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,
