Edward starts to think

“But it’s so not fair!  I’ve started to think about a story..”

“No.  The rules are such. You want to be in the order, you have to provide a story”

“But – I’m still researching it.  It’s okay for you – with your ‘classic’ tales or general stories; I’m not like that – I like facts, truths, things that are real.  I want to make sure that the story ‘I‘ tell is accurate, believable.. up to scrutiny… from you, at least…”

“So that’s good; that’s what the Order demands. You want to be part of that, that’s what we expect.  Not so much truth – that’s always subject to conjecture – but believable; that’s what we like.  So, Edward, what you got so far…?”

“Well E.A – and Granger, I see you standing there – I’ve decided that I can break the story down to key chapter headings.  At least that will give me a focus to tell the tale to you.  I know that Blurb is also listening in – I think Granger has shown him a thing or two to focus his mind, thoughts, etc on how the order will form.

What I will do is list the chapter headings – as I have them, and they are subject to amendment as my research pans out – and create a page, upon which I will flesh the story out.  I may even publish it – unless the Secret Society  track me – but I also will have recorded these notes elsewhere, probably in Elfin language – just to confuse the Secret society”

“So what are your headings?”

“well, they are:

1.  The taste for adventure

2. Edward receives a contact

3. Blurb is the Double Agent

4. Edward has a journey

5. The Formation of the Order

6. The Button Aristocracy

7. Tough Ted – the operation

8. Tough Ted - the exit

9. Cleardown”

“But how do you know all this??”

“So far – my informants have given me enough information.  However, some of the information I have has been ‘double encoded’ – that is, where I have named someone it is entirely possible that it isn’t the person that the chapter is about.  Why do you as that, Archimedes?”

“Oh, no reason Edward – I look forward to hearing your story… I’ll set the page up ready.”

Edward the Second – Associate Member

“No you can’t do that!  He has to join properly!”  I stamped my foot, releasing 10 thunderbolts.

“Yes, I can; Yes, he can; We’ve all agreed!” Granger stood firm, his eye staring hard at me.

 

“Oh, good grief – it’s no good.  I can’t keep this up.  If he is unable to complete the initiation he simply cannot join the order.  I’m not having off-shoots and associate groupie part time members to the order… it will become far too washed out to be of any use at all.”

 

“But” asked Edward quietly “what can’t I do? What is the timescale for whatever it is I have to do? How do you know what I can and can’t do unless you tell me?”

 

“Exactly!” said E.A. “Even I had to ask Archie – and Edward here is not allowed to leave you two for a moment because of your ‘shared ownership’ deal!  And what sort of thing is that – why can’t Eddie just be Eddie?”

“Edward” said Edward slightly less quietly “My name is Edward, not Eddie, Teddy, Ed, or two-sy” he glared across the room at the cats.

 

Edward continued

“All I know is that I was just relaxing back in Germany when I receive a postcard from my Uncle, Tough Ted.  He told me that he had received a strange letter from a cousin in Poole and that he was planning on going to see him.  He also told me that it was possible that he may have to do so in a quiet way and that it was all hush-hush – he was very into the secret stories and quite unafraid of adventure.  He had confided in me that whilst he had enjoyed the easy life, the call of adventure was getting too great to refuse.

 

“So he suggested that I come to the UK and gave me the address – all I had to do was to follow his lead and then I would be able to join Frog and help him; by the time I got here, you guys were already on the scene”

 

 

Frog sat and pondered.  I just sat.  Frog then said

 

“Edward – I have a plan for you.  You need to tell us how you got from Germany to here as it sounds like the sort of story that would interest me.  Once you have done that, you will be a full member of the Order in your own right.  Until then, you are hereby the first, last and only associate member.

 

“Additionally, I will create a new rank for your uncle, Tough Ted and the duties that he performed as my Travelling Companion.  May you all live up to his example. Oh, and guys” Frog said, turning to Granger and myself, “whilst Edward may be your shared Travelling Companion, he is still part of the Order and has full rights as stuff as well.  OK?”