Chapter Thirty
The Tower of Doom

Hapless and Ro stood before the locked doors of HogsBaraBrith Tower. Luckily, a key could be seen hanging on a hook to the side. Trying it, they found that the lock turned, and they gingerly pushed the left hand door, which swung open wide. Inside there was a wide hall with a counter, on top of which was a sign that read ‘Reception desk’, but it was empty. On the adjacent wall was a sign saying ‘An Energy-Efficient Campus’, and a panel with photographs and the names of teaching staff. The gaunt, thin face, swept back hair and boggly eyes of Dr Angelina Bowelbreeze (Room 47) peered out at them.
“Whoa! Creepy!”, exclaimed Ro and Hapless together. Next to this were other names and photographs, showing a variety of long, round, bearded, serious or smiling academic faces; all ‘experts’ in some esoteric field of anthropology. Hapless read the captions: ‘Paleontology, Forensic anthropology, Human archaeology (“Whatever that is”, thought Ro), Hominin evolution, Cultural anthropology, Cultural evolution, Hominin Ontology and Human Phenotypic Variation, Paleoglossiphysiology …’ Above the last was an incongruous photograph. It was no snapshot, taken against an office background. This was professionally made, with flattering lighting. Rowling looked more like an actor than an academic: smiling, well groomed, good teeth. “He even looks like a fake”, breathed Ro.
“Room 212”, said Hapless in reply, “Let’s go”.