Using the mouth-to-mouth method of resuscitation, Ted laid Henry face-up on the beach, lifted his neck and tilted his head backward in such a way to prevent the tongue from blocking the air passages. Then Ted pinched Henry’s nose shut, and covered Henry’s mouth tightly with his own mouth as if kissing him.
When Henry eventually began to breathe again, Ted left the exercise. While Henry’s eyes were still shut Ted took the knife, gripped Henry’s beard and, without exerting much energy on the knife, got rid of Henry’s funny beards. Never hesitating, Ted began to scrape off the dirt from his teeth, still using the knife. Henry had opened his eyes but was remaining speechless, gazing at Ted who was now looking around to see if no one was around.
“Ted,” called Henry at last.
“You’re awake,” said Ted as he pulled Henry up.
“So—” Henry paused. “I made it!”
“Yeah you did. A shark nearly finished you up, but I killed it with the diamond knife—a single strike. See, the water’s red.” Ted pointed to the splotched portion of the river.
“I see,” said Henry as he looked towards the river. “Hmm! the diamond knife must be very powerful.”
“Indeed powerful!”
“Let me have it,” said Henry. “Quick!” He hurried Ted up. Ted hastily passed the knife to him, speculating what Henry was up to.
“What! My beards are gone!” yelled Henry, who was intending to have them shaved with the knife, unknown to him that Ted had shaved it off and thrown the hairs into the river.
Ted chuckled.
“I shaved the nonsense off you just now.”
“Thanks Ted,” Henry patted Ted’s back. “I’ll forever remain grateful to you—for this.”
“Don’t you worry Henry,” said Ted looking as if he was worried himself. Then he said at last, “What is bothering me is just the thought of how I can get an award for being the best friend of the year.”
“And who’ll ever confer such?”
“I don’t know.”
“All the same thanks,” Henry expressed his gratitude once more. Henry caught Ted smiling quizzically. “Why the smile?” he asked.
“The principle I applied.”
“Which principle?”
“To get you into the river,” Ted gave a brisk grin and continued, “If I had told you there was a shark in that river you wouldn’t have entered in there.”
“And how would you know there was one there if it hadn’t attacked me?”
“It attacked me first—when I arrived. I believe telling you that will not help. For fear of it you would never have got into the river.”
“Humph! What a pretty good astuteness you displayed. Dad told me there are two ways to make someone achieve something seemingly impossible; you used one of it,” said Henry in a serious reflective mood.
“What are they?”
“One, by simply telling someone that the task ahead is just too easy and secondly, by compelling someone to do something, promising to punish such a one if such end is not achieved.” Henry inhaled and said, “You applied the first and the dean, the second.”
“The dean, how?” asked Ted with a tone of inquisitiveness.
“The Professors’ award. He forced me to win it for him.”
Lolloping aimlessly on the beach, Henry suddenly asked, “Those beards, do you keep them?”
“What’s the use?” Ted asked back.
“I wish to keep the hairs for the sake of record and history.”
“I threw them into the river.” Ted revealed. “The diamond knife would do for your intentions.”
“It’s true.” Henry, changing the topic, said, “Ted, you know in my map there’s no US. It’s in yours.” Then Henry remembered that Ted’s paper too was not supposed to have the map of Egypt. Quickly, he asked, “How do you get to Egypt, Ted?”
“I stole a map from the school library. I tore it away from the atlas.”
“Don’t be silly,” said Henry, not believing him. “Don’t tell me we have magical maps in our library.”
“I guess the maps, including the one given to us by the dean, are all ordinary. It’s our extra-ordinary fingers touching the map that’s bringing about the transportation, not the maps.”
Henry demanded to have the map at once so that they could leave, but Ted was only able to produce a soggy piece of paper, of which the ink had been expunged. They stared at each other indecisively.
Ted spread the soggy paper out on the floor. The water had soaked it to an extent that the paper was now gummy. Ted’s attempt to spread it out earlier had made it torn apart readily into pieces.
“We can’t even see the maps in it anymore,” complained Henry.
“Can’t we manage it?” said Ted in a manner lacking composure.
“No it’s risky,” Henry disagreed. After meditating, he said, “Maybe we should go get a plane.”
Ted laughed nervously.
“A plane from Egypt to USA? That will cost a fortune. Well it’s no problem if you have with you such fare, for two, ’cos we’re not sitting on one another’s lap.”
“You’re speaking as if we’ve got no diamond with us here,” said Henry, wielding the knife. “It will cover our transport fare—the price of it.”
Ted laughed and said, “You’re inviting your death. Of course they’ll accept it from you willingly, stab you with it and ask your dead body for the flight ticket.”
Amidst laughter Henry asked, “What then should we do?”
“I guess I know where America was drawn in this map?” said Ted, looking critically at a pieces of the blank, wet paper. Running his finger through it rapidly, he stopped at a point on the paper and said, “Here’s the place.”
“Are you sure Ted?” asked Henry in a fearful manner. Ain’t we going to land in the wrong place? Don’t let’s risk—”
“We ain’t risking anything, or you think you’re the only genius here? I’m a genius too,” said Ted edgily.
“Let’s give it a trial then.” Henry placed a finger on the spot Ted had mentioned and Ted situated his finger on Henry’s own. Desiring to depart, the two vamoosed instantly.
Henry landed alone in his room.
“Where’s Ted? He asked himself. Afraid that Ted never came back with him, Henry was ready to get back to the Nile to fetch him. The fear that Ted must have touched the wrong part of the map was almost scaring him.
“If he had, then I won’t meet Ted there.”

