#francis maxwell

Australian leader has sent a crystal clear message to Trump

Francis Maxwell reports on an Australian politician delivering a wake up call to Donald Trump–and the world.

So, there the box and books sat. It had been days since the arranged meeting that had never happened. For hours he had waited in the alley, and no one had approached him. There had been others passing by, and even a Seraph patrol that he was certain would know him for his deed at first glance. Yet, nothing happened.

Inquiries had lead only to an empty room above a tavern, and nothing else was known of the man. It was as if he never existed, no one exactly remembered him in any detail. They remembered a man much as he did, but the details were always vague or absent entirely. Perhaps the man had been a mesmer or some other sort of magician. If so, perhaps it was better the man had not returned. Who knew what that sort could do, or make someone else do for them?

As he lay on his cot again he mulled over the information, trying to think of anything he might have missed. He chewed an apple thoughtfully, and for once it was an apple purchased outright. Oh. he had nicked a couple of other things from that vendor’s stall just for principle but, he'd paid for this bunch. It was all thanks to the advance the mysterious man had paid. That thought sent his eyes to the books and the lock-box again where they waited across the room.

What was he to do with them? He was fairly certain books could be worth good coin to the right person. He wasn't certain anyone would buy books from a street urchin, much less stolen books. He hadn't understood anything he'd seen within the books, either. That had been frustrating. He wasn't illiterate, but the script of the books was nothing familiar. He was certain that made them more important and probably more valuable to someone, but who? He didn't know.

The lock-box was its own problem. It was locked, and he had no key. He wondered if it had been lost in the tumble on the rooftops, or perhaps the owner still had it. There were ways around that, but not without damaging the box, the clasp, or both. If the man did show up looking for the goods he'd paid for, would he want a broken box? Would he ask why Francis had opened it? Would he trust that Francis wouldn't have stolen whatever was inside? No. He shouldn't open it. Doing so would be a mistake.

He should just get rid of it all, it was evidence of his crime. Only an idiot kept evidence of his theft around. Surely there had been a Seraph report by now. He should dump them in the sewers for the alligators to chew on and be done with it. No. He still couldn't because then if the man came looking he would have to repay the advance payment, and he'd already spent some of that coin filling his belly.