doors led to the rooms where scientist-magicians were brushing up their magic mastery, inventing brand new potions, carrying out experiments, thinking up novel magic artifacts, storing their knowledge… There had been some rumors that some inmates had even been kept in dungeons.

Ted entered the Magistrate. A security guard met him at the entrance.

«Hello, who have you come to see?»

«Hello, I am Ted Spencer. I have an appointment with the Third Master».

The guard attentively looked through his diary entries.

«Pass on please. You are to go to the third floor. Turn to the right from here and you will see the elevator».

«Thanks a lot».

Ted crossed a large hall, where magicians and enchantresses were busily scurrying to and fro about their business. Turning to the right he ran into a tall man. Ted apologized.

«Oh, it is unnecessary!»

Ted went on, but the magician called him.

«Excuse me; you’re Ted Spencer, aren’t you?»

Ted turned around. He wondered who could know him here, in the Magistrate.

«Yes, it’s me. I am sorry, but I scarcely remember 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 and told him that Ted would start his work at the Museum the following day. Ted heartily parted with the Master and decided to head for the flat right away.

«Please keep me informed of all the incidents going on in the Museum, particularly, the mysterious ones. My secretary will automatically transfer every phone-call of yours to my telephone,» – The Master uttered at parting.

«All right, sir».

A few minutes later Ted was already approaching the house in which he would have to reside. He got to the second floor, opened the door and stepped inside. The flat was small: an entrance hall, a kitchen and a dining room, a bed-room and a living room, as well as a washroom, toilet, a laundry room and a tiny pantry. In general, Ted liked his new place of residence. Both the flat and its furniture caught his fancy. What else he had to do except bring his personal belongings and to buy foodstuffs. Ted made up his mind to act gradually, step by step. He therefore went outside and transported himself to his parents’ house first. Oh boy! We have neither met Ted’s family yet, nor explored his dwelling. So, let’s fill in this gap and give us leeway now.

Ted, his parents and sister lived in Scotland, in a magicians’ village, which had already been declassified, as of today. Its name was Slitrent. Ted’s father, Mr. Francis Spencer, was a general practitioner. He was a tall, swarthy, black-haired forty-three-year old man with hazel eyes. His patients were both magicians and simple people. Ted’s mother, Mrs. Jane Spencer, was a forty-year old petite blonde woman with blue eyes. She was a chemist by profession. There was quite a big parcel of land at her disposal, where she could grow various magic plants and herbs, and then would brew potions out of them. It had been her hobby ever since her youth. Her husband highly appreciated her abilities and was constantly implementing the fruit of her labors in his medical practice. We have already met Ted’s sister Lily. As it has been previously observed, both Ted and Lily looked more like their dad, than their mom. It was a friendly, caring and loving family.

Ted came into his house. The whole family were sitting in there and watching television. Lily was the first one to spot him.

«Ted, are you back? So soon?»

«Is everything fine?» – Mrs. Spencer began to worry.

«Yes, everything’s OK,» – Ted sank in a vacant arm-chair. «Tomorrow I am going to start working in the British Museum. In addition, I will be living in a small flat in London».

«Great! In other words, the Master has kept his promise, hasn’t he?» – asked Mr. Spencer.

«Certainly. Not in vain is he the Master. I’d like to gather some things and transfer them to my flat».

«I’m going to help you».

«Thanks a bunch, Mom. I would also like some food and money, until I get my salary. May I?»

«Ted, aren’t you our son?! You should always feel free to ask us for help».

«I’m very grateful».

In the evening Ted was already in his new flat. As he had had supper at home, all his time was actually devoted to putting foodstuffs into the fridge, arranging his clothes on the wardrobe shelves until finally, he called Jeffrey.

It was ten o’clock, when Ted, tired, yet pleased, dialed his friend’s number. Jeffrey answered almost immediately.

«Hey, Jeff, aren’t you asleep yet?»