Story continuation


The Power Guard’s wand and the diamond knife were of no value to Henry, compared with Ted his friend. He cast them to the floor when he realized that they were with him. Henry yanked open his wardrobe and scrambled for something. At last he got it—an atlas. Henry fastidiously tore out the page containing the maps of both the North American and the African continent.
He lowered his head and saw those things he had earlier cast to the floor. He decided to take the diamond knife with him, leaving behind the wand, though he picked the wand up too but keep it inside his wardrobe. Henry was extremely chary of the risk involved in touching the map, not wanting to land into the Nile River like Ted. Henry soon disappeared.
Meanwhile Henry was thinking of going back to the Nile, Ted was back inside the toilet from where he had earlier departed to Egypt earlier. He was very lucky that the man in the toilet was just departing when he arrived. If the man, who was at the door already, had looked back he would have caught a glimpse of Ted, and a palaver would have resulted.
Ted hastily had it settled in his mind that Henry’s absence in there with him must have resulted from the separate locations each of them had last left America.
“I must go meet Henry immediately,” smiled Ted. His grin must have been prompted by the thought that he had displayed adeptness in the way he was able to locate somewhere out of nowhere—the US from a blank paper.
Getting to Henry’s room, he found it empty.
“Henry! Henry!” Ted called. “Where has he gone?”
The contemplation that Henry must have fingered a different spot on the map sent a surge of terror into Ted’s head. Tucking his hand into his pocket, he could not find the blank map they had used.
“Then it means Henry is with it,” concluded Ted. Ted began to rush to the dean’s office tumultuously. Not pressing the alarm button, Ted pushed the door with full force. The dean and his new mistress, Rose, jerked suddenly in a way suggesting that they had been hugging each other before then, going by the proximity between the two.
The dean’s gush soon confirmed the argument in Ted’s thought when the man irately said, “You again? Can’t you see I was having fun with my new wife?”
“I’m very sorry,” said Ted soberly.
Vindictively, the dean declared, “You’ll be punished for this. Where’s Henry?” The man’s speech set Ted quizzically glancing at the dean briskly, having the thought that the dean never cared a bit for him, but for Henry all the time. However, he responded promptly, “That’s why I’m here to see you.”
The dean’s heart almost jumped out of him as Ted released the bombshell. The man knew that it was not going to be proper for Rose to hear the conversation that should follow. He then deemed it fit that they retire to the outside.
Professor Wilson, waving at Rose, said, “Darling please give me just a micro—” He had to suspend his speech, realizing that he was not in Gyrus. “I’m sorry, I wanted to say a minute. I’ll be back.” Not visibly perturbed, Rose said, “Okay darling, love you.”
“Love you too,” replied Professor Wilson kissing two of his fingers in a noisy manner. She did that too to her own fingers.
After shutting the door behind them the dean asked, “Where’s Henry? Tell me, is he dead?”
“No,” said Ted, then he remained silent in a moody countenance. His facial expression substantiated the thought of pessimism that was dominating the dean stormy heart.
“So—why do I keep seeing you around all alone without the eerie Henry with you?” The man’s expression lacked the fact that Henry was already at that time normal again.
“I can’t find him,” gushed Ted. “We’ve achieved the second mission, got the diamond knife. His beards are now gone, but… when we touched the map he never came back with me.”
“You sure?” the dean brightened up. “Where’s the knife?” asked the dean in a way that was revealing the teetotal personality of the dean; he had priority for the knife first, Henry second and Ted last.
“I said where’s the knife?” he asked louder when Ted was keeping silent on him.
“It was with Henry,” responded Ted slowly.
The dean was momentarily thrown into silence. At last he spoke after a short meditation.
“Did you guys leave for Egypt through the same spot? No because you left through the toilet,” the dean answered the question by himself. Ted was shocked.
“How did you know that?”
“I got the report that you escaped through the wrecked roof of a toilet, but I’m damn sure it was a trick. You never escaped through that roof, did you?”
Ted was only able to nod his head at a snail's pace in approval for shock. The dean said, “I’m a magician, so I know magic tricks.” Then quickly he added, “From where did he pass to Egypt?”
“Cyprus,” declared Ted.
“But he left America to Cyprus through his room, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
The man laughed silently and said, “Then go check him in his room. He should be there.”
“I’ve checked,” complaint Ted, “He is not there.”
“That’s serious.” The dean wiped his sweaty face with the back of his hand. Ted said he would go back to Egypt to search for Henry, but the dean advised him not to venture into such adventure, because the two could miss each other forever by so doing.
“When Henry’s arriving, you’ll be departing, vice-versa till thy kingdom come,” explained the man, to back up his excuse of persuading Ted not to depart for Nile again. With the thought that he might land again into the Nile River, Ted agreed to remain behind to wait for him.
Before departing, the man said, “Won’t you thank me for saving your friend out of trouble?” Ted responded through his nose, “T—thank you s—sir,” and inside his mind he said, “But you’ve got all the fame to yourself.”
The man asked Ted to call back at his office with Henry when Henry returns, but never forgot to remind Ted that when next he comes, he must push the doorbell, or at least give the door a knock before pushing it open, “…else—”
The dean got inside again and said, “Darling Rose, I’m sorry, I’ve exceeded the time by two seconds.”
The lady smirked and said, “No, you spent five extra minutes.” The two laughed heartily.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
DOUBLE FOOLS

When Ted got back to Henry’s room, he found Susie there sitting on a chair. She adjusted swiftly as soon as she caught sight of Ted.
“Ted, where’s Henry?” Susie asked frenetically, but Ted only stared blankly at her. Ted was gazing at her in fret, as he was thinking that Henry might suddenly appear in that room any moment. If Susie was present when he arrives then Henry was going to be roped in fresh trouble.
To avoid the insinuated catastrophe, Ted was going to muster all the tricks he could muster to get Susie out of there.
“Henry has gone to see his parent,” Ted lied unscrupulously. “He won’t be back today.”
“Ted, your mouth shakes somehow as you speak. I will not believe you.” Susie gazed upward, at Ted’s face and said, “I’ll not leave until he’s back.”
Ted’s face was dull at that moment. To Ted it was a tedious job to get Susie out of that room by slyness, since Susie was herself a slug. Ted soon came up with a strategy:
“Susie, Henry hates to see your face, I’m assuring.”
Susie was crossed, but she managed to ask, “Why d’you say so?”
Smiling pretentiously, Ted said, “Maybe you never know that Henry hates you with passion.” Susie thought that she had got Ted’s point. She felt that Ted must have been referring to sometimes in the past when Henry was not yet her ally.
“Ted you’re wrong,” whispered Susie. “That was the bad old days.” Then Susie got up and walked behind Ted stylishly as she said, “Since the hug in the rain Henry has been so close to me. Since then he never can do without seeing me daily.”
Ted’s sensitivity that Henry could arrive any moment gave him not a little concern. His fear was aggravated. Then it dawned on him that he had to tell grave lies to Susie about her supposed relationship with Henry, to let her get out of the room to ponder on them.
Ted quickly began:
“It’s deception Susie. Henry has got nothing to offer. In fact he had told me often that he was not going to leave Cynthia alone. He had also told me he would deceive you and dump you at a particular date. I know the date but I won’t disclose it. Henry said he will make you shed tears by teaching you a lesson you will never—”
“Enough!” Susie screamed, but it appeared Ted’s words had made some impacts already, since her body was already shaking visibly in bewilderment.
“Henry told me he was no more in love with Cynthia. He also said he cannot do without me,” Susie confessed back to Ted.
Ted laughed spuriously and said, “But he told me only last night that he’ll have nothing to do with you. He hates you. Come to think of it, he nearly killed you and the other nineteen.”
Susie, who never wanted to believe Ted’s opinion, said, “It was a mistake. Henry never knew I was one of them. And, mind you, it was not intentional. He only did all that for the sake of winning the Halloween gift. I still love Henry despite all he has done,” Susie concluded, apprehensively waiting for Ted’s response. She had no problem waiting long, since Ted was more in a hurry than Susie herself was.
Ted was going to entice her, though he never had any love whatsoever for her.
Utilizing a teetotal simulated somberness, Ted said, “Susie, I love you better. Why not let’s go talk it over in a café in the New York City or—just… just name it?” He yanked her wrist suddenly, attempting to pull her out, but Susie annoyingly but reflexively landed a slap on Ted’s cheek, which had instantly begun to hum some deafening asinine sounds to his ears.
“How dare you?” shouted Susie, but the way Ted held the battered cheek sent a sensation of pity to Susie’s spine. “Oh, Ted—I’m very s—sorry.” She put an arm on his nape as she stared pityingly at Ted’s tilted head, whose sinistral side was cupped in Ted’s left palm.
“Never worry Susie,” Ted said amusingly. “Do anything, because I’m in love with you,” said Ted, managing a smile.
“I’m sorry Ted,” she said again ruefully. “Do accept my apology.”
“On one condition—” Ted said, raising a finger in gesticulation, “That you’ll let me take you out—for lunch.”
“If that will do,” Susie said, “But not in New York City.”
Ted was glad. Quickly pulling her out, Ted said, “Where?”
“In any eatery here in the campus,” said Susie.
“That’s fine,” Ted remarked as the two walked along the passageway to make it to a café.
What the two had played was a trick on each other, but with the present turnout of the event, it appeared like Ted was on the winning track. Susie’s reaction towards Ted after the slap was to blind Ted from spoiling her person before Henry, since Henry had always taken Ted’s advice since she had known them as friends. Therefore, she felt that obeying Ted, at least for that moment, would salvage the hard-earned relationship between Henry and herself. On the other hand, Ted was delighted that he had succeeded in playing a trick on her to get her out of Henry’s place, in order to protect Henry’s secret.

