Angel Sphere

"I like to tear them apart.  It's very therapeutic I find." said Sir Perfun.  

"A bit like squeezing bubble wrap is it?" asked Jack.

"Yes but better than that. When I am feeling down I have whole sheets set aside just so I can tear them into strips. When you have the knack you can part a sheet in two using one continuous movement. Of course I have to limit the number of times I can do this, as the ever diminishing stockpile will run out one day. But then there is the lure of that staccato effect when the stamps split asunder ..."

Jack broke into the reverie, “We are supposed to be discussing my great ancestor Winston Wood's third diary volume, the one my mother decided to reveal from another of her recent attic wanderings. After our first adventure why would you wait four years to tell us there was more than one book?"

"Well put it down to the pressures of motherhood, replied Sir Perfun.  Speaking of pressures, I assumed you have managed to influence the ‘Perferationists’ of late?  Those hot heads have not been placarding Post Offices for at least a year now."

"Let's just say in my capacity as the owner and discoverer of the world's oldest stamp that I was able to steer them towards a less disruptive means of protest.  One that should get more attention as we take it to the highest levels." declared Jack.  

"Getting stamps back is a worthy cause and you have already done more than anyone else, so why get involved with this lot?” implored Sir Perfun.  

"I am not planning anything drastic, assured Jack. Now let me read to you the final entries found in Volume 3."

 

‘At the very beginning as a procedural experiment, Mr. Hill addressed a letter to myself. We took bets as to how long it might take to arrive.  In due course and with great satisfaction it came in a timely fashion.  We were confident the process was working. I have treasured this note for the past 50 years and have framed it in my diary. My final postman’s act is to send these volumes for safekeeping on my retirement.’

 

"This entry is dated Nov 1890, added Jack. There is one more much later entry dated 1909, using a different script,”

 

'I have kept the promise and enshrined the history. It is in the best place in the World, as you are one of the original messengers, Heinrich.' 

 

"It's like a tribute or a debt paid years later", suggested Sir Perfun.

“In summary then, someone named Heinrich has secreted the 2nd volume of the trilogy and presumably returned the remaining two, to your great grandmother and they have been in the family ever since.  And he waited 19 years before he did so.  We should have another talk to your parents about Heinrich." determined Sir Perfun.

 

"Just like Sgt Shultz, I know nothing," said his mother on being quizzed about Heinrich. 

"Who is Sgt Shultz?" asked Jack

"Never you mind but I will say this guy sounds German to me," replied Mrs. Fry. 

"Oh I am a dummkopf, I believe you have hit it, came the sudden realisation from Sir Perfun.  Your Winston Wood served for 50 years in the Post Office and no doubt gained in experience the whole way, so much so that he would have travelled thru greater Europe, lending his expertise to other countries. Perhaps even presiding at the Treaty of Bern," beamed Sir Perfun.

"If you say so, those details are probably in the missing volume but why would he be interested in a peace treaty?" asked Mrs. Fry.

"Not a peace treaty, a blueprint as it were for setting up the UPU and brokered by none other than Heinrich von Stephan," answered Sir Perfun.

"Not those guys again," moaned Jack. 

"Who are these UPU guys and what did they do?" asked Mrs. Fry.

"They are the Universal Postal Union and they decided we didn't need stamps any more," was Jack's testy reply.

"Come now Jack, you know the situation is under review. Especially since WorPhilEx four years ago, there has been a Stamp-ede of support for the return of the 'lick it and stick it'", chuckled Sir Perfun. 

"Yes, well I think they need another reminder," replied Jack.

 
"How long is this flight to Bern?" asked Jack.

"Is this the 18 year old’s way of asking "Are we there yet?" from a flippant Sir Perfun. "I upgraded you to first class so we could work in comfort and spend the time profitably." 

"I could have paid for that ticket myself thanks to my benefactor," said Jack.

"How much is Sir Melan paying you for the privilege of maintaining your Penny Blacks at his house?" asked Sir Perfun.

Jack dodged, "It was his idea, a five year deal to be revisited at the end of next year. My parents agreed on condition it paid  for the education costs of my sister and myself.  But having turned 18, I have a steady income now." 

"More likely payments to keep you quiet, you mean. I have here the short history of the UPU from their website, it may help us fit the timeline from the diary, continued Sir Perfun. It mentions 1874 as the UPU year of inception but nothing to tie in the year 1909. There are sections on Sir Rowland Hill and Heinrich von Stephan and another history lesson about early messengers."

