p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"uChapter 2: The Journey Home/u/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"uspan style="text-decoration: none;" /span/u/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"On a stuffy coach in the early evening, Claude gazed outside the window onto strange hills with faces on them. The dome shaped crowns on these formations were a far cry from the steep mountains and the deep valleys of Chai Kingdom. Even the little houses were different. The quaint little mushroom huts that sparsely dotted the landscape contrasted from the sweeping cupulas that nestled on the cliff edges of that valley he had lived in, but their exoticness hardly made an impression on him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Spring was in full bloom in the Mushroom Kingdom. For miles, Claude could see dots of flowers: golden tulips under which the daisies timidly grew and trails of bluebells leading into thickets of woods. The most striking sight was the fields of claret poppies which resembled green pastures spoiled by bloodshed. The richness of colour of this Kingdom could not go unnoticed by him in the Golden Hour./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The placid display of nature before his eyes was soon spoiled by large industrial complexes- military barracks, perhaps? Claude then thought that whoever could have possibly tarnished this serene landscape with rows and rows of grey barracks was reckless in their decision. But he had to let his mind rest and bask in the afternoon sunlight that pierced through the window he was sitting next to. He closed his eyes and he felt he was swimming in colours./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"He did not know exactly how much time had passed before he arrived at the border patrol of his new home, Toad Town, the capital of the Mushroom Kingdom. There were soldiers lined up along the wall of the capitol, all with hard stares and anxious postures. Truly bizarre, indeed./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Before he disembarked the bus, he was informed that he would have to go through a security gate into Toad Town. It was not specified why such procedures needed to take place but the passenger next to him informed him about the rumours of rigid security measures implemented after repeated attempts of invasion by Bowser's army and infiltration by spies. Clearly, here was no compromise to be made when protecting the Mushroom Kingdom./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Overcoming security procedures should have been easy. Claude arrived with the necessary documentation, including his passport and birth certificate, as well as manuscripts and published copies of his writing work. He approached the desk where a toad lady with glasses was seated and handed the documents he felt were sufficient enough to enter the capitol. He watched as the agent scanned over the documents meticulously and then frowned, at which he became anxious./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Mr DiScritto, your passport is expired.", she finally said./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Is it?", he queried with surprise. "Oh sorry, I didn't realise."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""That's okay, however, because this is an expired passport, we have to treat it as suspicious. I will have to have you escorted to an interview room for further questioning by security."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Claude's nerves overwhelmed him, and he made a frustrated outburst. "Huh? You can't be serious! So, you're telling me I've travelled all this way for nothing. Madam, I travelled on a boat for three days and em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"nobody/em had any problem with my passport!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Claude became flustered by this inconvenience, but the agent remained calm, focused, and professional. She picked up the phone and began dialling the security that would question him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Sir, I will not tolerate aggressive behaviour directed towards me. We all have to do a job here. Now would you please wait here until I have called security who will then escort you to a private room where you will be questioned further."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sorry. I've travelled all this way for three days and haven't had any trouble I thought it would be okay." Claude's voice was calmer and more apologetic. The agent was already on the phone talking to security before he could explain himself./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Great, I'll keep him here while you get here. Thank you.", the agent put the phone down. She turned to her suspect./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I understand that you've been travelling for a long time and I understand that you're upset about being held here for longer than you'd like to. All I'm doing is following protocol and making sure that everybody we let through is who they say they are. The decision to let you in will be up to the security."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The interview room was a sterile white box. In the middle was a table and on one side sat one chair, the chair Claude was sitting on, and the other had two chairs which were used by his koopa interrogators. He felt like a criminal and he felt humiliated./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Mr DiScritto, could you give us your full name, your date of birth, and your place of birth?", asked the first security agent./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Claude Raffaele DiScritto. 27supth/sup February 1987. Chai Kingdom.", Claude earnestly responded./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""What is your occupation, Mr DiScritto?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm a freelance writer."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Why did you come to the Mushroom Kingdom?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm looking for work. There isn't much work available back home."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Do you have any of your work to hand?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes, I do. I have some copies of my reports in my hand luggage. I have the original manuscript if you want to see that too."