The Winged Witch 13/15

At that moment one of the scientists ran over and gave Sam a perfectly polished cube. “We tried out your friend’s suggestion on the synthetic mixture we used for your models. That’s been burned from the solid, now if we can find a way of turning the raw material into a suitably sized lump, we’re in business!”

“That’s easy,” said Jennifer Jane, “any reasonably competent witch can combine the teeth into any sized lump you want. With a bit of practice, I should think the model shape you want could even be produced roughly, leaving only a minimum amount of burning time to finish the thing off. That should reduce your costs even further.”

“The only problem is that we don’t seem to have any witches,” said Sam pointing at the recovering lady.

“I’ve got an idea about that. I’ll have to go back to the Witches’ Home and have a chat with my superiors, but I suspect solving the surplus tooth problem will make them agree with me.”

As soon as she got back to the Witches’ Home, Jennifer Jane went to see Abigail and discussing the proposed solution together they walked round to the front of the Home and into the workshop. Polly looked up tearfully as they arrived. Neither she nor Robert appeared to have moved since Jennifer Jane had last seen them. Robert was still trying to comfort his fairy friend and they both appeared to be quite content sitting on one of the benches with their arms round each other.

“Jennifer Jane has suggested a rather unusual solution to the problems we’re having disposing of the surplus teeth,” said Abigail. “I will have to ask the senior witches if they agree, but the idea is that Polly is given basic training in witchcraft, before going with Robert to world two hundred and thirty. If he has a small workshop there, he can prepare moulds that are approximately the shape of whatever model is to be produced. Polly can use her new skills to combine the correct quantity of teeth to fill the mould, which the scientists can then process in their normal manner.”

“The big advantage of this system,” continued Jennifer Jane, “is that you’ll be on the spot to deal with the latest designs. We can make the workshop spell proof, so that nobody else can find out how magic is done. You’ll both be together and I don’t doubt you can come to some arrangement about where you live and how much you earn with the inhabitants. I dare say you can even have holidays and return here to see your friends if you would like to.”

Later that evening, Jennifer Jane brought her parents up to date on the story. “The senior witches agreed with my idea, so Polly is going to start her training tomorrow. Lieutenant Moonshine already has a replacement for her at the Wish Warehouse, so she won’t be missed. Robert’s assistant in the workshop will take over his place, so everyone seems to be happy. Not only that, but Abigail tells me that Polly will become the first ever fairy able to perform magic!”