Chapter 11
The blue van was speeding towards Megacity.
"This is so cool!"exclaimed Chloe, who was seated besides Miles who was putting the paddle to the metal, speeding like mad.
"I´m not so sure, Chloe."said Emily from behind her, fear evident in her voice.
"What´s the problem?"asked Chloe looking behind her.
"The speed! That´s the problem!"exclaimed Emily, her face as white as a paper.
"C´mon girl... we have to get to Middletown pronto."said Miles before turning the steering wheel sharply as the van made a wild turn on the road causing Emily to scream out loud.
April however giggled and cheered.
"This is so cool, Miles. D´you think we can go even faster?"she asked as Emily fixed her with a shocked stare.
"Suuuure we can, look..."said Miles confirming Emily´s worst fear.
Instantly she let out a scream as the van picked up on speed even more. Emily looked ready to faint, while Chloe and April cheered. Soon enough the van reached the said town and Miles brought the van to a moment-defying stop.
"Here we go – Middletown."said Miles, killing the motor.
April and Chloe got out and looked around the busy street.
"Wow. I´ve never been here."commented Chloe, her eyes in happy curiousity.
"Me neighter. If I remember correctly, the Tofus used to live here before coming to Beauvillage."said April, also looking around.
Chloe fixed her with a surprised stare. April nodded and a smile spread across Chloe´s face.
"So this is where your little Chichi honey-bun used to run about?"she asked teasingly.
Imagining a 5 or 6 year old Chichi, April turned beet-red and dreamingly swayed on spot as Emily exited the van slowly, her face green rather than white.
"Emmy are you all right?"asked Chloe with some concern.
"I think I´m about to..."
Before she could finish, her stomache lurched and she quickly ran forward to the bushes near the parking ground. It was very apparent, what she was doing even without the noises that were present.
"Woah...sensitive stomache, huh...?"said Miles as he came to the two girls, who flinched as Emily went at it again.
"I think you should go slowly on the way back."said April looking at him.
"Nevertheless, we got here incredibly fast. From Beauvillage to Middletown in 25 minutes? That´s got to be a record."commented Chloe, checking her watch for good measure.
"You´ll see girls... one day, I´ll make it in 20."said Miles making a gesture, getting the two girls to laugh.
"Yeah, but do me a favour...leave me out of it when you do..."said Emily, who was returning from the bushes.
"Better?"asked April, a bit of concern in her voice.
Emily nodded, though she still was a bit white.
"Much. But I think I left yesterday´s supper there. Along with everything else I´ve eaten until now."
"All right girls. After me."said Miles, gesturing towards the large building ahead of them.
The four of them were making their way to the building across the parking ground.
"What´s that building?"asked April curiously.
Miles grinned in a very feral way.
"An executive building. It holds many offices of many different firms, freelance operatives and other highly funny people. I visit quite regurally."
Apparently he was right. When they entered the older chubby woman - probably in her fifties, at the information office clapped her hands and looked at the cieling.
"Oh my GOD. Not HIM again."she exclaimed.
Miles grinned and waved at her.
"G´day Madam, miss, mrs, lady..."he said happily while Chloe and April had to stiffle their giggles.
"What d´you want here now? I warn you, you bring any merchendise in here again and I´ll..."
Miles quickly cut her off.
"No merchendise thistime. I couldn´t get my hands on Mr Wollabot´s prized greed-grabbers but if you see Mr Aberly, do tell him that I´m working on it and I´ll call him when I get them."
The woman flared.
"Do I look like a secretary?!"
Miles fixed her with an incredulous look as he looked her up and down.
"You look like anything but one...anyway I think that its not so much trouble remembering one single sentance."
The woman growled.
"I´m not paid to take memos for scoundrels who have a liking to roam about here."
Right then a well dressed businessman about Miles´ age or even younger came down from the stairs and came trough the glass door, which was locked from the outside and could be opened only from the inside or the info office. Pretending not to notice Miles and the girls he pushed past them towards the old woman.
"I will be expecting an importaint visit this afternoon. Here´s my number. When the party arrives, direct them towards my office and call me."he said in an authoritative voice, passing her a small note before turning away and walking towards the exit.
The woman all but bowed.
"Yes Mr Reggald, sir. I will sir. You can count on me, sir."she said oily as the businessman slamed the door after him.
Miles whistled.
"Woah... a lovely lady your age taking orders from a thumbsucker like Vince Reggald...pretty damn humiliating."said Miles shaking his head sadly.
"What´s it to you?! Unlike you he is an accomplished businessman."she flared, all politeness forgotten.
