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Big Big World

Chapter 2 Okay, what's next?

"Goodness' sake, Eric! Are you attempting to get me into a heart attack?" Allison screamed, clutching her hands in mid air in front of his throat, an action of threatening to strangling him.

"Hold that. Even if you want to kill me, let me get these books signed by you first." Eric held his hands up, one with a pen, and the other a clipboard with receipts needed to be signed.

"Your sentence would be death if you ever try to do that again." Allison said, taking the clipboard of receipts and pen from him, and signed the one of the top and the one beneath it.

Eric took it back, and waved his cap, "Thank you, ladies. Now I better go before I am given my execution. Bye!" He ran out of the shop.

"Is he ever going to grow up?" Hermione sighed. She couldn't help but comparing him with the twins --- Fred and George.

"Well, maybe one day he will, but he will not be Eric the imp anymore." Allison laughed, while moving the packages behind the counter.

"So, what do we have this time?" Hermione asked. She was always puzzled how all these odd books came together and bought by Allison.

"Let's see... A few about Japanese mythology... Whoa, seven about super-natural behaviours, eight about traditional costumes... and this," Allison took out a wooden box from the bottom of the package, "is obviously my birthday present."

"What is it?" Hermione looked at the wooden box which looked kind of old, but still in good condition. There words carved along the edges of the box, and they looked like Latin, but she was not exactly sure about it. Allison opened the box, and took the book out from it. The covering of the book was not any kind of material she could recognize, and she picked up the envelop on the cover, addressed to her.

"Well, Stephanie said it would do well as my birthday present, so I don't know what is it either." She pulled the letter out from the envelope.

Dear Allison,

As you are a language expert (though you always said you are not), I don't think it would be difficult for you to understand the words carved on the cover of the wooden box. The book dealer I bought it from told me that the words meant --- The one who could read and put this book to use, would bring new prospects and hope.

The book dealer had it for quite some years, but still couldn't figure out what this book was about as the pages were empty. It might be the reason why those words were carved there, because not everyone could read it, or it might just be another prank. Anyway, I am sure this book is not fraud by any case, as Archer had examined it in his lab and proved that it dated back to the sixth century, when fitted the style of Latin used on the box cover.

I know it's a historical artefact, but who would have thought it is for real, especially in such a good condition. So just accept the present, and shut up. I don't want to see you on newspaper being arrested for turning this 'artefact' up to the British Museum. Understood?

Yours,

Stephanie

Allison couldn't help but sigh. Stephanie was always one of the 'craziest' among them, but with this 'special' birthday present, she had just reclaimed her title from Eammon. When Allison was putting the letter back into the envelop, Hermione said, "Allison."

"Yes?"

"This book... is empty. There are no words in it."

Allison said, taking out some clear wrapping sheet to wrap the books, preparing to put them on shelf, "Oh, Belinda said it is empty. Some kind of mystery, she believed." She glanced at the book, but something scared... or freaked her off. "Hermione, did you just say that there are no words in the book? On that page?"

"Yes. Why?"

Allison slowly slumbered onto the chair, clutching her chest. She stumbled the nebulizer out from the drawer. She breathed in the mist, and she slowly recovered, breathing deeply. "Hermione, could you get me a cup of water?"

Hermione rushed out of the shop, and came back with a glass of water from the cafe next door. Allison took it, and drank it in one gulp. After taking several deep breath, she said, "I can see words on the page."

TBC

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