Stwy

Chapter 2 : Talks

       Shortly after a young man of about twenty years arrived in front of Maria, saluted everyone and then asked Maria to follow him. They went to a door in front of the entrance that Maria hadn't noticed as she was melting into the scenery. The young man put his hand on one of the tiles of the wall which after confirmation of identity opened to reveal a passage. He invited Maria to past and then followed her. Scarcely had they entered the door behind them.

       It was a small room of which a glass tube of strange shape occupied the majority of the space. It climbed up to the ceiling and was leaning at 45 °. Once again the young man put his hand on a part of the wall and this time an opening appeared in the tube and steps were formed inside. He went forward, telling Maria to follow him. Two adult men could easily walk side by side and stand in this tube. Maria wondered for a moment how their was going to cross the ceiling but hardly had she asked the question that the ceiling opened allowing the sunlight to enter.

"Interesting. Who created all that? Asked Maria. - Inventors of the research department of the Dex. He replied coldly. Maria felt it would not be easy to make him talk but she insisted. "And it all works with what kind of energy?" - You may learn if you integrate the Dex. " Maria sighed and then noticed with astonishment that they had passed the building where they had previously been. Under the tube, she could see a grassy field a few yards below, where people were training. Looking around she noticed two other identical tubes and in front of them a round building. This building seemed to float in the air and the only thing that kept it from flying was the tubes that were hung up to it. "Very impressive, it must have take a hell of time to invent a building that could hold with so little support. " This time the young man didn't even bother to answer. He was surely ordered not to divulge anything to her. The end of the tunnel strongly resembled that of the entrance and the young man repeat the same gestures so that they could go out. The circular corridor in which they arrived was much more warm and decorated. Frescoes occupied the majority of the walls and were tracing historical events of which almost no people were still alive to testify of them. They turned to the right and passed several doors, all carrying a plaque with the name of the person occupying it. The young man stopped in front of the fourth, knocked at the door, announcing himself, and a feminine voice answered him to enter, which they did. It was occupied on the left by an office where a secretary was drowned under a pile of documents. She raised her head only three seconds before pressing a button and then told them to wait in front of the door who was in front of the one they entered. The door opened, and a man of about sixty years old stopped her sight by his stature. "I was wondering if you were going to come." He said to Maria in a joyful tone, shaking his hand. "I am the Elder Frederik Vaught and you must be Maria Chrome. Nice to meet you. " Maria approved. He dismissed the young man after thanking him and invited Maria into his office. This second piece was much more loaded than the first. It also had an office with three chairs around and a pile of documents tidy on each side. Two sofas facing each other occupied the other part of the space. All in orange tones that made the whole welcoming.

    Contrary to what she thought, he told her to sit on one of the sofas and went to sit on the opposite one. He had an amused and curious smile on his face; he had obviously waited impatiently for the interview. He couldn't hold back for a long time and spoke.

"Forgive my excitement but John told me so much about you that I can't help being happy to meet you in spite of the circumstances. He paused, a little respectfully before he chained himself. "Anyway I can tell you that I did not imagine you so young! Can I afford to know your age? "You must know that it is impolite to ask for the age of a woman, right?" Nor do I think that this is in relation for my presence here." She replied, smiling, but in a way that would imply that she wouldn't negotiate on this point.