The Old Man took Rama Avatar aside and said to him, "Be careful, Swordsman. If you should die in that world, there's no resurrection for you."
Rama glowered at the wizard's touch and replied, "I need not be reminded of the danger of my final death, as you have been warning me of such since time out of mind." The Swordsman's hand gripped the hilt of his sword, still in its scabbard. "And as long as I have Caliburn by my side, no foe can end my life."
Myrddin nodded and said, "Ah... well... about that, Rama... As I told Edulcore, the mysticism of your amazing sword would be lost on that world. It would be no more than an ordinary sword."
"You insult me, magician! To suggest that I rely upon the magic of the sword is utter nonsense. I am proficient with any weapon within my hands, and--"
"I suggest nothing of the kind, gentle warrior," the Neanderthal said in a calm voice. "I mention this fact merely to bring up the fact that your sword's unique qualities will be removed once you step through the gateway. Should you lose it, you will find it most difficult to find it once more, as it will not return to you of its own accord. As well, you will find that it is much more difficult to travel on that world bearing a sword or a knife, or any hidden weapon, especially since you must travel by conventional means. If you bring your own sword, you will be risking the mission itself."
Rama Avatar's face remained stoic, but he silently burned within for some moments. Finally he said, "I will take your counsel into consideration as always, Venerable One. Yet remember you that I am no longer your cat's paw, and I will not be treated like one of your girl agents."
Myrddin replied in a grave tone, "Yes, you are proud as always, Swordsman, but you would do well to listen to those who have your best interests at heart." As the Swordsman opened his mouth to retort, the Neanderthal switched the subject by saying, "You and Edulcore have no need to purchase clothing and luggage on that other world, by the way. I just happen to have an assortment of clothing in your size and in that of your comrade, as well as a small sum of money from that world with which to invest in weaponry once you have reached your destination. And should you need it, I've provided you with a laptop computer with an encrypted list of contacts on that world who will be able to help you should you need it."
Rama Avatar accepted this information from the Old Man with a curt nod and, within half an hour, he had discarded his Indian warrior's garb for a well-cut, flexible, pin-striped black business suit and a black trenchcoat, with expensive black athletic shoes upon his feet. He wore oval-shaped sunglasses and carried one small suit of luggage in one hand and a laptop briefcase in the other. His sword was concealed and beyond his reach now that both hands were occupied, and he looked exceedingly uncomfortable.
Edulcore Cicciotto was dressed in a similar black business suit but wore a long leather trenchcoat atop his suit rather than the fabric one the Indian wore. He also seemed somewhat uncomfortable at first in the suit and tie, but the leather coat was much more his style, and he began to appear much more comfortable in his clothing as time went on despite his own luggage.
"Let us delay no further -- my blade thirsts for the neck of the wizard," the Swordsman said, his uncomfortable stance with both hands carrying luggage belying his words.
"Are you always this intense?" said Ed.
Rama's eyebrow shot up in puzzlement. "What mean you?"
"You don't seem to be able to say anything except in your 'fabled swordsman' lingo, like something out of Gunga Din. You're a man of the 21st century, so why don't you speak like one?"
"Why don't you remain silent until it is absolutely necessary to communicate valid information," the Swordsman said in a warning tone.
"Fine, fine," the Italian athlete-turned-hero said.
The two walked towards the main gateway and stepped over the threshold, expecting something strange to happen. Nothing did. They looked back, and the same old mansion was behind them. Before them was the same night-enshrouded North Sea island landscape of Heligoland that had always surrounded the Old Man's estate.
Forging forward, the two walked towards the harbor, silently carrying their baggage with them. This world seemed outwardly the same as their own, but somehow the luggage they carried seemed heavier, the clothing they wore more uncomfortable, the howling wind on this stormy evening more bitterly cold than it should have been. Even the colors seemed muted, almost washed out, and the lights around them were dimmed and infused with subtle shades of gray. This world seemed somehow bleak in comparison to their own for some indistinguishable reason that they could not fathom.
By the time they had reached the harbor and communicated their desire to take a boat to the mainland (the Swordsman was fluent in German), their shoes and lower pant-legs were dirtied by dust, and their hair was somewhat disheveled by the wind.
"And you have passports, I assume?" the young woman said to the two men.
"Passports?" Edulcore said.
"Blast!" exclaimed Rama under his breath.
Ed said to the young woman at the ferry, "A moment, please." He and Rama left their luggage by the counter, and the young woman rolled her eyes and began to tap her fingers impatiently. "Did the Old Man say anything to you about passports?" he asked the Swordsman.
"He said nothing. The trickster. I have never trusted wizards."
"But he's provided us with everything else we need," said Edulcore. "Why not passports as well?" He began fumbling through his coat pockets, and the Swordsman did likewise.
They both pulled out small, black passport booklets. Rama's was German and contained the name Rajinder Brar, an India-born naturalized citizen of Germany. Edulcore's was Italian and contained the name Alfonso Gaglardi, a citizen of Italy.
"Here they are," said Rama, pushing the passports over the counter towards the young woman.
"Listen: I don't need your passports myself," she replied, sliding them right back to him without a glance, "as the ferry just takes you to mainland Germany -- I just asked to ensure that you are both aware that they're being very strict about checking passports at all border crossings and airports today."
By the time the two had purchased their ferry tickets, the counter girl was not impressed.
The wind was now accompanied by a cold rain as the two rode the ferry to the mainland. Edulcore had remained silent after Rama's earlier outburst, but he finally said, "You know, Rama, I've been thinking. There's no way you'll be able to take your sword with you on the plane. Even in our world that would be a difficult thing to carry off."
Rama snorted in disgust. "I've always carried legal papers enabling me to travel anywhere in the world with my sword and other artifacts."
"But for our world, not this one," Ed pointed out.
The Swordsman did not answer him.
"Perhaps you should rent a locker at the airport," Ed suggested.
"No," Rama said in a somewhat humbled tone. "That is not necessary. I should have done this in the first place."
"What?"
The Swordsman rose from his seat and said, "I'll be back momentarily."
Edulcore watched his fellow Vanguardian leave and return some ten minutes later. "Well?" he said as Rama sat back down without a word.
"It is done. Caliburn will present us with no problem during our travels."
"Well?" asked Ed after a few moments of silence passed. "Where is it?"
"Worry yourself not with that concern, 'Alfonso'," Rama said with a chuckle.
Ed slumped back into his seat and said, "We're going to have to work on our communication skills, 'Rajinder'."
