Note: Bellamy's employees include: Sidney Bourne, Kitty, his wife, their sons, Luke, Ross and Ryan. Terms used: The technical term for Wizardkind is Anirage. Ani & Ania, wizards & witches. Muggles are Medjkind. An 'App Box' transports small groups of people by apparation. 'Emohruo,' Our Home spelt backwards. The original name of the property bought by Bellamy, then known as Harry Potter. He maintained that the name was a protection, as no-one would expect him to live at a place with such a corny name. (But maybe he just likes it.) NP, currency of the day, used by both wizards & medj. The Family Khatabi: Abensur Khatabi-Richi, now Bara-kai of Japan. The Petersons, formerly Khatabis, Akila, with Bahiti and Tristan, Hasina, and children, Zahra, Najet, Jiro, babies Kay & Nola. The freed slaves: Carol, leader, Inge, Brigitta,& Evita, the young girls. Tasha & Vince, (Valencio,) Tiffany, married to Cam McGonnigal, Bridget & Nikola, working at the Maison Rose-Marie. Maliwan & Sheila have a dress-shop. Veronica & Angini have a hairdresser shop.

Chapter 35:

Only hours later, Bellamy boarded one of the three Khatabi aeroplanes to go to Japan. The girls' personal guard was with them. Zoe was less confident of their safety at the Kichi Compound, especially that of her new husband. Najia took it for granted, so Bellamy shrugged and decided he'd best just trust his wife. He stretched out his legs, lay his head back and slept.

In the Kichi Compound, Bellamy was sometimes looked at with veiled hostility, just as Zoe and Najia had met at Bellamy's home. He stayed alert, put aside his reluctance to probe minds, and no-one attempted to kill him. As in Morocco, Zoe had taken over Riza's apartments, and he found the same arrangement they'd organised in Morocco and at home - a large room with a very big bed, plus two separate single bedrooms. It seemed to work quite well, and he now habitually slept in the exact middle of the bed, almost always with a girl on each side, but occasionally with only one. And he now habitually slept with a contented smile on his face.

There was not the urgent rush this time as he started work on two App. Boxes, one to go to Hillend, one to go to Morocco. They were still short of Fighters, and experienced maintenance workers were at a premium as well, especially as some were still at Hillend. But Zoe had organised that Shar-kutzu, complete with two wives, came to help. And again, there was a teacher buzzing around, very interested in the sophisticated magic as demonstrated by the great wizard.

One of his workers was a man called Yang Din, whom he'd rescued from the Rindi Curse, still deemed unfit for duties as a Kai Troshka Fighter. Instead, he'd been hired by the manager, Aziz, as a general worker. It was new policy. The Compounds would no longer be only Khatabi and Khatabi-Richi. With no new children, they were going to gradually die out in any case. Yang Din was expected to fully recover, and would probably then become a Fighter again.

Bellamy's Japanese had already been serviceable. It very quickly improved and a few Japanese started to refer to 'knockoff time' and look for a beer.

The Kichi Compound was close to the Compounds of other families, some of whom bitterly resented the crushing of their own ambitions to take full power. But when Bachrul Saito ordered his Fighters to take the first opportunity to kill the great wizard, the opportunity never arose. 'Too well protected,' they said. And Yang Saito explained to the other Saito Fighters, "I could feel him, you see. There was nothing, no feeling, no sound or sight, no taste even. I was going mad, and I knew I was going mad. But then he came, and he took control and made me calm, though I wanted to kill him for it. He fixed me, but when I looked for him to kill him, I couldn't see him." He looked into the distance. "If I'd been able to, I would have killed him. Gunma says it always happens, that Rindi Curse victims mostly just go berserk afterwards. But he did it anyway, knowing how dangerous it could be."

There was a respectful silence, until Michig said, "For me, it was only a crippling spell, not the same. But I hated being so helpless."

Supaidin said, "We're Fighters. It must have been terrible."

"I would have preferred to be dead, but Gunma said that the great wizard could fix me, even though no-one else could."

Yang smiled. "Gunma worships him. And fair enough. He will never be threatened in Japan if I can help it."

Bachrul Saito died suddenly a few days later, and Favoriti, his sister, took over leadership of the Saito Family.

