There it is, that clock.  It’s old, so I’m told, but the post it’s on is new.  I pass this clock every time I want a to borrow or return a book from the library.  It stands not far from the door of the library.  According to those who know these things, the clock was there before the library.  It’s a nice clock with four faces, roman numerals, and lit from a bulb inside.  So, what’s so special about this clock other than it looks nice?  Well, it was here, a week ago, that I met them.  It was more or less noon and I had a book to return to the library and saw them standing close to the clock.  They were dressed in grey clothes that I will describe as tracksuit style.  Two of them were male and three of them were female.  At least that is how they looked, whether they identified themselves as male or female was something I did not care about.  Had I not been asked a question; I would have continued on to the library.

     “Hey you!”

     I stopped and turned to look at the group.  One of them had stepped forward.

     “You talking to me?” I asked.

     “I am,” said the man.

     “Why?”

     “I want to ask a question.”

     “So?”

     “It’s just a small question that I think you can answer.”

     “I don’t have time,” I said trying my best to walk away.  “I have a book to return.”

     “It’ll be to your advantage and it will only cost you a moment of your time.”

     I could have walked away, in fact, I should have walked away, but no, curiosity got the better of my normal ‘avoid weird people’ instinct and I said.  “Go on then.”

     “What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, three legs in the evening, and no legs at night?”

     “What?”

     “Would you like me to repeat it?”

     “Sure.”

     As the man spoke, I realised I was being asked a riddle.  As it turned out, I was familiar with the riddle having not long since finished reading a book on the ancient Greek Sphinx and I was familiar with the answer.  I waited until the man had finished his question before responding with.  “A person.  As a baby we crawl on all fours until we learn to walk when we do, we walk on two legs – usually.  This we do until we get old when we often use a cane to support ourselves, then finally we die, thus not walking.”  I had other versions in my head, but I thought that was the best answer to provide.

     The man smiled and turned to the others in his group.  “He’s the one for us.”  Then he turned to me.  “We are the Mynstyoth and we protect the Severen that are books of ancient knowledge.  I can tell you more, but ....”

     I waited for the man to finish speaking, but he just looked at me as if expecting me to say something, so I did.  “But?”

     “If you want to know more,” said the man.  “Then you’ll have to join our group.  It will not cost you, there are no trials to complete, no forms to fills, just a commitment to protect the Severen.”

     “How would I do this, protection?”

     “Any way possible,”

     “Oh?”

     “So, are you willing to join us?”

     I looked at the group.  They looked like normal people to me.  However, this could be a scam of some sort, or a practical joke.  So, I asked.  “This could be a scam of some sort, or a practical joke.”

     “Well, there is only one way to find out.  You do have the option of walking away.”

     “Fine,” I said.  “What do I have to do?”

     “Come with us to Playton Hill where you will pledge your allegiance to us.  It’s a simple ceremony and will take no more than five minutes.

     I agreed and followed the group as they walked to Playton Hill, which was a mile from the library.  “So,” I said.  “Do you have name?”

     “Of course,” said one of the women.  “My name is Lisa.  Next to me is Ruth….”

     “Hello,” said Ruth.

     “Hi,” I replied.

     “Ahead of us is Mary and Paul and leading us of course, is John.  So, that’s us.  What’s your name?”

     “Jake.”

     “Hello Jake,” said Lisa.”

     “Hi.”

     From that point on, no one spoke.  I thought we looked like an odd group.  Five people in grey tracksuit style clothing, and me, in my blue jean, black boots and brown jacket.  However, we generally passed people without a glance from them, well a few perhaps, but we walked without too much attention.

     Once at the top of Playton Hill I followed the group to a small clearing.  Many people come here, not just for the view but to have picnics, and other things.  The hill is misnamed as it is a large pinnacle of rock.  However, there is a flat level of ground at the top.   Here many stand to admire the view.  There is one way up and that path is mostly gravel with uneven rock steps on the path.  It’s awkward but not difficult.  However, it is dangerous at the top.  One wrong step and you fall about three metres onto fallen rocks.  It is rare, but one on eight people who have fallen survived, but have life changing injuries.

     There were other people at the top of the hill.  They ignored us as we ignored them and continued about their business admiring and taking pictures of the view and selfies.

     It was a few minutes before they headed down the path.  Once they were out of sight, John spoke.  “Are you ready?”

