Page 216 - The Chronicles Ser2 (6-10)

the next few weeks; I appreciate it… as does David. By the way; did you get him a present or not?”
she asked him
“Oh; I’d completely forgotten, It’s in my briefcase in the kitchen” he replied
“I’ll get it; you wait here. Daniel; Thanks for doing the Clown bit. You went down a storm. Little
Vanessa Proust loves that Unicorn balloon animal you made.” She said and went in to the kitchen to
retrieve Lance’s briefcase. He turned to Daniel Mc Michaels; resplendent in his outfit and makeup.
“Your outfit seems to be of the more “traditional” styles I see Daniel;
unlike one female example I saw recently, that was a weird sight. It’s
odd; but I think Clowns are one of the few professions that doesn’t
make any sexual specific differences in titles. A Clown’s a Clown no
matter whether they are Male, Female or… whatever!” He said to
Daniel who had just taken a huge swig of his well-earned Brandy.
“You know; I do believe you’re right. Oh; there’s my ride. Have to dash.
Thanks for the Brandy Lars” he quipped as he left to meet his girlfriend
in her Scoot-along. Marcia came back with Lance’s briefcase just as Lars
returned with David.
“David; I do believe your Uncle Lance has a little something for you”
Lars said and David came and sat down in front of Lance.
“Now David; I want you to take great care of this. It’s very old and
delicate.” He said and opened his briefcase and took out the wrapped present. The boy’s eyes
widened and his jaw dropped when he had carefully opened the wrappings and saw the

Chronometer. He mouthed rather than said the word WOW! “I know you’d
said you always wanted a replica of one for your room. That my dear boy is
an original Buraxin model from their second dynasty” he reached into his
trouser pocket and produced an intricately pierced and chased yellow
metal key. “It’s already wound so should run for about eight days, but you
must wind it only till the key stops. It has a mechanism to prevent over
winding; but if you force it the ratchet with break.” And he handed the
bewildered boy the key.
“Tell you what; let’s you and me see if we can find a place for it in your
room eh?” Lars said and led David off to the stairway “I’ll grab my toolbox
on the way to put up a shelf” he added. David stopped and handed his
father the Chronometer and ran back and hugged Lance and whispered “Thanks Uncle Lance; you’re
a star!” and he rushed back to Lars.
“You’ve made a true friend with him Bro’” Marcia said after they had disappeared upstairs.
“You chose Daniel on purpose didn’t you? To remind me; … of... Dad” Lance said scowling
“Yes; silly of me, but you’ve hardly ever spoken about him since he passed” she replied
“I suppose I had it coming. I do remember that day only too well. It gave me reason to be wary of
trusting Clowns. The horror I felt, the anguish. I admit though today changed my viewpoint
somewhat. He’s an interesting chap Daniel” Lance responded and gave his sister a brotherly hug.
“Mind you I can understand it…the reasons. You don’t usually associate something as happy as a
Clown with Evil. I suppose everything has to have its counterpoint” she added and kissed him on his
cheek.
It was two weeks later while in a discussion with a work colleague that Lance broached the
subject of Universal Constant’s and Clowns in particular. “It’s one of those Memes that is all
pervading. Look at any Archive from anywhere in the known galaxy and you find them. Clown’s;
good ones, sad ones, and yes, even Evil ones. They’re everywhere. There’s the King’s fool; the court
jester, the Practical joker, and even the village idiot. They are all basically Clowns or some derivative.
Like devils; angels, dragons, beasts and even Spirits and Ghosts. The Memes associated with them
are persistent. I even have some evidence that there are records from the second Galaxy going back
to the early times of its creation; tales of Fantastical beings; beings that existed at the birth of the