Chapter Two
We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;-
World-losers and world forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams;
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.
- Arthur O'Shaughnessy
Butler had exited from the library moments before only to be confronted by a tall menacing figure wearing a black cloak and full face mask.
This strange personage had a mechanical breathing that rasped in and out, and carried what seemed to be a red radioactive sword. Not much took Butler by surprise after all his adventures with Artemis, but this black armoured figure advancing toward him made him momentarily pause. Slowly, carefully, he reached for his gun, never taking his eyes away from him.
"Who are you?"Butler demanded. The head raised up with an almost arrogant stance.
"I AM YOUR FATHER!" The red lightsaber came whooshing up, ready to sever his arm, but from behind him another force bellowed out:
"BEHIND ME!" Butler was flung aside like a dishrag as a man wearing a tall grey hat and cloak , carrying a staff stood off against the other.
"YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" He yelled, brandishing his staff as they circled one another.
Artimes and Holly came out of the bedroom and stared at the ludicrus scene in the hallway.
"How on earth are Darth Vader and Gandalf in my house?"
The fight became one to the death as staff was hurled against saber, both men yelling furious threats.
"FLY YOU FOOLS!" Gandalf screamed at them.
"I'm getting Foaly on the line NOW," yelled Holly over the noise, "this has to be from my magic connecting with your computor files just before the expolsion."
"Butler, come on!" quickly they descended the stairs.
In the kitchen, a small stuffed bear wearing a red shirt was rummaging through cupboards muttering to himself.
"Oh bother," hearing them, he turned around. "Excuse me please, but would you happen to have anything to eat? Perhaps some honey?"
Silently, Artemis handed the bear a small jar who cooed with glee.
"Oooh honey!"
"Move it, fat boy! I'll take that," Ripping the honey away, Garfield opened his gigantic jowl and swallowed it whole, jar and all. For once in his life, Artemis was speechless. Turning to Holly, he simply said,
"Get Foaly on the phone, please."
"I believe that when Holly's magic connected with the juice from the encryptions in the computor and caused the explosion, they sort of, well, made your father's library come to life." Foaly scrolled through the gibberish that the laptop was choking up from Artemis's end.
"I already deducted that, Watson," said Artemis sarcastically, " what should we do about it now? I have a Jedi/ Tolkien swordfight in my foyer right now. And a disruptive cat eating me out of house and home."
"Well, Commander Root insisted on coming out there personally."
Inwardly, Artemis sighed. Marvelous.
