It's a Spy vs. Spy World

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

                I don't like to write but I do like to read, so one of my favorite places in HQ is the library. The library is quite huge, probably almost, if not as big as our dining hall which I've already mentioned is big considering we only have around 50 or so students here and HQ is underground. A person could easily get lost amongst the many magnificent floor to ceiling shelves of this place and I have spent my fair share of time sprawled out with a bunch of books working on something or other at the back work tables.

                By Rick's initial reaction when we reached the library I could tell he instantly loved the place as well. He was busy silently taking it all in, but was soon interrupted when someone spoke from behind us.

                "It's wonderful isn't it?" said the voice and we both turned around to see a short spectacled man in a tweed jacket carrying a stack of books piled so high you could barely see his face. I smiled, although he probably could not see, and took a few books off his stack to make the load lighter. The man was named Giles and he was our one and only librarian. He holds all of HQs secrets which is understandable since he’s been here since the place first opened back in the 60s during the height of the Cold War. Back then HQs purpose was to train teenagers to be spies much like it is today, only difference was that the kids were then used to attain secrets from the Russians. Teens are useful because no one ever suspects the sixteen year old in the corner. Giles has told me many stories over the years this being one of them, sometimes they sound far-fetched but somehow I doubt he’s making much of them up. However he is a little scatter minded.

                "Let me take some of those for you Giles." I said when I took the books from him.

                "Why thank you Jessica." he said gratefully. He may have been strong after all the years he's spent managing our library but he is still old and has a bad back, which annoys him more than anything because he doesn't like to accept help from anyone. "I see you've brought your new friend with you. Richard I presume?" Rick smiled kindly at him and reached out to shake his hand but withdrew when he realized both Giles' hands were full.

                "Yes. It's nice to meet you." Rick said politely.

                "I've heard lots about you Richard." this didn't surprise me, Giles knows everything.

                "How?" Rick asked and out of nowhere (well out from one of the book isles) popped Bridget carrying a stack of books as well and I was surprised at how she could carry them all since she lacked physical strength.

                "From me of course." she said smiling, "I'm helping G out with some shelving and stuff." she explained. Bridget does this a lot; she loves to help people out whenever and however she can. She especially loves the library; it’s like her second home.

                "And a wonderful helper you are." Giles acknowledged with a smile at her, "We must get back to work now though, so you two can hurry along to the back tables, and Bridget can help you find what you need when you need her." he instructed and then turned to me, although I still couldn’t see his face due to the books that were stacked in his arms, "Now Jessica give me back those books, I'm not a complete weakling, I am perfectly capable of handling myself." I laughed and put the books back on the too of his stack.

                "If you say so G." he smiled and waddled off with his stack of books wobbling precariously close to tipping out of his arms.

                "Why doesn't he get a cart?" Rick asked me and Bridget.

                "He thinks it will disable him in some way and make him lazy." I replied.

                "Yeah he’s pretty independent. He's worked here since it started." Bridget explained further, "Now I've got to get back to work, but as he said just find me if you need something you can't find, I'll be around. Also I'll start on those flash cards tonight Rick." she smiled at us then disappeared once again into the shelves.

                "Follow me Ricky, we're going to the back." he shrugged and followed me to a table where we both dumped our stuff. Rick slumped into a chair and gave an exhausted sigh while I slipped into one opposite him.

                "Well Ricky get to work and feel free to ask me questions if you don't understand." I told him and he picked up a book and began to read. We were silent for the most part while he worked and basically only talked when he had a question or needed me to explain something more thoroughly than the text did.

                As the time passed I found that I didn't hate teaching him as much as I'd thought I would. I think it made it wasn’t so bad because Rick was not as dumb as I'd assumed and he never asked stupid questions. He was really good at memorizing stuff too and could retain a large percent of the books he read even though he read them fast. He told me this was because he had a photographic memory and near perfect recall. I must admit I was impressed with him. I had no more doubts about his ability to catch up with our age group, mentally at least, physically was a whole different matter that I would have to deal with the next day.

                He studied for a good three hours and only stopped because that was when Bridget came over and told us it was time to go back to our rooms for the night. Rick still had a long night ahead of him, but he'd covered a lot already. I felt a weird sense of pride in him although I definitely did not tell him.

                As we walked back to the common room Bridget realized she'd forgotten something back in the library and told us to go along without her while she went to get it. When she left Rick turned to me.

                "I forgot to ask you earlier Jess, mostly because you shoved me against a wall, but did you tell Bridget about how there are people trying to get us? I know last night you said you weren't sure if you would and I'm just wondering." he said in a hushed voice. We had stopped in the common room which was empty so there was no need for him to whisper but you could never be too sure. I remembered that there was a traitor in our midst and they could be anywhere, trying to overhear our conversation.

                I answered him matching his hushed tone, "No I didn't tell her, and I think I'm going to keep it that way until I feel it's absolutely necessary to tell her, which it isn't. Yet." Rick nodded. He understood that I wanted to protect her because if she knew maybe that would put her in danger too and I wouldn't let that happen, not to my best friend.

                "Good to know." I figured he wanted to talk more but as I'd already told him I wasn't going to talk until I had answers. So I stopped him before he could speak any further.

                "Look, Rick it's been a long day so let’s call it a night alright?" I said.

                "Sure. See you tomorrow Jess. That is, if the twins don't do something like glue me to the ceiling." I smiled.

                "Night Rick." I said as I walked away towards the girls dorms.

                "You too Jess." he said as I disappeared down the hall.