The Missing Ace

Chapter 9

Camille was working in the wood workshop, as so did some of her fellow workmates. While the others worked on furniture, the Russian worked on nesting dolls as requested for charity work. Behind. She stopped shaping the second doll and turned around, leaving the lathe running. "Hey Mag," she smiled at the snow haired girl as she pulled her work googles from her face and rested it on the top of her head. "Hey Mille-Fille!" She chirped. "What are you making?" She quizzed, leaning over Camille to take a closer look at the woodwork.

"Can I touch it?" Magnolia quizzed, reaching out to touch the wood. Camille grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from the equipment. "Mag, that's dangerous." She warned. "Go grab a chair, I'll show you how a Matryoshka doll is made." She pointed at a nearby stool with her hooked chisel. "Kay~~" The Third chirped, running off to the retrieve the stool. The Russian chuckled, slipping the goggles back on just as the Third came back with the said furniture.

"Don't get too close alright? Or the sawdust will get into your eyes. Or even open you mouth to speak when I'm working with the chisel." Camille added, glancing at Magnolia. The guest nodded and the worker began. Camille was making the head of the second doll, using the hook chisel to make it hollow. Magnolia watched how quickly the wood became a hollow shell. Nearby on the sawdust covered and wood shilling littered worktable, Magnolia saw the first Matryoshka.

Seeing Camille hard at work, Magnolia slipped a hand over and grabbed the doll. It was smooth and lighter than expected. She fiddled to open the doll when the second doll appeared on the desk. Magnolia looked up to see Camille working on the third one. "That was so quick! How did you do that?!" Magnolia asked, rocking slightly on her stool. Camille slowed her work. She removed the shaping chisel from the wood and turned to the Third. "I have experience." She smiled, returning to her work. Magnolia watched closely, how fast the Russian worked.

Within less than a minute, Camille had finished carving the head of the third doll and was already working on its body. The body was quickly formed as she ran the chisel down along the side. Before she knew it, Camille had completed the third doll and was starting on the small fourth doll. "How many are you making?" Magnolia quizzed, taking the third doll and nesting it in the second doll. But Camille didn't answer for she was too deep into concentration. "We were requested 20 sets of 4 dolls. Right now, this is Lapis's last set." Kate Green called from the other side of the workshop as she hammered the leg of the chair into the seat. "She's been at it since half an hour ago. She made a few careless mistakes earlier on, so the ones she disposed off are on the counter over yonder."

She used the hammer and pointed at the counter which was a distance from Camille. Magnolia set the nested dolls on the counter near the Russian and hurried over. They look fine to me. Magnolia mumbled in her head as she picked up a small Matryoshka doll. However, there wasn't its predecessor anywhere nearby. "What's wrong with these?" Magnolia quizzed, looking up to see Camille admiring the smallest doll with pride. "Finally." She breathed. Magnolia looked back to the counter of different sized dolls. An idea came to her head. "Mille-Fille! Can I have some of these?" Magnolia asked, holding up some dolls and leaving out her previous question. "Okay..? I have no use of those anyways." Camille agreed, nesting the fourth doll into the third doll after opening it from its predecessors.

Camille brought the doll to a box of other similar Matryoshka dolls and carefully placed it inside. Magnolia was given a similar box for her to pick her share of dolls. She was quick in choosing, choosing a number of medium-sized dolls and a full set of five, leaving out the sixth which was distorted. "Now, we bring these to the art studio to have these painted." Camille added, leading Magnolia out of the workshop. The Third followed with a jump of excitement in every step she took. As soon as they were a great distance from the workshop, Camille cleared her throat, gaining Magnolia's attention.