Chapter12: The museum staff

The building never seemed any smaller as they went round the museum. They passed rooms dedicated to different martial artists and people of historical importance to the island. One section had a huge image box in it that filled the whole of the wall; in the room there were many black seats. Lagnok made Megufu wait here for a while since he had not seen this new attraction in the museum and was clearly interested. The screen showed a mini-movie continually in repeat so that people could come and go as they pleased. It was a debate with images of the sea around Rouge and Indel's castle in Bale and a historian who posed talking at different locations. The presenter was speaking telling of the evidence for and against King Albert having ever come to Rouge sometimes by a beach the wind blow his hair picturesquely or others in some dungeon walking down dark steps or locations where someone was said to have seen Albert.

"Rouge has… and always will be one of the most fascinating and challenging places to study history. We have little documentation of what actually happened in the history of Rouge and often we have to rely on sources from other countries to fill in the gaps; or think about what might have been happening"

"For instance during the Tiberoan uprising in the sixty-third century a report survives that the fish trade between Rouge and Tiberoa had been halted due to a strange disease that had infected the mainland. If this report hadn't survived we would have had little clue as to why the population of Rouge almost died out in the sixty-third century. King Albert earlier still then this is a person who's connection with Rouge eludes historians. Did he ever come to Rouge and if so why? Historians relying on ancient scriptures from the Demingrad library, believe that one of the signet spheres was kept under the sea near Rouge in the – as the legend goes the magical city of Aglis, that to this day has never been found"

The Rouge accounts of the dragoons, mentions them as a whole and mostly in their connection to Haschal and Kongal. One reference to the King is made, but this is done in the old language and can be translated in different ways, meaning either: guard, friend or leader. Was it Lavitz who came to Rouge as some suggest representing the king, or is it as many historians believe that Lavitz and Albert are the same person?"

"Come on," said Lagnok patting Megufu on the back with a sigh, "Lets get on. They know nothing about dragoons either"

The section on Haschal himself filled many, many rooms of the huge building. Much of it was about the Art of Ancestry and how different people had interpreted the book. They paused briefly in a cafeteria which had a dark blue carpet. The walls on one side were fitted with large windows from ceiling to the floor out of which Megufu could see the gardens. Beautiful blossoms and sculptures could be seen and a demonstration of martial arts was going on at the far side with the beat of a drum. In the center there was a huge statue reaching up taller than the museum. It was a statue of Haschal and Kongal back to back in black stone. Megufu looked up at it in awe.

"Do you like it?" asked the old man

"It's very impressive," stuttered Megufu bending his head to try and see the top of the statue.

"It was commissioned by the same architect who built the statue of Dart in the Dragoon Memorial center in Seles. It's good but I think Kongal would have been taller than that. They make them look the same height"

"He was taller?"

"Yes, he was supposed to be a giant of a man"

The two statues stood back to back arms folded. Haschal's expression was very firm and glaring. He was wearing a long robe that reached down to the giant marble plinth he was standing on. Kongal was dressed in some kind of war garb. His head was shaved either side leaving a single strip in the middle - he was made to look very strong.

"What the devil?" said Lagnok gazing out across the garden, "What are those men doing?"

"Which?" asked Megufu looking in the direction that the old man had pointed in.

"Those men coming out of the tomb! Nobody is allowed actually into the tomb!"

With that Lagnok turned around and walked to the man serving at the cafeteria.

"What can I do for you sir?"

Lagnok actually looked quite angry, "Why are those men entering the tomb of Haschal?"

"Repair work. It's just the annual look over to make sure the structure isn't falling apart that's all"

"Annual? This happens every year?" said Lagnok slightly deflated

"Yes, it's nothing to worry about," nodded the man. There was something about the man at the bar that Megufu didn't trust. As he spoke he wouldn't look Lagnok quite in the eye. He was cleaning a cup with a tea-towel and seemed too unconcerned.

Lagnok turned away and gestured Megufu to follow him. Megufu did with a raise of the eyebrows and they walked out through glass doors into the gardens passed several wooden signs and boards of information. Lagnok headed straight for the statue and some men who were standing outside it. They passed many visitors to the museum, Megufu bumping into one; he had to apologies.

The men were in black suits with yellow helmets on. As Lagnok arrived one left the shrine closing and sealing the stone door with some kind of magic device. The door was a large one at the base of the statue, which at this time of the day completely overshadowed them all.

"Sorry sir, you're not allowed to go into the tomb," said one of the men looking up at Lagnok

"Why were you going into the tomb?" asked Lagnok suspiciously

Megufu arrived behind and looked up briefly at the statue that seemed even bigger now that he was under it's shadow.

"Monthly check up on the interior. We just have to make sure that it's stable that's all"

"I thought the tomb was created and sealed with magic to be stable?"

"Yes it is, but that doesn't mean we can sit back…"

"The rule has always been that nobody may enter…"

"Yes well tradition has to change if the statue…"

"The man in the cafeteria said it was an annual check up…"

The engineer put his hands on his hips eyes narrowing and breathed out irritably.

"Look just push off old man!" he said waving his hands at Lagnok, "We're busy here can't you see that?"

"There's no need to be rude," said Lagnok slowly

"Come," said Megufu putting a hand on his shoulder, "Lets go. Maybe they're legit after all… lets not make a scene"