Miles snorted.
"A 20 year old pampered brat, who has inherited a tiny division of his father´s firm. Not to mention that unlike me, he´s still with one hand in his father´s wallet. That´s definitely some accomplishment."
The woman snorted.
"You´re just jealous. Trash like you should stay on the street where you belong."
Emily was watching the ordeal with an open mouth, whereas Chloe and April looked ready to argue with her. Miles however looked unconcerned.
"Whatevs Mrs, Lady, Ms and Queen. Open up the door, we have an appointment with Mr Querelly, all right?"
The woman fixed him with a murderous stare to which he was completly ignorant as he approached the door which he opened.
"Come on girls, our appointment awaits."he said happily and when the girls passed he waved at the woman before closing the door and moved up the staircase.
"Sheesh what an old battle-axe."commented Chloe with distaste.
"A dull battle-axe to be precise."added Miles humorously.
"That was rather nasty from her."said Emily.
"Its all good, girls. People with a double digit IQ and a triple digit income tend to act that way. I´m used to it. Its useless to concern yourself with it. Anyway the office is on the third floor."said Miles as they climbed the staircase.
Once on third floor, Miles directed them towards the very end of the hallway. There was a sighn on the door which read : INCREDDY PUBLISHING – STANLEY QUERELLY. Knocking three times and ringing on the doorbell three more times, Miles stepped back from the door as it opened. In the doorway stood an elder man in a suit. He had graying short hair and a small beard. His face however sported a happy smile.
"Miles m´boy! I´m so glad to see you. Come on in, come..."he said gesturing them into the office.
The foursome settled themselfs in the office, which was stocked with many racks, all of which were full of books. Mr Querelly sat down behind his work table and looked at them.
"Well my young friend, to what do I owe the pleasure?"he asked politely, curiosity in his eyes.
"We have a small matter we need solving. You see recently my friend here found a handwritten novel in Beauvillage. We need to find out who wrote this and if you have a copy of the book... I know that you´re probably the best publisher in the country and not to mention a novel-enthusiast, so if anyone would know this, it´d be you."said Miles happily.
Querelly smiled at him.
"I´m glad that you think so much of me. D´you have the novel here m´boy?"
Chloe brought out the handwritten novel and passed it to him. He looked at the title with interest.
"The Great Mystery? Hm...the title is unfamiliar with me as is the handwriting... I´ll just read it and let you know. There might be clues to the author in it. The style, the composition and other things. Leave me some time with it and I´ll let you know."
Chloe looked from him to Miles, she was reluctant to part with the novel for very long. Knowing this Miles smiled at her.
"No worries Chloe. You see Q here has the gift of swift reading. He´ll read trough this in two hours flat. During which time we can go around Middletown for some food, drink or shopping – my treat."said Miles giving the girls a thumbs up as he was standing up.
"Don´t underestimate me dear boy."said Querelly with a smile as the girls stood up too and looked at him curiously.
"One hour."
...
In the Hidehole´s new computer room, the trio was going over the various books that Chichi took from the house. Phil was seated behind the computer writing the info into it.
"This one also looks interesting."exclaimed Lily as she looked over the old book.
"Minerals and gems in history... Chichi you wouldn´t mind me borrowing it?"
Chichi shook his head as he looked over another book.
"Be my guest Lily. Afterall this stuff now belongs to the three of us. But for safe-keeping I think we should store them in the Hidehole for most of the time."he said and Lily nodded.
"I finished the scan of the various minerals. Though I´m not really sure, what good it´ll do."said Phil turning to Chichi from the computer.
"Well I am. Compare the list of the minerals stolen from the museum with the notes."
Chichi´s command met with curious looks.
"I´m sure that the museum theft is somehow tied to this. I want to confirm my suspitions."
The curious looks lingered.
"Suspitions?"asked Phil, while looking at Lily who returned him a confused look.
Chichi only nodded before looking back at the book he was holding. Lily´s confused stare remained glued on Phil, nevertheless he shrugged and turned back to the computer. Chichi set the book down after a while before taking a large leather brown one. Listing trough it, he smiled.
"This is it. Balthazar´s memo book. A diary of sorts."he said at once getting the attention of both Phil and Lily.
While Phil only remained sitting there looking awed, Lily let out a gasp and moved towards Chichi on the large couch.
"Diary? Woah. My journeys, wow... Look Chichi the first entery dates back into the 1950s – more than 60 years back...wow."breathed Lily as they examined the neat handwriting and Chichi began to read.
