The last door opened into a long corridor that was descending in a mild slope towards a well connecting to the ocean.
“I suppose the only way in and out is with the diving equipment on,” Rongo said.
“Unless the access to the ocean is blocked,” the supreme master replied. “Anyway, I don’t think we should be worried about an invasion coming from here. So far, we’re doing fine: we have a working toilet, water to drink, and beds to sleep. The air feels fresh, and that means the ventilation system is fully functional. Nothing to worry about for the night.”
Then they heard Solis’ voice coming from under the dome:
“There is food here. They also have books. Many books!”
“Books?” Anh exclaimed and strode out towards the door from the other side of the dome.
The western corridor was somewhat similar to the first, with ten doors on its sides. However, it only had two dormitories. There was a shower room next to the toilet, with three bathing cabins inside. Besides the storage rooms, two more chambers were present. One had food cans on counters, with tables and chairs for serving it spread around, obviously a cafeteria and a kitchen. The other was quite large, filled by long shelves with thousands and thousands of books. The books were written in the Old Script, which only Anh could read.
“Let’s check the food area first,” Kolin said. “I’m starving.”
“You think the food is still edible after so many centuries?” Rongo cautioned.
“That depends on how well it was preserved,” Lila added.
The food was stored in cans, with labels for the contents written in the same script and accompanied by suggestive illustrations. From the description, the contents inside the small metal containers had been preserved all this time in vacuum. Most of the cans contained fish, some had vegetables, and a few held beef and lamb. On a separate shelf, there were even canned fruits.
“I urge caution with this stuff,” Anh said. “It might be quite different from our current diet and could generate intestinal trouble. If we all get sick, two toilets might not be enough…”
“I’ll try this one,” Kolin announced and picked up a can with the image of a tuna fish. He went to the kitchen side where a stove, a faucet, and a sink were present, and began looking around for a tool to open it. There was none. So he came back to the Aquatika supreme master:
“Master Anh, how do I open this?”
The master took the can and read the instructions on the lid. Then he replied:
“See this thin ring on the side? You need to pull it, and the lid should come off.”
“Thank you!” Kolin said and pulled the ring.
The lid came off with a hissing sound, revealing a delicious-looking cream with a savory fragrance.
“Wow!” the boy cried. “This smells great!”
Kolin rushed back to the kitchen stand, took a spoon and a bowl from a cupboard, poured the mixture in, took a seat at one of the tables, and began to eat from the can with delight. The others looked at him with mixed expressions. Moments later, Solis and Lila also made up their minds. They went to the shelves, and each chose a can based on the image printed next to its label. Solis got some ham, and Lila picked a pineapple stew. They grabbed bowls and spoons and joined Kolin for dinner.
“What about us?” Rongo asked, turning to the supreme master. “Should we follow the kids’ example?”
“I’d rather wait for another two or three hours. You are also a master. Perhaps it won’t be a bad idea if you did the same. As I said, there are only two toilets in here.”
“You’re right, Master Anh,” Rongo agreed. “I’m not even that hungry.”
Anh turned to the teenagers and said:
“Kids, I’m going to the library. If you need me, I will be there.”
He left the cafeteria and disappeared behind the next door. Rongo went back to the central dome and began to study the console.
Kolin was the first to finish his meal. With a satisfied expression, he put the empty can in the trash bin next to the wall, washed the metal bowl and the spoon, and set them back on the kitchen shelf.
“How are you feeling?” Lila asked.
“So far, still fine,” the boy replied, laughing. “I’m going to the library, too. Who knows, maybe not all the books are in the Old Script. Perhaps I can find something nice to read.”
After the dome, the library was the largest room in the underground base. Despite being there for so many centuries, all the books looked new. Soon, Kolin found the cause of their excellent condition: the pages were not made of ordinary paper, but of a white material that looked much sturdier. Here and there, he took books from the shelves, browsed a few pages, then put them back. All were written in the Old Script.
A few armchairs and tables were visible at the far end of the room. Anh was there, reading from a book.
“What are you reading?” Kolin asked.
“Just checking some technical literature,” the supreme master replied.
“Are there any books here that I could read?”
“There are a few on the shelf there,” the supreme Anh said, pointing towards a corner of the room. “Most are about math and physics. I think one is about history, describing the colonization period.”
“That's great! So I can read something nice before I fall asleep,” the youngster said, rubbing his hands with satisfaction. Then, after a short pause, he asked:
“Master Anh, what is this place? What was its purpose?”
(to be continued...)
“I suppose the only way in and out is with the diving equipment on,” Rongo said.
