Updated for grammar & spelling and checked for continuity: March 10, 2011.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Bit Of Correspondence

Once again, Bill sat in front of a computer to check his email. On a whim, he had ventured into Ottery St. Catchpole, the village near his family's home. He found the tiny library and, upon going inside, discovered they had recently purchased a set of computers specifically for use on the Internet. Having brought along the tome, he figured this would be a much better place to go through it than anywhere in Muggle London. While the village was full of Muggles as well, there were a few quiet study corners here and there. He could go back and forth between preparing for his quest and, hopefully, writing back and forth with Katrin. When he went online, he found that there were three messages in his inbox, though none were from her. Mildly disappointed, he clicked on the first message to see what a person he had never heard of could possibly have to say.


Katrin rolled over and pulled her laptop out from under her bed. She had meant to email Bill the night before, but when she got to her room she could barely keep her eyes open. It had been a long day and the scuffle with her older brother had not helped. Hoping she would send the email before he checked it, she quickly typed one up and, opening a tiny hole Aboveground, sent it.


Bill's eyebrows shot up. Each message was more outrageous than the first. They seemed to be advertisements of some sort, but for the strangest things. One was for some medicine called Viagra, whatever that was. The second offered to connect him with lonely people. And the last! He could not click the delete button fast enough. He shook his head as he waited for his inbox to appear again. When it did, he had a new message.

To: Bill [IndianaWeasley(a)unknowndotcom]

From: Katrin [FireyFairey(a)unknowndotcom]

Subject: Morning madness

Date: Thurs, - August – 9:42:30

Hiya Bill,

Tell me something. You have five brothers, right? What is it about them that makes them think their sisters should do whatever they tell them to? I have five of them as well, though it is really only one of them who is the problem. I kept getting thrown across the room last night. :-P

The family meeting went fine. It mainly consisted of my father telling us about these important guests who came over yesterday. It was this huge, complicated back-story that I am still trying to wrap my head around. Then I got stuck doing some research all afternoon for another thing we've got going on. Though I guess I shouldn't complain too much about it. Sadly, I actually enjoy poking through huge books for information. Hee hee.

Whenever any of us needed a talking to, we never had the whole family involved. Well, not unless we were all in it together. Otherwise we'd just get sent to my parents' Study for a stern talking-to. In some ways, I still don't like the thought of having to go in there!

That's too bad that you'll be sent off again rather than get to finish your vacation. And so soon! Though I don't see why they can't just let you know where you'll be sent. Hopefully it won't end up being some dreary place with absolutely nothing to do, no excitement, and no one to talk to. If nothing else, at least the landscape might be worth looking at. Do you get to travel because of your work very often? What exactly do you do?

Well, I need to get down to breakfast before it is actually lunchtime.

Write back soon!

Katrin

P.S. Yes I found them. They were under my bed, right where I always put them. :)

"We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny. But what we put into it is ours." - Dag Hammarskjold

Bill wondered how exactly he could explain about his job without explaining about his job. Once again, he found himself frustrated with the secrecy, necessary though he knew it was.


Katrin went back up to her room after breakfast. She decided that she would finish going through the tome there, where she could lock her door if necessary, rather than down in the Library. She pulled out her guitar case and put it on her pillows, setting her computer on top of it. Then, she put the tome next to it and sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed. With a sigh, she quickly checked her email.

To: Katrin [FireyFairey(a)unknowndotcom]

From: Bill [IndianaWeasley(a)unknowndotcom]

Subject: Re: Morning madness

Date: Thurs, - August – 10:03:11

Katrin,

What was for breakfast?

Are you suggesting that we brothers ought to simply stand by and let sisters get away with anything? Come now, we can't have that. In any case, what did you do to provoke yours that he was forced to resort to such means? :)

Before your message came through, I had three others in my inbox from people I've never met. They were really strange advertisements of some sort, and I don't see why they thought to send them to me.

Ironically, I'll be doing research all day too. I was given a sort of guide that has the maps I mentioned before as well as descriptions of foliage and wildlife I might find. It doesn't really give any clear indication of the actual place, though. Just hints and tidbits. It should prove to be an adventure, in any case.

I am actually in a Library today. It's in the village near the house. It is actually really small, smaller than that Library you showed me back in the States. It is nice and quiet here, so I'll be able to go off in a corner and read all day long. Definitely more quiet than any room at home.

I don't know that I would call it very often, but I do get to travel a bit. I mentioned before having been in Egypt. I was actually there for the past few years. I went there almost immediately after I got this job, though they sent me on short assignments at first rather than anything long term. Then, only a few months ago, some things happened in the world. Politics, international competitive events, that sort of thing. So I moved back to be with my family. Of course, there isn't much a demand for what I do around here, so I am back to the short assignments. I might eventually get put back on long-term status, but I really am hoping to stay here. At least for now.

