1 Preparations...

The next day was a bright sunny morning. A cloudless clear blue sky. For so many months Oswald & Nicolas was enjoying their bachelorhood. No new tasks was there to fulfill until last day since they had received promotion to the Queen's Directory of Advisors. At any cost they would fulfill this mission & impress the Queen & serve their country. At last some sort of change in the in their monotonous life. Nicolas went to meet Oswald at his house in City Road. Oswald was lazing in the balcony with a pipe in his mouth occasionally puffing out smoke. Instead of going through the main gate & ringing the doorbell Nicolas came in through the garden door greeting Miss Jones the gardener, walked across the garden and pounced on Oswald. Poor Oswald had just closed his eyes to feel the garden's peacefulness & the calm soothing weather around him when Nicolas jumped on him throwing him off the couch.

"Hey Nick atleast give a warning before coming in like this..." breathed out Oswald as he recovered from his fright, "You almost gave me a cardiac arrest.."

"Well Ossy for a person like you who lazes his day off when a task has been given, cardiac arrest is the best medicine." commented Nicolas patting his friend. Then he pulled a couch closer & sat down.

"Didn't Miss Jones say anything when you entered through the garden door & stamped over her garden ?? Or maybe you didn't even bother to inform her about your presence..." asked Oswald.

"Well I greeted her!" grinned Nicolas. Oswald rolled his eyes.He knew how sneaky his friend could be when required.

He sighed. "So... did you plan anything for the journey ?" asked Oswald gazing at the green garden.

"How about we go back to the university & speak with Professor David ?" suggested Nicolas.

"Not a bad idea"

"From there we can select 3 to 4 students who would like to accompany us on the journey. Then we can go to the docks and select a crew with their captain."

"Right. Then let's go to the university this afternoon after lunch. We can head for the docks later." agreed Oswald.