Chapter II679Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0tXXQGDFr
November is a cold month this year. I walked through the cold stone pavements down to the shopping district. People of all ages gather in this area to shop, as the name gives, or just to gather around with friends and loved ones to share moments with.
I for one am not really keen on going here. Actually this place is almost alien to me for I have not taken a step outside in quite some time. All of my time has been occupied by the sanctuary of books in the library. It was a wonderful place. Swimming in my own imagination felt nice. It was like back in the days when my friends and I listen to my grand-father talk about his stories and then we would imagine ourselves in the exact same position as he did. Children are so carefree with their imagination.
I stopped at a crossing and gave the surrounding area a gaze. I saw the supermarket that I would get my groceries at for my everyday living, it was a big supermarket. I would always get fish there along with some vegetables and refreshments. The groceries I bought are usually more than I can stomach, needless to say they end up rotting in the fridge. Occasionally I only buy a six-packer and a slice of tiramisu to accompany me with my books.
When the light turned green I walked across. The road was quiet and the walkways and pavements were too. Of course, it was still broad daylight after all. Being outside for a change feels nice, though I usually end up going to a café, sit down, and read one of my books with a cup of coffee and a slice of cake. The cake is always necessary.
The café that I usually go to read at was just around the corner. It was quiet , I could see a couple of businessmen talking business. There was a couple having a debate, as I watched from afar I thought to myself what the problem was. Seeing the situation, the boy was sitting face down and the girl was standing up yelling. I was too far away to hear the girl's yelling but from my deduction the boy was caught having an affair. Of course that is the most common problem, the boy could have been angry at the girl and the girl started to shout some excuses to the boy. Or maybe they weren't a couple to begin with but siblings and they're arguing whether they will put their father to the nursing home because he's too old to take care of. Who knows?
The first thought on my mind had me thinking again. When I saw those two as a couple I thought to myself,
'when was the last time I was in a relationship?'
, I dismissed the thought as I continued walking down the pavements.
The café where I'm supposed to meet Mr. Sylvester is not very far from the usual café I go to. I've never been to the French café before. It was a fancy place, pricey too. I couldn't afford having to read my book there all the time. I would just settle with the comfortable small café that serves the best cream goat cheese, even though I've never tried it before, I don't think I'll even like goat cheese. Maybe I'll try it.
When the French café was on my sight I had already feared that my wallet would be missing a few friends, big friends. The double-door was your usual wooden-glass door with a small roof and sided by two potted miniature cedar trees. The windows were big and the walls were scarce, your typical scenic café. There were metal fences outside the café, closing all section except for the some part front of the door. Behind the metal fences were metal tables and chairs, stationed for those who want to taste the morning air or have a smoke. From the outside I could hear classical piano playing, along with some other instruments that I can't tell for sure. The atmosphere was relaxing. Maybe I'll try reading here sometime.
As I opened the door, the piano leaked calmly to the outside. The waiter on duty came to me and asked me if I wanted to be seated, that means either this café isn't as high-class as I thought or it was in its quiet hour. The inside wasn't as extravagant as I thought it would be, it was only a cozy café with green plants here and there. The room was mostly covered with calm white furniture. The roof was transparent with frequent lamps for night-light, other than the night-lights there weren't any other source of light save for the sun. Like what was shown on the outside this place is very much calm. I wondered if they serve goat cheese too.
I asked the waiter if there was a reservation for Mr. Sylvester and he escorted me to the table. From a bit of a distance I saw Mr. Sylvester sipping on his coffee, with cream I assumed as he likes it that way, opposite of him was none other than Mr. Smith, he had a glass of iced tea with what I assumed was mint leaves, and with them were two women that I had never seen before. The first one next to Mr. Sylvester was a red-headed woman whose hair was tied to a ponytail. She didn't look any older than Mr. Sylvester, so she must be quite young. She wore an autumn red blouse with white round collars. The other was taller than the first, she had wavy hair that had a sense of sexiness to it. She was wearing an orange dress with transparent black stockings.
Before the waiter left me I ordered a cut of his best goat cheese and a cup of cappuccino, I wonder how goat cheese tastes like. When the waiter had left me to the table Mr. Sylvester greeted me.
"Andy! It's good to see you again!"