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Well," The first agent announced, pushing his glasses towards the bridge of his beak, "we've confiscated all of your belongings for the time being for safety reasons and we're checking through them. If we come across your documents, we'll read through 'em."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""How long will that take?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""A full procedure usually takes between fifteen to twenty minutes."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""So, you're saying I have to sit here for that long while you try to prove that I'm cleared to pass?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Claude's increasing frustration at the lengthy interview as well as the possibility that he would have to be detained for a while was ignored by the security agents./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay, Mr DiScritto, tell us about your family life."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Claude sighed deeply. "I was born. I went missing. My family is dead. I almost drowned and that made me lose my memory. I can't remember em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"anything/em. You can look at my medical records for proof."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh-ho!" The second agent interrupted the interview. "That's a touching story, but you don't have any records to hand, do you?". He leaned towards the first agent. "Searching for medical records on a healthcare database would be a very process, wouldn't it, Errol?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Maintaining a stern composure, the first agent turned to his colleague. 'Let's get back to the interview, Boris. Who are your parents, Mr DiScritto?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Salvatore and Mariuccia DiScritto. I had a sister called Emilia.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Okay, that's enough of the personal questions.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'What about those medical records this gentleman is so fussed about? Can't we give his doctor a ring?', Boris interrupted again./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'We could, but it will be very early in Chai Kingdom', Errol frowned./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""It will be 8 in the morning. Where I come from is 9 hours ahead of us and it's 7 o'clock now." Claude gave his calm input. With his eyes he indicated the clock behind the security agents. "You can call him."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Errol body shifted into a slump as he relented. 'Okay, what's the name of your general practitioner?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Doctor Dragoon. I can give you his number from my address book.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'We'd appreciate that.' Errol picked up the pen on the table and then wrote down the number that Claude read from his address book, which he had to hand. When they were finished exchanging the number of Claude's doctor, the interview proceeded./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Mr DiScritto, do you know the current monarch of this Kingdom?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Queen Pesca VI.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'It's the fifth. Caught you out big time, didn't we?', Boris jeered./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Don't jump the gun, Boris. I can't name the last monarchs off the top of me 'ead, either. And he's right, she em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"is/em the sixth peach.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'And I think these questions are trivial. What are they supposed to prove, how much I can assimilate into the Kingdom?', Claude butted in./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Sir, you need to calm down. We are following a strict procedure to ensure the safety of the subjects of this Kingdom. Can you sing the National Anthem?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'No, I can't!'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'You need to slow yourself down now.', Errol raised his voice before Claude's frustration would get the better of him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The painstaking interview process lasted for another fifteen minutes or so as promised by the two koopa agents. Added onto Claude's already present frustration was the decision process undertaken by those who interviewed him and those who investigated his belongings that took up even more of his time. Finally, he was released after the personnel had decided that his birth certificate and medical records were enough. At first, he was relieved to receive his confiscated belongings and thought he was completely free to go about settling in Toad Town, but this would all come with one caveat: he would have to pay a fine of one hundred gold coins for the expired passport. He almost launched into a massive row at the security agents, but he had to remain calm and collected. He would have to pay the fine whether he would like to or not, otherwise the fine would increase for everyday it was not paid after the deadline two weeks later. A transaction of the fine was made via direct debit that same evening./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Now with only 300 coins to his name, Claude decided that it would be best if he stayed in the cheapest hotel he could find for a night or two before he could find a more permanent residence. This would not prove difficult because the cheapest one he could find was an inn for backpackers just a few roads away from the security checkpoint./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The inn was a cosy little cottage like those mushroom cottages that Claude saw from his journey on the coach. It was run by Miss Birch, a small human elder and self-identified spinster who decided after her retirement from dressmaking that she would use the money from her pension to renovate her home into an inn which would become popular with backpackers and stowaways./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I still make dresses from time to time.', she told him over a cup of chamomile tea, 'Only for myself, though.'./p