Lolzzz
They are really fools...

Nice one op
Next please

T RY C NTINUES


As Henry arrived the bank of Nile River again he noticed that some men were already waiting there, gazing around as if looking for something. They witnessed Henry’s arrival and surprisingly one of them bellowed, “Here’s the boy! Grab him!”
“Get the knife, fast,” said another gazing at Henry’s clenched fist in which the diamond knife was.
On a whim, Henry stroked the map, not taking time to see where he was touching.
“He has escaped,” said one of the men, who was gazing at the direction Henry was initially standing. They spoke in an accent, which had suggested their Israeli citizenry. They were treasure hunters from Israel. They had heard of the diamond knife too and they were coming for it. Before Henry’s arrival the men had detected that the knife had been taken, having seen the redness of a portion of the river (due to the blood of the dead shark). It was when they were almost giving up that Henry suddenly appeared. In a short moment, all the men had disappeared too, perhaps to where they had come from. Henry found himself crouching in front of a black, hefty man, who was leaning his back against a tall tree. The man was sitting on a wooden chair, perhaps to receive some fresh air. Before Henry was able to rise, the man had taken hold of him fixing his gaze cruelly on his face. He said something, but in a strange language. His fingers were sinking deeply into Henry’s skin, having snatched from Henry’s grip the map. “Who are you?” the man asked at last in English, having perceived that Henry was not conversant with the language he had earlier used. “I’m Henry—” Henry paused for fear. He fixed his gaze into the man’s eyeballs, wishing to make the man go to sleep, so that he could escape. The man noticed the to and fro movement of Henry’s pop-eyed stare and he knew at once that Henry was up to something. Quickly, the black man lifted Henry swiftly from the floor and threw him at the tree trunk. “I said who are you?” the man yelled in wrath, rushing to Henry as he wielded the diamond knife, which had fallen from Henry’s grip earlier, to his face. “Henry White,” moaned Henry in a silent tone as he wriggled in pain. “From the White House, isn’t it?” the man said ambiguously, grinning wickedly. The man’s question had confused Henry a great deal. Indeed, Henry had belonged to the White House when he was in the High School. Also, he was belonging to the White’s family (so the White’s house) since his surname was White. “I don’t understand,” Henry said at last, avoiding being too forward. “I mean are you from USA?” “Yes,” said Henry, who now understood the man’s riddle.
The black man must have been habitually referring to every citizen of the USA as the President of that nation, since White House literally means the official residence of US president. “A magician?” asked the man further. Henry, believing that it will only take a magician to capture another magician, saw no point in telling lies. He rather said, “Yes’ in lieu of the ‘No’ he would have said, having guessed that the man was a hunter of witches.
The man laughed loudly and said, “Fool! In this part of the world, you cannot use magical power against another. You were gazing at me earlier to enchant me, but—it just didn’t work.” Then the man went into the full illustration of what had brought about the inability of utilizing diabolical powers against others. From much of what the man had said Henry’s addled brain was able to gather that such thing had come about by the oath made by the magicians of that clan in the mythical time, that any attempt made by any magician of the land thenceforth to use his or her powers against another, was not going to be successful. Henry was already in the thought that such a law would be good for adoption in Gyrus, where magicians were not a bit at rest, challenging themselves to some fights each time; at the least it would curb such belligerent acts. He also felt that if such law had earlier been exploited in Gyrus, Kim would not have lost his life.

Nice story you've got here
More ink to your pen

DonnahVibe:
Nice story you've got here

More ink to your pen

Thanks for your comment. I'm dedicating the next post to you to welcome you on board.

I love this story

Please we need more ooo

pls all ghost readers I want you to register your voices on the thread at this juncture, cos your voices have d potency of tincturing up the latent impetus in me to write more but your indifferences has the tendencies of retarding the celerity at which this celebrated thread progresses by engendering gargantuan frustration in the OP, thus influencing negatively the rate at which the story update flows