Abensur had his main offices in a separate, well guarded Compound, surrounded by the Family Compounds. They had a conference, Abensur, his assistant, Gunma, and Zoe and Najia. Bellamy was asked to sit in. Abensur reported on progress made, and progress yet to be made, then looked smugly at Bellamy. "We have done well."

Bellamy admitted, "I'm impressed," and he smiled at Gunma. "No more shipments of fighters needing curing."

Gunma acknowledged, "The occasional one, but there'll always be that. There are some old ones, each family has a few cripples they care for, except the Aichis."

Zoe remarked, "The Aichis just put down any the healers can't do, and mostly, if they're Fighters, they're happy to be put down."

Bellamy asked, "Do you want me to fix them?"

Abensur said smoothly, "Naturally, we hoped."

In a matter-of-fact tone, Bellamy said, "I expect the usual fee, of course. Your spell-breaking coordinator will need to make arrangements with my secretary about payment."

Abensur hesitated, and Gunma said quickly that he'd be happy to undertake the role. Abensur nodded reluctantly. He hadn't thought of paying. But Bellamy was still short of money, and felt he was entitled to payment for a job done, just as anybody else was. He glanced at Zoe, and heard, Certainly, you are.

"There is another thing," Abensur stated, with an assured air. "You will need to open the App. Boxes for my use, as Bara-kai of Japan."

Bellamy said baldly, "No."

Abensur shrugged, not surprised. He asked, "Refreshments?" and led the way to a comfortable lounge room area. "There is a drink here that we like, Kirob Xee. You take it in a tiny glass, and eat it with a spicy snack called Shirovi."

Bellamy said, "I'd prefer a beer, if you can provide it."

Abensur sneered, very slightly, "Don't you think at your age, your tastes should be a little more sophisticated?"

Bellamy said, indifferent to the sneer, "Tried Kirob Xee once, thought it vile." He smiled, "And even at my age, I think life's too short to waste it doing anything merely because someone else thinks it sophisticated!" Abensur ordered beer for Bellamy, Kirob Xee for everyone else.

Once Abensur thought Bellamy sufficiently relaxed, he asked how Brigitta was. Bellamy said briefly, "Alive" and changed the subject. Khatabis had used his medj. It was neither forgiven nor forgotten, merely put aside in the interests of working together.

Abensur eyed him, and decided there was no point asking about Valencio.

**x**

In the first week of October, Zoe, Najia and Bellamy, together with Zoe's personal guard, entered the new App. Box for the convenient trip to Morocco. Zoe stared in surprise when she saw Ryuichi's young wife, now showing her pregnancy.

Ryuichi was very tense, but Zoe's mouth twitched and then she frankly laughed, congratulating them. Ryuichi was relieved, having become more and more apprehensive as her condition began to show. He'd thought it would be all right. After all, the great wizard had noticed and only laughed, but he hadn't been at all certain. But Zoe smiled on them, and then went to talk to Zhang's wife's baby, holding him gently in her arms and crooning to him, winning herself the total loyalty of her mother.

They were there only a few days before Najia said that he was to go to his own home for a while. Najia would go as well. He asked, "Zoe?"

Najia said, as casually as she could, that Zoe would join them in a few days.

Bellamy didn't ask questions, just said that he could catch up with the spell-breaking. It was about the nearby city of Baradan, he was nearly sure. He hadn't meant to pry, but Zoe was offended by the notion of so much poverty and misery on her doorstep. The only thing he said was when he and Najia were on the point of leaving. "You will be very careful, won't you, Zoe? You know the dangers."

Zoe nodded. "I will be very careful." Zoe was breaking the first law of Anirage. She was interfering in the affairs of Medjkind. But she was a highly intelligent and resourceful woman, and had the benefit of the advice of Bouchra. She didn't want him around, thought that he was too soft-hearted, and would not be able to act with the dispassionate ruthlessness that was required. She was probably right. He would want to save this half-starved child, that abused mule or camel, give a home to a stray dog, or protect a beaten wife. There was a lot more needed if one wanted to improve conditions for the quarter million people of Baradan.

Najia squeezed his hand, and said, "Only a few days, and I'll keep you company." She smiled. "My assignment is to try and win over Victor by asking for riding lessons."

