Later that morning, at nine o'clock, I knocked on Albert's door and stepped inside. Albert was there, and sitting beside him was his brother Ernest.
"Good morning," I said, "good to see you both."
"Please take a seat, Peregrine," said Earnest.
I had learnt to distinguish the two by now. Earnest had a slight squint in his eyes, likely from reading books in the dim candlelight of his youth. I didn't dare ask him how old he was, but he was undeniably ancient. I wondered whether to mention the anomalies regarding time travel to London, but Albert seemed to be reading my mind.
"No time for small talk, I'm afraid," he said. "We unexpectedly find ourselves on the tightest of schedules."
Ernest frowned at Albert and spoke to me directly.
Yesterday I mentioned 'The Green Door', and this morning I would like to clarify further. As you have guessed, the Green Door is no ordinary portal. Not that any portal is 'ordinary', but The Green Door is unique in that it exists independently as a sentient entity and holds great power. The problem then arises in two parts. The Green Door has locked itself, and until it allows someone to pass through, there is no access to the incredible dimensions I spoke of. We believe it will permit you to open it, but that is only the first challenge. The next involves a series of tests that will evaluate your character. Only if you pass its scrutiny will the door let you search for the key and lock it from the inside, preventing invasion of the free world. That is the second part of your quest.
The green door is the barrier between this world and the host of other worlds in the multiverse. Some are alternative versions of our own with only small differences, but as time passes, those differences gather speed and spread like a spider's web to transform the new world into something quite different. On some occasions, the changes become huge, and the laws of nature change so much that there is no objective reality or fact, and fiction becomes the same thing.
Our portals currently only reach the edges of the multiverse, and while our customers can visit exotic locations, they do not compare to the wondrous worlds within. In some, you live within a story and observe the characters; in others, the characters escape into the world beyond the story's limits, and you can interact with them as the real people they have become.
We want everyone in our universe to experience the wonders of the multiverse. But this can only happen if a born traveller opens the Green Door, someone like yourself. However, the challenge does not end there. Once through, you must find the silver key that locks the door against an evil enemy who would invade these new worlds and plunder them for their own gain. They are very powerful and do everything they can to stop you from finding the key and locking the green door from the inside. Once that happens, their portals will cease to function, and they will be barred from the multiverse forever.
We can offer you little guidance, but Aunty has obtained a clue as to the location of the key to the Green Door.
"It refers to The Hobbit, no real surprise there, in a world of fiction. Remember the part in the book where Bilbo opens the door of Smaug's lair in the mountain and finds the dragon sleeping on his hoard of treasure? But our clue says:
In your quest, the key is the treasure, and its unknowing guardian sleeps forever.
We had hoped to have the pleasure of your company for several days while you completed your induction and training programme, but we must now drastically reduce the time for preparation."
I became apprehensive. "When you say, 'drastically cut', by how much exactly?"
Earnest glanced at Albert as if seeking support.
"Very drastically, Peregrine. The time slot for you to attempt the challenge is rapidly diminishing and will close in just over an hour."
"One Hour!" I exclaimed.
"And not reopen for another eighteen years," added Albert.
"Will you call your attempt off, Peregrine? We quite understand if you do, only being half prepared and all that."
They both looked at me expectantly. Albert had his handkerchief in his hand and was squeezing it extremely hard.
But he had nothing to worry about
"I will go ahead. I wouldn't miss this for anything."
The brothers leapt to their feet.
"Spoken like a true traveller!" said Albert excitedly.
"Good show, Peregrine, good show," said Earnest, and we had a group hug.
I disentangled myself with difficulty and asked, "Do I go now? Will you please tell Montana that I have no time to say goodbye and will be in touch the moment I get back?"
"There is still a little time for us left to continue our conversation," said Ernest, "and we will, of course, give Montana your message, but I would first like to say how honoured we are that you have accepted The Green Door Challenge."
"I will be glad to try, Earnest. Sorry, Mr Menschen. But you should not hold out too much hope. I am just an ordinary boy from a council estate and not good enough to be taking on important challenges like this. You could have chosen someone better than me."
I was feeling tearful without knowing the reason.
"I think we have done very nicely, Peregrine; indeed, you are exactly the person we need."