Wetin I dey tok be say I need your comments

Good morning everybody

Henry was still in thoughts when the heavily built black man lifted him shoulder-high, to an unknown destination. He was let down before an embellished structure, whose shape appeared like an upended mortar. The king of the land walked slowly, to have his seat on the adorned object observed by Henry earlier; it was a throne. Two men, in whose hands were two traditionally made hand-fans, accompanied the king. The black man bowed in reverence to the king and they entered into a miniature conversation with one another. Henry knew undoubtedly that his fate was what they were discussing, yet he was helpless. Having chained his two legs together Henry was dumped in a dark hut…
After eating and drinking, Ted suddenly asked Susie to permit him pay a visit to the toilet to pass out urine, but all he did was to maneuver his way to Henry’s place to see if he had arrived already. Frustratingly, Ted withdrew, not seeing Henry in. Ted was grabbed by the thought of leaving for Egypt at once, but the dean’s advice rendered earlier made him to chuck out the idea. However, Ted locked Henry’s door with a key, to make sure Susie never found her way into Henry’s apartment anymore. Ted adjourned to the café again to join Susie in the fun she was having.
At dusk Henry was shoved hostilely out of the prison by the dark-skinned, rigidly-built black man, who had captured him earlier. Being dragged on the floor, Henry was taken to a public place, where a lot of black men and women were dancing and drumming; their bodies were almost concealed with ornaments—bangles, rings, earrings, nose-rings and lots more. If only they were not Negroes Henry would have passed them for Indians. They were using locally made drums, tambourines made from gourds and many local percussion instruments and wind instruments such as flutes. They made much shuffling with their feet and tingling with there ornamented bodies as they twirled and swirled about in dances.
Henry had been put within a wide circle drawn with chalk beforehand, of radius of about five meters. The indigenes of the town danced around the drawn circle, slowly and meticulously, making sure their feet did not get into the drawn shape. The song they sang was of traditional mode and Henry was not able to decode the lyrics because the used language was not comprehensible to him.
Henry noticed that a boy was staring at him among the few ones not dancing; composed mostly of kids. The boy put a finger into his mouth and shook his head sideways in sympathy. From such gesture, he was indirectly able to infer that something unthinkable was about to happen to him.
The king of the land smiled, having sat on his throne placed in the public in a spot directly opposite Henry. He rose eventually to address his people in his native language. The black man interpreted so that Henry could listen. From the translation, Henry understood that he was going to be murdered.
“You shall die by your own knife which you brought here to harm us,” said Henry’s captor as he brandished his weapon before Henry, taking very slow paces to get to Henry. As the executor continuously approached Henry, the boy knew he must need act fast. Henry began to draw something on the sand with the index finger on his right hand. The series of lines on the floor that was making up the drawn shape seemed serpentine in appearance. It staggered Henry’s captor, who was ready to strike Henry, having entered into the circle encompassing Henry about.
“Say your last prayer,” whispered the man as he lifted his knife far above his head with his two hands. Henry crawled into the drawing he had already made on the floor. Just then the man lowered the knife with full force to strike Henry but what he struck was the bare ground. Henry had vanished.

Nice one Op
Please we need more

Thanks

Nice one

The villagers, who were once in a frenetic mood, were now frowning and fuming for fear of future misfortune they were insinuating. They were punch-drunk at Henry’s sudden disappearance…

When it was getting dark, Susie began to pester Ted that they should take their leave.
“Enough of wining and dining,” Susie said. “I’ve satisfied you enough, haven’t I?”
“Darl—let’s continue,” Ted flattered. “You know I can do anything for you.”
“Anything?” asked Susie, wide-eyed.
“Yeah!” Ted responded like a nincompoop. “
So lead the way—” said Susie triumphantly, “to Henry’s apartment.” She pushed Ted slightly and the boy began to gallop ahead like a zombie.
On getting to Henry’s door she yelled, “Who locked this door?”
“What!” Ted yelled too, pretentiously. “Perhaps Henry has come to lock his door; you know it was left ajar earlier.”
Susie’s chuckles threw Ted into confusion as he made her a cynosure at once. Susie made known the cause of her laughter by saying, “Ted—you’re lying. I trailed behind you when you said you were going to pay a visit to the toilet, saw you lock the door with a key.” Ted was shocked when Susie said that. He was the more flabbergasted when Susie said, “I’m sleeping here overnight, either he returns or not, so open that door right away.”
Ted had to obey Susie since he had already promised to do anything for her. He put the key inside the keyhole but was reluctant to turn it to get the door open.
“Ted, d’you know something? Life is a ball; it rolls about. Remember, when we were leaving for the café you were the commander, but now I’m the commander-in-chief,” Susie joshed as she waited for him to do it.
After Ted had turned the key, he pushed the door lightly and quickly poked his head into the room to see if Henry had arrived already. Seeing Henry inside Ted withdrew his head and turned to Susie, who was still behind the door. Then it was time for him to lambast her:
“Susie,” Ted called, “I never knew you are such a big fool,” Ted boldly said.
“What!” Susie gushed.
“I have been fooling you around for hours. Henry was all the time in, even before you came for him. He had hid in the inner room listening to our conversations. Everything I told you Henry said about you were false. We’re both privy to it.” Ted chuckled: “Henry heard all your statements—I love Henry, I can’t leave his room,” Ted mimicked Susie’s words in the speeches she had made earlier that day (before they left for to the café).
Henry had already come to the door then, not realizing what was going on. Susie was embarrassed. Not able to bear the shame, she strode away almost breaking to tears. Henry made effort to meet her but Ted posed some hindrances by using his limbs to block the way.
“Susie!” Henry cried but she was gone. “Ted, what’s wrong over here?”
“Never mind,” grinned Ted. “I met that poor thing in here hours ago. She insisted she would tarry inside your room until your arrival. You know what that means, uh?”

“So—” Henry’s face got twisted, “how did you get rid of her from my room?”
“I lured her to have lunch with me out there, to keep her away. Before then I told her you don’t love her, just to let her have a change of mind and leave your room but she was adamant.”
“Ted, since the hug in the rain that day I’ve been having a strong feeling of love for her.”
Ted was gutted and impatient not wanting to hear Henry launch into some stories about her now, since that was not going to interest him.
“Will you keep shut and tell me where you’ve been?”
“You should do that first ’cause I returned to Nile to search for you,” Henry replied.
“Looking for me? I landed in the toilet here, rushed into your apartment looking for you.”
Henry exclaimed, “Oh! I should have been patient; almost lost my life twice. Grandwala’s speech came to Henry’s mind: …that’s why magicians are powerless—they lack patience.”
“So… what happened?” asked Ted impatiently.
“When I got back there some men attacked me. They almost got the knife from me.”
“Hope they didn’t,” Ted asked in apprehension.
“They didn’t, but…” Henry was sad, “I lost it eventually.”
“How?” squealed Ted, punch-drunk.
“I escaped by touching the map at random, landed before a black man in another country. He trammeled me at once.”
“Hey, don’t joke here,” Ted said not wanting to believe him. “Didn’t you use the magic or the wine’s still at work?”
“I used it,” Henry said, “It didn’t work.”
“Impossible!”
“It’s the truth. An oath was passed on the land that magic will not be potent enough to act against another,” Henry announced sadly. “I was imprisoned, map collected and torn. I sat in the prison, tears flowing down my cheeks.”
“How d’you escape then?”
“When they were about to execute me I began to sketch the map of the USA on the sandy soil there, fast but perfectly. I got into it and I was here.”
“Without the diamond knife?”
“Yes,” said Henry. “You’d better be glad you didn’t lose me, or am I not worth more than a thousand diamond knives to you?” Henry asked, attempting to put an arm across Ted’s neck, but Ted pushed his arm away in displeasure and said, “Leave me alone. Presenting such a knife in Gyrus could earn us two hundred points apiece—you know what that means.”
Sulking, Henry responded, “I know—” then nibbling his right thumbnail, he added, “but it’s gone already now.”
“Then go back there!” Ted yelled, peeved by Henry’s words.
“Ted, don’t shout on me!” Henry shouted back. “Do you mean I should really go back there?”
“I’m stern. You must go get it back, else—”

