__________________
The Scholar
There came a loud screech as Thyme entered the Yonder's library deep within its metal belly, "Damn it all! I can't find a bloody thing in this gods-forsaken library! Have they never heard of a proper organizational system?!" Thyme entered slowly into the poorly lit room. Shelves were everywhere, some were rocking about and forth in a dangerous way. There were rows upon rows of books, many disheveled and lying about the grated floor and on the shelves. A faint whir of exhaust fans could be heard behind the present din of expletives. Thyme turned a corner to see a small alcove with a single lamp upon a large wooden desk. Suddenly, a flurry of brown feathers and two large globes with pupils popped out from underneath the table. Once the owl's beady eyes caught the presence of Thyme, he fell over right again with a new slew of swears, "Gods almighty! Who the hell are you, and for what damnable reason are you sneaking up on people?! You nearly ended my poor life with fright, you damn cat!"
Thyme was quick to console, "My apologies. To be fair, I had not expected an owl to jump out from underneath a desk. I didn't mean to frighten you. Gods know how we cats are with being scared."
"Fine, fine, just help me up." Thyme reached out his paw and the owl took a feathery grasp. As he rose, and stack of books which he had fell upon toppled over and let loose a great cloud of dust. Both creatures started into a fit of coughing and hacking, "Bloody bookkeepers! I doubt they've dusted this library even once! To think this collection was once the best animal library in all of the Union..." cried the owl, waving his feathers to clear the air. "Half these books are completely illegible now, what with all the terrible moisture and climate control here. That buffoon of a captain never cared about what was really important in history..."
Thyme thought to interrupt, as he assessed the complains of the owl would not end on their own, "I'm terribly sorry to bother your studies, but I felt the need to come introduce myself. My name is Thyme."
"Ah yes, the Agent from Human / Animal relations, how do you do?" replied the owl, not without a great deal of passive annoyance, "Would you help me find the book I dropped? I was looking for it under the table when I was scared to death my some fool who enters rooms without knocking."
"I knocked, sir, but there was no answer. Gods know I heard you when I came in though. I always thought scholars to be of... purer speech."
"Purer speech, eh? Let's watch you suffer the literary onslaughts of all living kind, while succumbing to the brainless dribble of countless students and unreasonable manuscript deadlines, and we'll see how pure YOUR language remains!"
"Fair enough." Thyme placated, "I assume you are Professor Siegfryd?"
"You assume correctly, though that doesn't convince me you're any less of an idiot." the owl began as he looked through another stack of books, "They say you were an Inspector once, though I find it hard to believe that the mind of any cat could solve a crime of even modest intelligence. Perhaps that's why you were fired, then?"
"And perhaps I am to wonder why such a well-respected and renowned professor such as yourself is stuffed into a skyship with a paltry library only to be neglected by all his colleagues." Thyme retorted.
The owl turned and smiled, "So! The feline does have fangs! Perhaps he has eyes, too. If you find a copy of 'The Machinations of Ancient Water Irrigation' do speak up."
Thyme only had to look for a moment, as it was at his paws behind him, "Here it is." He lifted the book, and it felt ancient. The pages were crackling and worn, and small bits of paper fell out as he lifted it.
"Careful!" yelled the Professor, "That book is older than all your nine damnable lives put together, and worth more, too!" He quickly snatched it away from Thyme and placed it carefully upon the lit desk. He slowly opened it, and gazed through his half-spectacles at its pages. Peering over the shoulder of the owl, Thyme saw that it was written in a lettering he did not recognize, though judging by the title, he surmised it was less interesting than the decorative characters implied.
Annoyed by the unwelcome viewer, the owl spoke, "Well, you've had your introduction Agent, was there anything else you might trouble my study with?"
"As a matter of fact, yes." Thyme replied. The owl sighed loudly, closed the book, removed his glasses and let them hang by the chain around his neck and turned to Thyme expectantly. Thyme paused a moment to look clearly upon this unknown member of his camaraderie. He was old, though perhaps not as old as the captain, and smaller. He had the scholarly look about him; worn and studious eyes, feathers that were more decorative than used for flying, even his clothing showed the distinctive marks of research on the elbows and vest pockets.
"Well?" said the owl.
Thyme met the gaze of Professor Siegfryd, "As the designated leader of this band and mission, I need to know my subordinates."
Siegfryd muttered in disgust, "Please. One of your subordinates I am not. I am here of my own free will and as a consultant. To be realistic, Agent Thyme, you need me much more than I need you."
Struck by the cheek of the owl, Thyme's curiosity was piqued, "Oh? And would you care to explain why?"
"Certainly, if you have the capacity to understand it. I am the only one on this ship who has been to the European mainland before, and I am therefore the resident expert on its workings."
"Indeed. And why have you been to the mainland before? Did the Owners send you on a different expedition?"
"Not in the slightest. I traveled there, Agent Thyme, to learn the unlearnable. To find the secret knowledge that has been lost for centuries," his eyes seemed to light a small dance as he spoke these words, "Where others were afraid to venture into the forbidden lands, I lept into them, and I tasted the wondrous fruits that they had to offer."
"What did you discover?"
"Much that is not meant for your feeble mind, cat." he exclaimed, losing the wanderlust in his face, "But it is enough to say that I know most of what there is to know of the Ancient Ones and their ways. I can translate twelve forms of their writings," he gestured to the book on the table, "And I am the best creature to help you find this Grand Cog that you are seeking."
"I see. And where do you believe we should look first?"
"Well, in the capital of the Ancient Ones, obviously." he began, "There was once a large bustling city in the lands of what is now called Old Germany. It was a center of commerce and government, so the cog is almost certainly there."
"Good. I will notify the captain of our destination. Do you know where the city is?"
"Unfortunately, flying there is only half the journey. I can lead you to the approximate location but we will not arrive by air alone. The city is far underground, I believe, deep within the desert that now covers most of Central Europe."
"I believe that may be why we were conscripted the services of Abelard, a Digger mole."
Siegfryd responded sardonically, "Wonderful. Another lesser mind to deal with."
"Enough." began Thyme, angered "I have had enough of your pride, Siegfryd. While your paltry insults mean nothing but your own inferiority complexes to me, I will not have you speaking in this fashion to anyone under my leadership. If need be, I'll throw you off this ship myself."
Siegfryd laughed, but noted the threat of Thyme, "If I've heard that threat once, I've heard it a thousand times..." replied Siegfryd, seeming distant suddenly. "Very well. I do know when to hold my beak."
"Good. Thank you for your assistance, and I think we will be needed more of your expertise." Thyme began to leave the library, and said in passing, "I believe dinner will begin in the mess hall in less than an hour, if you would care to join us and meet the rest of the team."
"I'm afraid I am not welcome in the company of the captain, sir, though I am not surprised he neglected to mention it to you." said the owl somberly as he sat back at his desk.
"What? Why is that?" asked Thyme
"You would do better to ask him, for I know not his reasons for banishment any longer. The old fool was always more stubborn than I."
"You speak as if you have a history between the two of you."
"We do, at least for my part. Its a life-long history. He's my brother."
___________________
0 comments:
Post a Comment