«Ted, what a surprise! I was thinking that here we go, school is finished, and that you’ve forgotten your crony. By the way, I called you, but you weren’t available».

«Really? No one told me. I am calling you from my brand new flat and tomorrow I am starting to work».

«Are you serious? Fabulous! May I come to see you?»

«Sure, but tomorrow. I’m dying of fatigue. How’re your party arrangements going? Or have you forgotten?»

«No way! That’s the reason I called you. I’m waiting for you this coming Friday at eight o’clock».

«Oh, I will come. How about?..»

«Alice also promised to come by. You intended to ask that, didn’t you?»

«Yep, you’re right, bud. I met her father in the Magistrate today. He recognized me, but I failed to recollect who he was at first».

«Oh, that must have been awkward. Fine. Tomorrow you will tell me everything in detail. Good night, Ted. Have a good sleep».

«You too, Jeff».

After the telephone conversation Ted took a shower and went to bed.

The following day at ten to eight in the morning, Ted, wearing a light blue shirt and a pair of black trousers, was walking onto the terrain of the British Museum. He had already been there plenty of times before, and was fond of strolling through its spacious halls, looking at the Egyptian mummies, ancient Roman and Greek sculptures, collections of antique coins and many other valuable exhibits. However, today Ted climbed up the luxurious staircase under the glass ceiling and walked into the study-room, where one of the Museum Director’s assistants – Mr. Alan Merlegg —was already waiting for him.

«Ah, welcome, Mr. Spencer! I’m glad that you will be our new employee. The Master praised you very much and I fully rely on his opinion. Our collaboration will be successful, I hope. Have a seat».

«I am also pleased to meet you, Mr. Merlegg».

They shook hands. Ted looked at his new chief with curiosity. A pleasant fifty-year-old man, his combed-back hair streaked with grey, blue eyes, a straight nose, thin lips and a determined chin.

«I also hope that we’ll get along well,» – thought Ted.

«Coffee? Tea?»

«Coffee please. Thank you».

Mr. Merlegg asked his personal assistant to fetch coffee.

«I should have asked you to prepare coffee with the help of your magic wand».

«Unfortunately, one can’t conjure food».

«Really? It’s a pity. What else can you not conjure up?»

«Money. Such invocations hadn’t been invented yet. Besides, it is banned by the Magistrate. Well, otherwise none of us would have to work and it is even scarier to imagine how everyone might end up. I beg your pardon, aren’t you yourself a magician?»

«No, to my regret. I know quite a bit about the magic world though. Noblesse oblige».

Mr. Merlegg’s secretary brought the coffee in. Ted had a small sip.

«Ordinary people also drink good coffee, not worse than ours,» – thought Ted. But his coffee was hot, that is why he decided to drink it more slowly.

«Will you please tell me a few words about your studies? What have you actually been taught in your School of Magic?»

«Oh, a lot of things. Mainly invocations, incantations and mastering the magic wand. After all, with the help of the wand one is able to open and close anything, likewise to turn certain things into something else. Also, we were instructed on how to prepare all types of elixirs. We studied healing, languages, history, as well as many other subjects, which are being taught in ordinary schools. Unfortunately, even the school does not provide us with all the needed skills and talents. I learned theurgy and enchantment through the magic wand, both orally and mentally. What I do is aspire to have a good command of the so-called corporal magic, that is with the help of your body and without the wand».

Ted was recalling his school years and his eyes shone.Mr. Merlegg watched him smilingly, like the more experienced adults leniently observing the young fledglings that are just commencing their life as grownups. Ted subsided and uttered in confusion:

«I am sorry to have gotten so carried away».

«No, not at all. It was very interesting to listen to you. Now allow me to demonstrate our treasures, throw some light on the essence of our activities here and to explain to you the terms of reference».

Mr. Merlegg took Ted to the Magic History Department.

«Unfortunately, our Department is not big yet. One of your job responsibilities will be to search and complete our collections that are on reserve. We have received the Magistrate’s special permission for that».

«How should it be completed?»

