Min and Gem had succeeded in making me feel bad
about not being able to contribute to the cause of peace. So bad that I decided to consult an
expert on money to see if there was a way I could help without cheating the
Magi. The first authority on money I consulted was Michael.
“Yes, leprechauns are the fairy bankers,” he
said, “but we only keep the money of
your ransom funds safe. We don’t use these funds to make more money. So we
don’t know much about investments.”
“Maybe we can help,” said the leafy Vinny. He
turned to his cousin Bernardus and asked, “Are you thinking what I am thinking?
If he needs to consult an authority on economy...”
“He needs to consult a housewife,” nodded Bernie.
“Why don’t you speak with the Samaras of
Temperance Elm Grove? The housewives manage all the financial affairs there and
do it very well too. Nobody ever goes hungry there. They were able to control
the carriers of the Dutch disease and have even had their home declared a
protected area. It’s not to far away from here. Bernard is a great friend of a
couple of them. He could take you there now.”
The leafy Bernard said he would gladly take us
to the Elm Grove but with one condition. He said our obnoxious friend couldn’t
come with us. It was easy for us to comply with this condition, for Alpin was
having his afternoon nap after a meal that was copious even for him.
And that is how I met the Elmas, lovely elm
tree samaras.
“Walk right in, well-intentioned people,” they
said, welcoming us to their grove.
The Elmas listened carefully to what I had to
say and then gave me this advice: “If you want to do this honestly, first of
all you need to know how much money you really have. So you need to know how
much Dr. Freud charges for a visit. That would be the sum you may invest in the
school if the Magi allow a change of purpose. Speak to them before you act and
should they approve, on no account must you invest at once. You must analyze
the investment in project first and make sure it is profitable. And you must
learn all you can about the people who will be handling your money before you
trust them with it. If you like, we can help you with all that. Feel free to
return any time you please. But we want you to know beforehand that we are
against your doing this. We don’t think it is a good idea. We won’t go to that
school. No true fairy ever will.”
“Thank you so much, ladies,” I said. “You have
been of great help to me. May I ask how you managed to make your grove a
protected area? I have friends interested in protecting forests too.”
“By helping others,” they replied. “This grove
was planted by a human Norwegian. His ancestors survived the 1812 crisis eating
elm tree seeds.”
As I was leaving, they gave me yet another
piece of advice.
“Be very careful what you do with that blank check,” they said. “Too many people already know of its existence.”
“Be very careful what you do with that blank check,” they said. “Too many people already know of its existence.”
After this meeting, I realized I had to see Dr. Freud
immediately.
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