Henry was disappointed in Ted, who never showed the slightest feeling of pity for him, whose tragedy could be traced back to his love for Ted. If Henry didn't love Ted he would not have returned to Nile to search for him.
In whispers Henry said, “I don’t know which part of the world I touched in the damn map. If I knew then I’ll not hesitate to get back there.”
With visible peeves Ted said, “Plonker !” as he sent a slap to Henry’s left cheek. Then silently he said, “I reserved that for you. It was from Susie—she gave it to me.” Ted was referring to the slap.
With impunity, Ted plodded out of Henry’s room, leaving Henry gazing around in utmost bewilderment. While Henry was still in the pitiable condition, Ted pushed the door open again, stood just at the entrance. Then he said, “Give me the Power Guard’s wand. You’re a careless fellow; you’ll misplace it.” Without arguing Henry acquiesced, releasing the wand to him, keeping mute. Ted grasp it quick and hurried out of Henry’s room as if the room was still filled with the stench of three days ago. As Ted came out of the room, his appearance changed and he became Harrison. It was Harrison, and not Ted, that had come for the wand. He grinned wickedly as he took the same direction the real Ted had taken earlier.

I sight Israellionel. Pls don't leave without making a comment

sammyLuvin:
I sight Israellionel. Pls don't leave without making a comment

nice story bro I've been refreshing since thanks for the update

Wow.... I almost got fooled too

Nice one
More please

Weldone baba,i'm solidly behind you

beautiful story u have here op pls continue

bikassava:
nice story bro I've been refreshing since thanks for the update

Thanks bro for your comment. I'll dedicate next post to you.

DonnahVibe:
Weldone baba,i'm solidly behind you

Thanks so much

“So—” Henry’s face got twisted, “how did you get rid of her from my room?”
“I lured her to have lunch with me out there, to keep her away. Before then I told her you don’t love her, just to let her have a change of mind and leave your room but she was adamant.”
“Ted, since the hug in the rain that day I’ve been having a strong feeling of love for her.”
Ted was gutted and impatient not wanting to hear Henry launch into some stories about her now, since that was not going to interest him.
“Will you keep shut and tell me where you’ve been?”
“You should do that first ’cause I returned to Nile to search for you,” Henry replied.
“Looking for me? I landed in the toilet here, rushed into your apartment looking for you.”
Henry exclaimed, “Oh! I should have been patient; almost lost my life twice. Grandwala’s speech came to Henry’s mind: …that’s why magicians are powerless—they lack patience.”
“So… what happened?” asked Ted impatiently.
“When I got back there some men attacked me. They almost got the knife from me.”
“Hope they didn’t,” Ted asked in apprehension.
“They didn’t, but…” Henry was sad, “I lost it eventually.”
“How?” squealed Ted, punch-drunk.
“I escaped by touching the map at random, landed before a black man in another country. He trammeled me at once.”
“Hey, don’t joke here,” Ted said not wanting to believe him. “Didn’t you use the magic or the wine’s still at work?”
“I used it,” Henry said, “It didn’t work.”
“Impossible!”
“It’s the truth. An oath was passed on the land that magic will not be potent enough to act against another,” Henry announced sadly. “I was imprisoned, map collected and torn. I sat in the prison, tears flowing down my cheeks.”
“How d’you escape then?”
“When they were about to execute me I began to sketch the map of the USA on the sandy soil there, fast but perfectly. I got into it and I was here.”
“Without the diamond knife?”
“Yes,” said Henry. “You’d better be glad you didn’t lose me, or am I not worth more than a thousand diamond knives to you?” Henry asked, attempting to put an arm across Ted’s neck, but Ted pushed his arm away in displeasure and said, “Leave me alone. Presenting such a knife in Gyrus could earn us two hundred points apiece—you know what that means.”
Sulking, Henry responded, “I know—” then nibbling his right thumbnail, he added, “but it’s gone already now.”
“Then go back there!” Ted yelled, peeved by Henry’s words.
“Ted, don’t shout on me!” Henry shouted back. “Do you mean I should really go back there?”
“I’m stern. You must go get it back, else—”

Henry was disappointed in Ted, who never showed the slightest feeling of pity for him, whose tragedy could be traced back to his love for Ted. If Henry didn't love Ted he would not have returned to Nile to search for him.
In whispers Henry said, “I don’t know which part of the world I touched in the damn map. If I knew then I’ll not hesitate to get back there.”
With visible peeves Ted said, “Plonker !” as he sent a slap to Henry’s left cheek. Then silently he said, “I reserved that for you. It was from Susie—she gave it to me.” Ted was referring to the slap.
With impunity, Ted plodded out of Henry’s room, leaving Henry gazing around in utmost bewilderment. While Henry was still in the pitiable condition, Ted pushed the door open again, stood just at the entrance. Then he said, “Give me the Power Guard’s wand. You’re a careless fellow; you’ll misplace it.” Without arguing Henry acquiesced, releasing the wand to him, keeping mute. Ted grasp it quick and hurried out of Henry’s room as if the room was still filled with the stench of three days ago. As Ted came out of the room, his appearance changed and he became Harrison. It was Harrison, and not Ted, that had come for the wand. He grinned wickedly as he took the same direction the real Ted had taken earlier.