"Good to see you too Aaron, I didn't know you invited Wyatt as well"
"Does that mean I'm not welcome here? And here I was so eager to welcome you to the little party"
It was nice seeing the old party back together. We all separated when we graduated from university, Aaron started hunting for excavation sites while I started on my little librarian's life. Wyatt on the other hand was different, he continued studying. He first studied about aerophysics then he continued with mechanics and finished with robotics. He was a smart man, a very smart man. He then made a small garage for electric devices and appliances, he also fixes cars and other form of transportation in that garage. His small garage soon turned into a robotics shop and garage, now a big success with the name of Smith's Gears.
"How's the business coming along? I've heard your garage's names numerous times inside the hallways of my library"
That was a lie. Not a sound could be heard in the hallways of my library. Although there weren't that many people to begin with. Even so I had heard about his garage from a few strangers I met at the usual café. Like I said before it was a very successful garage even though it is only located in one spot. I had heard that the place was very grand, even for a garage. Gears, tools, oil, electronic devices, and more could be found there. That place is the best garage in the city. Too bad I don't have a car to get fixed.
"Business is busy as usual, but I've found a decent mechanic to take care of things while I'm here, and from the looks of it he's going to be a busy mechanic for the next few months"
"A few months? Where are you leaving to?"
Mr. Smith was known to be a workaholic so it's rare for him to have a little escapade from his business. The first time he went for a vacation was the fifth autumn break back at university.
"Not just him, you're coming too"
Mr. Sylvester suddenly cuts in with an eager expression. I didn't see anything about a trip on my calendar.
"What? Where am I going?"
"You, my friend, are going to go home tonight and pack up for a four month trip"
"F-four months? Why didn't I hear of this from my secretary? Where are we even going?"
"We're going to the Himalayas!"
He exclaimed, arms high up. I could sense the glaring eyes of the not-so-many customers and staffs present in the room. Deep, confused stares. I don't like this much attention being averted to me and Mr. Sylvester. I hushed him down and asked him,
"Why are we going to the Himalayas?"
"Why not? Us three together again, having a real adventure, you, me, and Wyatt! Traveling the heights of the Himalayas! Wouldn't that be thrilling?"
"Of course… Thrill… My most favorite thing"
It has been a while since I've felt the intense feeling of thrill. The most thrill I get was when I found out that meat wes on sale at the supermarket. Those middle-aged mothers were a fierce group, I advise that you should not have a confrontation with them. Even so some of them were quite attractive for their age, one of them tried to hit on me. It was fun, in the end I came back with a bag of oxtail and prime ribs. Not a bad day.
"That's the spirit!"
"But who will take care of my library?"
"All taken care of, a friend of mine is going to be there the day we leave and I've sent her an ID card and a copy of the library keys, she's going to stay in your room though"
"Wait, you gave a complete stranger an ID card and a copy of the library keys?!"
"She's not a complete stranger, she's a reliable person"
"If you say so…"
As the conversation died the same waiter delivered my cheese and cappuccino to the table. I took a piece of the cheese to my mouth and drained it with coffee. I left the cheese and coffee to linger in my mouth so I could taste the combination of goat cheese and cappuccino. People said that cheese and coffee make an amazing couple, but goat cheese and cappuccino is another thing.
"Is it good?"
A voice asked me. It was an unfamiliar voice, a female's. I had forgotten the two other guests sitting across me. It was the woman dressed in autumn red. She supported her head on her two arms, elbow on the table.
"Surprisingly so, since I've never tried goat cheese before"
"Oh is that so?"
She smiled.
Something had stricken me odd. Talking to her feels natural and relaxing. Even though I didn't know what her name was. Then it caught up to me that I didn't know who she was. I don't even know the other woman with wavy hair.
"Yes, I'm sorry but I don't think we've been acquainted before?"
Mr. Sylvester suddenly jumped in to the conversation, putting down his cup of coffee.
"I almost forgot! Andy, this is my cousin Ms. Emily Sylvester, Lily this is my friend Mr. Jefferson Anderson"
"That's a funny name"
She giggled.
"Let's not start that topic Ms. Lily"
"Oh please don't call me Lily, just call me Emily or Emm for short. Only Aaron and some family members call me that"
"Very well then"
"Oh and that's my former assistant, Ms. Cassandra Stone"
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance"
I turned to have a look at Ms. Stone. Her eyes were glaring at me with a gentle but sharp sense. Maybe I had not realized that she was expecting me to introduce myself to her. Even so, she had a composed smile on her face that made her look more charming than ferocious.