Bellamy offered, "You could ride Bess. Her foal is big enough not to worry if she goes off for an hour now and then."

Najia assured him, "I would like to ride Bess."

He held out his arm, she came underneath, and they appeared in the external App. Zone at Emohruo. Shaz and Trey spotted him immediately, left Peter, and streaked towards him. Ross followed the dogs, cantering his horse. Bellamy greeted him, but was surprised. "Aren't you supposed to be at school?"

"We got expelled," Ross said casually. "Ryan had a duel with a teacher, and won! But the school nurse was able to fix him all right."

Duelling was illegal, as well as stupid, and Bellamy was frowning. "Is he in trouble with the law?"

"Professor Bailey drew first, and he's not only fired, but has to face a Disciplinary Hearing."

"What about you then? Why are you expelled?"

Ross shrugged. "We always like to do things together, and it gives us a chance to do what we really want - a six month security guard course starting January, and we've asked if we can do some training with the aurors like Susan did, but Mr. Roche said he'd be speaking to Madam Parker first."

Bellamy smiled, "I like having you boys around."

Ross asked, "Is Zoe coming, and how long are you staying?"

"Zoe's coming in a few days, and I'm not sure how long we'll be staying."

Najia said, "Probably about a fortnight, Zoe said."

Bellamy wanted to walk and say hello to the animals, but Najia said it was too cold and windy. She was going inside, so Bellamy walked with her, and said hello to Kitty and Alison before leaving the house again. Three foals, Naji and Sparks both had black colts, and Bess had her pale creamy, now called Catillon. Victor joined him. "Gloria said Catillon is the surname of a woman who died in a cull."

"We'll have a lot of small horses in a few years," commented Bellamy.

"Always useful, better than tall ones for many purposes."

"Raffael gone back?"

"Not before getting old Minga into foal. Apparently she didn't agree that she was too old for breeding!"

They strolled over to the riding horses. "I won't have anything to ride in the mornings," said Bellamy. "I miss it a bit."

"What's it like over there?"

"Japan's quite beautiful, the Compound surrounded by a guarded wall, but not very far from other similar Compounds. Within walking distance. Five main families, all living in a wizarding area close to the foot of Mt. Fuji. Parks and gardens between, shops, restaurants, even a geisha house. In the centre is the central government, now led by a Khatabi. There are smaller homes in the area, but those families try and stay right away from the powerful ones. There's about four times as many Ania as there are Ani, but they won't allow more than one wife per man, which means a lot of lonely women."

Victor was curious. "What's it like being married to two?"

Bellamy grinned. "Very nice indeed."

Victor's curious glance remained on his face, but Bellamy wasn't about to give any details.

"You can ride Tattler if you like," said Victor. "I'm getting a little old to gallop." Bellamy was appreciative, thought he should go see Alison, and whistled for Tattler to go for a ride.

By the time Najia came out to call him in for lunch, he was lining up on the perimeter track with Ross, Ryan and Luke, to have a race. "The route with the jumps?" he asked.

Ryan shook his head decisively. "Without the jumps!"

The racehorses were young, Tattler was twelve, but put up a good fight, with a lighter rider than he was accustomed to. But Magpie was fifteen, and left behind. Luke patted him. "He would have done better over jumps," he claimed.

Najia was more warmly dressed now, and when she came to the group at the finish line, she asked Victor if he might consider giving her lessons. He nodded and grunted, sounding rather surly, "In the paddock with the jumps, straight after lunch, every day, unless you have something else on."

Najia nodded obediently, wondering what she'd let herself in for. He looked at the slight girl assessingly, then said, "Bess, to begin with, then Sparks." Najia smiled, and said insincerely, that she couldn't wait.

Najia and Bellamy lunched in the staff dining room, Louise handling the meal with easy efficiency, helped by a couple of house-elves, whom Bellamy introduced to Najia. But they looked at her fearfully and backed off almost straightaway. Najia was hurt and said, "They shouldn't be frightened of me!"

Bellamy said, "They're timid creatures, never feel comfortable with people they don't know, and not very comfortable with people they do know."

Ross asked, "Are there any in Morocco?"

Najia shook her head. "They died out a long time ago."