Please we need more update ooo

Mavchamp this is for you


“So—” Henry’s face got twisted, “how did you get rid of her from my room?”
“I lured her to have lunch with me out there, to keep her away. Before then I told her you don’t love her, just to let her have a change of mind and leave your room but she was adamant.”
“Ted, since the hug in the rain that day I’ve been having a strong feeling of love for her.”
Ted was gutted and impatient not wanting to hear Henry launch into some stories about her now, since that was not going to interest him.
“Will you keep shut and tell me where you’ve been?”
“You should do that first ’cause I returned to Nile to search for you,” Henry replied.
“Looking for me? I landed in the toilet here, rushed into your apartment looking for you.”
Henry exclaimed, “Oh! I should have been patient; almost lost my life twice. Grandwala’s speech came to Henry’s mind: …that’s why magicians are powerless—they lack patience.”
“So… what happened?” asked Ted impatiently.
“When I got back there some men attacked me. They almost got the knife from me.”
“Hope they didn’t,” Ted asked in apprehension.
“They didn’t, but…” Henry was sad, “I lost it eventually.”
“How?” squealed Ted, punch-drunk.
“I escaped by touching the map at random, landed before a black man in another country. He trammeled me at once.”
“Hey, don’t joke here,” Ted said not wanting to believe him. “Didn’t you use the magic or the wine’s still at work?”
“I used it,” Henry said, “It didn’t work.”
“Impossible!”
“It’s the truth. An oath was passed on the land that magic will not be potent enough to act against another,” Henry announced sadly. “I was imprisoned, map collected and torn. I sat in the prison, tears flowing down my cheeks.”
“How d’you escape then?”
“When they were about to execute me I began to sketch the map of the USA on the sandy soil there, fast but perfectly. I got into it and I was here.”
“Without the diamond knife?”
“Yes,” said Henry. “You’d better be glad you didn’t lose me, or am I not worth more than a thousand diamond knives to you?” Henry asked, attempting to put an arm across Ted’s neck, but Ted pushed his arm away in displeasure and said, “Leave me alone. Presenting such a knife in Gyrus could earn us two hundred points apiece—you know what that means.”
Sulking, Henry responded, “I know—” then nibbling his right thumbnail, he added, “but it’s gone already now.”
“Then go back there!” Ted yelled, peeved by Henry’s words.
“Ted, don’t shout on me!” Henry shouted back. “Do you mean I should really go back there?”
“I’m stern. You must go get it back, else—”

Henry was disappointed in Ted, who never showed the slightest feeling of pity for him, whose tragedy could be traced back to his love for Ted. If Henry didn't love Ted he would not have returned to Nile to search for him.
In whispers Henry said, “I don’t know which part of the world I touched in the damn map. If I knew then I’ll not hesitate to get back there.”
With visible peeves Ted said, “Plonker !” as he sent a slap to Henry’s left cheek. Then silently he said, “I reserved that for you. It was from Susie—she gave it to me.” Ted was referring to the slap.
With impunity, Ted plodded out of Henry’s room, leaving Henry gazing around in utmost bewilderment. While Henry was still in the pitiable condition, Ted pushed the door open again, stood just at the entrance. Then he said, “Give me the Power Guard’s wand. You’re a careless fellow; you’ll misplace it.” Without arguing Henry acquiesced, releasing the wand to him, keeping mute. Ted grasp it quick and hurried out of Henry’s room as if the room was still filled with the stench of three days ago. As Ted came out of the room, his appearance changed and he became Harrison. It was Harrison, and not Ted, that had come for the wand. He grinned wickedly as he took the same direction the real Ted had taken earlier.

I sight bishop7070 with my telescope.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN WHERE IS KENT ROBINS?

The winner of the Halloween Festival grand prize called ‘The Abominable Snowman’ was announced. It was Henry White, for being the person who scared mates the most. He even almost scared them to death—but ironically he would receive some cash for this impressive deed. An award was conferred to the dean also for being the best achiever in the field of medicine in the campus for the year, though the reviving of the supposedly dead person was the only feat he had demonstrated to get such award.
Ted stood standoffish in a corner, wearing a contemptuous look. Ted, who had played the greatest role in the recovery of the ‘almost dying’ souls, had been unrecognized. Not even a single dollar would be remitted to him. Already turning his back towards the front of the hall, exiting, he heard the dean’s voice through the sound system.
“Ladies and gents, I’ve suggested that a new prize should be included in the myriad of awards conferred today and it has been unanimously agreed upon.” Ted halted turning heel, perhaps what was to be announced would do him good. The people wanted to know what the new prize was all about, so they howled and chanted out their willingness.
“The best friend of the season,” the dean announced at last. “It’s my pleasure to present to you Ted Manuel, a part three student of the faculty of Engineering. He was ready to die for his friend Henry, even when Henry was in trouble. The hammer blows Henry should have received Ted received it for him and was rushed down to the school clinic, almost dead. But my medication, applied by a nurse, revived him.”
Ted hurried up the stage very swiftly and received the microphone as the dean had directed him.
“Ted,” asked Professor Wilson, “Can you just briefly tell us the secret that has held your friendship so tight?” If the dean had realized how slack the so-called friendship was at that moment, maybe he would not have asked Ted to tender something. Ted harrumphed, using the time utilized in performing such action to gain audacity. At last he gave a good one:
“Friendship is supposed to be a ship conveying two good people of like purposes and insights, who are heading the same direction and course,” Ted said. “Not two bad people who would end up wanting to make a jetsam out of the other by trying to throw each other down.”
A round of applause and screams followed Ted’s impromptu oration. The dean called Henry out and asked the two friends to demonstrate what they had just professed.
“Quick! Hug yourselves!”
Slowly they clinched, but the natural smiles were not there.
“They can’t even smile at each—” paused the man to smile himself since his incomplete speech had steered up the smiles in them already. “Good, good enough,” commended the man in tandem with the incessant claps and hoots of the viewers.
Ted promptly used the noisy period to pass a message to Henry in whispers. “Henry, forgive me for what I did yesterday.”
“Sure,” whispered Henry back.

story continuation

Ted was handed his monetary prize and the two toddled away from the stage, hand in hand, receiving incessant snapshots as they walked down the aisle. Susie got to her feet to leave, since the sight of the two was becoming unbearable for her, having betrayed her the day before.
Henry noticed her disposition. He hurried after her. Outside the hall Henry called, “Susie” but she did not respond, neither did she halt to hear what he would say. Henry came directly to her front, obstructing her movement.
“Susie, I’ve come to apologize.” She stared at Henry. “Susie, I’m very sorry for my foolishness. I never meant to embarrass you.”
“You asked Ted to lambast me, innit?”
“I didn’t. I was only hiding in a corner of my room for the fear that you might see me. I saw you when you got to my room; the door wasn’t locked.” “Hide—for what?” Susie expressed shock.
“For the fear that you’ll tear me apart for almost killing you—” said Henry, “on Halloween day. So…I had to hide when I heard your voice in my room.”
“But Ted said a lot about you. What he said was true, isn’t it?”
“What did he say?” asked Henry ignorantly, since he was not aware of the conversation between Ted and Susie when he was away that day.
“I thought you said you were in the room hiding,” Susie said. “You should have heard everything.”
“No. The Kitchen was out of earshot. That was where I hid,” lied Henry, but Susie said, “What sorts of ears yours are? Mine can pick whispers at the range of forty meters away.”
“So—what did he say?” Henry wanted to know.
Susie smiled. She was not going to tell him. She stared lustfully at Henry and said, “I Love you.” Henry reciprocated with the same words. They were almost going to hug themselves when Ted rushed to the spot.
“Hey, guys let’s go take some pictures together,” announced Ted, not remembering that he had yet a score to settle.
“Impossible!” Susie vindictively reacted, “Not with a liar like you.”
On hearing that statement, Ted remembered the unburied hatchet himself and Susie had stumbled over the day before.
“Oh, Susie I’m sorry,” Ted said, “I wasn’t myself yesterday when I was lambasting you—perhaps I was tipsy then.”
Ted speech made no impact.
“I’ll never forgive you,” said Susie vindictively.
“I said I’m sorry,” Ted said in annoyance, though not outwardly expressed. He added, “I never meant what I said those times.”
“You shouldn’t have said what you never meant. It’s of no use begging me now.” Susie was adamant still.
Ted was going to bribe Susie with words.
“Susie you know I’m always ready to die for your lover? Moreover, I was the one who brought about your friendship—try to remember.”
“Indeed you are—but that was a thing of the past,” complained Susie.
Ted was exasperated. He came before Susie and said, “Okay you can slap me if you want.”
Susie was already prepared to give the slap but Henry swiftly butted in.
“No, Susie don’t do that—just forgive the poor boy.”
It was plain that such action taken by Henry was more of personal interest than trying to save Ted. His intention had only been engendered by the fact that Ted was going to keep the slap and give it to him as soon as Susie had departed.
“Alright… I’m forgiving you for Henry’s sake,” Susie announced.
“Thanks,” Ted shook her hand. “Let’s go get snapped now.”