"But you didn't choose me, Mr Menschen. I came to the emporium by chance."
"Really? Perhaps I should explain further."
"I wish you would."
"Did your father ever talk about his father, your grandfather?"
"Not much. They had a falling out when Dad refused to join the family business. He said he wanted to attend art school with his friends instead. He was talented at art; everyone said so. He was much better than I was, of course, but there was no money in being an artist, and he had to work part-time at the council as a sign painter, so we were always a bit short of cash.
I was a big disappointment in him for not being very artistic. I preferred reading about the history of ancient times, their myths, and philosophy, and I would have liked to become a teacher.
"I wanted to make it up to my dad for my failure to draw or paint, so I decided to enrol in a History of Art course. It is mostly theory and doesn't require artistic skill. He was pleased about that. We would be working in the same world once I got a job, and he thought I might be of help to him in his career. Contacts, and such like."
"You put your father's feelings ahead of yours, did you, even though, at the same age, he put his interests ahead of his father's?"
"I never thought about it like that. I just thought it was my duty to Dad."
"And you wonder why we chose you," murmured Mr Menschen, "but never mind that for now. Do you know what your grandfather's business was?"
"Furniture, I think. I'm not sure. We never saw much of him."
"Furniture? Like this shop?"
"I suppose so, but not inter-dimensional portals, of course."
"What gives you that idea?"
"Well, it's not possible, is it?"
Mr Menschen remained silent, but my mind was working overtime.
"What is your full name, Peregrine?"
"Peregrine Tripp."
"And your father's first name?"
'Peregrine.' It's a family tradition for the eldest, but since his bust-up with Grandad, he has called himself Herbert. That's his middle name.
"Quite so. So, your grandfather's name is Peregrine, too?"
"Yes."
"Do you know what your name means?"
"No, I've always been a bit embarrassed. It sounds too posh for the estate."
"It's Latin for 'traveller' or 'pilgrim'. Tripp, your surname, has different interpretations, but in English, it means 'traveller'. You are a born traveller, Peregrine, as was your grandfather. In short, you are one of us by birth, Peregrine, and exactly the right person to take on the 'Green Door Challenge'. What do you say to that?"
"I say yes, Mr Menschen. This is the best day of my life. Win or lose, at last, I have something to be proud of. 'Born traveller', you said. I can hardly believe it. When do we start?"
"Good man," said Earnest, "but we are out of time. Listen closely, Peregrine, and remember these facts. There will be no time for questions. The Green Door stands at the unseen border that separates our dimension from the fantastic dimension. You must never forget that the enemy is looking for the key, and they know your identity.
"I was about to reply when the sound of a cuckoo clock filled the room.
"Oh dear," said Albert, turning off his watch alarm, "time is nearly up."
"Let's go!" said Earnest.
The three of us raced up the stairs.
"I must tell Aunty first. She can't miss this," said Albert.
Aunty looked flustered and smoothed down her pinny as she joined us.
"Ever onwards, Peregrine!" shouted Albert, and we hurriedly made our way to the shop counter. Earnest pulled the blind down and locked the front door to the shop while Albert was on his knees behind the counter. He ran his hand along the skirting board and pressed the button that opened the secret chamber.
With the sound of whirring gears, the wall began to rise and clicked into place when it reached the top. We all entered the chamber together, and the very first thing I saw was the famous Green Door, looking solid and immovable. The three of them looked at me expectantly, and I moved forward with my eyes fixed on the iron handle.
"You haven't got a proper coat on, Peregrine, and you might catch your death of cold out there," said Earnest, and he flung his coat around my shoulders.
"Take this rucksack as well. There is food inside and a few other things from the boys," said Aunty.
The coat was far too big, but I appreciated the gesture. I wanted to keep my hands free and put the rucksack over my shoulder. I placed my hand on the handle, and I swear I heard the door sign. Tightening my grip on the iron bar, I tried to turn it, but to my huge disappointment, it didn't budge.
"Try turning it the other way," said Albert.
That would have locked it even more firmly, but I did not want to offend him, so I twisted the handle in the opposite direction. To my shock, it turned effortlessly and began spinning so rapidly that I couldn't stop it. The door swung open of its own accord. I was unable to keep my balance and tumbled straight into the darkness.