Chapter Nine

After Doctor Scamandross finished his tea he reached into a pocket of his robe and pulled out a rather raggedy and dirty old sack. Augury Puzzle, Arthur figured.

Scamandross knelt on the ground and began flinging string like pieces on the dirt watching them shift and bend to fit together. After about ten minutes of this, throughout which Arthur waited very impatiently tapping his foot the doctor backed up and stood, looking down at his map. He scratched his head and then fumbled around a bit more in his robe. Arthur's eyes goggled when the doctor continued to pull out item after item. He had always been fascinated with the amount of objects Scamandross was able to fit into his clothing, no matter the garment. At last Scamandross drew out a ridiculously large magnifying glass and began staring at the ground, a moment later he yelped and waddled forward to retrieve what Arthur mistook for a speck of dirt. Scamandross replaced the magnifying glass and stared intently at the tiny object in his hand, it took a moment for Arthur to realize it was a telescope. Dare he ask?

Arthur cleared his throat. "What's that?" he gestured at the miniscule instrument.

"Micro definition telescope" Scamandross answered, now squinting hard through the telescope and turning almost invisible knobs, he pointed it downwards towards the augury puzzle and Arthur saw the scope elongate like a sort of frail straw right down to the earth. After another few excruciating moments, Suzy muttered.

"Is he ever going to be done with that thing?"

Arthur whispered back, "I doubt anytime soon"

As if in answer, Doctor Scamandross drew back and jammed the telescope back into his robe pocket, shaking his head. "I have grave news, Lord Arthur,"

"Yes?"

"I have all but one tiny, infinitesimal piece to the puzzle, and I can't find it anywhere"

Arthur just knew where this was leading; they were going to have to find the missing piece.

"You might want to contact your colleagues the Raised Rats to help you find the piece"

Suzy sighed. "Should've gone straight to them in the first place,"

Arthur brushed his hair back from his forehead. "Suzy," he whispered.

She regarded the puzzle on the ground, then Scamandross and Arthur, "I know, I know, see if can find the Raised Rats. You know that means I've got to go dress up all lady like, they've been fetched up at the Border Sea forever and I stills got to stick to that stupid promise I made to Dame way back when"

Arthur growled. "You know I might as well go with you. It's not like I won't have to go there afterwards anyway." He started for the chariot but before he got in he looked over at the doctor. "Doctor Scamandross, you might as well come too, you know how to explain the properties of that puzzle better than I do"

"It would be an honor my lord" he said quickly shuffling to get in the chariot. Suzy looked over at them, a grin passing over her face. "If Scamandross comes along, that's extra weight and you don't know how to handle heavier loads Artie." She sneered. "Therefore," she got I the with them and gently shoved Arthur our of the way, taking the reins in her hands she slammed down the front of her helmet and peered over her shoulder though the eye slits. "I'll drive"

There was no time for Arthur to protest, only grip the sides of the chariot as tightly as he could so he wouldn't fall off. It wasn't easy, Doctor Scamandross's impossibly long hat kept whipping him in the face and Arthur was discovering what a reckless driver Suzy was. Back home she would get a ticket for sure.