It is an imposing edifice! Ok, it's a big building with columns rising out of the mist of snow on a chilly day, snow falling lightly. But edifice sounds better. It is dark and a little frightening. I don't even have the “company” of my competition, for I am on a special mission for the Ministry. Ok, for the government.
Who am I? I go by Kingston Sally. I’m an adventurer and treasure hunter. I’m known as "the planner" because I always want to do my research before an adventure. It helps me feel "prepared," like the Scouts, and less scared, less shy. I’m not really as brave as I pretend to be. Preparation makes me look like I’m brave.
Often I take comfort from our competitions, but today we aren't competing. My "colleagues" are on adventures of their own. I am alone. So I’ve done as much research as I can, found all the charts and notes that might help.
My Mission - find a rumored map or guide to a secret text with ancient healing lore. The text we seek isn’t supposed to be here, only the directions to find it, wherever it is hidden.
I pause, keeping to the shadows. I’m looking at the main entrance, I think. But, I need to review my information for any clues about what to expect before I try the door.
The building is in an old and mostly deserted part of the city. streets exist, but in disrepair. Buildings that might once have been homes form the boundary with the rest of the city. Within, dilapidated (that’s a great word, too) houses give way to plain, boring buildings that might be warehouses. Here and there, the drab architecture is broken by large buildings – all old and pillared – like the one I face. Most seem deserted. Leaves and the occasional piece of paper or plastic trash blow in the stagnant breezes. At one time an ancient university or center of learning was here. The records don’t say more. Buildings are all that is left. In a way it is sad, such decay where there was once teaming life. Ok, I need to focus.
Some say the buildings are haunted. Others suggest they are home to gangs and others not part of general society. It’s possible, but I haven’t seen anyone in the last hour or so. The neighborhood looks empty.
Maybe people have entered and plundered, taking anything useful. My search may be for nothing. Or perhaps they were frightened by what they found in the columned buildings and ran. What use would scrolls be to those scavengers? Not much except as a source of fuel. But that would take effort. And there is plenty of fuel scattered about. Simply pick up what you need. At least that’s what I tell myself.
The building is not so old that records can’t be found. I have plans and diagrams, though they may not reflect the insides well. Still, they provide a start. Diagrams show that there are five floors above ground and four below. Only three entrances are indicated, two on the main floor and one marked in the third basement. No information about where it comes out. The main floor is mostly large, open rooms and numerous stairways both up and down. What I seek must be on another level – somewhere in a maze of shelves and alcoves.
Unfortunately, my maps don’t have enough detail. The only other thing I have is a designation for the precise location of the scroll or bound volume. It is K3WR23C42S7. What it means isn’t clear. I hope to find some way to translate, once I am in the building.
That’s it, the sum of what I know. It’s time to move. Full sun is only an hour away. With the sun, I’ll be visible to any who watch.
Buoyed by my review, I suppress a shudder and steal (Ok, sneak) across the street to the broad stairs. They face south, and shadows are still on the east side. I sprint for them disturbing the leaves on the street.
Quietly I creep up, scanning for trip wires or other tricks that might give warning or spring a trap. Experience has taught things are often not what they seem. There it is, fifteen feet from the door and just below the top step, a wire. I see it only because of the morning dew glistening on the wire. Carefully I step over it, wary of a secondary trigger. I don’t see one and no alarms are blaring.
I realize I’m holding my breath and as I step to the columns. I pause a moment and start breathing again.
Next the door must be breached. Ok, I have to open it and get inside. A quick search detects no visible threats. Like all outside doors, it opens out. There might be a trap or trigger when pulled. So, I pull a length of thin rope from my bag. I carefully tie it to the handle of the door. Sheltering behind a broken bench, I pull. Slowly the door opens. There’s a “thwip” and an arrow shaft hits a column, clattering to the floor.
Being prepared is a good thing, I muse for a moment. But are there more welcoming traps?
No one followed the arrow. I slowly approach the door, down low. Looking around the door, I see a cord connected the door to the trigger of a cross-bow mounted in a frame. It’s single shot and no one is near to reload. But that doesn’t mean I am alone. It was a simple trap, though not effective if lots of people are coming in.
Carefully I step into the room, crouching as low as I can. I don’t see anyone and the hall is quiet...eerily so. I’m in a large hallway. It seems to run the length of the building. Doors are along the hall to my right and left. Listening for movement, I open the door on my left. It is a large empty room, still in shadows, since it is facing west. No sign of what the room was for – no tables or chairs or anything to show people had ever been here, not even much dust.
Leaving the door open, I go to the one across. I open the door carefully. It’s another empty room, bathed in golden light from the sunrise. At least dust motes fill the air and it is musty. The room has high ceilings. In the light I notice two sets of stairs going up and down. But, no sign of people.
