There she found the source of the music. Magus had hired the Royal Philharmonic to play at the wedding later that day, and he had them playing “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” as he conducted. What really took her breath away was the vast array of cleaning implements all doing their own work. She embraced Magus fervently and then kissed him. Magus disentangled himself.
“Mrs. Goldberg, please remember yourself.” he said jokingly. “I’m old enough to be a very distant ancestor!”
At that moment Teddy entered.
“How much did you finally have to drink?” he said disapprovingly.
Magus looked down at him.
“Not enough to get drunk. I haven’t been drunk since 1492 when I discovered America.”
“That was Columbus Doctor.” said Yetta.
“No, he got there a week after me.” replied Magus. “But I let him have the credit.”
“If I were you I’d go to the kitchen and see Captain Watt.” said Teddy. “He’s suffering from last night.”
Magus soon entered the kitchen to see Watt clasping his head. Magus smiled.
“I have been shot down over Kuwait, been toe to toe with Smasher and Woodwose, and felt the full force of Darkmagus’ power, but that is nothing to compared to the pain I am feeling now!”
“Maybe you should try my cure for hangovers.”
Magus opened his hand and waved his other hand over it. A glass of clear liquid appeared from out of nowhere. He handed it to Watt.
“A concoction I last used hundreds of years ago. I think Connor McCloud was the last one I tried it on. It worked quite well.”
Watt drank the drink. A few seconds later he perked up a bit.
“That feels a lot better. Thanks Phineas.”
Yetta then entered the kitchen.
“No breakfast for me today Yetta. I’d better get ready.”
Yetta looked surprised.
“You cured his hangover? What did you give him?”
“Water.”
“Water? But water isn’t a cure for hangovers.”
“I know. I merely planted the suggestion into his mind making him think the glass of water could cure his hangover. It worked quite well.”
It was a beautiful day outside St. Paul’s Cathedral as the guests began to arrive for what many termed the wedding of the year. Many prominent politicians, including the Prime Minister Neil Smith and the leader of the opposition Simon Harkes began to arrive. The Home Secretary, Simon Kennedy, soon arrived, along with several prominent royals. Then the superheroes began to arrive. This was rather an odd sight because they arrived in their costumes. First to arrive was Supercop. Shortly afterwards Tiger and Tigress arrived, each wearing their tribal guard. Connor and Duncan McCloud arrived, each wearing the tartan kilt of the clan McCloud. Many more began to arrive before the groom and best man. Pendragon was dressed in a smart suit, while Watt wore the uniform of an RAF captain.
They soon made their way to the altar. Watt began to shuffle nervously.
“Have you got the ring?” he asked.
“Yes Jim, I’ve got the ring.”
“What about the reception?”
“Magus organised everything at Raven Manor. Everything is well in hand.”
Then the orchestra began to play as the Bentley carrying Magus and Katrina arrived outside. The bride soon stepped out of the car, soon followed by the man who was giving her away.
“How do you feel?” asked Magus.
“Nervous.”
The two of them were soon walking up the aisle to the sound of “Here Comes the Bride”. Everyone looked around as they walked, and soon Watt and Katrina were standing side by side at the alter. Soon Godbold began the service.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the face of the congregation to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocence, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his church, which holy estate Chris ordained and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men, and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men’s carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God, duly considering the causes for which matrimony was ordained.”
If any two people could have been nervous at that moment they weren’t as nervous as Watt and Katrina. Soon they exchanged the most sacred vows that any two people could take.
“I now pronounce you man and wife.” Godbold continued. “You may kiss the bride.”
This was probably the proudest moment of their lives. They embraced, and could now call themselves man and wife.
It was a short time later when the new Mr. and Mrs. James Watt left the church to be greeted by a very warm reception from the gathered crowd. After the usual confetti throwing and the obligatory taking of photographs the happy couple soon entered Magus’ Bentley, which was being driven by Johangas Khan. A motorcade was soon heading towards Raven Manor.
The grounds of Raven Manor were full or marquee tents. Many catering vans and trucks were parked nearby as the many guests tucked into a splendid meal. The speeches soon began. Arthur Pendragon’s best man speech went down very well. Then followed the speech by the man who have the bride away, Phineas Magus.
“Ladies and gentlemen, and I think that takes in most of you, I would like to thank you all for attending the wedding today. I am sure you would agree with me that it was a wonderful occasion. I would also like to welcome you to Raven Manor, which is my gift to the happy couple. But before I extol the virtues of the bridge and groom I have an important announcement to make. I thought that now would be the right time to make this announcement because of those from the government who are here today. Two months from today the Phineas Magus School for the Gifted will open on the site where Camelot Castle was situated over a thousand years ago. The project will be funded by myself and a silent partner. It will train youngsters in the use of their powers in the hope that they can join Anglo-Force and use their powers for the common good. This school will also provide for the students’ academic needs, and hopefully it will be recognised by the schools board. Ladies and gentlemen the future will soon by upon us, and with my school the future will be protected.”
