Of Lakes, Mysteries and the Odd Lunatic

Chapter VIII: In Which a secret Lost is found

Chapter VIII

In Which a secret Lost is found

“Mr. Baker?” Lawrence closed the door softly and turned around. In front of him was one of the carpenters, a man of around thirty with blond stubble on his chin and a workbelt around his waist.

“Yes?” Lawrence replied.

“We’ve found something in the room we’re working on. I think you should come down and have a look.”

“Not more rot, is it? This is becoming rather expensive to repair.”

“No, sir. Something a little bit more interesting than that.”

Lawrence’s interest was peeked, and he followed the man back to the crafts room.

The carpenters were standing around a large gap in the crafts room’s flooring, looking down upon an object inside the hole. Several looked up as Lawrence came in, and the head carpenter stood up.

“I think you should see this, Mr. Baker.”

Lawrence was ushered forwards, and peered down into the hole.

Now, curiosity is a fascinating thing. It can change one’s mood by great lengths, and almost always for the better. Think, for example, if you were outside in the rain with no umbrella or coat. You are soaking wet, and cold. But suddenly you see a woman walking past, someone you know. You call out to them as they pass you, but at that moment, there is a large clap of thunder and your words are lost. She is facing away from you, shielding her face from the wind. She turns a corner round the street, still having not noticed you, and you follow her.

When you turn the corner, you cannot see her. Where has she gone, you wonder. The rain and the cold is forgotten, the most important thing right now is as to the woman’s location. You walk up the street, and back, searching the windows of each building you pass. You cross the street, and do the same on that side. You call her name. All that matters now is where she is.

In all your calling and looking, however, you have failed to notice between two parked cars a fallen body dressed in a black dress and red shoes, wearing a grey coat. But when your curiosity eventually leads you to the two parked cars, you learn two things.

One: your only love is dead.

And two: curiosity can be a thing of both pleasure and despair.

In this case, curiosity drove Lawrence to step quite close to a large hole in the floor upon a rotting board, something which he may have declined to do voluntarily under normal circumstances. For sometimes curiosity can override rational thought.

Lawrence peered into the hole. It was not too deep, maybe five feet, and in the shape of a long rectangle. The sides of the hole were made of shiny white tiles, and there was a set of small, shallow steps leading down into it. At one of the shorter ends, the one which the steps lead down to, was a door.

The door was a normal shape, except it had rounded edges, more like that on a ship. I was made of dull brass, and had several scuff marks and dents, indicating frequent use. In the dead center of the door was a wheel made of the same metal. It very much resembled those that are found on the door of bank vaults from days long past. It had a simple keyhole in the middle, one that looked to fit a very old type of key.

“What is it?” Lawrence asked.

“That we don’t know, Mr. Baker.”

“I don’t remember seeing this in any of the plans of the building. This must’ve been added after the initial structure was built.” In fact, almost every part of the Institute was added on after the initial structure was built, but this was overlooked, once more in favour of curiosity. “Is it safe to walk down?”

“None of us have tried yet, Mr. Baker. We came and got you and soon as we had uncovered it.”

Lawrence took a tentative step forwards, testing the tiled step carefully to see if it could take his weight. It seemed sound, and he put his full weight on, with no abnormal results. His confidence boosted, he then walked carefully down until his head was level with the crafts room floor, and he was standing in front of the door.

He took hold of the wheel on the door with both hands, and twisted it sideways. It didn’t budge. Lawrence put more effort into it, gripping the cold metal ring until his knuckles turned white and his face began shading red. Then he tried the other way, thinking it could be a reverse thread, but to no avail.

“I think this needs the key before we can open it,” Lawrence announced. “Until then, you can continue on with your work.” He walked up out of the sunken room and nodded to the men. “Oh, and get some barriers round that thing. Don’t want the Health and Safety inspector finding out we had a hazard unattended, do we?” He laughed nervously.