]It was Gyrus day again. Everyone was settled as the magistrate walked up the stage to say something as usual. His dressing was of ancient outlook that day, putting on a long robe and a pair of glasses. His face was unusually strong.
“Ladies and gentlemen it’s a usual practice to give promotion to our achievers of the year on a day like this. We shall also relay those who had died over the months too, within this year.” His speech was accompanied with howls of joy. The man’s over-sized goggles needed some adjustments because it was almost falling off his sweaty and slippery face. He wiped his face briskly and pushed the goggle lightly, well over the bridge of his nose.
“We shall also give room for those whose achievements has not been known yet to relay them with strong evidences that they really attained such. Henry and Ted smiled at that. They were on special attires. Professor Kent Robins was the first called upon to get his medal. Then he would help to put on the gadget and display the records of each achiever.
“Professor Kent Robins!” announced the magistrate slowly. “Let’s give him a warm welcome as he steps to the stage.”
Shouts of joy filled the air. They were on their feet to give him a standing ovation.
“He’s been truthful ever since I know him. He’s a friend and a genius who upgraded the Gyrus mirrors such that you can use them to check the nearest or farthest future of the ordinary ones—did many inventions in Gyrus here and also made the great automatic capture machine and this screen. The memory of this camera called the capture machine is far too high, such as never was invented in the world and would never be invented,” said the magistrate as he was expecting the man to present himself.
The magistrate gave doubt a room when he saw no one fleeting forward. He knew that if the man had wanted to come up it wouldn’t have taken him up to a second to achieve that. However, Patrick Rutherford kept on bestowing the accolades on the man in absentia.
“He’s a man of integrity,’ continued the man, “Humble, gentle, meek, kind and always ready to forgive others. Clap, clap—clap your hands as the Power Guard of this kingdom steps forward to unlock the machine.”
No one came out!
“Where’s the Power Guard?” the magistrate asked. Whispers pervaded the air but no answer came. Henry and Ted were feigning surprises too.
“Where is the Power Guard?” asked the Magistrate again. His facial expression was expressing shock. “Control room workers come over,” he commanded. Twelve persons, eight males and four females, swooped to the podium.
“Where’s your master?” asked the man, but they answered by shrugging. “Get me the Ultimate Round Glass,” demanded the man and in haste it was brought before him. The glass was round and had a diameter of almost ten meters, but its lens was about six meters thick. It had a base on which the entire glass was resting. The glass was very light, yet four people had to bear it because of its large size. Pointing his wand to it the magistrate pronounced that the glass should get at work. The globe was displayed on it at first, spinning very slowly in an almost insignificant manner. Many pondered why the globe seemed not moving at all, especially Henry, who kept musing, “But the scientists said that the earth was revolving the sun at a speed of about a hundred and seven thousand kilometers per hour.”
Henry heard a voice towards his left, “Don’t you think it’s time difference causing it?” It was Dolly’s voice. Henry was shocked yet he never got the tacit explanation, but the girl was not ready to expatiate. She was just beaming with smiles. On the globe displaced on the screen came to lime light the map of the US, revealing Arkansas vividly, then Memphis and finally many houses were beginning to display on the screen. The Power Guard’s house came up at last. The man was seen in his parlor sitting before the TV, watching a musician displaying her talent in it. It seemed Henry was the most baffled when he saw what the man was watching on the TV. However, he remained as if unconcerned, but the magistrate was not able to stomach the turnout of things. “What the hell!” he yelled.

Thank you so much

Mor please

Ted was sweating in fright, thinking the man was still alive, meaning that he would begin to seek revenge against himself and Henry, who had attempted to end his life earlier. Seemed no one, or at least just a single person, knew the trick the Professor (Kent Robins) had played. Factually, what the man had done was simple. After dying in the Island of Forgetfulness, the first place he had called at was the Gyrus Planet to spend the first one-fifth of his five-minute extra time before departing to his residence to spend the rest of the time. Since a minute on earth was incredibly an hour and twelve minutes in Gyrus, the man was able to do a lot on all the machines he had invented. He damaged them all and then backdated his life to a time when he was seated watching a music on the TV, such event took place just two months away. The backdated event was what he eventually uploaded into the screen.
“Wonderful!” Is this an optical illusion or something? The Power Guard’s sitting back on earth watching the TV while Gyrus meeting is on.” The magistrate brought his face closer to the screen and screamed, “Professor Kent Robins!” but it seemed the image was too much engrossed in the thing he was watching that he didn’t hear his voice to give a response. Instead, he suddenly burst into laughter as he jerked up to have a quick bop.
The magistrate spoke softly this time, “Professor Kent Robins, here’s Gyrus Magistrate speaking.” No response!
The man’s anger showed on his face as he shouted, “Rebellion! Treason!” but the man on the screen seemed unperturbed just as the image of a person on TV would do when trying to answer a difficult question and the answer was being whispered to it by those out there in the real world.
“This had never happened in this planet—open rebellion!”
The magistrate beckoned on his subordinates and the lieutenants to come forward. Quickly putting heads together they began to whisper various suggestions into one another’s ears, but amazingly, their whisperings were ear-piercing, striking the ears of every one in the planet with great celerity, meaning that the AGC was faulty too.
“He’s damaged the automatic amplifier,” said the magistrate in terror. “Our discussion shouldn’t have sounded out that way—for everyone to hear,” the magistrate said as if the magicians did not know that beforehand, “Betrayal!” In annoyance the man said, “Get set to leave for earth to search him out! Bring him here dead or alive! The last to leave Gyrus shall die!”
Hearing that, everyone was set to leave at breakneck speeds. Nobody wanted to die. Harrison swooshed towards Ted and Henry as every one was fleeing Gyrus. He made to knock them down both but they veered so quick and Harrison unintentionally knocked down someone else—Nick—who had arrived at the nick of time. Nick was Harrison’s only friend. Nick got up to his feet three seconds later, but the planet was already empty. Looking around and seeing no one, fear gripped his body and almost handicapped him. He leaped to get out of Gyrus too but it seemed a great invisible wall stopped him. The momentum with which he leapt was so great that the impact created by the collision was immense and his head got bursted. He bled to death!