"5th April 1953
The journey to the western seaside of the country always brings me way I was just a teenager and my first traditional round of the country was completed. I remember how overjoyed Oscar was when I set out at 18 years old. He did want to come along with me, but the wound was giving him a lot of grief dispite that he wasn´t that old – 50 years old. The wound from the beast killed him by the time I got back. I still regret missing the funeral of the man, who raised me. Even now I still can´t believe the kindness he showed me by giving me a home, when he found me – a 4 year old orphaned child on the streets of Morgereville. Not to mention all the knowledge be passed down to me. Now as I overlook the seas, I start thinking about my life all the more. Such a shame that I have no one to pass the knowledge to. I have to figure something out. I am the last of the Sucellus cult. If I don´t pass the knowledge, the cult and all the knowledge of Green Magic dies with me... At times like this I really wish I had the courage back when I was young... before I set out on the journey. Had I told Matilda then, she may have accompanied me on it or at the very least waited for me. But I was too hot-headed, too excited and guillable. In other words, all in all... too young. I leaped immediatly at the prospect of exploring the greater world, uncovering secrets and failed to look at things I had in Beauvillage. And so a huge shock awaited me as I returned to Beauvillage 4 years later, believing to be broadened by experiences and becoming fully mature – my mentor and father of sorts dead, my oldest friend and the love of my life happily married to another. In that moment I fully grasped, that dispite holding vast knowledge I in fact understood nothing.
"While reaching for the stars, one must always know to remember his place and come back to the ground."
Though Oscar taught me that lession years back, I truly understood it only then."
Lily had tears in her eyes while the boys looked awed at what Chichi read.
"Woah. That was the text carved into the bird statue in the owl room. It wasn´t all about flying afterall..."whispered Chichi.
Lily sniffed.
"How sad... Balthazar truly was in love with Mrs Longline. If he only said something... she confessed to me, that she had a crush on him when since she was 13. She with her husband couldn´t have children she so desired... and Balthazar wanted... I remember Mrs Longline telling me how Balthazar wanted children...oh, how can one single youthfull mistake ruin something that could´ve been so beautyfull..."she said tearfully.
The boys looked at eachother uneasily. Phil stood from the computer, sat besides Lily and grabbed her hand.
"Life is cruel sometimes..."he said, unsure what to say. All he knew, he hated seeing Lily cry.
Chichi however took no notice of this. He was deep in thought.
"So Balthazar was a member of the Sucellus cult. And he wanted to pass the knowledge down, which explains the books and various works... wait a minute... Ezekiel..."he said in a revelation.
Phil and Lily fixed him a look and noticed immediatly, that Chichi was putting two and two together. He swiftly listed trough the book.
"Here it is... 3rd March 1982!"he said.
As the two looked at him, their breaths held Chichi began to read the entery.
"I was looking around Megacity. I met up with the director of Chemical Industry – a man named Orbin Mixup. Lucky that I hold my vast wealth. Otherwise I don´t believe the upstart young one would even speak with me. It seems fishy... 28 years old, he did enjoy some success before moving up to the position of the director after the unexpected death of the former director Logan Freeside. His death, as I found when asking the police was ruled out an accident in Megacity´s chemical factory during his late night check-up. He was apparently alone there, but how can someone slip on a metal clearing and falling into a vat of chemicals ON HIS OWN. Even the police didn´t see it so... they told me that the famous detective Sylvester Wiseman had looked into it, but came up empty handed. No clues, no evidence equalls no crime. So Freeside´s death was an accident. Wiseman went as far as investigate Mixup, but also came up empty handed and was forced to drop the case. However during our talk, Mixup had turned miracleously tense when I asked him about Ripgrab. Afterward he refused to discuss anything else. Though he firmly stated that he doesn´t know him, I can tell that it was an outright lie. My lack of sucess was however brightened by something. While on the streets of Megacity I met a young 8 year old boy named Ezekiel. Apparently an orphan who ran away from home... he strikes me as the small boy I once was."
"Whoa...so that´s when Balthazar found Ezekiel. Too much..."muttered Phil.
"What interests me more, is the Chemical Industry director. Its still one of the largest firms of the country. They were the ones, who tired to do that ripoff with the new Chemical works in here a year back, remember?"said Chichi recounting the tale.
"I still remember that guy Mixup. Boy was he mad when we exploited his plans and the mayor shot the deal down."nodded Phil also remembering.
"Mad? He was furious. I remember how he almost had the three of you arrested if the mayor didn´t intervene."said Lily.
"Looks like Ripgrab´s school all right. I wonder, just what did those two have in common."said Phil.