Ross and Ryan exchanged significant looks. Maybe there was a reason house-elves were wary of a Moroccan witch.

Najia smiled brightly at Bellamy, and said she'd be an expert rider in no time.

"Would you like me to come and watch?"

"No, thank you. I'm sure I'll be fine."

Bellamy knew she was nervous, even reluctant. He said, "If you don't want to learn to ride, there's not the slightest need..."

"Zoe said it was a good idea." Victor had a gruff manner sometimes, but the children were never upset by him, and Najia was tough. Not as tough as Zoe, perhaps, but from the time she'd left her family, she'd dealt with many challenges.

So after lunch, Najia put on a smiling and eager face and went to find Victor. Bellamy took himself to Alison's office, where Dot also joined them. Alison gave him a summary of his correspondence, and then Alison announced, "You're out of debt, completely, and can spend up to fifteen thousand NP, on whatever you want."

Bellamy was surprised. "Already?"

"It's not only the Farfalla, but the Riddell Regimen has taken off in Asia."

"I didn't know eczema was a problem in Asia."

"It seems it must be. Anyway, some very good money is beginning to come in again, and from now on, I expect to be able to start rebuilding your investments."

He kissed her cheek. "You do a marvellous job," and went to check on Loch Lomand.

She called after him, "Spell-breaking?"

"Tell them Friday, and the following Friday."

Just like at home, there was a chorus of whinnies and the barking of dogs when he turned into the gateway. Gloria had been in the middle of a practice jumping course, riding Madigan, who still seemed to like her. But he propped to a halt and turned towards his real boss. Thierry was with her, on Kennedy, but Kennedy continued to do what he was supposed to be doing.

The South Wing was completed, but only two bedrooms and a sitting room were furnished. Bellamy said with satisfaction, "Alison says I can let you have an additional fifteen thousand NP, so that should help quite a lot."

Carol kissed him. "It means we can finish the guest rooms and become self-sufficient, but probably not until the warmer weather next year." And then she proceeded to give him progress reports. Bridget and Nikola were happy in their jobs, though Bridget admitted to declining a client now and then, only to prove to herself that she could. But this perversity had made her extremely popular and she now had two regular clients begging her to marry them. Veronica and Angini had offered a day when beards and moustaches were trimmed free in order to give themselves practice. Carol smiled, "Bearded men came all the way from Edinburgh we heard, and they were going until very late, but now they have the confidence to charge."

The school students were finding it hard work, and three extras had joined the bridging course, young single men, one of whom was going out with Treen. Craig had left the area, but had recently returned looking a lot less thin.

"Craig?" asked Bellamy, puzzled.

Carol chuckled, "He was small, skinny, young, non-threatening, and Gloria, then maybe a dozen others, started having sex with him. He was very, very happy, but I suspect he may have become just a little overworked."

"Tiffany?"

"Wears an air of contentment. She says maybe it was almost worth it to have found Cam."

"You see a bit of her?"

"Often here, and so is Cam, helping with a few of the horses. He's terribly impressed with Madigan."

Bellamy asked, "Anyone else leave?"

"Not yet, but four want to start businesses in Duich. Still in the planning stages."

"What sort of businesses?"

"Two want to start a bookshop, one a newsagency, and one a dress shop."

"Does Dot know about it?"

"I don't think so."

Bellamy was looking worried. Carol said, "Remember that it's not necessary for them to buy premises, most businesses just rent."

"I've always thought paying rent an awful waste of money. I'll speak to Alison."

Carol continued, "Maliwan and Sheila say that they're doing all right now, but they realise a little experience first would have been better."

"Like working in a dress shop for a while first, do you mean?"

Carol nodded, and said, "Maharni's spending time at the Frock Shop, listening and learning."

Bellamy frowned thoughtfully. Lesley had a bookshop.

A dozen women, including Emma, Mary, Connie and Gloria waited for him outside, with saddled horses. Connie said, "We wanted to show you the Heidi Track. It's a nice ride we made for visitors."

Bellamy asked, "Which horse for me?"

"Russki. It's more open than the Pamela Track, but there are places where there are overhanging branches, so big horses are unsuitable."

