The Four Chimes

Chapter 12 - LERA

As we walked to Ari's place, I noticed how the apartment buildings made canyons out of the streets. Monotone brick and concrete towered over me. There were only a few lit windows, and we were the only one on the streets. But every once in a while I heard a noise from above. Laughter. Screaming. A crying baby. This place was full of life, only most of it was asleep now.

"We're here," said Kurie, gesturing towards a restaurant named A Taste of the Islands". Outer Island cuisine here in Psara! said a banner. I looked closer. Real Outer Island cuisine?

"It's a scam," said Ari. Figured so.

We walked through the narrow, yellow-lit hallway that led to Ari and Kurie's place, going up a long flight of stairs before stopping at a white door. 8A.

"God. This is a workout," I said.

"You get used to it," said Tanta.

As I entered, I was shocked at how small the apartment was. I remember going to Ari's old home a few times when we went to RAMA, seeing as he commuted from there rather than living in the dorms. It was a pretty large place, with polished granite floors and a fireplace. This place, however, had peeling wooden floorboards and a rug with a bunch of stains on it. There was a couch and a chair in the living room, enough to sit three of us. "I call the chair." There was no way I was sitting on that rug.

"Well, we're taking the couch," said Kurie. "It is our place, after all."

"Speaking of your place... got any food?"

"There's some in the--"

I got up and speed walked to the kitchen, opening all the cabinets. "I'm taking your pickles."

"Wait, we only have--", protested Ari.

"We agreed that I could have your food."

"Fine. Take it," said Kurie.

"Hey, can you pass me that popcorn?" asked Paile.

"Get me some too," said Tanta.

"Sure thing," I said, tossing them a bag of popcorn.

"Okay. Now that you all have taken our food," said Kurie, "let's talk."

I took a pickle out of the jar and took a bite. It was perfectly crunchy, with a hint of spice. "These pickles are really good," I said.

"Talk strategy," said Kurie.

"My strategy for eating these pickles is to start from the--"

"Talk strategy for finding out what the hell's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong with these pickles."

"You know what I meant," said Kurie.

I laughed. "It's fun messing with you."

Kurie sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "So, do any of you have any ideas?"

"We need to find proof," I said, still chewing on my pickle.

"Where are we going to find that?" asked Ari.

"The palace record room," said Tanta. "All the way in the basement."

"But you know that place is always guarded, right?" asked Paile.

"Not recently. You know when all those people left at once, and we had to spread out to cover all the palace?"

Paile nodded.

"Well, we're spread pretty thin. Thin to the point that, for short periods of time, parts of the palace aren't guarded at all."

"So we could just walk into the records room?"