"Much more than one would expect in any case. If I remember what Philips told us, years later the Chemical Works deal was struck... we have to look over the data on the net, but I´m sure that we won´t gleam much from the official versions."said Chichi before turning back to the diary.
Over the next few minutes he read on Balthazar´s extensive research on Ripgrab´s deals and allies, over the years since the entery. It looked like, that many of the big firms which weren´t easily persuaded into cooperation suffered unexpected "accidents".
"Woah now this is big. Are you thinking what I am?"asked Phil looking at his two friends.
"That Ripgrab was responsible for these accidents somehow? Yeah. Every large accident brought levels of business to Beauvillage and all into firms owned or overseen by Ripgrab himself. The man was a virtual crook."said Lily glaring at the book.
"The trouble is, that we have no proof only our and Balthazar´s suspitions. Even two generations of detective Wisemen failed to aquire it. Which is why they were forced to drop it."said Chichi, folding his arms across his chest.
Lily looked at the book once more, before gasping.
"Look at this. 4th August 1992."exclaimed Lily before taking the book from Chichi and began to read.
"Ripgrab has finally gone too far. The car factory deal with Infinite Motors was THE LAST STRAW. As old as I am its very uncharacteristic for me to be so furious. What however chilled me was Zeke´s rage at this. Compared to it, mine was nothing. Eversince we returned from France, where he found that that wretched book I have done all I could to try and calm him down. Instantly he insisted on using the ritual in it. However he relented in seeing my rage. Momentarily cooling down he agreed on helping me with the Corrosion spell. Luther and Phil are busy informing the citizens, so everyone will know about it until morning. Even so, they won´t be able to make it in time. Me and Zeke did the spell in the ceremonial room at midnight, under the full moon. I have always been reluctant to unleash Green Magic to its fullest capabilities, but now I have no other choice. The forest MUST BE SAVED!"
The trio was awed.
"So the Bulldozers corroding was Green Magic. Woah..."breathed Phil.
"We´ve seen today, what Green Magic can really do. Let´s look at the next entery."said Chichi growing more excited by the second.
Lily as well, as she flipped the page over.
"12th August 1992. This is definitely the happiest day of my life. First and foremost of all – WE WON! Ripgrab failed to gain the votes. People were completly on Johnatan´s side – even some which sincirely surprised me as I expected them to stick with Ripgrab. It seems, that Ripgrab double crossed them one too many times and they were heartily sick of it. I knew, that Johnatan could do it. The people reacted to him in ways I haven´t seen for decades. I´m sure, that he´ll be the best and most remembered mayor Beauvillage has ever had. More than Matilda´s husband OR father-in-law. We had a huge party at town hall, where nearly everyone was. Well, except the ex-mayor, his daughter and his son in law – I really do pity the misguided boy sometimes. The party was amazing. So many people and for once, Balthazar Bunglewood wasn´t seen as an old wierdo. It began to dawn to me, just how many lives I have affected – people truly want to see Beauvillage become something more than just a small town overshadowed by Megacity, and not a business cut copy of it. I´ve had many spirited conversations with Luther, Phil, Terrance and of course Johnatan who was thanking me endlessly. And the young ones were dancing to the beautyfull music played there. We had a small laugh when we saw Rodney Philips dancing with tiny Angela. Even Zeke seemed to enjoy the party and once more looked like the happy child he was, albeit a bit quiet. However the main surprise came before the end of the party. Matilda asked me to escort her home. She invited me in and we talked like old folks do. However there was one single revelation that made me freeze. As it turns out, Matilda always loved me eversince she was 13. She finaly told me everything about her marriage. I had no idea, that she married Albert only because of her family. No idea that she didn´t love him at all. But as she said, taking care of him had become a habit overtime...not to mention that stupid me didn´t say a word and busied myself with my work and research... Heh... talk about irony. Zeke always said when he was a child that he wants to be as old as I am because old people are smart. Oh he would be eating his words if he knew... But as me and Matilda talked more and more... neighter of us knew whether to laugh or cry... but it seems that we finally admited to eachother something, that we´ve been denying all our lives... that we love eachother...I can´t believe it...well... better late than never, I guess. Anyway, I accepted her offer to stay over night... she said, that I don´t have to worry about anything sexual happening as I´m way too old to be raped – I always loved her mischievous sence of humor."
Phil and Chichi looked at eachother, their faces reflecting the same incredulous distaste. Lily however looked to be in full romantic mode, jumping up and down.
"Oh my... so they did end up together. Love actually wins."she exclaimed happily.
The two boys were however sitting frozen on the spot, haunted looks on both of their faces.
