THE TOMB

CHAPTER 4

                                                   The Tomb

                                                         WTF?

                                                 Chapter Four

    Jim and Alan began their meal of bacon, eggs, beans and black pudding with fried bread on the side. Jim reached out for the Daddies sauce, when from the corner of his eye his gaze caught sight of a man and woman standing at the kitchen door, staring at them.

       "Gert and Daisy?" asked Sprig, wondering if he's in the right place.

       "What the fuck? Who the? You're Sprig and Maria!?" said Jim, who, if his jaw had been long enough might have hit the floor.

       "Which one of you is Gert?" asked Maria.

       "Dunno. We never thought about it" replied Alan, looking bemused. "Hang on. How did you get in here?"

       "We were testing our time machine for the very first time, and, well, here we are," replied Maria, matter of fact.

       "Like a cuppa tea?" asked Alan, reaching for a couple of 'I Love Tea' mugs.

       "Why not, what ever tea is, I'd love to try tea. Do you drink it? She said, not having a clue what was about to happen. As Jim brewed two hot mugs of tea with milk and one teaspoon of sugar, passing the mugs to their guests. Alan lifted his mug and took a gulp, smiled then, aahed. Sprig lifted the the mug to his lips, not quite sure what he should do but took his lead from Jim, then took a sip. Jim looked on, wondering if he should tell this man that the tea's a little hot. Heck, he thought, these dude's are grown ups, he should know that, the lock picking toad, when a spew of warm tea sprayed over him, then noticed Sprig coughing.

       "My, my," said Sprig ,in utter disgust, "that's so horrid. This is a tea? You can drink this yourself!"

   Maria, on the other-hand thought the tea rather palatable, though, perhaps, a little sweet, but she finished the drink while looking on as Jim dunked a ginger biscuit, then offered Maria a biscuit to dunk into his tea. She copied the dunk, then consumed the delicious ginger taste, then asked for another, while sprig looked on with shock and utter disdain.

       "Professor Sprig. You've not made our hosts feel comfortable. After all, we are their guests, uninvited into their private abode. When offered a taste of their fare, at least be generous enough to decline gracefully, with respect. It's your turn to apologise to Gert and Daisy. Go on, they won't eat you, I'm sure." Maria folded her arms, gazing mother hen-like at the grumpy old man, well into his second century. Sprig reached for and tasted a ginger biscuit and ate it dry.

       "Gert and Daisy. I do indeed hope you will accept my most heartfelt apology." He bowed his head and smiled.

       "Hello, I'm Jim, and this is my brother, Alan, otherwise known as Gert and Daisy" he said holding out a hand. Alan held onto Jim's hand in demonstration. Maria followed suite, shaking Jim's hand then Alan's. "You're supposed to say 'hello' in return. Please do sit, be comfortable and tell us your story, in return, we'll explain ourselves to you. However, before we can believe you are from our future, we would like some proof that what you say is true."

    Maria took the opportunity, then started her story of her laboratory; that Sprig is head of faculty, specialising in historical artifacts. Of how they'd sent a message, when, to their surprise, they had made contact with Gert and Daisy.