Ceridwen had never seen so many people. The world around her seemed like a madhouse. Not even the wildest Solstice Eve party could compare with the noise, chaos and strangeness of the modern world. The last time she had left the Otherworld was for the first performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on 7 May, 1824, and that was just for a couple of days. Now she was in Copenhagen, together with Alphonse and Sarayu. The past few hours had been some of the most remarkable she had ever witnessed. When Sarayu had explained all about what was happening to the world's climate, and how a vital conference was taking place that the whole world was watching, she just had to see for herself. Merlin, or Myrddin as he was known in the Otherworld, had wanted to come too.

"I'm not letting you go to what sounds like a madhouse on your own."

"You need to stay here to mind the Otherworld in my absence, and who is going to give Pendragon his cookies?"

"Blodwyn from Ye Olde Oake can do it." said Myrddin.

"She might forget, and Pendragon will burn the pub down, thinking it's already time for the solstice bonfire!"

Myrddin had taken a bath in the copper tub. He was about to offer Sarayu a comb and a pair of scissors, and ask her to cut his hair.

"No, Myrddin, and that's my final word. What if some of this modern energy spills over into the Otherworld? Anything could happen. You must guard the gates while we are away."

With that she turned to Alphonse and asked, "How do we get into this COP15 thingy?"

"With your quaint old Breton French accent, I can pass you off as a member of the French delegation. You will just have to get used to calling me Auguste. Auguste Saint-Germain is my modern identity, He is a French special envoy."

"And Sarayu?"

"She is my research assistant."

In spite of Auguste Saint-Germain's best efforts, they could not get into the Bella center in Copenhagen. The Friends of the Earth chair was just being thrown out as they arrived. Protesters were walking out to join demonstrators on the streets. Among them was an old friend of Ceridwen's, Joshua.

"What on earth are yo doing here, Joshua?"

"Hi Mary! Where else should I be? It's dad's creation going up in smoke and hot air."

A few hours later Joshua sent Sarayu a message.

'Just been arrested. We are being forced to sit on the ground in freezing cold, with our hands tied behind our backs. Cops hit my head with sticks. Just like the good old days in Jerusalem!'

"What!" said Ceridwen, hardly believing her ears. "They just busted Jesus. This world is crazy. How can we get him out?"

"This whole conference is a farce." said Alphonse. "The bankers have kidnapped the agenda, just as I feared at the Bilderberg Hotel."

Ceridwen looked around her at the protesters on the street, the security guards and police, and all the chaos and shouting. The world had changed quite a bit since 1824. Sarayu had been explaining to her all about digital technology, relativity, the Holocaust, Hiroshima, climate change, Wall Street and many of the other facets of the modern world. She had a lot of catching up to do, but first she needed to make sure that Joshua was OK. Sarayu turned towards her.

"Alphonse! Ceridwen has disappeared."

"What!"

Ceridwen walked through the police kettle to where they were holding Joshua. Challenged by one cop, she stared deeply into his eyes. The cop staggered back, as if a fist had slammed his chest. Three of his colleagues fell flat on the ground as she walked straight up to Joshua. His face was covered in blood. He was freezing.

Ceridwen picked him up, and ripped his hands free. As she tried to get through the police cordon, a cop tried to hit Joshua to the ground. She blocked his baton, slapped his face and disappeared, along with Joshua. The cop looked at an empty space where a few seconds before a woman was standing. Ceridwen knew how to kick arse. She had been doing it since the dawn of time. When you have been burned at the stake, a few cops don't scare you. She put her coat around Joshua.

"Enough demonstrating for you today." she said.