A Lombard Alchemist Tale
A cubicle is no place to waste a golden summer afternoon, which is why Albert escaped early to spend some time at the park. But when his boss piles on extra deadlines, he's forced to work through his time off—at least, that's the plan.
But neither Albert nor his boss could have planned on a surprise adventure courtesy a broken briefcase, an escaped python, and a mischievous pawnbroker who keeps a creepy little shop out on the edge of nowhere.
Short story. Includes Author's Note with the story behind the story.