p class="MsoNormal"The two were sat facing each other on a chintz love seat. The frequent pauses in their conversation was filled by a grandfather clock in an alcove. The loud ticking diverted Claude's attention to it./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'That's a beautiful clock, Miss Birch.', he spoke./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Yes, it is. It was passed down to me by my grandmother. I call it a "grandmother's clock"!', she chuckled and gave a strident smile. When she finished, she maintained her composure. 'Are you planning on moving along or do you want to stay here?'./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I'd like to stay. I already feel at home here.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I hope you do. I could never leave here.' She said with a sad little smile./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I've lived here all my life. I've witnessed wars and saw the coronation of three monarchs – they're not known for living very long. Thankfully, our queen is more robust.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Robust?', he quizzed with a raised eyebrow. Miss Birch put her cup and saucer on the table next to her armchair./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I was only a baby when the queen's great-grandfather passed away. Then her grandfather was always unwell, and he died. The crown then went to his son, who was killed in one of the wars with Bowser. Our Queen is a very strong woman. She has survived so much.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'She seems like a very strong lady.', Claude added./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'She is. She has come a long way after the death of one of her most trusted personal guards. I suppose she realised she couldn't depend on anyone but herself after he died.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The poignant significance of this tragic event for the Queen was not unfelt by the two occupants in the inn. There was a pregnant silence, save for the ticking of the clock's pendulum, which made Claude's eyes weary. The long day finally caught up with him and he rose himself from the loveseat./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I'm going to go to bed now. I've had a very long day. Good night, Miss Birch.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Good night, Claude. I'll treat us to a continental breakfast tomorrow. Do you remember where your room is?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Yes, I do.' He yawned./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"It was one of the rooms upstairs. Though it was small, only able to fit a single bed, it was cosy. Claude mused that Miss Birch might have been expecting him to come because the room has a small desk which would accommodate his writing, though this would have been impossible. No one could have known he was coming and for how long he wanted to stay. Even he did not know that himself./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The unopened suitcase stood at the end of the wooden bed. Claude decided to open it the next day, having put it off that evening out of exhaustion./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"After a long and troublesome day, he laid into his bed and swiftly fell asleep./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"uspan style="text-decoration: none;" /span/u/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal"On a stuffy coach in the early evening, Claude gazed outside the window onto strange hills with faces on them. The dome shaped crowns on these formations were a far cry from the steep mountains and the deep valleys of Chai Kingdom. Even the little houses were different. The quaint little mushroom huts that sparsely dotted the landscape contrasted from the sweeping cupulas that nestled on the cliff edges of that valley he had lived in, but their exoticness hardly made an impression on him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Spring was in full bloom in the Mushroom Kingdom. For miles, Claude could see dots of flowers: golden tulips under which the daisies timidly grew and trails of bluebells leading into thickets of woods. The most striking sight was the fields of claret poppies which resembled green pastures spoiled by bloodshed. The richness of colour of this Kingdom could not go unnoticed by him in the Golden Hour./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The placid display of nature before his eyes was soon spoiled by large industrial complexes- military barracks, perhaps? Claude then thought that whoever could have possibly tarnished this serene landscape with rows and rows of grey barracks was reckless in their decision. But he had to let his mind rest and bask in the afternoon sunlight that pierced through the window he was sitting next to. He closed his eyes and he felt he was swimming in colours./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"He did not know exactly how much time had passed before he arrived at the border patrol of his new home, Toad Town, the capital of the Mushroom Kingdom. There were soldiers lined up along the wall of the capitol, all with hard stares and anxious postures. Truly bizarre, indeed./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Before he disembarked the bus, he was informed that he would have to go through a security gate into Toad Town. It was not specified why such procedures needed to take place but the passenger next to him informed him about the rumours of rigid security measures implemented after repeated attempts of invasion by Bowser's army and infiltration by spies. Clearly, here was no compromise to be made when protecting the Mushroom Kingdom./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Overcoming security procedures should have been easy. Claude arrived with the necessary documentation, including his passport and birth certificate, as well as manuscripts and published copies of his writing work. He approached the desk where a toad lady with glasses was seated and handed the documents he felt were sufficient enough to enter the capitol. He watched as the agent scanned over the documents meticulously and then frowned, at which he became anxious./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Mr DiScritto, your passport is expired.", she finally said./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Is it?", he queried with surprise. "Oh sorry, I didn't realise."