"Its sweet and all...but..."said Phil.
"Do NOT want to imagine it..."finished Chichi.
"Oh you two! Can´t you see how beautyfull this is?!"remarked Lily glaring the boys.
Phil and Chichi flinched a bit under the glare. Chichi quickly grabbed the book and read the next entery.
"31st August 1992
I´ve never felt so...broken. Zeke - my friend, my partner, my...SON! I´ve suspected something was wrong since our holiday in France. I failed! I failed as a mentor, a guardian, a teacher and worst of all – as a parent. Me, Luther, Terrance, Phil and even Johnatan went all about Beauvillage searching high and low... we all came up empty handed. As we met at the town hall around 10 pm, Rodney came running to us, telling that Zeke had left Beauvillage. He tried to persuade him to stay, but Zeke told him that Beauvillage is no longer his home. Matilda told the others that she´ll take care of me and that they are free to go home. I was barely listening as she took me to her home. She spent until midnight trying to console me, telling me that this was not my fault and that it was going to be all right. But I know one thing. It won´t. Somehow I feel that it is only the begining of the troubles."
"So this is when Ezekiel ran away."whispered Chichi.
"And poor Balthazar was blaming himself. Mrs Longline was right. That wasn´t his fault."said Lily fiercely.
"Remember what the mayor told us? Balthazar said that it was "A bad case of teenage rebelion". I heared from my uncle, that during the 80´s and 90´s there were many teenagers who ran away from their homes. Perhaps Zeke was just one of those cases."said Phil.
Chichi shook his head.
"Somehow I doubt that. Anyway let´s look at another one. 5th September 1992.
Many people discussed me over the days. Everyone keeps saying that I´m walking around like a soulless doll. Luther, Phil, Johnatan and Matilda are all trying in their own way to cheer me up. They try not to show it but I can see that they´re extremely worried. I can hardly blame them... I just couldn´t... Everything everywhere reminds me of Zeke. I keep thinking that it was a mistake teaching him Green Sorcery. More and more I keep thinking that Rodney Philips would´ve been a better choice... but who am I kidding – I´m to blame. If I didn´t have that stupid idea of visiting France and the places where the Sucellus Cult was born hundreds of years ago... if me and Zeke didn´t uncover that old ceremonial catacomb – that´s where we found it... ancient scripts and books... and Zeke immediatly became fascinated by the knowledge in it. He was translating it from Latin, reading it intensly even during our journey back. This was the knowledge Oscar tried with all his might to keep me away from when I was young – he knew this and Secreta Naturae holds only the stories of the forbidden knowledge. The knowledge that cost the cult members its lives years back... I wanted Zeke to stop it, but he insisted on translating the wretched book. However I´m not sure how much he translated or learnt... he hid the book very well from me... I´m sure that THIS was why he left... perhaps he went back to France to uncover more... For the last two days I am constantly thinking what to do...? Go after him? Try to stop him? Or believe, that he´ll come around and recodnize it for what it truly is...? His views of people and civilization had changed over the last year or two and he´s truly disgusted with how people treat nature... will this induce him to use the knowledge...?"
All three of them were shocked.
"There´s forbidden knowledge in Green Sorcery? Doesn´t it just help... things grow?"whispered Phil.
Lily shrugged as puzzled as him, but Chichi was sporting a very serious look indeed.
"If Green Magic can make vegetation grow rapidly and machines corrode like that, imagine what else could it do... I wonder... could it maybe affect the weather..."
"Like rain?"asked Lily quietly.
"How about earthquakes...who knows...we´d have to read that book Secreta Naturae to be sure, but I didn´t find that book anywhere in the house. I could have overlooked it, but I don´t think that Balthazar would just leave that book lying around somewhere..."pondered Chichi.
"And Ezekiel learnt stuff like that? I certainly haven´t heared of anything... well... supernatural happening over the years in the country."said Phil.
"We have to leave it aside for now. We know too little about the Sucellus cult of Green Magic for that matter. Let´s focus on Balthazar. We may yet find some answers."said Chichi as he turned the book´s page again.
