Chapter Five
Professor Ulley

The look on the young woman's face as she carried Zoran's items back to his professor told everyone she was not happy about it. There was a large black mark on the front of her shirt and on her forearm. She hadn't realized that some of the ink in one of the packages had spilled until she wiped her forehead with her arm and saw the ink only after the fact. There was a large, bluish-black smug across her forehead now from it to tell everyone of her folly. Her jeans were dirty, as she had also tripped right after taking in Cair Paravel, over a Duck. The Duck had squawked and ranted that Sarah was careless and needed to be imprisoned. A son of the Duck's came over to her, apologized, stating that the Duck wanted anyone who slighted her to be imprisoned in her old age.

Worst was realizing that Foxes were indeed sly. While Zoran had led her on to believe she would be carrying just a few items for him, he had her arms loaded with ink, quills, rolls of paper, garments and various nick-knacks.

The way to Zoran's professor took them through the small meadow where they met. Sarah did look to see if she could find Mark, hoping he would show up in this wondrous dream of hers. He didn't pop up from the tall grass to surprise her and whisk her off to another dream.

Lost in her thoughts she was astonished to be their destination already. Zoran pulled a small cord next to the door the stood in front of and it opened with ease.

"Put those on that table," Zoran said, indicating with his head a near by worktable.

Sarah wasn't sure what she was expecting, perhaps a small castle or university. What she stood in now was neither. It was just house. The main room that she now stood in looked like contained just about everything. There was the worktable with the day's prizes. Remnants of past meals and sheets of paper told her that it was also probably the main eating area as well. Near by that was the hearth. There were two other doors towards the back. One was clearly a bedroom, as the other one was next to a window indicating it lead outside. Two cots also were at the back; she supposed Zoran slept in one.

"Professor Ulley! Professor Ulley!" shouted the Fox. "I'm back!"

From the door that led to the outside came an older man. He was perhaps in his late forties, gray just starting to show in his light brown hair. He wore glasses, and had a short beard. His clothes looked like he had slept in them more than once and Sarah was quite sure he had fallen asleep at sometime on a book, for there were little squiggly marks on his right cheek that looked to be like writing. Overall she found him very kind looking,

"Ah, good man," the professor said, adjusting his glasses. He reached into a small drawstring bag on his hip and began to get something out of it. "Now how much did Zoran-" He stopped as he stared at Sarah. "By the Lion, you're a girl."

"Thank you for noticing," she said, just feeling slightly offended.

He gave a short laugh. "Sorry, not many people have come into Narnia since the White Witch's demise. I was under the impression I was one of the few that lived outside of the palace."

"You were – are, actually I don't know if I'll be staying. You see I'm convinced this is a dream and I shall be waking up in anytime now."

The man raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Well, do tell your story Miss..."

"Sarah," she provided.

"Sarah, tell us."

Sarah explained her situation, not in great detail but so that they would at least understand. She told them how she had been in an accident, and woke up here instead of in a hospital, where she supposed she truly was. She told them in her world, the real world, animals didn't talk, and the ones that did had a very limited vocabulary. Her land had no kings or queens. They were still some in other countries and those kings and queens were little more than adornment for their countries. She actually talked more then she like and when she was done Zoran looked deep in thought, while Professor Ulley just smiled.

"I see," was all he said. "Well, until you do actually wake up, would you be willing to stay here with us? You can help me research for the compilation of Narnia's history, seeing as that Zoran here must leave with in a fortnight to visit his family."

Sarah deliberated the offer for a few moments. "I suppose I could. What sense is there to do otherwise?"

The older man smiled. "Good." With that started Sarah's first day under the tutelage of Professor Ulley.