Leaving both doors open, I creep down the hall. About half way, I meet another long hall, making a cross. Still no people, but looking to the right, toward the east entrance, there’s another crossbow trap. Clearly people have been here. Maybe they’re on different floors, hiding.
I’m not sure which way to go. So, I turn left, away from the east entrance. Again there are doors on either side. A stairway ends the hall. The door on the left opens into the first room I examined. The room on the right is different. A giant fireplace fills the opposite wall. The remains of tables and chairs are gathered near. According to my chart, it used to be a meeting room of some kind. Perhaps it still is.
But, where are the people? Surely they aren’t afraid of me? I’m not very menacing. Ok, I am really pretty small. No one would be afraid of me. My next choice is up or down. The sun is up and looking up the stairs, I see light; looking down, only darkness. Up it is.
Because of the high ceiling on the main floor, the stairs are unusually long. They turn about a couple times. It’s dizzying.
I reach the next landing and a door. Above the door in brass letters is L1W. The style is similar to my code. I am at the west end of the building. Perhaps that’s what W means. The L might be level, but what does K mean in my code?
I open the door and step in. The room it is much smaller than those on the main level. And, there are desks and chairs, most broken. Scraps of paper are scattered about. Still, aside from the entry traps, no recent signs of people. There is a door opposite. Carefully I open it. No surprises great me. The hallway is narrow, with lots of doors. Above each door is the letter R followed by a number. That might fit my code.
Crossing the hall, I open a door with R6 above it. Whatever its original purpose, now it seems to be sleeping quarters. Make-shift mattresses are strewn about the room. Still no people, but I begin to wonder. Are they hiding? Or setting a trap?
Listening hard, I hear shuffling footfalls down the hall, as if people are moving about. Hesitating but a moment, I return the way I came. Ok, I hurry back to the stairs and go up again. At the next landing, the door is marked L2W. L is definitely level. I need to go down.
Nervously, I go down the stairs. Did I really hear people moving about?
Before descending into the dark, I check the main level. I had left doors open. Now they are all closed.
“It could be the wind.” I say to myself, not really believing.
The trap at the door on the other end of the hall looks no different. Walking to the crossway, I look toward my entry. The trap is set, ready for another uninvited guest. Someone cleaned up while I searched above.
Drawing back, I wonder, “Where is everyone?”
If they came into the open, I could ask for help. But I see no one.
Returning to the stairs, I reach for the lantern in my bag. It is battery operated, but bright. Pausing, I listen. Is it my imagination or do I hear scraping above? No noise rises from below.
One more deep breath and I start down. Turning on the lantern, I see that the stairs are clear, as if someone cares for them. No evidence of traps, at least to the landing, so down I tread. Each step is slow, listening for any sounds.
I hear nothing as I reach the first landing. As I expected, the door is marked K1W. I don’t know what K means, but it is the right direction. I need to go down two more levels (I think).
I could be like Tim the Bull and charge down, tripping all possible traps. But that isn’t me. A quick scan of my chart gives no useful information. I go down another level. At K2W I pause and breathe. I put my ear to the door. No sounds.
Opening the door, I find a room with more doors. Bookshelves are staggered around the room, some with books, air stale and smelling of old, moldy paper. The doors are open. Sometimes luck is the only choice...I flip a coin. Tails, I go through the left door. It’s another room like the first. A few more shelves and more books.
I take one down. It’s dusty and worn, but has all the pages. English, too, I hadn’t expected that. It seems to be a history of events in early England. Curious, but not why I’m here. Carefully I replace it.
A scraping noise startles me and I turn toward it. There in rags is a little girl (I think). She says nothing, holding a stuffed animal tightly. It might be a bear or a bunny. She seems timid. Taking two mints from a pocket, I offer one. She doesn’t move. I put it on the floor and back away. Her eyes follow. I stop and slowly open mine. I put it in my mouth and smile. Then put my hands down, by my sides. She creeps forward, watching me, and snatches the mint. Then she backs away. Imitating my actions, she unwraps and puts it in her mouth. She smiles, turns, and scampers away. In a moment she is gone. I hear nothing. Was she really there?
I return to the stairs. Now I know there must be people around. I don’t really want to meet. One more level to go and I’ll be able to finish my hunt, I hope.
As I enter K3W, I hear a grinding or rolling noise. There is a crash and the stairs fill with dust. I turn and look up as a pile of debris (fancy word for big junk) blocks my way. I’m trapped, at least for now.
Looking into the room, my lantern doesn’t even reach the far wall. But, there is a table and chair near my entrance. No one will be entering behind me, so I take some time to regroup. I spread my floor plan on the desk. It shows multiple stairways, “mirroring” (I like that word) those upstairs. But there are no details on the layout of the floor. They might be a way up even though the people in the building are up, too. That could be a problem.
Well, it can wait. I’m on the right floor now. Maybe I can decode the rest and find the instructions. Besides there’s always the third entrance. And it’s on this level. My chart doesn’t say where it goes, but it does leave the building.