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""That's okay, however, because this is an expired passport, we have to treat it as suspicious. I will have to have you escorted to an interview room for further questioning by security."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Claude's nerves overwhelmed him, and he made a frustrated outburst. "Huh? You can't be serious! So, you're telling me I've travelled all this way for nothing. Madam, I travelled on a boat for three days and em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"nobody/em had any problem with my passport!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Claude became flustered by this inconvenience, but the agent remained calm, focused, and professional. She picked up the phone and began dialling the security that would question him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Sir, I will not tolerate aggressive behaviour directed towards me. We all have to do a job here. Now would you please wait here until I have called security who will then escort you to a private room where you will be questioned further."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm sorry. I've travelled all this way for three days and haven't had any trouble I thought it would be okay." Claude's voice was calmer and more apologetic. The agent was already on the phone talking to security before he could explain himself./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Great, I'll keep him here while you get here. Thank you.", the agent put the phone down. She turned to her suspect./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I understand that you've been travelling for a long time and I understand that you're upset about being held here for longer than you'd like to. All I'm doing is following protocol and making sure that everybody we let through is who they say they are. The decision to let you in will be up to the security."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The interview room was a sterile white box. In the middle was a table and on one side sat one chair, the chair Claude was sitting on, and the other had two chairs which were used by his koopa interrogators. He felt like a criminal and he felt humiliated./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Mr DiScritto, could you give us your full name, your date of birth, and your place of birth?", asked the first security agent./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Claude Raffaele DiScritto. 27supth/sup February 1987. Chai Kingdom.", Claude earnestly responded./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""What is your occupation, Mr DiScritto?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm a freelance writer."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Why did you come to the Mushroom Kingdom?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""I'm looking for work. There isn't much work available back home."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Do you have any of your work to hand?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Yes, I do. I have some copies of my reports in my hand luggage. I have the original manuscript if you want to see that too."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Well," The first agent announced, pushing his glasses towards the bridge of his beak, "we've confiscated all of your belongings for the time being for safety reasons and we're checking through them. If we come across your documents, we'll read through 'em."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""How long will that take?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""A full procedure usually takes between fifteen to twenty minutes."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""So, you're saying I have to sit here for that long while you try to prove that I'm cleared to pass?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Claude's increasing frustration at the lengthy interview as well as the possibility that he would have to be detained for a while was ignored by the security agents./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Okay, Mr DiScritto, tell us about your family life."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Claude sighed deeply. "I was born. I went missing. My family is dead. I almost drowned and that made me lose my memory. I can't remember em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"anything/em. You can look at my medical records for proof."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""Oh-ho!" The second agent interrupted the interview. "That's a touching story, but you don't have any records to hand, do you?". He leaned towards the first agent. "Searching for medical records on a healthcare database would be a very process, wouldn't it, Errol?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Maintaining a stern composure, the first agent turned to his colleague. 'Let's get back to the interview, Boris. Who are your parents, Mr DiScritto?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Salvatore and Mariuccia DiScritto. I had a sister called Emilia.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Okay, that's enough of the personal questions.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'What about those medical records this gentleman is so fussed about? Can't we give his doctor a ring?', Boris interrupted again./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'We could, but it will be very early in Chai Kingdom', Errol frowned./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal""It will be 8 in the morning. Where I come from is 9 hours ahead of us and it's 7 o'clock now." Claude gave his calm input. With his eyes he indicated the clock behind the security agents. "You can call him."/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Errol body shifted into a slump as he relented. 'Okay, what's the name of your general practitioner?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Doctor Dragoon. I can give you his number from my address book.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'We'd appreciate that.' Errol picked up the pen on the table and then wrote down the number that Claude read from his address book, which he had to hand. When they were finished exchanging the number of Claude's doctor, the interview proceeded./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Mr DiScritto, do you know the current monarch of this Kingdom?