"6th September 1992. Matilda attempted to cheer me up again. I wanted to return to my house – since Zeke´s dissapearance I´ve been living with Mat, but she insisted that we´d go for a walk in the park. Funnily enough – we truly look like an old married couple. Though I was not really in the mood to enjoy it. Perhaps its another mistake I said to myself as I thought about it. I really should enjoy it, since it happened. Plus Mat would appretiate it too... so I agreed on her idea of a park stroll. Obviously she thought that the sunny Sunday along with the trees and water would definitely cheer me up. The plan however backfired. As we strolled around it, we saw that many of the young families in Beauvillage had the same idea and were clearly enjoying the nice weather. Both of us felt a pang as we realized just how much of our lives we missed... I myself was completly immersed in fantasies – what my life... our lives could´ve been if eighter me or Mat would´ve had the courage to admit our feelings... me and Mat married... as a young married couple rather than old... having children and playing with them in this very park... and right now...doing the same with our grandchildren... As I think about it more, I can´t help thinking... all the knowledge, all the experiences, all my achievements, all my skills, all the journeys I had in my life seem utterly meaningless right now, next to the image in my fantasy... I could tell that Mat was experiencing prety much the same. We met up there with many others – Luther and Rodney, Terrance and his son, Johnatan and little Angie and Phil along with his three children – Marion, Benjy and Matthew. They invited us to join them at their camp cook-out. We accepted and in a short while we were indeed enjoying ourselfs with the others. We were there for most of the afternoon until something happened that made me freeze. The statue of monk Mathias – one of the many I´ve made for the park, its mineral stones began to glow. That meant only one thing – someone was using Green Magic. But who? Since Zeke left I´m the only practitioneer of it in Beauvillage, much less the country...?
"So my Dad, Granpa, Aunt and Uncle were... woah."said Phil unable to find words or what was read.
"The statue glowed exactly like it did when we were in the park."breathed Lily.
"Only that this time it was you using the gemstone. If Balthazar didn´t do it, it must mean that eighter Zeke returned, or it was someone else. And that someone must´ve had a gemstone too..."said Chichi before he bagan to read the net entery.
"7th September 1992. This is horrible. How could I be so blind?! After yesterday´s little surprise I decided to check my house for anything that might be missing. Instantly I noticed, that the front door´s lock was broken. Someone must´ve been there. But who? Zeke had the keys, so he wouldn´t need to break the lock... I found, that all the books were just as they were. Obviously Zeke thought he knew everything he needed from them so he didn´t bother to take a single one of them and whoever was here was searching for something else and didn´t pay any attention to them. However I found that several of the mineral stones were missing and the small "Chest of Secrets" that I´ve made to store the Secreta Naturae book was not on its place. Someone obviously attempted to open it. Luckily I have the key around my neck, for the chest holds much more than just the book. Plus it opens more than just the chest. The real question for the moment is, who is using Green Magic? I´ve seen a few slightly corroded machines at Terrance´s market just this morning. Someone made an attempt at a corrosion spell. But it can´t have been Zeke. It was really poorly done and with Zeke´s knowledge of Green magic, it couldn´t have possibly be him. I wonder, did he pass some of the knowledge to someone else in Beauvillage? I must keep my eyes out..."
As Chichi finished reading the entery, the main computer gave a small tone signalizing that its analysis was complete. Phil instantly sat behind the computer and scanned the data shown on the screen.
"Chichi! None of these fossils or minerals are worth anything."he called.
Both Chichi and Lily moved towards his seat and glanced over his shoulders.
"I knew it! Run a small analysis with any of the rituals in the Guide to Green Sorcery."commanded Chichi with excitement.
Phil did just that and the computer ran a swift analysis signaling its results with a loud beep.
"Huh? None of these items matches with any of the rituals."said Phil before turning to his best friend with a questioning look.
"What does that mean?"asked Lily, also fixing her stare on Chichi.
"It means, that Balthazar wasn´t the person who stole the items from the museum."
This revelation brought some levels of shock to both Lily and Phil. Chichi pretended not to notice.
"I thought it fishy about Balthazar needing to steal anything from the museum, especially if he worked there. I thought that the items may have been used for a ritual... but since Balthazar roamed the country several times in search of any interesting object, I didn´t think he´d leave anything like that to the museum. Whether he needed it or not. I´ve since then thought about the museum robbery and thought that maybe Balthazar wasn´t the culprit."
Chichi´s expanation seemed to have stirred up something in Phil and he instantly started to run his fingers on the keyboard at top speed. Chichi and Lily traded bewidered looks as various pictures appeared on the screen, but Phil didn´t take any notice to them and kept typing something. Suddenly with a loud beep, the computer screen flashed with a table, where the various stolen objects were listed.
"The stuff the thief took from the museum were utterly worthless. Not one of them could´ve been used in any of the rituals."he said.
"Assuming for the moment that the forbidden knowledge didn´t list any of them... hm...the theif didn´t really know what can be used and what can´t..."said Chichi in a thoughtfull manner.
"So the person who robbed the museum didn´t have much knowledge of Green Magic..."said Lily also thoughtfull.