Packing my chart, I consider the code: K3WR23C4S7. K is the level. W the direction or wing, I think. R is the room. So, I am on the west side and on level 3. I need to find room 23. Once I do, maybe C and S will make sense. My search might even be short. Taking my lantern, I walk across the room. As I approach the wall, I see a door. It is open. In fact, the door is missing.
I step through, into a hallway, not broad, but long. Across is another doorway, no door. It’s strange. Lifting my lantern, I see a number above, 8. Looking back, I see 6 above the doorway I came through. The next set of doorways are 10 and 12. All even numbers. I want odd numbers, if I understand the code. But where are they? Walking the hall to the end, no odd numbers.
“Do I have the code wrong?” I wonder.
Not sure of my next step, I pause. There should be a stairway at this end of the hall, but there isn’t, just a blank wall. In the shadows, I can’t tell if it’s been added.
With nowhere to go, I return down the hall to room 6. Holding my lantern high, I step over the threshold as if entering a new realm. Ok, I walked through the door, it just sounds better. This room is different. It has rows of shelves spaced regularly across the room. Some are empty, some overflowing. It is not a deep room. And it has a door in the middle of the wall opposite.
The shelves are interesting, but I need to find room 23. So I quickly cross. Unlike the entrance, this door is in place. The hinges look like they go both ways, like the doors to the kitchen in a tavern. There’s no handle. I push through, but not without first listening carefully. It is a mirror of the room I am leaving. Rows of shelves. And, an open doorway on the other side. Gathering my courage, I walk across the room.
My lantern leaves shadows around me. Anything or anyone might be there. But I hear nothing except my footsteps and breathing. I hope I am alone.
I step into a hall, just like the first. Except... the numbers are odd! My excitement grows (despite being trapped in the basement). The numbers are 5 and 7.
Pausing, I listen carefully. No sounds. I know there are people around. And there must be more ways to these rooms. Why am I not being chased?
I have no answer, so I walk down the hall, checking each room number. There it is, number 23.
“Now or never” I think. A deep breath, then another. I’m only shaking a little, fear or excitement, not sure.
I step in. The air is musty perhaps from old, unused books and scrolls. Like the other rooms, rows of shelves, many full. I inspect the closest. Near the top are two numbers: 5 on the left and 6 on the right. Could they indicate the shelf set? I look at the row to the left, second from the wall. The numbers are 3 and 4. I’m close, with luck. I need only determine what the S means.
I step between the shelves 4 and 5. I see dividers with numbers on some of the shelves. They aren’t evenly spaced but do seem to divide or mark sections on the shelves. Some are very close together, others spaced far apart with books and scrolls between them. Each divider has a number.
At first I think “this is easy,”
But the numbers aren’t in order. And some are so worn I can’t read them. Frustrated, I sit on the floor, ignoring the dust, staring at the dividers. I groan softly, bemoaning my luck. I’m in the right place, I’m sure. But how do I find the document?
A scraping, grinding sound breaks my thoughts. Something heavy is sliding. The sound comes from the hall, but at a distance. I jump up and quietly glide to the door. The noise is only a little louder and I see nothing. Looking around, I see nothing to block the door. But, there is a door on the other side of the room.
I take a last look at row 4, thinking “I need to escape.”
“There is a pattern!” I almost scream.
I just didn’t see it because I was too close. There, on the bottom shelf, is a 7. It must be there! But do I have time?
I don’t know where the second door goes. I may have to just take a chance. And, I don’t hear any movement outside the room, though there are occasional “thumps” as if someone is pounding on walls.
It’s worth a shot. I won’t have another chance. Quickly I search the pages and scrolls on either side of the divider. There it is. The script is old, but still readable. It says the book of lore was moved for safekeeping. But where? The only other markings are what look like coordinates. But they aren’t GPS. I’m sure someone at the Ministry can figure them out.
Carefully I put the page in my bag. Time to escape. The noises are getting closer. I can make out voices, but not words. Stepping through the back door, I see a short corridor with a sign overhead. It says “Exit” Exit to what, I don’t know. Still, it’s a way out. Looking around, I see a couple of benches. They will at least slow my pursuers.
I stack them against the door. There’s no more time. I enter the corridor. After a few feet, I meet stairs going down. I don’t know how long I have, so I start down as quickly as I can, always looking for trip wires.
After a few steps, the way flattens out. It is farther than my light reaches. And, there is flickering light at the end. A “crash” sounds from above. I turn off the lantern and start to run, hoping there are no more traps.
A minute or two later (seems longer), I step out of a tunnel and onto a platform. To the right is a train. I have reached the underground (Ok, subway).
The lights brighten. Dad says, “Hi Sally. Did you find the book for Mom?”
“No,” I reply, “there was a note on the shelf saying they moved it to the downtown library.”
Dad says, “Let’s hop on the train and go there.”