CHAPTER NINETEEN
CRAZY TRICK

Sighing in Ted’s apartment were Henry and Ted. They had just returned from Gyrus.
“So, you made it Henry,” joshed Ted, “I thought Harrison had succeeded in pushing you down in Gyrus,” Ted breath was with difficulty.
“Almost,” replied Henry uneasily. “My speed helped me—two thousand kilometers per picosecond. He knocked down his best friend, Nick.”
Ted was shocked on hearing Henry’s speed. “That was my speed exactly too.” Ted put a hand into the pocket of his trousers and took out a speedometer. “Aouch! It’s hot!” screamed Ted as he carelessly threw it to the floor. “Henry, did you say he knocked Nick down?”
“Yeah,” said Henry. “I saw Nick fall dangerously. I just wish Nick a lucky escape because the fall was dangerous.”
Henry remembered what Ted had said the day before concerning two enemies calling each other friend:
…not two bad people who will end up wanting to make a jetsam out of the other, by trying to throw each other down.
“It fits the relationship between Harrison and Nick,” he concluded in his mind.
Henry said to Ted, “Let’s report this issue to the magistrate in Gyrus,” in a pitiful manner, but Ted took it with utmost seriousness, bulging his eyes and said, “Report what?”
“The event of course—Harrison pushed Nick.”
“Maybe you’ll do that all alone by yourself,” Ted said. “No more life risking. No more busybody.”
“You’re right,” concurred Henry. “We almost lost our lives trying to help Kim. We can be taken aback if Nick himself testifies against us.”
Slumping intentionally onto the sofa like a log of wood Henry said, “Ted, we’ve got no search to make, but we have all the time to waste.”
“Yes,” laughed Ted. “Those searching for the Guard are only searching in vain. They should go look for him in the Island of Forgetfulness.”
“Yeah, we have his wand here with us.” Henry smiled, then his attention was called back to the Island of Forgetfulness Ted had just mentioned. “Ted, since we left the Island we never even spoke once about it.”
“What have we got to say?” Ted replied. “Killing the Power Guard was all I could remember.”
“Myself too,” Henry concurred, “But why?”
“I don’t know—maybe from its name—Forgetfulness.”
It seemed the old sage’s prediction had come to pass, who had told them that the only thing any one that had come to the Island would remember was a murder they had committed (if at all such had committed murder in the Island) else all the person would be saying would be without a single evidence.
Ted spoke out suddenly, “Is the man still alive? We saw him watching the TV.”
Henry laughed at Ted’s afterthought.
“You just spoke as if you’re an illiterate,” said Henry. “He invented the Ultimate Round Glass, so—there’s nothing he can’t do with it. Let me clear your doubt, that musician shown on the TV in there was in a life performance—twenty-fifth of December last year, not today as it seemed when we were watching it in Gyrus. Her name is Kate—Kate White.”
“Your sister?” Ted asked. “You told me that your sister’s name is Kate, isn’t it?”
“Exactly,” Henry said silently, face expressing grudge for his sister in absentia. “In fact my hatred for her was what pushed me into the magic.”
“You don’t mean it!”
“Father and Mother warned us not to indulge in music and magic practices. They promised to disown whoever defaults.”
“But you guys have defaulted already.” Ted was confused. “And I don’t think any of you was disowned.”
“She gave me the courage to join the magic,” Henry said, “because when she went fully into the music career last year. Mum and dad did not disown her as promised when they heard of it. I was psyched up by such happening to join the cult.”
Ted was mute. He asked Henry later for the reason why he hated his sister so much that way, but Henry said, “I don’t know. All I know is this; we grew to hate each other.”
“Hate one another without a cause? It’s terrible!”
Ted’s mood had changed drastically, casting his mind back to his family background. Ted never had a sister to play with. If he had one, he was not going to treat her in the way Henry was treating his presently. Ted remembered the childish dream he had had in Willis Brown’s place when he was six. In the dream he had a nuclear family again. He had a younger sister, who, out of love, promised to follow Ted wherever he was going and Ted himself vowed to take her anywhere too.
When Ted woke from sleep he wept and said, “Tessie was a traitor, she didn’t fulfill her promise,” but Ted childishly accepted part of the blame too when he remembered that himself had failed in fulfilling his promise, having promised that he would take Tessie with him to anywhere. He wished to have such a dream again; this time, he would sure get her out to the real world, no matter what it would cost him. But to Ted’s amazement then the dream never came back to him again till the present moment.
Ted was jolted out of his reverie by the sudden nudge he had just received from Henry’s elbow.
“What are you thinking ’bout?”
“Nothing,” said Ted leering in a lackluster manner at Henry. Then he said in earnest, “Henry, I’m sure one day both of you will come together again in love.”
“Never!” Henry blushed, “Neither in the reality nor in the dream world,” concluded Henry, but Ted looked dejectedly at the floor, remembering the dream again. Ted’s wish was Henry’s poison—what a funny planet to live on…Earth!”
“What if I get married to her?” Ted said suddenly. “I’m sure you’ll not want to hate my wife, Henry.”
“I’ll hate both of you,” Henry voiced out, but he quickly modified his speech before things would get out of hand again. “I’ll not allow that to happen rather, ’cos I can’t just open my eyes to see my friend get married to my enemy.”
“Henry,” Ted said playfully, “You’re just too difficult a genius to handle.”
“Don’t call me genius. You’re one too.”
“No, you are. You sketched the map of the US more perfect than a cartographer.”
“Ted, you—” Henry pointed, “you located the US on a blank paper too. I’m sure no one in history had ever done that. No sniper can target something so well as you’ve done.” They shook hands cordially and Ted said, “Henry, we’re on the verge of making history in Gyrus.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” admitted Henry, then he added, “Ted I’m hungry. Shall we go get something at the café?”
“Why not?” Ted responded greedily, “The speed of travel had rendered me famished.”[