It was three hours later when the happy couple went to leave for their honeymoon, at a location known only to themselves and Magus. Before getting into the Bentley Katrina turned her back and threw her bouquet into the crowd. Everyone was quite surprised when Toby caught the flowers. After all, Labradors can hardly get married.
The crowd waved as the Bentley drove down the road. As they did Reid approached Magus.
“The final checks are complete.” said Reid. “Everything is ready.”
“Good.” said Magus. “Let me return to Craigmillar first to collect a few things and when we can be on our way.”
It was early the next morning when Magus arrived at the mansion, choosing to enter via the tradesmen’s entrance. He soon made his way to Reid’s lab, and he found the doctor making the final adjustments.
“Is everything ready?” Magus asked.
“Yes. I’ve found a planet which would take over three hundred years to travel to by today’s space craft. With my transporter we can make the journey in a matter of seconds.”
“Can we get a view of this world?”
Reid pressed a button on the panel and an image appeared on the screen.
“It’s the spitting image of London.” said Magus. “But how do we know it’s not our London?”
“We just do.” said Reid. “Now Doctor, if you would like to step into the transporter then we shall be on our way.”
Reid energised the transporter and the portal began to hum with the energy. Soon Magus stepped through and he was soon followed by Reid. A short time later they appeared in another alleyway. Reid took out a small device from his pocket.
“Transportation is complete. According to my instruments we are in…London.”
“May I suggest we look around and see what is different?”
The two soon left the alley and emerged onto a busy shopping street. Both of them looked around and smiled. It was as if they were just two more faces in the crowd.
“What now?” asked Reid.
“I suggest we find something to read.” Magus replied. “ book, or perhaps a newspaper.”
They soon found a newsagents and brought a copy of times. Outside they began to read it.”
“The date is identical.” said Reid.
“Yes, but there is no mention of a big wedding as there was yesterday on our world.”
Magus continued to read through the paper. Suddenly be began to smile.
“What is it?”
“According to this article the new Anglo-Force novel was published earlier.”
“Then there is an Anglo-Force on this world. But why would anyone want to write about their adventures?”
“For probably the same reason that Arthur Conan-Doyle wrote about Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock seemed quite put out when Doyle seemed to portray him as a fictional character. Come, we mustn’t stand here all day. We must find a library and study this world’s history so that we can compare it with our own.”
Mr. X sat in the monitor room of the mansion. He watched the scanner screen intently as the strange reading continued. He then pressed a button on the communications panel. A few minutes later Jetson Man entered.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’ve been monitoring this strange energy reading for the past few minutes.” Mr. X replied.
Jetson Man studied the readout on the screen.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before.” he said. “Have you cross-checked it with the files?”
“I’ve carried out every possible check. There’s nothing that compares with it.”
“Keep an eye on it. It may be nothing, but if it changes alert me instantly.”
Kurgen sat in the monitor room of the mansion, watching the scanner screen intently as the strange energy reading continued He then pressed a button on the communications panel.
“Cabal, come to the monitor room. There is something here you should look at.”
A few minutes later the wizard sat in the chair looking at the screen.
“How long have you been monitoring this reading?” asked Cabal.
“It appeared only a few minutes ago.” Kurgen replied.
Cabal began to rub his chin.
“I have seen this reading only a few times before. It appears to be some sort of portal.”
“A portal? From where?”
“That I can’t tell, but this may be the challenge I have been looking for.”
Cabal got to his feet and went towards the exit.
“Tell Mordrid, Watt and Ant to meet me in the hangar. Find out the location of that reading and then join us.”
Magus sat at a table in the massive library, countless history books spread out in front of him.
“This is very interesting.” he said.
“How so?” Reid asked.
“According to these books Anglo-Force did not form in 1939.”
“What about last year?”
Magus flipped through a few more pages.
“There’s no mention of them forming last year either.”
Then a library assistant came to the table carrying an armful of books. She slowly put them down on the table.
“Here is everything we have on Anglo-Force. You’re lucky we have these because they’re very popular.”
“Thank you.” said Magus.
Reid picked up one of the hardback books and looked inside the front cover.
“You’re not going to like this.” he said.
He began to read from the sleeve notes.
“The characters of Anglo-Force were created in 1987, and give years later some of these original stories were extensively rewritten by the authors, and it is those versions which were published here in this volume.”
Magus snatched the book from Reid and began to read it.
“According to this I was created by a civil servant, and most of my adventures were written by an unemployed writer.”
A disgusted look appeared on Magus’ face.
“It would seem that on this world we are just fictional characters.” said Magus.
“That would explain a lot of things.” said Reid. “Why Anglo-Force never former. But at least there is one god thing about this. At least no one would be harmed by any super-powered villains.”
“I suppose you’re right. We should continue with our studies.”
Magus picked up one of the Anglo-Force novels and began reading it.
“I just hope they haven’t said I wear a pointed hat!”
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