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We bought this storage, and selling some of the everyday items has already paid us back nicely—only the uncommon remain.

Catalog #274

The Editor

Appearance: A standard #2 pencil with an eraser. Body color red. Fine lines are engraved around the body and inlaid with gold and silver alternating.

Function: Use the pencil, without erasing, to write a story. When you have finished writing, you may begin editing. Erase everything you want to happen, leaving only the things you do not want to happen.

Notes: grammar is important. Punctuation is essential. Would-be authors must be able to compose an interlaced trio of stories, each grammatically correct. The desired story. The unwanted story. The combined story is made by interlacing the words of the two base stories.

All three stories must make sense when read aloud, although reading the stories is not essential to the process.

Safety Notes

• Do not attempt to use this in the heat of the moment. You will hurt yourself no matter what your intent is.

• Do not attempt to use this for personal profit. The universe likes well-crafted stories, not wish fulfillment.

• If you attempt to use the eraser, and the pencil twists in your hand, stop at once. This is a warning from the universe. Reconsider what you are attempting.

Nice, I personally was thinking of items that for one reason or more are not going to be comfortable to use in public as it would raise suspicion unless certain conditions are met, so they wouldn't appear as suspicious or odd to warrant inquiry or a quick question. I have couple examples on my mind.

As an author — unpublished, as yet — the thought of a writing implement with a twist came to mind first. Many have written of pens or books with which the written word becomes true, but I don't think anyone has gone this way. What you write and erase becomes true; only what you leave on the paper remains unreal.

Continuing my thoughts, one could imagine a spell book with key words left out, like names. When the occasion arises, you select an appropriate spell from the book, fill in the key words, and erase the portion you want to happen. A combined blessing and curse with the name omitted. Imagine a thief who steals the book and writes in the name of a hated enemy. They erase the blessing, thinking the curse will happen. Imagine the chagrin. Or the reverse and a loved one falls to a terrible curse—the horror at realizing what they have done.

Catalog #32

Lux Orb

Appearance: a small sphere of perfect quartz crystal.

Function: (1) Tossed gently upward, the orb will ignite brilliant white light, hovering at the best position to provide the light desired by the user. (2) Hurled at an opponent, the orb will flash blind all who look at it when it is within three cubits of the foe.

Notes: In the latter use, if the foe manages to avoid blindness, the orb will circle them until either recalled by a thought or successfully blinding the target. We have not attempted its use against groups of opponents, but we fear this is not long from happening. Word of our fortune has spread far faster and broader than we would ever have wished.

Catalog #924

Miniature Ark of the Covenant

Appearance: As described, but of a size to fit within the palm of the average person's hand.

Function: We decline to experiment.

Note: Taking inspiration from an author, we have placed this item on a pedestal adjacent to the only door into the storeroom. A sufficiently aware individual there to seek things of power may be incautious enough to open it. What happens then is, at this time, anyone's guess.

Catalog #82

Ornate Silver Trumpet

Description: As a common trumpet, but made of silver, ornately engraved, inlaid, and begemmed in nature scenes in all the glory and majesty that nature can inspire.

Function: The music you play affects the natural world for good or ill. The trumpet reflects the last usage in the illustrations.

Notes: There is a classical piece of music that never fails to inspire the listener to conceive a beautiful dawn before a glorious day. I played that song to the benefit of a friend being married that day when the forecast was for foul weather.

The marriage and reception, both outdoors, went off without a hitch. I spent the subsequent week traveling in a constant soaking downpour to avoid flooding any one place. Thank the gods of your choice that trains are seldom disturbed by weather.

Finding myself drawn to the thought of what would happen if you played "Night on Bald Mountain," I have asked my husband to hide the trumpet from me.

Private Diary

My wife requested that I hide the trumpet from her, and I agree that it is for the best. I have cured my own curiosity in doing so by opening the Ark — with my eyes firmly closed — and placing the trumpet inside of it.

The interior is filled with items.

I shall not share this information with my wife. I only write it here against the failure of memory, or my untimely death.

These diaries are the most secure form of storage I can imagine. Only I can open it on my entries, just as my wife can only open it on hers. We know others have used it, because there is a list of authors that can be called up. I cannot see my wife's name, and she cannot see mine. Yet there are names we have verified the existence of who are deceased. The most terrifying is the first entry, which is a blur. We believe the first user is still alive—the second user dates to the early Egyptian period.