Bellamy swung himself up on Russki, and the group cantered off. In most places, the track was easy, wide enough for two horses abreast. There was a steep gorge to cross, and Bellamy found the men working on solid wings to lead horses safely onto the bridge they'd constructed. Five ponies stood close. Jimmy straightened, slightly stiffly, and hailed him. "Do you ever give notice when you're visiting?"

Bellamy grinned. "Rarely." His eyebrows raised when he saw Vince's hair standing proudly in a purple strip down the centre of his head.

Vince said, grinning, "Angini. Said it was beautiful! But no-one else likes it!"

"They doing all right?"

"Very busy, very popular."

Clarence added, "Maliwan and Sheila as well. Quiet, but they're supporting themselves, and there are beginning to be customers coming from other towns, they say, because they have different things than other dress shops."

There were large baskets on the ground near five tethered ponies. Clarence explained. "Lightning and Thunder are pack ponies, though getting the big timbers in was a problem."

Vince complained, "Nearly killed us, and why they wouldn't let me ask Brett just to do it with magic, I don't know!"

Bellamy grinned at the bare-chested men. "You're all looking very muscular." That hair!

Vince was grinning. No-one could call him beautiful now! Or maybe Angini. He asked, "So what've you been doing?"

"Zoe's doing great things in Japan, and quite often, she wants me around like a decoration."

"You haven't had to do any fighting or anything."

"Zoe says if I'm there, they know they've got to do what they're told."

"Do you do what you're told?"

Bellamy laughed easily, "Nearly always." But then he glanced at his watch. "I want to see Lesley before I go home, so can't stay long."

Vince asked curiously, "So where are you calling home?"

"My place, for a couple of weeks, then probably Morocco, but home for Christmas."

Clarence said, "Connie, while you're here. What colour should we paint the bridge?"

Connie said, "Maybe just stain it, so it blends in?"

Gloria asked, "What would you do, John?"

Bellamy grinned. "Me? I'd paint it bright red, and repaint whenever it gets a bit faded."

"Connie?"

"I'll think about it."

There was a very thick area of forest after crossing the new bridge, and Connie showed him something new, a second waterfall, this one very steep and narrow. "The girls found it in the early days, and never told anyone. They said it was like their own special place, and once they found a deer here, with a fawn."

Mary said, "It was no wonder they were always filthy and with torn clothes in those days. I don't think there's a square inch of the estate they haven't explored."

"They'll be sorry to have missed you."

"Evita was saying that it was so strange, going to school like she was just ordinary again. Says it's hard to believe now that she pretended to be a boy for Ryuichi."

"She did what?"

"We wanted to plant a favourite on Ryuichi, because he was saying the enclosures should be cleared. We found out that he'd been very keen on Valencio when he was a boy, but never had the chance. So Evita pretended to be Valencio for him, and as far as we know, for those months, he stopped saying we should be killed."

Bellamy shook his head. "I was told early on the girls had been brave, I didn't know how clever and brave."

Connie smiled. "Those girls could ask of us just about anything they want. If it wasn't for them, it's quite definite that all of us in Enclosure 2 would simply have been killed."

"Very gently of course," said Emma. "Abensur was always as gentle as possible!"

Abensur was an odd combination, kind in some ways, and yet ruthless. He was an exceptionally good Bara-kai for Japan.

Bellamy consulted his watch again after the canter down the hill, and said he had to be going.

An hour later, he was back, just to say that if Didi or anyone else was interested, Lesley would provide room and board and experience at her bookshop in London.

Veronica drove the big bus carefully into the driveway. Carol remarked, "Even now, she's not very confident."

A few minutes later, Bellamy was surrounded by the three girls, who chattered to him about school. Evita introduced him to Amy, a school friend. "She likes to ride horses and look at the foals, and then her Mum picks her up on the way home from Duich, where she works."

The girls went off, and Bellamy went to lean against the side of the paddock where they were saddling horses. Tiffany joined him. He smiled at her. "Happy?"

Tiffany said sincerely, "Very happy. I just wanted to thank you. For all of it."

Bellamy said, "If it wasn't for Zoe, you'd still be there. You have nothing to thank me for."

"Yes, you're right. We have to thank Zoe and Najia. But would she have managed it by herself?"

"You'd be surprised what's she's managing by herself."