     “I guess.”  I watched as John took a small bag from inside his jacket.  Mary joined him and took out a small thermos flask from her jacket.  John removed the top of the flak and tipped a small amount of green powder into the top.  By now the others of the group had formed a circle around us.

     “Drink some of this,” said John.

     “What is it?”

     “Just some green tea,” said John.  “Cold green tea.”

     I was curious as to what the pills the others had taken, but I decided it was none of my business. 

     “Go on,” said John.  “It’s just tea.”

     I was not sure.  I made it look and sound like I took a sip of the tea and handed the cup back to John.  “Now what?”  I asked.

     John took a sip of the tea and filled the lid before handing it around.  Each person took a sip, with the cup being filled a few times.  After that, they sat, so I sat and waited.

     “Lie back on the ground,” said John and rested on the ground.  “Admire the sky.  Soon you will be one of us.”

     Then it happened.  As I looked at the sky, waiting for more of a ceremony to occur, the sky slowly became purple.  I also felt a tingling in my limbs.  I tried to move but I was not able, but I was able to turn my head.  This movement caused everything to become distorted, not for long.  If I held my sight on a single point, normality – other than the purple colour, returned.  I then heard laughing.  I slowly turned my head to see Mary rolling on the ground in fits of laughter.  I was not able to see the others, I was only able to turn my head left or right but I heard someone talking to themselves, another was singing an incomprehensible song and someone, I think it was Lisa, crying.  As I lay there wondering what the hell was happening to me, I caught a glimpse of John passing my head.  I was able to turn my head to see him heading towards an edge.  He raised his arms and shouted.   “I can fly!”  I tried to speak but I could not utter a word.  No one seemed to have noticed John at the edge or his jump.  I tried so hard to move, but my limbs were now numb.  I think I tried too hard to move and passed out.  I have no idea how long I was unconscious for, but I came to slowly.  It was like I had been exercising too hard, every muscle ached.  I was, however, able to move.  I started to raise myself when a hand gently stopped me, followed by a soft voice.

     “You’ll be alright in moment.”

     I looked at the face of a nurse and asked.  “What happened to me?  Where am I?  What about the others?”

     “Don’t stress yourself,” said the nurse.  “The doctor will give you information about your condition in a moment but the police want to speak to you.”

     “Now?”

     “If you feel you can, yes.”

     “Okay.”  Two police officers entered the room and asked me several question, most I could answer, some I could not.  Before they left, one of them confirmed they found a body of a man at the bottom of Playton Hill.  I was not required to identify the body, one of the others in the group had done that earlier.  I was the last to wake.  Not long after the police left, the doctor entered the room and told me that what I had taken was some kind of poison.  There were elements of green tea but the poison was not identified, possibly some type of fungus.  Myself and the rest of the group were treated using various means and recovered quickly.

     “We would like to keep you in for another day, just to make sure you are fine,” said the doctor.

     “I see,” I said.  “But can I go home?”

     “You can.  Your friends described what had happened to them.  A change in colour, some numbness in all or some of their limbs, a sudden urge to laugh, cry, and other effects.  Can you confirm that you had similar happen to you?”

     “I had numbness of limbs, but I could move my head from side to side.” I said.  “I saw a change in colour, everything was purple, and when I moved my head, everything was distorted.”

     “In what way did this distortion manifested its self.”

     “Like I was looking through a fish-eye lens.”

     “Okay, well if you want to go, we can’t stop you.  However, should any symptoms return, come back here immediately.”

     “I will.”

     Once I had dressed, I asked a nurse about the others in the group.  I was informed that after having spoken to the police, they left the hospital.  I had no idea where they went so, I could not speak to them and ask them what they hell happened.  I went home and spent several hours thinking about what had happened.  I never found an answer.  Two days later, I attended an inquest into the death of John who I found out was a John Paul McKay who was a metal worker in a factory.  Other details were mentioned about him, his age, address etc., but he just sounded like any other person.  The verdict of inquest was accidental death brought about by the taking of an infected substance.  I did not go to the funeral so do not know if any of his friends or family went either, but I assumed so, and that was that.  So, here I am, one week later, standing looking at the clock wondering what the hell happened and why?  I will never know.  Now, I am more cautious as I approach the library, and should I hear someone shout to me or approach me, I will walk away and seek sanctuary inside the library.  No more adventures for me.

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