Read Magic Kingdom for Sale—Sold! for Free Online Page B

in taking it he wouldbe leaving nothing of consequence behind. With Annie gone, everything that mattered lay ahead.
    Nevertheless, he hesitated. “Could I see a copy of that contract now, Mr. Meeks?”
    The old man reached into his center desk drawer and withdrew a single sheet of paper backed in triplicate. He passed it across the desk to Ben. Ben picked up the-contract and read it through carefully. It was exactly as the old man had promised. The Kingship of Landover was to be sold to him for a price of one million dollars. The language of the catalogue promo was repeated with appropriate warranties. The closing paragraphs provided for a full refund of the purchase price less the handling charge if within ten days of arrival in Landover the purchaser chose to return the specialty item and withdraw from the Kingdom. A key for such withdrawal would be provided at time of purchase.
    Ben paused on reading the final lines. The purchaser agreed on forfeiture of the full purchase price if he or she returned the item anytime after the first ten days
or
if he or she chose to abandon Landover for any reason during the first year of Kingship.
    “What is the point of this final covenant?” he asked, glancing back again at Meeks. “Why can’t I leave for a visit back?”
    Meeks smiled—a rather poor attempt. “My client is concerned that the purchaser of Landover appreciate the responsibilities that Kingship entail. A man not willing to— what is the saying?—‘stick it out’ for at least a year is not a worthy candidate for the job. The agreement assures that you will not wander off and leave the duties of the throne unattended—at least for that first year.”
    Ben frowned. “I guess I can understand your client’s concern.” He placed the contract back on the desk, one hand resting on it lightly. “But I’m still a bit skeptical about the offer in general, Mr. Meeks. I think I should be candid. It all seems a bit too easy. A mythical kingdom with fairy creatures that no one has ever seen or heard about before? Aplace no one has ever been to, that no one has ever come across? And all I have to do is to give Rosen’s one million dollars and I own it?”
    Meeks said nothing. His aged, craggy face was expressionless.
    “Is this kingdom in North America?” Ben pressed.
    Meeks said nothing.
    “Do I need a passport to reach it? Or medical protection from its diseases?”
    Meeks shook his head slowly. “You need no passport or immunization. You need only courage, Mr. Holiday.”
    Ben flushed slightly. “I think some common sense might be called for as well, Mr. Meeks.”
    “A purchase such as the one you propose to make, Mr. Holiday, requires least of all common sense. If common sense were the basis of the sale, neither one of us would be having this conversation, would we?” The old man’s smile was cold. “Let us be candid, as you suggest. You are a man seeking something that is not available to you in the world you know. You are a man who is tired of his life and all of its trappings. If you were not, you would not be here. I am a man who specializes in selling specialty items—items that are bizarre, that appeal to a limited market, that are invariably difficult to merchandise. I am a man who cannot afford to jeopardize his reputation by selling something that is in any way counterfeit. If I did so, I would not have lasted long in this business. I play no games with you, and I sense that you play none with me.
    “Nevertheless, there are certain things that both of us must accept on faith. I must accept you as a potential ruler of Landover basically on faith, knowing little of your real character, but only so much as I have surmised from our short interview. And you must accept much of what I tell you of Landover on faith as well, because there is no meaningful way to show it to you. You must experience it, Mr. Holiday. You must go there and learn of it for yourself.”
    “In ten days, Mr. Meeks?”
    “Time