December 06th, 1894 — Whitechapel, London
Samuel had little time between arriving at the laboratory in Whitechapel and the time he expected Themis to appear. He sat down at the desk in his office and took out a piece of paper. He wrote:
After folding down the paper to a small square, he took out an egg-shaped and smooth spheroid of silver from his coat. Upon contact with his hands, wings and feathers unfurled out of the ball and rearranged themselves into a bird that abstractly resembled a swift. It had no eyes and a hollow core. It split open down its middle to take the message. Then it was gone in a silver flurry. It had the intelligence to only return to its master when he was alone.
Samuel thought morosely that at least Don Juan was too rich to immediately sell this gift of necessity for his next fix of opium. It was valuable and giving it away without notifying the ministry was illegal to boot. That could not be helped — Samuel was not about to start a paper trail of their connection.
Don Juan,
do not come to the laboratory today at the time we agreed on. I cannot see you. I am aware you are withdrawing, but I strongly recommend you stay away until I get in contact with you again — it is in your best interest, if you intend to continue with this.
Hold on to the bird delivering this message. You can keep it in your pocket. Don't send me any owls. If you must reach me urgently, use this messenger.
S. Griffith
After folding down the paper to a small square, he took out an egg-shaped and smooth spheroid of silver from his coat. Upon contact with his hands, wings and feathers unfurled out of the ball and rearranged themselves into a bird that abstractly resembled a swift. It had no eyes and a hollow core. It split open down its middle to take the message. Then it was gone in a silver flurry. It had the intelligence to only return to its master when he was alone.
Samuel thought morosely that at least Don Juan was too rich to immediately sell this gift of necessity for his next fix of opium. It was valuable and giving it away without notifying the ministry was illegal to boot. That could not be helped — Samuel was not about to start a paper trail of their connection.
