Jot *airily* Well, I’ve already done the research, so it will be a piece of cake. You know the legends about the Philosophers’ Stone? Cornellia *blankly* Is that another Greek sect? (Our Cornellia) Jot: Not at all – the concept, of course, has been around as long as Kronos. Somewhere out there (he waved cheerfully north, south, east and west) is a magical stone that dates from the beginning of the world, and if you find it, you’ve got it made – eternal life, eternal wealth (it turns anything it touches into gold, the shareholders will love that!), and all the time in the world. If you can go on a Quest for me, Cornellia, and bring back the Philosopher’s Stone, not only will I have all the time in the world to work on AW, but I can finish my studies without becoming severely psychotic! And I thought we could throw out a bit of it as a patron enhancement – you know, an Optimum patronage and you get an additional 2 years of life, and Millennium Patrons even better – we could call it the Methuselah Patronage! I think it’s just what we need! Cornellia *cringing* Oh, no, Jot. You’re not doing this to me again. I still remember the time you sent me off to find Klingons on SciFi Sites, NOT to mention that excavation of the Great Pyramid where you forgot to tell me about that flaming river of death! I’ve paid my dues. Jot *looking sad* Oh dear, Tante. If I can’t depend upon you, who can I depend on? And (his large brown eyes moistened becomingly at the corners) it would be so good for the site! Just look at my schedule! I learned Attic Greek last week, this week it’s Sanskrit, I’ve a paper due in Archaic potsherds from Mycenae, next week I have to revamp Thera after that eruption, NOT to mention that the Incas are revolting...there simply HAS to be more time and money somewhere!! Cornellia thought about it, and figured – why not? Things had been quiet on Olympus, and she was probably ready for a little all-expenses-paid world travel. Anyway, Jot was irresistible when he got the corners of his eyes all moisty that way. Cornellia: OK Boss, I’ll do it. What’s the time frame? Jot *bouncing up and down on his feather* I knew you wouldn’t let me down, girl. Well, the sooner the better, but if we could find the Meaning of Life and Eternal Wealth and Eternal Life by Goldfest, it would be perfect! Cornellia *looking heavenward* Any clues where I can start looking? Jot immediately buried himself in such a pile of scrolls that only the tips of his ears were visible. A muffled voice, occasionally sneezing, says “Well, I always thought Midas would be a good place to start – in Hellas. You know all that gold, he might VERY well have found the Stone at some point! Anyway, start there and I’m sure you’ll find something helpful. And just think about the corporate benefits, if you find this thingie!” Cornellia whistled to the Firebolt, hoisted her Hurskvarna chainsaw into its holder on the broom’s tail, and gave Jot a look. “If I pull this one off, Boss, I want you to PROMISE that I’ll finally get my 25-year-old-red-haired Hunk as a driver! I’m too old to be without a chauffeur!” She kick-started the broom and, with Jot waving happily from his feather, vanished slightly southeast – in the direction of Hellas, and the first step of the Quest. Readers, if you want to know what's coming, here's a little brushup on The Philosopher's Stone! HERE

Go to Page 3: