The Bullfinch

Mercury grinned, Thalia frowned and "the guest" a strange, gray haired man was unconcerned.

Thalia walked around the stranger studying him, who decided to study her back, which Thalia found unnerving. "Where did you find him?"

"In the woods, in an oak tree," Mercury said. He was delighted.

"We’re on a star ship remember, The Bullfinch, we don’t have woods," Thalia retorted.

"On the holodeck."

The man’s eyes, still unconcerned, went back and forth between the two arguers.

Thalia pointedly stared at Mercury, her head a little forward and to the right, and said superbly as if to the simple minded, "What’s a holograph image dematerializes in real atmosphere." Her eyebrows arched waiting for a reply.

Mercury lifted his hands, palms up and shrugged. "I’m amazed myself."

Thalia’s eyes grew large and she shifted her stare from Mercury to the stranger, whose stomach growled.

"Look at the poor scrawny thing," Mercury said and smiled real big, "Can we keep him?"

The man frowned.

"It’s not a puppy," Thalia said.

"I’m a wizard, I have been instructed in the whole system of the universe."

Even Thalia was stunned, but not so much as to not have an answer, "Magicians are extinct, have been for about 2500 years, if indeed they every really existed."

"What’s your name?" Mercury asked.

"Merlin."

Thalia smirked, "right."

Merlin got a perturbed look on his face.

"If you’re a wizard," Thalia demanded, "turn Mercury into a frog."

"Don’t be ignorant," Merlin retorted.

Mercury laughed gleefully, "Oh do, so Thalia has to kiss me to turn me back."

Merlin sighed, "True magic is not parlor tricks, it’s about life and secret knowledge. I do know some druid incantations, but curses to the person who prevails upon them lightly."

The computer spoke, "What is the one thing that can not be discovered?"

"The wonder of the world," Merlin snapped. "Who are you? Why do you not show yourself?"

Thalia smirked, "You don’t know what a computer is, so you haven’t been instructed in the whole system of the universe."

"Computers weren’t invented when he was entombed," the computer said. "Not for about another 2000 years."

Mercury sat down next to Merlin. "Our computer’s name is Zaldivar. He never sleeps and will explain anything you like. He’s very talkative, more so than most computers."

"More so than any other computer ever," Thalia said.

Merlin’s stomach growled again.

Oddly Thalia’s stomach growled too. "Let’s eat," she said.

"Merlin you pick the menu," Mercury entreated.

"Please," Zaldivar said, "Thalia and Mercury have no gourmet imagination. Day after day I replicate the same things."

Everyone turned expectantly to Merlin. "I wish for beef wellington baked with goose pate’ and pistachios, spinach salad with oil of olive, sweet vinegar and strawberries, Italian feather bread and a good bottle of Shiraz."

"Wow," Mercury said.

"Two bottles," Merlin said.

As curious as Thalia and Merlin were and as delighted as Mercury and Zaldivar were, the supper was quiet. Zaldivar had found some ancient Celtic music somewhere in his memory to play, the great hall was lit only with candles and The Bullfinch glided peacefully through the black, star glittered universe. Thalia who was usually a finicky eater indulged heartily. She was a striking woman; absolutely ageless, medium height and lean, thick wavy long auburn hair drawn back from her face, creamy taupe complection, dark green almond shaped eyes, an aquiline nose and cerise lips which she licked appreciatively over the Shiraz. Mercury who was always a good eater thoroughly enjoyed himself. His looks were classic, broad muscular shoulders, trim waist and long strong legs. He had thick, short, fire red hair and his mouth was sweet and generous while his deep, dark eyes sparkled with mirth. Merlin was lean and aged, yet vital.