As for what I do... Well, very simply put, I bring new investments into the Bank. I guess that sounds fairly boring, but it is actually more complicated than that. Sort of a specialist position. Some day when I have more time I'll have to explain it in more detail. Hopefully that didn't bore you. :)

I should get on with my work. I'm set to leave early tomorrow morning and I should be as prepared as possible. I hope you are having a great day!

Cheers, Bill


Bill leaned back in the chair and rubbed his eyes. He was getting absolutely nowhere with the information in the tome. Some of the notes indicated situations occurring that were simultaneously confined to illogical boundaries but firmly rooted in a logical base and vice versa in a blend of the rational and irrational. The suspicion that none of it would make any sense until he was in the actual place became stronger the more he saw. Even more worrying was that, from what he could tell, whoever wrote the notes found the whole place to be infuriatingly maddening. Deciding he definitely needed a break, he wandered over to the little table with the computers.

To: Bill [IndianaWeasley(a)unknowndotcom]

From: Katrin [FireyFairey(a)unknowndotcom]

Subject: Re: Morning madness

Date: Thurs, - August – 10:47:01

Bill,

We had eggs, cinnamon rolls, bacon, and an assortment of juices and teas. Most delicious. :)

What do you mean by asking what I did to provoke him? It almost sounds like you are taking his side... harrumph. Sticking together even though you have never met as though you are both members of some secret club. Come to think of it, you probably are! How horribly unfair. I was already outnumbered before! :P

Ah... sounds like you received your first bit of spam. Junk mail of the electronic nature. I recommend just deleting messages from random people unless you are expecting it.

I know the feeling of wanting to stay close to family. I spend most of fall and winter at home. There isn't much reason for it. It isn't like Dad needs my help running things. But it is nice to simply be there.

During spring and summer, I stay in town. Well, I sort of stay in town. I'm going from one Ren Faire to another most of the summer. Those are mainly on weekends, of course, but still. There isn't anything too spectacular about hanging about in the middle of a field playing music all day.

When I'm not at a Faire, I usually help out at Alistair's. I think the Aunts only let me do it to keep me busy though. I'm not quite sure what they expect me to get up to otherwise, but I think it might be better not to ask!

It certainly is not nearly as exciting as going places like Egypt. It all sounds wonderfully exotic. I'd love to be able to travel more. Having a job that allows for that would be ideal. Did you get to see the Pyramids while you were there, or was it one of those things that you always meant to do but never got around to?

I should get going myself. I want to get some reading in before lunch. I'm hoping to get back to town in time to not have to cancel performing this weekend at the _ Park Faire. Closing weekend, and all. :)

Katrin

"We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny. But what we put into it is ours." - Dag Hammarskjold


Katrin threw herself back on her bed with a groan. "This is impossible," she muttered. "What am I supposed to get out of this thing, anyway? It isn't like it tells me something about the Underground that I don't already know." She briefly contemplated throwing the tome across the room. Rolling her head to one side, she looked at the clock then glanced at her laptop. "Hm... I wonder..."

To: Katrin [FireyFairey(a)unknowndotcom]

From: Bill [IndianaWeasley(a)unknowndotcom]

Subject: Re: Morning madness

Date: Thurs, - August – 11:58:21

Katrin,

Of course I have to stick together with fellow members of the League. There are sacred rules to follow, you know. Though perhaps I speak out of turn. If members of the opposition know too much, they may attempt to take advantage!

Personally, I find the whole idea of those Faires to be completely fascinating. I have never heard of anything like it before. I don't know if we've got anything like that here hiding in a secluded part of the country somewhere. Not that I've really been around much lately to find them.

Egypt was amazing. I did go to the pyramids. I had a bit of work that took me there a few times, plus my family came to visit two the summer before last. We hit all the major tourist attractions then.

Speaking of lunch, I should probably head out. I promised Mum I'd be home for 'a ood healthy meal.' She seems to think Charlie and I don't eat at all when we're away. Not that I mind, of course. Few things compare to Mum's home cooking. Then I promised the boys I'd hang out this afternoon. Well, except for Percy. He's caught up with work, as usual. We really wonder about him sometimes.

In any case, I suppose it is just as well that I stop. I'm not making much progress with this guide thing. If I try much longer, my head might explode from the strain. It is said that it is best to quit while you're ahead. And since I am lagging far behind...

I hope you have a great weekend and that you make it to your Faire in time. I'll let you know when I get back. I hope that, when I return, I'll be able to finish my holiday. I would very much like to see you again.

Take care of yourself,

Bill

Though mildly disappointed that she would not be hearing from him again any time soon, she could not seem to stop grinning. He wants to see me again, she thought excitedly. Shutting her laptop, she stuck it back under the bed and then pulled her guitar out of its case. She leaned back against her headboard and played a few chords. Suddenly, the realization of what song she was playing hit, and with it the memory of her conversation with Christopher of two nights before. Oh my gosh, she thought as she shot back into a sitting position. I am acting like a twitterpated goon! In almost the same moment, she realized that she did not particularly care that she was. Wondering which was the more disturbing thought of the two, she leaned back again and closed her eyes, launching into a jazzed up version of 'Carrickfergus'.