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Queen Pesca VI.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'It's the fifth. Caught you out big time, didn't we?', Boris jeered./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Don't jump the gun, Boris. I can't name the last monarchs off the top of me 'ead, either. And he's right, she em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"is/em the sixth peach.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'And I think these questions are trivial. What are they supposed to prove, how much I can assimilate into the Kingdom?', Claude butted in./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Sir, you need to calm down. We are following a strict procedure to ensure the safety of the subjects of this Kingdom. Can you sing the National Anthem?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'No, I can't!'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'You need to slow yourself down now.', Errol raised his voice before Claude's frustration would get the better of him./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The painstaking interview process lasted for another fifteen minutes or so as promised by the two koopa agents. Added onto Claude's already present frustration was the decision process undertaken by those who interviewed him and those who investigated his belongings that took up even more of his time. Finally, he was released after the personnel had decided that his birth certificate and medical records were enough. At first, he was relieved to receive his confiscated belongings and thought he was completely free to go about settling in Toad Town, but this would all come with one caveat: he would have to pay a fine of one hundred gold coins for the expired passport. He almost launched into a massive row at the security agents, but he had to remain calm and collected. He would have to pay the fine whether he would like to or not, otherwise the fine would increase for everyday it was not paid after the deadline two weeks later. A transaction of the fine was made via direct debit that same evening./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"Now with only 300 coins to his name, Claude decided that it would be best if he stayed in the cheapest hotel he could find for a night or two before he could find a more permanent residence. This would not prove difficult because the cheapest one he could find was an inn for backpackers just a few roads away from the security checkpoint./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The inn was a cosy little cottage like those mushroom cottages that Claude saw from his journey on the coach. It was run by Miss Birch, a small human elder and self-identified spinster who decided after her retirement from dressmaking that she would use the money from her pension to renovate her home into an inn which would become popular with backpackers and stowaways./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I still make dresses from time to time.', she told him over a cup of chamomile tea, 'Only for myself, though.'./p
p class="MsoNormal"The two were sat facing each other on a chintz love seat. The frequent pauses in their conversation was filled by a grandfather clock in an alcove. The loud ticking diverted Claude's attention to it./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'That's a beautiful clock, Miss Birch.', he spoke./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Yes, it is. It was passed down to me by my grandmother. I call it a "grandmother's clock"!', she chuckled and gave a strident smile. When she finished, she maintained her composure. 'Are you planning on moving along or do you want to stay here?'./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I'd like to stay. I already feel at home here.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I hope you do. I could never leave here.' She said with a sad little smile./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I've lived here all my life. I've witnessed wars and saw the coronation of three monarchs – they're not known for living very long. Thankfully, our queen is more robust.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Robust?', he quizzed with a raised eyebrow. Miss Birch put her cup and saucer on the table next to her armchair./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I was only a baby when the queen's great-grandfather passed away. Then her grandfather was always unwell, and he died. The crown then went to his son, who was killed in one of the wars with Bowser. Our Queen is a very strong woman. She has survived so much.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'She seems like a very strong lady.', Claude added./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'She is. She has come a long way after the death of one of her most trusted personal guards. I suppose she realised she couldn't depend on anyone but herself after he died.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The poignant significance of this tragic event for the Queen was not unfelt by the two occupants in the inn. There was a pregnant silence, save for the ticking of the clock's pendulum, which made Claude's eyes weary. The long day finally caught up with him and he rose himself from the loveseat./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'I'm going to go to bed now. I've had a very long day. Good night, Miss Birch.'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Good night, Claude. I'll treat us to a continental breakfast tomorrow. Do you remember where your room is?'/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"'Yes, I do.' He yawned./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"It was one of the rooms upstairs. Though it was small, only able to fit a single bed, it was cosy. Claude mused that Miss Birch might have been expecting him to come because the room has a small desk which would accommodate his writing, though this would have been impossible. No one could have known he was coming and for how long he wanted to stay. Even he did not know that himself./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The unopened suitcase stood at the end of the wooden bed. Claude decided to open it the next day, having put it off that evening out of exhaustion./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"After a long and troublesome day, he laid into his bed and swiftly fell asleep./p