Chapter 19

“What do we have, Ebba?” Sunder asked.

“We have a staircase on the right that ascends, and we have a staircase on the left descends,” she announced. “They are lit.”

“And beyond?”

“Machines,” she called out. “Huge.”

Danel could not close his mouth as he stared up at the great wooden structure on wheels whose axle was above the level of his eyes. “I see but my brain does not comprehend,” he stuttered as touched the wheel, feeling the smoothness on the edge and the roughness on the sides.

“We have located one of the fabled storerooms,” Sunder announced. “Here is the answer to how they managed the great blocks of stone and the vast quantities of materials they needed. Look at this bucket; it could hold tons of mortar or grout. See the paddle suspended above it? They could stir the material without fear of it setting before they were ready to use it.”

“This is a crane, but never have I seen anything as gargantuan as this,” Tsum exclaimed. He was further down in the hall. “This machine could lift stones up three stories. They used three sets of pulleys and, look at this rope: there are threads of something other than hemp in it. Thin metal wire? Never have I seen such a thing.”

“How many people would it have taken to run this machine?” Rahim asked. “I’ve seen catapults and trebuchets, but these devices dwarf them all.” Sunder and Danel were busy scribbling in their journals.

“Enough gawking,” Sunder finally called out. “Back to cadre discipline, everyone. Look for plaques, bookshelves, doorways, anything that explains what we see here.”

Danel put his journal away. Following Rahim because he was overwhelmed, and afraid he was not thinking straight enough to take the proper precautions, he walked the length of the room, counting six machines lined up in two rows.

“Look up at those huge switches on this machine,” Rahim said to Danel. “Now, look behind the switches on the support wall. Isn’t that a picture of one of those gods from the monument room?”

“I think you’re right, Rahim. Good eye.” He called over Sunder, showing him their find. “I think those kings provided for or paid for these machines. It could be that their people were the ones using the machines. What do you think?”

Sunder scratched his cheek. “From where did the knowledge and wherewithal come to build these great devices? Where did the knowledge go? I recognize the crane, but not one on wheels and of such size and range. These pulleys appear to have a metal rod in them, how? Where did this knowledge go?”

“We always say the knowledge is in the Library of Ibados, it’s just a matter of where,” Danel said. “This find puts an entirely new definition of where on the map.”

Malchus joined them. “I have searched every wall and I have not found any niches or doorways. This room appears to be a dead end.”

Sunder made a note. “Malchus, go check the other machines and see if the gods’ insignia in on any of them. The symbols should be at the position where they controlled these machines.”

“I have an idea,” Danel said. “Your questions ring true in my ears. What if this knowledge was given by the gods to these tradespeople only for the building of the Library of Ibados. When completed, the gods took back the knowledge and hid it again.”

“They should have burned the machines then,” Sunder pointed out.

“Perhaps the wood is treated and doesn’t burn. The empires of Qin have such a coating on their fleets,” Danel said. “Then again, they may have gotten the secret of the fire-resistant coating from here. This knowledge trail is a slippery mess.”

“Do you think they buried the builders and their tools to suppress the knowledge?” Sunder asked, making clear he did not expect an answer.

“I cannot contemplate such a crime,” Danel said. “We’re back where we started. Where did this knowledge go?”

“You should ask the gods,” Bahya said from behind them, causing both men to start. “If they sent us down here, then our questions should be directed to them.”

“I don’t see Raua answering me, and having had one conversation with Yudi, I am not eager to request a second one.” Danel dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. “As an oracle, you can plead to your goddess. I predict that in the end, you’ll only receive what the goddess chooses to share.”

“You’re a Librarian and now you know this repository,” Bahya said with great seriousness. “The knowledge is no longer hidden. Push some of those horny old researchers with their potbellies out of their cushy librarian chairs and send them down here. Make them do actual work again instead of resting on their fattened, pale buttocks. They don’t bathe enough, crusty, smelly old farts.”

Rahim shook his head, saying nothing. The silence felt awkward to Danel.

“She has a point,” Sunder said finally, rolling his head on his neck as if he had tight muscles. “I have a few names to suggest if you are willing.”

Danel retorted. “Save the list for the Head Librarian. His list is probably longer than both of yours combined. Now, where do we go from here? My stomach tells me we are far past the noon meal. I’m not complaining, I’m trying to identify the time.”

“Everyone, gather by the stairwells,” Sunder called out. “Take out your victuals and drink deeply from your water skein.”

As they drank and chewed, Danel took time to review the information he had recorded. Not satisfied, he began adding notes in the margins and underlining words, indicating that he wanted to return to that point and add more.

Sunder cleared his throat. “Cadre, we are at a decision point. One stairwell goes up and another goes down. What do you think?”

Tsum raised his hand. “If the way up proves to be a shortcut, we should explore it. We will be in a better position if we can start from here tomorrow instead of having to retrace the track we made today.”

“Where are the corridors on this level?” Rahim asked. “First Basement has corridors and some hallways that work as hallways. Here we have only found rooms.”

“Based on the mismatch between the stairwell in the monument room and the ceiling of the monument room, we’re not necessarily in the Second Basement. We’re double deep?” Malchus suggested.

“Three stairwells and no other exits,” Ebba said, holding up three fingers. “This place was meant to be a back corner to nowhere.”

“I haven’t read the rail caps or the spindles on these staircases yet,” Danel said. “The back one read ‘One Down’ with no further information. Do you want me to check now?”