boomed. He then laughed and patted the man next to him on the back. “We’re about as distinguished as rubber socks! Aren’t we, Kaplan?”
Kaplan glared at him. “Rubber socks? What’s the connection?”
“Nobody knows we exist!” The man burst out with a series of belly laughs.
“I know rubber socks exist,” a third man protested.
“Quiet!” Patrick raised his hand. “Let’s not give our new designate the wrong impression.”
Kaplan drummed his fingers. “It seems to me that he is getting exactly the right impression. All we ever do in our meetings is crack jokes and tell tall tales. When McCorkle died, maybe we should have just propped up his body in his chair, then we wouldn’t have needed a replacement.”
The first man piped up again. “McCorkle’s corpse would be funnier than he ever was. That’s for certain.”
“The point is,” Kaplan continued, “that waiting for Arthur’s heir to arrive has been like sitting in the maternity ward waiting for fifteen hundred years of labor to finally end. It’s no wonder we expectant fathers are getting a bit punchy.”
“Fathers?” the first man rejoined. “I feel like the poor mother!”
Patrick rapped his knuckles on the table. “Gentlemen! Please!”
The men murmured for a few seconds, and when all was quiet, Patrick again gestured for Charles to sit.
Professor Hamilton nodded and sat down. “Thank you, Sir Patrick.”
Patrick folded his hands. “Since we consider ourselves equals, Charles, we normally dispense with titles that indicate superiority. I realize my knighthood is significant to you, but I am merely called Steward. You will learn the others’ titles in due time.”
“Very well. What shall I be called?”
Elam leaned over and whispered in Patrick’s ear. “Merlin.”
Patrick’s face brightened. “Of course. Merlin!”
“Merlin?” Professor Hamilton repeated. “Why Merlin?”
Patrick glanced at Elam but quickly returned his gaze to Professor Hamilton. “It seems to me that you are as gifted in spiritual matters as anyone I know. Your heart for God reflects the legends of the great prophet of old.”
Professor Hamilton’s face flushed. “I am grateful for your confidence in me,” he said, fidgeting in his chair.
“Merlin,” Patrick continued. “As you know, we are the protectorate of the Arthur legacy, and we wish to make his heir’s ascendancy to the throne an easy path. Since you are the newest member, it is your privilege to investigate the latest report of a possible heir and either verify or falsify his pedigree.”
Professor Hamilton bowed his head. “I am honored.”
“Not if he sends you to Alaska,” Kaplan said. “That’s where I went on my wild goose chase when I joined.”
Patrick rapped his knuckles again. “Not Alaska, but you will have to visit the States West Virginia, to be precise.”
“Very well.” Professor Hamilton folded his hands and nodded. “What information do you have?”
Patrick withdrew a small map from his jacket and spread it out on the table. “Our intelligence is based on the movements of our enemies, and one of their prominent agents has set up residence in Castlewood, West Virginia.” He pointed at a spot on the map. “Our spy believes the agent is seeking information about a young person, perhaps a pre-teen or teenager.”
Leaning close, Professor Hamilton touched the edge of the map. “Then securing a position at a local school would be an optimum plan of action. My credentials should suffice.”
Patrick touched a ring on the professor’s finger. “The officials might wonder why an Oxford professor would want to teach there, so you should prepare a convincing explanation.”
Elam edged to the table and tried to read the emblem on the bejeweled gold band. It appeared to be etched with Latin words signifying the professor’s achievement in college Philosophiæ Doctor.
“I would simply tell the truth,” Professor Hamilton said. “I have always been interested in Arthurian legend, especially the stories surrounding Excalibur, and my research has led me to Castlewood. I doubt that anyone would question me beyond that.”
“True enough, I suppose.” Patrick folded the map and returned it to his jacket. “If you find the heir, and you are convinced of his authenticity, bring him back to me. There is a test he must pass to prove that he is worthy in mind, body, and spirit. I won’t divulge the nature of the test at this time so that you can honestly say you don’t know what it is.”
Professor Hamilton withdrew a pocket calendar and opened it to the current date. “Is there a suggested timetable?”
“You are to leave immediately and bring him back as soon as you have him in hand. Since our opposition seeks to thwart Arthur’s