Dance Moms - Claudia (2) Sand and Wave

Chapter 6 : Archives

All historical documents were kept at the basement level, installed with modern lighting and ventilation. The Chief of Archives was an old professor, he pressed his pass on the sensor to unlock the door, immediately they met a cold breeze from within.

The Professor turned on the lights for the reading area, it showed rolls of computer terminals and microfilm readers. Behind the machines were long empty tables, and beyond that stood walls of shelves stretching into darkness.

"Please take a seat." the Professor showed them to the tables.

"We're not using those?" Tilly turned to the terminals.

"I'm afraid our division has only digitized documents dating back thirty years." the Professor pushed a book-cart and disappeared behind the shelves. "But we keep the originals in pristine condition, some dates back to the eighteenth century!"

"To be honest, I was expecting air-sealed vacuums with environmental control sensors." Tilly looked around.

"Our funding is limited, I'm afraid." the Professor's voice echoed from a distance. "We're not the Vatican or the Americans, but we have something better."

The girls were caught by surprise when the Professor emerged from the other side, his cart now stacked high with books.

"We have Mother Nature on our side. Our climate offers the best condition for preservation."

Chloe couldn't agree more, the temperature can be so cold one doesn't need a freezer.

"Now before we begin, please put these on."

Chloe and Tilly followed protocol, putting on masks, gloves and hair nets, like they were going to do surgery. Once ready, the Professor picked up the first book and placed it before Chloe. It was as big as a school desk, at least four inches thick.

"We have to look through all that?" she turned to the cartful of books.

"Don't let the size fool you." the Professor chuckled. "Back in the days, information were recorded by old monks with poor eyesights. They need big paper for big writing."

The Professor turned to the first page and Chloe knew what he meant, the calligraphies were written in an artful manner, every letter the size of a penny.

"I also have something here that maybe helpful."

The Professor produced a piece of paper, on it were Russian text written in different fonts.

"I took the liberty of translating all relating text to old Slavic grammar, I thought it may assist your search."

"Thank you, Professor."

The three began flipping through pages. Chloe has been learning Russian since she got here, but the ancient fonts were difficult to read, she could only compare shapes and spellings, one word at a time.

On the other hand, Tilly grew up speaking Russian, turning the pages in an incredible rate, so fast it was making Chloe feel like a loser.

"Are you reading them thoroughly?" she couldn't help asking.

"I don't have to." Tilly answered without looking up. "I only have to look for illustrations, and the number 7."

Then it struck her. She needn't read through all the text.

Chloe! How stupid are you? She pinched herself, once again outsmarted by the teen engineer.