«Oh, this is a minor issue. There are archives, even newspapers. The Museum has allocated us substantial funds due to the fact that our Department is in demand from visitors».

On passing a number of halls they arrived at the Magic Department. The lights in the Department were off, while the stretched tape was blocking the entrance.

«But the Department is closed. Why?»

«You see, Mr. Spencer, since the previous employee disappeared the Department has been closed».

«Yes, the Master told me about his disappearance. But how on earth did it happen?»

Despite Ted’s being aware of the nuances, he still wanted to hear Mr. Merlegg’s version, too. The latter shrugged his shoulders:

«He simply did not show up at work one day. He was not found at home, nor did our inquiry to the Magistrate ever clarify anything. The magic police have been looking for him thus far. Hopefully, your magic wand is on you? Is it functioning properly?»

«Yes, of course. More than that, I have not violated any paragraph from the Magicians’ Code, if you are getting at that».

«I was implying exactly what you have just said. Then everything is superb!»

Mr. Merlegg switched on the lights and removed the tape. Ted looked around. There were plenty of diverse magic articles and artifacts.

«Shall I have to learn the stories about all these things by heart?» – thought Ted with a heavy sigh. – «Later on my job will be to tell the visitors and to spend long hours in the archives. On the other hand, the Master said it would not be boring at all. What is the catch here? Maybe my predecessor had hidden some records in the archives, the clues that would ease my endeavor to answer various questions? But which questions might these be, for God’s sake? This Mr. Merlegg seems to be just an ordinary curator».

«Now, Mr. Merlegg, take your magic wand and touch this showpiece with it, please».

It was a sword with a carved handle. Ted did what he was asked. All of a sudden there emerged an image of a very old and hoary magician wrapped in a film of fog. The image began speaking:

«I am Merlyn, a magician and sorcerer, and I am holding in my hands the legendary sword of Excalibur. It was forged by Lord God…»

«Now please touch the sword with your magic wand once again».

Ted followed Mr. Merlegg’s instruction and the image dissolved in the air.

«You see, you are not expected to know everything by heart. Your job will only deal with activating all these magic objects with your wand. Nevertheless, you’d better know everything about them in advance. I reckon that all this array of knowledge will be gradually memorized by you. I would also like to familiarize you with our magic rooms. People like them very much».

They walked into the first room, the entrance to which was tagged with a sign: «Win the Black Wizard». The room was dark.

«I wonder, if Mr. Merlegg is aware of the fact that it was me who put an end to the Black Wizard?» – thought Ted, but said nothing.

«Please wave your wand, Mr. Spencer».

Once again Ted fulfilled what he had been told by his superior. The room was lit with a feeble and dim light. On the opposite wall a black creature was being assembled out of numerous black sand particles. The creature appeared to be the Black Wizard – a magician with shrewd black eyes, long black hair and dressed in everything black. He was completely different from the real one. The Wizard aimed at Ted with his wand and a red beam came out of it.

«Magana!» – Ted’s reaction was lightning-like, whereas Mr. Merlegg burst into laughter.

«This is not the true magic, Mr. Spencer! The visitors receive a magic wand (not the real one, of course), a list of incantations and, equipped with all this, fight the Wizard. They undoubtedly win all the time».

«That was very plausible,» – replied Ted in embarrassment. He waved his wand, the Wizard fell apart and the light went off.

They proceeded toward the next room, whose sign ran: «Flight of Dragons». With the help of magic the room had been turned into a huge area with a forest, a river and a meadow covered with grass and flowers.

«Where is the dragon?»

«Wave your wand please».

Ted waved his wand and a brownish dragon immediately landed nearby. The dragon knelt down, so that the visitors could climb onto its back.

«He isn’t real, either, is he? Well, the magic here is breath taking, I must admit…»

«Right you are. People feel as if they were riding a real dragon».

«But what if something goes wrong and someone falls down?»

«No worries. A soft landing will be awaiting them».

