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The next day, Professor Jacobs awoke early.
He got up from his bed, then walked up to the front of his room. His blue button-down shirt was crumpled. He’d slept in it, and wished he’d brought extra clothes. Trying to smooth down the front of his shirt, he peered outside his door. Jacob didn't notice Della sitting on a chair in the living room. The door to the other bedroom was ajar and he looked inside. The bed didn't look as if it had been slept in. He shook his head. He was hungry, and he wanted something for breakfast before they had to speak to the mysterious Captain Jostler.
The front door opened, and he heard voices. It was Della speaking to a man. He turned and saw his friend, Erlick, with her. Erlick was animated, talking about a place he had visited. For a brief second, Professor Jacobs felt a stab of jealousy, and then it left him. He had never felt like this before.
"Professor, you are finally awake,” Erlick said. “I brought you some breakfast. Della was awake, but you were still asleep. So I showed her around the base."
"Where's the food?" Jacobs asked.
"Oh," Della said. "We ate it." She looked at him as if she knew how he felt. Daniel turned away and walked into the living room.
"Sorry, old man, I’ll get you more food," Erlick said, and turned and moved out the front door.
Professor Jacobs sat at the dinner table. He pretended to fuss around with his manuscript he’d left there. He should have but his book in the bedroom, but had left it there last night because he was so tired.
Della sat across from him. "Professor, you seem perturbed. Are you feeling okay?" she asked, looking at him with concern.
Jacob couldn't hold her gaze. He was feeling warm. "It’s fine. I just wasn’t sure where you were when I awoke."
"You were worried about me?" She nodded, then smiled. "I'm a warrior elf. You don't have to be concern for me."
"I understand. But we’re in a strange place."
"Don't worry, Professor. I always have my weapons close to me. I'm also a magic user. I wanted to know if there are other magic users here."
"So," Jacob said, "you were scouting around the Illuminati base?"
"Yes, we don't know who is friend or foe here. I don't trust these people."
He heard a knock at the door and then a few seconds later a soldier moved inside holding a tray. “Professor, here is your breakfast."
Jacobs nodded and grabbed the tray from the soldier. He closed the door and placed the food on the table next to his manuscript. The food smelt wonderful, but he didn't eat yet.
"Della, can you find a safe place for my book?"
The elf took the bundle and walked into his bedroom.
Jacobs started to eat.
***
JACOBS REALIZED THERE was a button near the front entrance he could use to call on somebody to come to the apartment.
He asked for clothes and towels, and after they were dressed and ready, Erlick came to their room and politely asked them to follow him.
They moved down the corridor following Erlick, his old friend. The professor felt foolish. He shouldn't have felt jealous about this morning. Della was not his girlfriend, and there was nothing between them. She was also an elf from a strange land. Yet, as they walked along the hallway, he admired the way she looked as she walked. She was a warrior, but was also feminine and confident. He was definitely attracted to her, and he thought she knew.
Erlick led them into Krump’s office. The short man was sitting behind his desk, distractedly looking into a computer monitor. The computer was one of the new ones, small as a box and its metal gleamed.
The professor knew metal was not scarce. There were hundreds of junkyard vehicles excavated from fallen cites all around the world. But the computer was composed of something far more precious than regular meta-metals. He’d read about this invention in the university magazines. This metal was supposed to be thinner and stronger than regular metal.
Krump turned toward them. He said, "Ah, please sit. We have located Captain Jostler. He’s not far from here, and his ship is stationed at the new California Docks. He agreed to meet us. He knew we have an elf here on Earth, and he wants to meet her."
All their eyes looked toward her.
"How does he know I'm here?" Della asked.
"There are spies everywhere," Krump said. "He has his own informants."
Jacob didn't like this answer, and wondered who else knows Della was here on Earth.
Erlick said, "Don't worry, Professor. Nobody besides the Illuminati and Captain Jostler knows she is here. But we know why she is here, and we know what you are destined for."
Professor Jacobs said, "When are we going to see him?"
"This very afternoon. We have got you a ship."
Jacobs said, "I don't like to fly. My stomach gets greasy. But I will go." He tried to sound heroic, but he sounded more like a petulant child. His face flushed.
Della placed her hand on his shoulder, and said, "I can help you with your stomach. On my world, we have Elves who have this problem. I know a way to fix your misgivings."
Erlick said, "When will you be ready?"
"Della, how long does it take to fix my nervous stomach,” Professor Jacobs asked.
"Not long. I just need a few minutes in a dark room."
"Give us one hour," he said.
***
PROFESSOR JACOBS WAS sitting in a chair in their apartment.
The light was dim and Della stood in front of him.
"You should have told me you were afraid of heights."
"I'm only scared of flying."
"It's the same thing," she said.
Della came close to him and murmured some words. Jacob sensed something was materializing. He didn't have magical talent like other people, nor was he a sensitive to magic. Yet, he felt the spell Della was casting.
She stopped talking and placed her hand on his head. He yelped in pain, and felt a burning sensation where she touched his skin.
"Ouch, you should have told me it was going to hurt."
"It's done," Della said. "Now, you will not feel scared when we fly."
He did feel a little different. "I'm ready. Let's meet this Captain Jostler."
