The search for Merlin Homes 14/15

Albert grinned as he dismounted and saw them looking round the empty space, obviously wondering why on earth they’d been brought to this particular place. He stood there proudly for a moment before twiddling his fingers, whereupon a very shiny Merlin cottage appeared in front of them.

“I always use the cloaking device when I visit town, even though no one can steal it, I have known people try to break in and take valuables.”

“Cloaking device?” asked Morwenna in a puzzled voice as they all got off the scooter.

“Before we go any further, I take it you are witches looking to buy a cottage for yourselves. Your daughter may be a bit young, but she has that look about her that suggests she’ll eventually be quite powerful, given the right training.”

Jennifer Jane laughed and immediately handed out chocolate Swiss rolls all round. Moggy started making a fuss, so she produced a fish and saucer of milk for him as well.

Albert grinned, “Nice technique kid, I don’t know which world you’re from, but have you ever heard of a girl wonder called Jennifer Jane? She must be about the same age as you.”

This time all three of them laughed uproariously. Moggy rolling over on his back waving his feet in the air, while Jennifer Jane was crying with laughter and had to lean on Morwenna so that she didn’t fall over.

Albert waited politely until they’d all calmed down. “I’m sorry but have I said something to amuse you?”

“I am Jennifer Jane,” she said tucking her feet up under herself and floating over to Albert. “Here have another Swiss roll!”

“Showing off doesn’t get us any nearer to solving our problem,” said Morwenna.

She explained the situation to Albert as they ate their cakes.

“But haven’t you read your instruction book? ‘In the unlikely event of a malfunction please stay with your cottage. One of our representatives will find you and correct the problem as soon as it is practical to do so!’”

“Wait a minute, when did you buy your cottage?” asked Morwenna.

“Only about five years ago, it’s one of the new ones with the crossed over Ley lines. I spent a couple of jolly interesting days just reading all the instructions.”

Morwenna looked at Jennifer Jane. “Have you got any idea what he’s talking about? ‘Crossed Ley lines’ and I don’t know any one who has an instruction book. Probably half of the original owners couldn’t read anyway!”

“I don’t want to appear rude, but I suppose your cottage must be one of the older models that have been handed down to you. I think you’d better come inside and I’ll show you what I’m talking about.”

He led them up into the roof space where the cottage serial number had been carved into the main roof beam.

“There,” he said proudly, “number seven hundred and three.”

He pressed the full stop at the end of the number and a secret drawer popped open containing an impressive looking certificate and a small booklet.

“I was told that the older models had the same arrangement but you had to remember a spell to open the drawer.”

“Well blow me down!” exclaimed Morwenna as they went back to the sitting room. “I’ve never seen an ownership certificate or an instruction book before. All these things must have been forgotten over the years during the various changes of ownership. I wonder if you could do me a favour and take us all back to my cottage?”

“I’d be only too pleased,” said Albert, where have you left it?”

“It’s in this world and over the sea in that direction,” said Jennifer Jane with a smile. She had a pretty strong feeling that she knew what the answer was going to be.

Albert shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sorry but I can’t take you anywhere with those sort of directions. It would be quicker for you to retrace the route you took getting here!”

“Well at least we know what to do now,” said Morwenna, “the sooner we start, the sooner we’ll get this over with.”

Albert came out into the front garden to see them off. “Are you really Jennifer Jane?” he asked. “I’ve always been led to believe she was rather taller and went round with a pet dragon, not a cat!”

Jennifer Jane suppressed a sigh and opened the scooter’s boot. She rummaged around for a moment then took out the scroll that Abigail had given her so long ago. Albert looked at it carefully, then handed it back with great respect. A sudden thought seemed to strike him.

“Please wait a moment,” he said and dashed back inside. A moment later he came back with his cottage’s instruction book. “Would you please sign this for me,” he asked. “If you could just write something like ‘thanks for your help Albert’ and sign your name after it, I’d be ever so pleased and proud. Then if you wouldn’t mind doing me one more favour, could you please teach me the spell for making those little chocolate cakes? They were jolly nice! I’m sorry ma’am,” he said looking at Morwenna, “but I’m afraid you’re not famous, no insult intended.”

Morwenna laughed, “don’t worry about it, if it’s any consolation I haven’t heard of you either!”

“We seem to have fallen on our feet at last,” said Morwenna as they took off and waved goodbye to Albert. “You also seem to have made a big impression on that young man.”