The sign above the third and the last room ran as follows: «Find Your Way out of the Bewitched Labyrinth».

«We won’t step inside. With the help of your wand you simply activate the Labyrinth: monsters, traps, likewise the other wisdoms. The visitors are supposed to get out of here through all types of obstacles and by means of protecting themselves with fake magic wands. Those who feel they are going to fail will push one of the buttons located on the Labyrinth walls and this discloses the exit for them».

«Sounds quite intriguing».

«Now let’s go on to the archives».

There was a tiny door in the corner of the Magic Department.Mr. Merlegg took Ted right there. The room was overcrowded with scrolls, books, manuscripts. There were a desk and a chair by the window. In the corner there stood a small closet.

«I won’t be capable of discovering anything mysterious in here within the entire month. Maybe the Master is just teasing me and there is no secret at all? As for my predecessor, he probably felt sick and tired wasting his time here and he took off and left for Australia or Africa or another remote place,» – thought Ted.

«Well, here you will spend your time, free from public visits. We have been storing here an enormous array of material, worth being explored. Apart from that, I have one more challenge for you, namely: I want you to catalogue these documents over there. I have asked your predecessor more than once, but…» – Mr. Merlegg made a hopeless gesture. «In this closet here you may keep your personal belongings. You will have to receive visitors wearing a cloak. It is already in the closet. Now allow me to leave you alone. Look around. Our lunch time is between two and three o’clock. There is a nice café nearby around the corner. Highly recommended».

«Thanks a million, sir! I will do my best to meet your expectations».

Mr. Merlegg left and Ted stayed all by himself. He opened up the closet and took the cloak. It was very fancy – black with silver lining. Ted cast a glance at his wrist-watch – two more hours were left before lunch, so he made up his mind to dedicate this time to getting acquainted with the exhibits and showpieces. After lunch he could sit in the archives. Ted would walk around touching the exhibits with his magic wand – various magicians’ and enchantresses’ ghosts emerged and he listened to interesting narrations about these or those magic objects. By two o’clock he had gotten a bad headache and with a light conscience he left and went to look for the café.

The café was pint-sized and cozy. Ted spotted Mr. Merlegg in the company of another two men at the far table. The other two lads seemed to be the Museum collaborators.Mr. Merlegg called him.

«Mr. Spencer, come join us!»

Ted came up.Mr. Merlegg turned to those sitting at the table:

«Allow me to introduce our new co-worker from the Department of Magic History Mr. Ted Spencer.Mr. Spencer, meet our colleagues Mr. Tom Smith and Mr. James Pool».

Ted shook hands with both of them.

«Pleased to meet you, gentlemen».

«Hence, you are also a magician, like the old chap Rod? He used to show us funny tricks with his wand,» – said one of them.

«Yes, I am a magician. Frankly speaking, not that prominent, as the ones, whose exhibits are placed in the Museum, but my fame has yet to come».

Ted waved his wand and the white oil-cloth turned into pink with a golden iridescent pattern. The colleagues laughed. It was clear that having been in the company of Ted’s predecessor, they had already become accustomed to such legerdemain. A waitress came up to their table – a pretty seventeen-year-old girl. The Museum collaborators seemed to be among her permanent clientele.

«Good day, gentlemen. Would you prefer to order your regular meals? Who is this young man?»

«This is our new co-worker from the Magic Department – Ted. Ted, this is Molly».

«Oh, you have succeeded in finding a magician, Mr. Merlegg? I will definitely drop in one of these days».

At that moment she noticed the oil-cloth and smiled at Ted.

«Please resume the previous oil-cloth, even though yours is much more to my liking, to tell you the truth».

Ted waved his wand once again and the oil-cloth returned to its white color. Molly gave a laugh.

After a substantial meal and a pleasant acquaintance Ted came back to the Museum and got absorbed in the archives. He was working until five o’clock p.m. and went home not hastily, at an easy pace. Thus, his first working day was over.

«Not as bad as I thought it would be in the beginning,» – he said to himself.