"Likewise"
As I drained my last bite of goat cheese, Aaron started to rummage around his suitcase. He had all sorts of things in there, all sorts of important documents, most likely hunting sites and maps from the museum's archaeologists or from his own research. When he stopped searching, he pulled out a piece of folded paper and placed it on the table. Everyone was staring at it intently, curious on what it was.
"What is it?"
Mr. Smith was the first to comment on the object.
"A map"
"Where does it lead?"
Ms. Stone was the most curious of all of us. Her stare was different from any of us. I couldn't see it the first time, but after looking at her expression thoroughly I could see that she was confused and excited on what that paper holds.
"I don't know yet, but look"
Aaron unfolded the map and it showed a vast white area. Snow perhaps.
"These mountains, they're the Himalayas, I'm sure of it"
The party started to come closer for a better look. I, on the other hand, wasn't very interested. I sat back on my chair and called for a waitress from across the room. I signaled her to get a menu for me. I skimmed through the drinks section and ordered a glass of mint iced tea.
"So what if they're the Himalayas? What then?"
Mr. Smith broke the silence.
"Then we have a lead on where to start"
"We? So this little lunch is to tell us that we're going on this expedition?"
Ms. Stone continued.
"Yes, and we depart in a couple of days"
Everyone returned to their seats, thinking deeply. They've asked what they wanted to know, the only ones who haven't talked are myself and Ms. Sylvester.
A tense atmosphere circled around us. Everyone in deep thought. The waitress delivering my mint iced tea. Finally, I took a sip of the relaxing minty refreshment nonchalantly. I didn't have any interest in the topic at hand even though it affected me and my library.
"So is everybody in?"
Mr. Sylvester asked the party.
Mr. Smith nodded slightly, still thinking about the trip.
"Cass?"
"I suppose I don't have any reason to decline such an offer"
"Emm?"
He signaled Ms. Sylvester for an answer. She was hesitant at first but she then looked up to him and smiled.
"Sure"
I on the other hand just nodded without Mr. Sylvester's question.
"Alright, now that that settles it, we will meet up on the docks at 6 AM, in the meantime you can search up the location yourself and see if there's anything worth informing, unless I already know about it"
And with that he summed up the lunch.
Everyone parted ways into their homes, I was the last one to exit. Mr. Sylvester had already waited for me outside by the door. He was just lighting his cigar when he glanced at me. A hand called out to me, waving, signaling me to come outside. Mr. Sylvester had worn his dark-brown coat. He clearly had something to talk about. When I approached him, he offered me a piece of cigar from his inner coat pockets, I kindly declined.
"You didn't seem very interested in the expedition, why is that?"
His tone was more of a serious tone rather than his usual teasing one.
"I don't really know, might be I've just become anti-social that's all"
I had no particular reason to decline his offer. Nonetheless I would decline it right away if the reason is well enough. Alas taking care of my library isn't very good a reason.
"You know damn well that's not it, are you still in denial about your grand-father's work?"
"No… Not really, at least I don't think so"
He puffed a cloud of smoke from his mouth and played his fingers on the cigar. Pieces of flame flew away from the fiery head, turning to white-black ashes upon descending to the ground. The teeth on his mouth were gritting, he had lost his patience.
"Come on now Andy, you need to get out of that damned library sometime"
I scratched the back of my head, not knowing what to comment further on his statement. Maybe he's right, I've been stuck with books for far too long, imagining for far too long, that I had lost interest in the outside world.
"*sigh*… I guess so, guess I'll come join you and the others"
He finally smiled in this little conversation.
As he was about to leave, I had remembered the journal in my pocket, the leather journal from my grand-father's travels. Why did he want me to bring it to the lunch if he didn't even ask about it when I came.
"Why did you tell me to bring my grand-father's journal?"
He paused for a second, back against me.
"It still has empty pages doesn't it?"
I skimmed through it, opening the last pages of my grand-father's logs. After a couple of pages of his adventures there were just blank pages. Blank after blank after blank pages. It was about half the journal.
"You're right… So?"
He puffed another cloud of smoke and flicked his cigar onto the ground. He gave it a good step and turned his feet for caution.
"He left some room for you Andy"
And he departed into the upper district, gone from my sights.
I stared at the leather journal, unease. I skimmed through the pages once more, and again, and again. I repeated it until I was sure that it was really empty
"What the hell do you want from a librarian?"
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