“Unless the access to the ocean is blocked,” the supreme master replied. “Anyway, I don’t think we should be worried about an invasion coming from here. So far, we’re doing fine: we have a working toilet, water to drink, and beds to sleep. The air feels fresh, and that means the ventilation system is fully functional. Nothing to worry about for the night.”
Then they heard Solis’ voice coming from under the dome:
“There is food here. They also have books. Many books!”
“Books?” Anh exclaimed and strode out towards the door from the other side of the dome.
The western corridor was somewhat similar to the first, with ten doors on its sides. However, it only had two dormitories. There was a shower room next to the toilet, with three bathing cabins inside. Besides the storage rooms, two more chambers were present. One had food cans on counters, with tables and chairs for serving it spread around, obviously a cafeteria and a kitchen. The other was quite large, filled by long shelves with thousands and thousands of books. The books were written in the Old Script, which only Anh could read.
“Let’s check the food area first,” Kolin said. “I’m starving.”
“You think the food is still edible after so many centuries?” Rongo cautioned.
“That depends on how well it was preserved,” Lila added.
The food was stored in cans, with labels for the contents written in the same script and accompanied by suggestive illustrations. From the description, the contents inside the small metal containers had been preserved all this time in vacuum. Most of the cans contained fish, some had vegetables, and a few held beef and lamb. On a separate shelf, there were even canned fruits.
“I urge caution with this stuff,” Anh said. “It might be quite different from our current diet and could generate intestinal trouble. If we all get sick, two toilets might not be enough…”
“I’ll try this one,” Kolin announced and picked up a can with the image of a tuna fish. He went to the kitchen side where a stove, a faucet, and a sink were present, and began looking around for a tool to open it. There was none. So he came back to the Aquatika supreme master:
“Master Anh, how do I open this?”
The master took the can and read the instructions on the lid. Then he replied:
“See this thin ring on the side? You need to pull it, and the lid should come off.”
“Thank you!” Kolin said and pulled the ring.
The lid came off with a hissing sound, revealing a delicious-looking cream with a savory fragrance.
“Wow!” the boy cried. “This smells great!”
Kolin rushed back to the kitchen stand, took a spoon and a bowl from a cupboard, poured the mixture in, took a seat at one of the tables, and began to eat from the can with delight. The others looked at him with mixed expressions. Moments later, Solis and Lila also made up their minds. They went to the shelves, and each chose a can based on the image printed next to its label. Solis got some ham, and Lila picked a pineapple stew. They grabbed bowls and spoons and joined Kolin for dinner.
“What about us?” Rongo asked, turning to the supreme master. “Should we follow the kids’ example?”
“I’d rather wait for another two or three hours. You are also a master. Perhaps it won’t be a bad idea if you did the same. As I said, there are only two toilets in here.”
“You’re right, Master Anh,” Rongo agreed. “I’m not even that hungry.”
Anh turned to the teenagers and said:
“Kids, I’m going to the library. If you need me, I will be there.”
He left the cafeteria and disappeared behind the next door. Rongo went back to the central dome and began to study the console.
Kolin was the first to finish his meal. With a satisfied expression, he put the empty can in the trash bin next to the wall, washed the metal bowl and the spoon, and set them back on the kitchen shelf.
“How are you feeling?” Lila asked.
“So far, still fine,” the boy replied, laughing. “I’m going to the library, too. Who knows, maybe not all the books are in the Old Script. Perhaps I can find something nice to read.”
After the dome, the library was the largest room in the underground base. Despite being there for so many centuries, all the books looked new. Soon, Kolin found the cause of their excellent condition: the pages were not made of ordinary paper, but of a white material that looked much sturdier. Here and there, he took books from the shelves, browsed a few pages, then put them back. All were written in the Old Script.
A few armchairs and tables were visible at the far end of the room. Anh was there, reading from a book.
“What are you reading?” Kolin asked.
“Just checking some technical literature,” the supreme master replied.
“Are there any books here that I could read?”
“There are a few on the shelf there,” the supreme Anh said, pointing towards a corner of the room. “Most are about math and physics. I think one is about history, describing the colonization period.”
“That's great! So I can read something nice before I fall asleep,” the youngster said, rubbing his hands with satisfaction. Then, after a short pause, he asked:
“Master Anh, what is this place? What was its purpose?”
Books by Marian C. Ghilea:
BUTTERFLY'S DREAM: https://bit.ly/2PM63uU
TIDES OF AMBER: https://bit.ly/2HfcHVB
Image source: Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/photos/lost-places-1574554/
BUTTERFLY'S DREAM: https://bit.ly/2PM63uU
TIDES OF AMBER: https://bit.ly/2HfcHVB
Image source: Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/photos/lost-places-1574554/
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