Book of Days_ A Novel - James L. Rubart [103]
While Cameron studied the collection, Ann made a clean sweep of the room. "We need to go down to the next level. But I don't know how."
"You didn't find a door?"
"Not an obvious one."
"Let's start a little light stomping." Cameron started in a corner of the room, stomped the wood floor with the heel of his boot, scooted a few feet forward, and stomped the floor again. Ann did the same at the opposite corner of the room. They both coughed from the small tornado of dust they kicked up.
A little over half the room had been covered when Ann said, "I found it." She took a silver-handled Swiss Army knife out of her pack, knelt on the carpet, and sliced a perfect square in four quick strokes and peeled it back.
"Let's go a little deeper, aye?"
"Aye, captain."
Cameron bent down and pulled on the trap door. It didn't budge. Not even a quarter-inch. He yanked it again. Nothing. After grabbing a screwdriver from his pack and wedging it into the microscopic slit between the door and the floorboards, he put his full weight on the handle of the screwdriver.
A second later the door popped open and a whoosh of stale air filled the room.
"Why do I feel like we're about to lower ourselves into our own crypt?" Ann said.
Cameron flopped the trapdoor over onto the carpet, shone his flashlight down into the opening, and peered in. The concrete floor below was at least twenty feet down. "No stair, no ladder. Get ready to climb."
"This is a pretty remote location for a wine cellar," Ann said.
"It would be nicely aged by now. I think it's been a while since someone took a stroll in the bowels of The Sail & Compass."
Ann tied her ropes to one of the thick wooden beams so they could repel into the darkness. Two minutes later Cameron dropped through the opening, flashlight clamped securely in his mouth.
"The water's fine, come on down," he called out twenty seconds later.
After Ann reached him, Cameron did a slow scan of the room with his light. It was small and square, maybe six-feet across and eight-feet wide. He expected it to be damp, but other than smelling a bit musty, the room was dry. Long tapestries of mountain scenes hung high on three of the four walls, running all the way to the floor. The rest was empty.
"There." Ann pointed to a narrow black opening in the uncovered wall to the left, not more than twelve-inches wide and five-feet high.
Cameron bent down and shone his flashlight into it. "I hope your claustrophobia insurance is paid up."
Ann massaged her temple and he realized she didn't find it funny. "Sorry."
"Let's do this." Ann slapped her hips with her palms.
Cameron turned sideways and slid into the opening, with Ann close behind. He shone his light on the wall inches from his face, illuminating jagged cracks in the concrete that ran from floor to the ceiling.
"How much farther?" Ann asked after a few seconds.
"It can't be much more."
"You don't see the end yet?"
"Sorry, it curves slightly up ahead. You doing okay?"
Ann didn't answer, and for the next ten seconds the only sound was their feet scuffling along the narrow passageway.
What were they doing? Breaking the law like this was insane. All for a book that logic said wouldn't be down here or anywhere else.
But Cameron had left logic land fifteen days ago.
Moments later they stepped into a room the same size as the one on the other side of the tunnel.
"Feel better?" Cameron asked.
"Much." Ann shuddered and licked her lips. "If the book is here, how would he have gotten it through that passageway?"
"Maybe Stone built the tunnel after he got the book down here." Cameron did a slow spin on his heel as he shone his light on the walls from left to right. There was one door, directly in front of them. He stepped up to it, stretched out his hand, and slid his palm down its wooden surface till it came to rest on the brass knob.
"Here we go. Ready?" His heart pounded like a jackhammer. Could this be it?
"Are you sure you want to open that door?"
"I just realized . . ."
"I know. When you open