The following bit of fluff was written for my good friend and co-conspirator, Devlin, and rather giddily spun off our archaeological epistolary adventure.  The formal excuse for writing it was a writers’ group exercise in telling a story through letters or emails, but this particular pair of highly unusual library assistants prefers to leave each other notes on the backs of discarded card catalog cards, tucked into the split between the desk and the paneling of study carrel A23.

Hazard Pay,or, Assorted notes left in Carrel A23

Dear Clara,

Have misplaced the secret entrance to the royal academy library.  Please advise.

Ren

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Dear Ren,

On alternate Thursdays it has a sudden maritime mood.  Did you try looking behind the Nelson biographies?

Clara

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Dear Clara,

Tried the Nelson biographies and got doused in a wave of grog.  Think it may have spread into the poetry aisle.  Suggestions?

Ren

– – – – – –

Dear Ren,

Wear a raincoat next time.  Also, grog’s not so bad, but don’t let Keats at the port, he gets morose and starts a several hour monologue about the nature of beauty.  Whitman can usually snap him out of it, but watch out.  He has wandering hands.

Clara

– – – – – –

Dear Clara,

I do not get paid enough for this.  The library entrance is hiding in classical mythology again and won’t open until all the scholars that want to access it answer three riddles.  I have already rescued two of them from being eaten by the sphinx carved into the end of the stacks.  Also, my favorite leather jacket is now missing a sleeve.  What’s next, velociraptors?

Ren

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Dear Ren,

I suggest swinging by the 12th century and stocking up on chain mail.  Sorry to hear about your jacket, but you’re too skinny for the Indiana Jones look anyway.  At least it didn’t eat your hat.

Stay away from the paleontology section until the new moon at least.

…I’m serious.

Clara

– – – – – – – –

Dear Clara,

Found your satchel halfway up the travel section.  Decide to go backpacking on the Giant’s Causeway again?  Hope you remembered your sweater this time.  Left  your satchel safely under sewing and notions.  Meet me in Astronomy behind the Kuiper belt later?

Ren

–  – – – –

Dear Ren,

Wondered where I’d left the satchel.  It didn’t have a pocket full of rose petals when I left it, though, I don’t think.  Been sipping that grog with Robbie Burns again?  You don’t really need his kind of help.

And yes, but not the Kuiper belt, it’s freezing there.  Last one to Verne’s complete works has to wrestle the kraken.

Clara

– – – – – – –

Dear Clara,

Joke’s on you.  I brought Keats’ port to the kraken last week and now that thing thinks I walk on water.  See you at 20,000 leagues.

Ren