"Hm...the sloppy spell... it must´ve been that person. Maybe Balthazar figured out who it is..."said Chichi before moving to the diary on the couch.
Taking it, he turned the page and began to read.
"8th September 1992. Today´s day in work was suddenly interupted by a long awaited phone call. My contact in Megacity – a young police detective Ebeneser Sharkerly contacted me. The two of us were working on investigating Ripgrab´s various deals for a while now. He said, that they apprehanded a criminal, who in his bid for freedom made a deal with Megacity´s police authorities and revealed the crude business practices of one of Megacity´s top firms. They investigated of course and Sharkerly found that the management had close ties with Ripgrab. What´s more, Ripgrab is supposed to be promoted to its directorate any day now. The firm however hid behind its lawyers and the police can´t go any further. I already took a few days off from work for the first time in two years. Mat, Phil and Rodney had seen me off to the bus from Beauvillage. She quietly advised me not to do anything rash, but noted that she´s pleased to see me come back to my good old self. She´s right in a way. Its time that ol´Balthazar Bunglewood is back in action. And I´ll make sure to uncover what Ripgrab has done...
Still 8th September – midnight. I´ve met with Sharkerly and we went over the suspitions he had. Though he was worried that I´d do something... radical and illegal as he put it, I want to get to the bottom of this. I´m planning to get into Congamer Corporation´s headquaters and go over their papers. There I believe could be the very proof that we need..."
"Woah, Balthazar was sure an action-kind of guy, huh?"noted Phil while whistleing.
Lily giggled.
"Kinda like you and Miles, Chichi."she said affectionately.
Chichi blushed slightly, but smiled at her before continuing.
"10th September 1992. Back home now. I´ve snuck into Con corp´s offices yesterday midnight. I had to use a few Green Spells here and there, but I´m confident that I wasn´t seen. I´ve made sure to use the Corrosion spell on the cameras and even a Camuflague spell to ensure secrecy. I found the papers – the proof I was searching for, but there were parts missing. Ripgrab eighter destroyed them or took them with him to Beauvillage. I believe it was the latter, since I´ve found that the people in the directorate trust eachother about as much as they trust their heavily abused employees. I think that the proof papers were meant as Ripgrab´s insurance against the President of the Corporation. Both ways. Heh...no wonder they get along so well. Anyway I´ve returned to my house before coming to Mat´s and I took the Chest of Secrets with me. I locked the proof papers into it for now and I´ll take great care in hiding the chest though I don´t know where yet. I also have to hide my necklace somewhere, since the green gemstone is the only one which could react with the mineral stones, since its made of the opposite energy minerals. My next order of business is to locate the remaining documents. But...right now, I have to get to Mat´s house. We spoke over the phone before I left Megacity and she said that she has a surprise dinner waiting for me home. Which as I know her means, that we won´t be dining alone tonight. She undoubtably invited Luther, Phil, Terrance and perhaps even Johnatan."
"So Balthazar did find something. And he was working with old Shark. Too much!"exclaimed Chichi, unable to believe it.
"Yeah and it looks like he stumbled upon something really big."nodded Phil.
"Congramer Corporation... why does that sound so familiar?"wondered Lily.
"It should. Congramer Corp is one of the biggest firms in the country. Its sucess and assets are rivaled only by Longbow Industries. And Ripgrab was to be promoted into its directorate..."mused Chichi as Phil took the book from him and began to read the next entery.
"11th September 1992. I can scarcely believe it... Zeke you foolish child what have you done?! As I got to work, I was confronted by the first of many surprises of the day. Someone had broken into the Museum and stole various minerals, fossil butterflies and even the dinosaur egg. I instantly realized, that it must´ve been the person playing around with Green Magic. The police instantly took me for questioning. I had nothing to tell them really. Only that I was away from town during the last two days when the robbery occured. I was apparently the only suspect, since the minerals got stolen and they thought that the "mad old wizard Bunglewood" has any need of them. Almost at once, Matilda and Johnatan barged in and demanded me to be set free. Matilda argued a bit with the policemen but I quickly cooled her down and left the situation to Johnatan who as mayor of Beauvillage has vouched for me and they were forced to drop it. However when he politely asked why they thought of me as a suspect, the investigator shown us a piece of paper that the thief was stupid enough to drop. On it were only two words written in a handwritting I was not familiar with. However those two words nearly gave me a heart attack. MUTARE VITA! The feared ancient Sucelli art, which uses a ritual sacrifice! It has the power to transform anything organic, fuse it with something be it organic or inorganic... it virtually has the power to warp living beings... I grew up listening to the story in fear as Oscar told me many times... the one single time when the art of Mutare Vita was used in this country. In Beauvillage. And it resulted with the deaths of many of its citizens and in the end almost the entire Sucellus Cult except Oscar and Doriana. Doriana herself fell victim to her injuries a few years after the incident, dispite Oscar´s best attempts to use every healing art he knew...
