Streams - Book 1

Chapter 3

Room of knowledge

Crossing back into the library, Jenni was happy to see that it was void of one large Sasquatch. The scientific side of her brain wanted her to hunt down the being, to study him, to gather as much information as she could about his biological makeup, and background. The survival side of her brain, the side that had been scared to death by him, screamed for her to run as far from the massive hair ball as she could. As Lilly led Jenni past the over-flowing bookshelves of the library. Jenni slowed her pace, and eyed the books on the shelves closely. Strange silver and gold hieroglyphics glittered as light reflected off the spines; causing her to wonder if there was a gnome equivalent of a C.S. Lewis, Lloyd Alexander or J. K. Rowling tucked away in the many volumes. Or were they all just a mixture of cookbooks on how to prepare human.

"This way," Morathi called, as he rushed past Jenni and his wife. He pushed aside a section of shelving, revealing yet another hidden doorway.

Jenni stepped into what looked like an average school room. There were maps and drawings, that looked as if they had been crafted by young hands, pinned to the outer walls just above deep shelves that housed hundreds of wooden boxes. The room was almost too normal and made her question the other world theory again.

"Found it," the Sasquatch called, as he pulled a book from its place on the shelving. "Guess I will see you all later at the meeting" he added as he strolled across the room, twisting sideways as he exited through the bookcase door where Jenni was still standing.

"What meeting?" Jenni asked.

"The council wants to meet you. We haven't had a human here in ages," Morathi explained. "But first," he continued, "this is the classroom where we once educated and trained the young jumpers for the council."

"And that" he said pointing to the large room where Jenni had awoken not so long ago, "that is the council library; filled with all of the information I have gathered on the various streams over the last three hundred years or so."

"Only three hundred," Jenni mocked, "but you look so young.

Lilly gave a soft laugh as she waved Jenni over to a cluttered table, near the center of the room. Pipette's, flasks, beakers, and an array of test tubes positioned in various holders crowded one half of the table. A maze of copper and glass tubing dominated the other half, winding its way from round bottom flasks filled with various liquids to other samples ready to be cooked down.

"It doesn't look like much I know, but my last lab was destroyed in an explosion after a few items were mixed incorrectly," She said, shooting a playful glare towards her husband who merely shrugged sheepishly. "Thanks to the skilled work of our black smith and glass blowers, I have everything I need to whip up a potion or two that can take care of any ailment."

"So let me get this straight?" Jenni started as she rubbed her temples. "I'm in a strange new world, far from earth, in the company of a Gnome librarian, his wife the Gnome teacher slash medicine woman, and their friend the Sasquatch?" Jenni questioned with a disbelieving shake of her head.

"Actually I would be the teacher!" a creaky voice clamored from behind a large desk that sat at the front of the room. "Lilly is the most qualified scientist you will find in this stream, and the most experienced multi-being medical technician anywhere. Unfortunately I'm afraid her experience with humans is very limited, so it's been mostly trial and error for your treatment. As for Morathi, well he holds a lot of titles here in this stream." As Jenni focused her attention on the desk, a wrinkled old man, with long white hair and beard rose from behind a large pile of books and papers. His tiny round glasses reflected the light of the room as it passed through the mass of hair that covered the upper part of his face. He reminded Jenni of Hobo, the old sheep dog that roamed the campus of a former school she had attended.