The Library, part 1

Rome's library is at the cornerstone of The Ark Lords. However, up until this moment, at least in the book, it has been a concept rather than a reality. MINIMCOM had excavated the campus but actual construction, as far as Rome was concerned, was a long way off into the future. Imagine her surprise when her husband Rei took her to the campus just one week later and, well, I'll let them tell you:

     Rei stopped the cart and hopped out. He helped Aason down then waved at Rome. “Come on,” he said.
     Rome followed her husband and son toward an arch that now straddled the road. There was writing inscribed at the top. The words read ‘University of Deucado’ in English and Vuduri.
     “Oh Rei!” Rome exclaimed. “I’m not building a university. I was just going to compile historical data.”
     “It has to start somewhere,” he commented, lovingly. He gave Rome a minute to admire his handiwork then said, “Come on. We’re not done yet. Get back in.” After staring up at the arch for a moment longer, Rome followed her husband and son back to the vehicle.
     Rei drove the cart under the arch and down the clean wide street. The tree-lined road obscured their destination. It wasn’t until they crossed the center square that Rome was able to see a brand new brick-covered building, two stories tall, poking out among the trees. As Rei pulled around to the front, she could see it was complete with shrubbery, parking spaces and a sign over the entryway saying ‘E Poploidace Hosdiroe Humenoteta’ and beneath it ‘The Human History Library’.
     “Oh Rei!” she squealed. “How did you do this?”
     “I’ve had a crew, mostly Ibbrassati, working on it all week,” Rei said. “There were so many volunteers I had to turn half of them away. They just finished yesterday while you were visiting the Deucadons.”
     “Can we go in?” Rome asked. Not waiting for an answer, she scrambled out of the cart and despite her sore legs, she bolted up the steps to peer into the front window.
     “Of course,” Rei said, laughing. He picked up Aason and set him on the ground. “This is your place,” he called out to her.
     They entered the building through the wide doors. After passing through the vestibule, they stood in the great entry hallway with high ceilings and arches opening into other side rooms. The main study area, filled with long benches and chairs, still smelled of fresh construction. As they walked forward, Rome glanced through the arches and she could see reading rooms, workstations, study alcoves, everything one would need to serve the library patrons. There was even a playroom for Aason and other children.

Tomorrow, I'll share the second half of this little scene with you.