"Wait, broke in Jack, that last entry by Heinrich said Winston was one of the original messengers." 

"Yes, by Sir Rowland's beard, you have spotted something there,” replied Sir Perfun.

A google search soon displayed the Logo of the UPU. It was an image of the world surrounded by mystical beings.

"Who are they? inquired Jack. 
 
“Now I recognise this image, stated Sir Perfun. It says here they are messengers delivering mail around the globe and was adopted as the symbol of the UPU in 1967."

"How quaint," said Jack.

"Yes a little too quaint for 1967 with its rock n roll long hairs", wondered Sir Perfun. 

Sir Perfun continued to type away while Jack nodded off. There were some snorts and snores and nearby passengers could not tell which was coming from whom.  Sir Perfun nudged the doser.

"The crux of the matter has been breached, he declared. The UPU logo is based on a statue." 

Jack scrutinised the image of an official occasion. 
 
"Can you read that caption Jack?" asked Sir Perfun.

"The UPU unveiling of 1909." read Jack.

"Bingo, the same year as Heinrich’s entry in the diary.” said Sir Perfun.
“I thought we were supposed to be meeting UPU hierarchy just then. That guy wasn’t much older than me, declared Jack.  His card says ‘Nils Kluge - Product Development’.   I thought I raised some valid points about stamps being more than a delivery tool. They are an industry in themselves, generating a financial stream, are an educational aid and in at least one case provide therapeutic relief for old men.” 

“You didn’t have to mention that bit, muttered Sir Perfun.  He was obviously a more recent employee when you tripped him up about the company logo.  He knew that messengers circled the globe but had no idea about a statue”.

“I was thinking it would be here in the grounds somewhere,” replied Jack.  “Do you remember which way we came in?” 

“I think it’s this way,” as Sir Perfun marched down another corridor.

They had gone a different way and were admiring numerous art works and framed stamp designs when they came across a rather securitised doorway.

“What do you think this means?” asked Jack.

Sir Perfun read out the sign above the door.

“’Technology Centre – Restricted Access’.  It’s certainly not our exit door. The Nannite Research Lab is somewhere in there.  They are the boffins who replaced stamps with nannite addressing capability.”

“I know who they are,” grumbled Jack.

”Well look at that,” declared Sir Perfun.

Further down the passageway was a photo of a statue, the statue, with a clear caption “Park der Kleine Schanze”.
The Park was about 1km away on the other side of the River Aare.  They proceeded directly there and stretching before them was an incredibly large sculpture. There were people sitting at its base and children climbing on the stone section. But at the very top was the World made out of bronze and flowing with nymphs and below a seated female carved from granite.

"Who is she?” asked Jack. 

“A figure of authority gazing out over her minions,” replied Sir Perfun.

“Why does she have her boobs sticking out then?” was Jacks next question.

"I knew you were going to ask me that. It's a French thing OK, let’s get on with it, suggested Sir Perfun. Heinrich wrote about the safest place in the World and I can see a World just up there.”

Jack did not hesitate but climbed to the top. A rap on the side confirmed it was indeed hollow. He used a tree branch to scrape and dislodge a deal of bird poo. This revealed a break in the smooth surface, a panel that might be opened.  They stood back to determine the best approach.

"Jack I think the diary entry implied that the messengers were the key" said Sir Perfun. "I mean actually the key."

The third messenger was not welded to the sphere, a slight movement was detected when it was pushed.  Jack was a muscular 18 year old and this time he applied himself and the panel came open.  There were only a few people about and did seem to be curious about this action.  Jack was astonished to have actually opened the vault. He calmly reached in and retrieved a copper box cradled there.  He closed the opening with a jerk and climbed down to ground level. The book was perfectly preserved as was the First Day Cover inside it.  Sir Perfun dubbed it the First 'First Day Cover'. 

"What wonders you have led us to these last few years,” he said to Jack.  

Jack was thoughtful, "You know, in the plane after we worked out the riddle of this place, I thought I might try some stupid stunt like daub red paint all over it.  Having come here though, I think I will just clean it up, make it shine. They don't look like messengers to me, they are more like angels guarding the world. Who knows what dangers might be lurking out there.”