Matilda and Johnatan had to take me away for I was stunned with fear. My head was spinning as I fought to make some sence – this new practitioneer of Green Magic... Now I´m certain that Zeke passed some of the knowledge to someone! The forbidden knowledge to be exact... but... I´m certain that the knowledge would take years to learn... only if... oh no! I have to find whoever Zeke turned the knowledge to, before he or she uses Mutare Vita to unleash something that might destroy us all!"
"Woah. You were right Chichi! Balthazar didn´t rob the museum afterall."exclaimed Phil.
"Incredible deduction, detective Chichi."nodded Lily, but thistime Chichi didn´t acknowledge it.
"A forbidden art like that... in the hands of a sloppy practitioneer... ZEKE!"he exclaimed and his two friends jumped.
"Zeke must´ve given the knowledge to the person knowing, that they´d use it... and misuse it getting it wrong... I think I know who the culprit is. But let´s read the diary to make sure."he said taking the book again before noticing something that made him shiver.
Lily and Phil looked where he was looking at and tensed too. Lily´s eyes sported some small tears.
"There... there´s only one entery left. This´ll be his last..."she whispered as Chichi began to read with urgency.
"12th September 1992. I´ve made every necessary step. First of all, I finally located the papers I needed and hid them in the chest, before I took Oscar´s yellow gem stone necklace. I have to settle this before I can pass the information to Sharkerly. I also hid the chest behind the rack in the museum before I quit my job. The less anyone sees me there the better. My green gemstone necklace was given to Phil, who said will hide it in his messy attic – he joked that no one´ll be able to find it in that mess. The Sorcerer´s Guide to Green Sorcery book I´ve given to Matilda for safe keeping. I realized, what the thief wanted when he broke into my house. He didn´t want the chest, but the key – he didn´t have a clue to what the chest is, he only thought that the key was there. But that means that he wants the key for its real purpose – to open the door to the Sucelli Catacombs. Perhaps to perform the Mutare Vita ritual. No doubt Zeke must´ve told him... In any case I have confirmed who the thief is... the very man who is responsible for so many wasted lives... Evan Ripgrab... The evidence I´ve gathered is enough to send him behind bars. But first I have to stop him from using Mutare Vita."
As Chichi finished reading the final piece of writing of the diary, the three friends were left sitting in the couch, an unpleasant silence lingering between them.
...
"You´re the GREATEST, Mr. Miles."exlaimed Chloe as the three girls and their companion were going to the executive building with their hands full of bags and sweets in their mouths.
"C´mon Chloe. Think nothing of it. And it´s Miles, just call me Miles."said Miles in an offhanded gesture.
Over the last hour, the foursome made an "attack on the mall" as Miles put it.
"And they say, that you´re greedy Miles."said Emily admiringly.
"I am, girls. The greediest in the world."exclaimed Miles with a series of gestures that nearly made him drop his bags and caused the girls to giggle.
"I can´t believe you chose to spend that much on us though."noted April as Miles opened the back of his van and they started to put their things into the van.
Miles did indeed spend quite a lot on the girls´ clothing, books and...
"I can´t wait till I show Oliver this Gzorbial Empire game."exclaimed Chloe as she lovingly held the new game.
"Oh, they´ll be green with envy all right."nodded Emily with a smile.
"Never forget girls, we only live once and greed is to make you happy."said Miles nodding sagely.
Unable to contain herself Chloe squealed in happiness and launched on Miles hugging him tightly.
"You´re really the best."she squealed.
All of them laughed happily before...
"MILES!"the deafening cry was heared trough the parking lot.
They spun around to see, that Mr Querelly was running from the office to them. A look of incredible happiness was on his face.
"Miles! You golden boy! What in the world have you brought to me?!"he boomed, waving the notebook in his hand.
"This has got to be THE best novel, I´ve seen in a very VERY long time!"exclaimed Querelly as he passed it to Chloe´s expectant hands.
"So... did you find out, who wrote it?"asked April eying him.
His happy expression faltered a bit as he looked at them.
"Miles, girls... you HAVE to find whoever wrote this. Apparently we have a brand new, yet unrecodnized talent in our country."he said in a voice of utmost seriousness.
...