Patchwork Universe

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 471 Location: The Museum

"Um, well, I suppose we could do that. Thing is, see, I'm really supposed to hand you off between the fifth and sixth floors. But if we're just going for the food, I suppose it'd be okay."

Ernest led the way out of the figureheads, through an exhibit on the history of printing, another on dentistry, and finally through a detailed history of home canning before they reached the stairs, explaining the high points of each exhibit as he and Peri passed them. The supposed high points of the dentistry exhibit were about as exciting as . . . well . . . a trip to the dentist, but the canning exhibit had some displays that were surprisingly interesting.

The stairs were broad, brightly polished marble. Ernest stopped at the foot of the stairs.

"We should be on twenty-five in no time."

Peri · God Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 70 Location: Terminus

Peri was now convinced one of her back teeth had a hole in it. (Ugh, dentists.) However, the stairs were proving an adequate distraction. She peered upwards, looking for a vanishing point.

"I'd like to go up," she said, half to herself, "till there's no more up to go."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 471 Location: The Museum

Ernest followed her gaze up the narrow shaft between the switchbacks of the stairs. When he spoke it was in tones of reverence and awe.

"Dr. Odom went all the way to the site of the Battle of the Three Curators when he was a Guide. Dr. Eddison went higher after he resigned, at least as high as Dr. Davis's office but he won't say how high. I once knew a young lady who left to find the top floor, but everyone knows there's no such thing, and I've never seen her again."