DISCLAIMER

Whatever anyone may recognise from C S Lewis books on Narnia belongs to him and him only!

VISITORS

Saturday morning dawned and I noticed (yes, I had really learnt to really take heed during the past week) it to be a bit darker then at the expected time to get out of bed.

So, I stayed in bed, covers up and first reminisced the latest few days. As light slowly grew I got a step by step view; and realised that Aslan, under His name Here, must have for me something really exciting. Winding up slowly, I felt better, calmer but not warmer. I had to defeat the temptation to stay in my warm bed, and instead get up, in the crisp air, to get some clothes and heating on.

That did however not happen; not at once at least, because I suddenly came to hear a voice and saw light from a creak in my closet. Having to chose between freezing as in staying immobile or run and hid and freeze as getting cold somewhere unpleasant; I quickly decided to stay in bed. I had time to ask myself where were some one with a total body bind spell practised and at the ready? Anyone?

- "And here we are again," said one high-pitched voice triumphantly. "We got back¸ as I said!"

- "And according to the calendar, we came for the next day again! We have made the trip between the Worlds so many times now, that we have beaten Queen Lucy herself!"

Aha, I thought, they came every work day?

- "That is exactly my concern," added a third clinking voice. "I think not we should be here more than necessary. After all, our assignment was to write something about Aslan's names in other some Worlds outside Narnia. We actually copied most of what we needed during the first day or two, did we not?"

- "I can only agree," chirped some one, "we should not have risked being seen by coming back to many times. I shudder when thinking of being caught and not able to get home."

Oh dear, that must be really horrible! By now I had lost track of the voices, no longer knowing how many visitors I had. They seemed not totally grown up, and definitely not intruders.

- "Ah, but we are not yet caught, are we? And dropping that little book we found saying that here is the great Lion called by the Name that is above all names – did we just not have to correctly quote that text? And how could we do that if we found not the book again in the library?"

- "Adventure and academics, with us they go hand in hand," there was a laughter. "or paw in paw, shoulder by shoulder or wing beside wing. . ."

Paws and wings? Really? This did not really sound like ordinary kids any longer. Rather like young talking beasts. I suddenly realised that I might as well rule out the idea that this was a joke by my nephews and nieces; or neighbour's kids!

- "And have you found the references, please copy them, so we have all we need! I myself will let myself do some exploring!"

Ah; opps! What should I do now?

As it turned out, the references to copy were to many, so the visitors decided to borrow the book where they had found the interesting Names, with the idea of returning it as soon as possible.

- "We have not all to go, to return the book, they who will can remain at home!" said a voice from a face who had just turned around my doorpost. I quickly closed my eyes , pretending to sleep, but not swift enough to see the creature and realising it was a badger.

It was at this point any organised plan for their maybe seventh visit to my place had broken down totally. Instead of looking through books, interest was moved to my bedroom; and suddenly I found myself to be in the very centre of their attention. Clearly they had no idea why, suddenly they had encountered a human, They could of course not know that this day being a Saturday, I was off work and having a lay in. I really had to contain myself from laughing out loud hearing one theory after another idea to explain my presence. At one time they seemed really worried that I was ill. In the end they hopefully got with them a few books, or copied quotes out of books, they needed, and left speaking in between themselves that they had to tell Aslan what they had seen and ask about it. That it being me, of course!

Now pretending to sleep with the sounds and noises of the visitors showed up as a challenge I had not expected. Laying still with eyes closed and breathing calmly and regularly, ended up with me falling asleep for real. Applying for actors' school was definitely out of the question, then!

When I woke up from having dozed off, it was all silent everywhere. I got up to do my chores.

After breakfast, I peeked into my library. As before a row of books was missing. I supposed they were the ones interesting for finding the Names. Where the books had been, there was a letter. It plainly stated they had got permission by Aslan himself to visit my place and find what they needed for their homework there. Now had they maybe gone just a little bit over the top, me being home and all, but they hoped I did not mind. Mind? Was this not the most funny, interesting and exciting that had happened to me for year and years?

The coming morning I answered the letter, inviting them to use what they needed for their work and told them there was a table set in the hallway should they need to stay for long and be hungry. I put my letter in the spaced freed up from borrowed books, and went out for Sunday morning. Having had lunch with friends, I returned in the afternoon, finding all food gone, dishes washed and left to dry. And a note. Saying how much they thanked me!