It was only a few days, and Zoe appeared. The dogs barked, and Peter cantered his horse over to greet her. Bellamy was already emerging from the house, pulling her tight and hugging the moment he was close enough. He didn't ask, and Zoe didn't volunteer anything, except that she wanted him to organise a spell-breaking trip to America.

With that in mind, Friday morning, Bellamy asked Jilla, the spell-breaking coordinator, if he was wanted to do a couple of weeks in America, including a week in New York. Jilla smiled at him, "I'll arrange it. I have not the slightest doubt you'll be wanted, even if there's only three patients."

Bellamy grinned, and said, "I've never had only three patients, especially in America!"

Only an hour later, Jilla said, "The week after next? New York for a week, then California?"

"That'll be fine."

By lunch, Dieter was able to say that he'd have Kupec, of course, and that Jeremy would be in charge. Also Reece and Collette, in case the telepathic cure was needed. They were still the fastest. Bellamy glanced at Collette. The female aurors were supposed to notify the Chief Auror when they became pregnant, and would then be reassigned to a desk job. She was looking at him anxiously, and he smiled at her and said that Collette was always an asset. Dieter said, "There'll be others, of course, so that each can have time off. But they're not chosen yet."

"The week after next," Bellamy told Zoe, as soon as he appeared.

She kissed him. "The week in New York for me, and the week in California for you. You can go surfing."

Najia giggled. "Will we be in that same New York hotel?"

Bellamy smiled, "Probably. Do you still have that costume and music?"

"I could organise it..."

Meantime, Jilla was trying to explain to the American Coordinator that the great wizard would be sharing a room with his two wives, and would require a king-size bed. There was a long silence, and then, "Maybe a family suite?" It was a medj hotel.

Jilla suggested, "Just pay for a single room next to his suite?"

Jonah gave a sigh of relief. "Good. I'll do that."

"He'll want a big bed, though, if I know our great wizard."

Jonah chuckled. He wished he could have two wives, but he doubted if his Gracie would approve.

Bellamy called in at Loch Lomand before he left. There were a dozen visitors - six couples, the trial guests. Carol was pleased at the way it was going, but admitted that there had been a small mishap. The girls had arrived home from school, and as was their custom, casually undressed and jumped in the swimming pool, shortly to be discovered by several of the guests. Inge defended herself. "They didn't mind! Just two days later, all the male guests were playing water polo, along with Vince, Jimmy and Clarence, and none of them wore swimmers!"

There seemed to be more progress every time he visited. Evita said they were all managing school better now, several were doing a bookkeeping course, and Inge and Brigitta hauled him to a computer where they first showed him where Paul Pickering was accepting bids for Blackjack and Pontoon, the last of the year's crop of three-year-olds, and then another site - and Bellamy saw the image of a beautiful boy, Valencio Durano, kidnapped at the age of twelve. Inge said, "He was an actor, and even won an Oscar for Best Child Actor. There's a reward for news of him, and there's a legacy he could claim. But he just says he's Vince McDonald now, and is not interested."

Bellamy said, "Don't pester him. He has a good idea, probably, how news of him would be received."

"It just seems a shame."

Inge said, "My parents just cried when I saw them the first time, and every time I've seen them since, I can feel them trying hard not to think about what happened to me. I just write now and then, now."

Brigitta said, "Jimmy told me it would be far worse for a boy."

Bellamy said, "He's right. It would be far worse."

Inge promised, "We'll leave him alone."

"One of his films was good. We've found two so far. The best was called 'Summer in Rome.' He did it when he was eleven."

He didn't see Vince. He rarely did. Carol said he was doing several errands in Duich for her. She smiled indulgently. "He says he's a farmer, and wants a farm truck because every real farmer has a farm truck."

"I thought he earned good money with the commercials."

"It furnished some of the guest rooms. He says he's staying here long-term, so just handed it over. But I've promised him his truck soon."

The medj were doing well. Bellamy left them to make their own destiny. He'd check on them now and again, of course, as he checked on Akila, and her family, still all together. Both Zahra and Najet were at Hogwarts, while Tristan, Bahiti and Hasina all worked at Lesley's bookshop. They were still in the Black House, which might have looked an ordinary small house from outside, but was very spacious inside.

***chapter end***