Anna awoke with a faint smell of tobacco smoke in the air. She opened the drapes of the bed and found Haldora sitting in front of the window, looking out with a cigarette between her fingers. Haldora looked hypnotized. Anna got up from the bed and walked softly towards her friend. Haldora was motionless. Anna sat down next to her and stared at what she stared. To Anna there was a lonely street and a bus station.
- You know those things will kill you?
- Wishful thinking?
Both women laughed.
- So what are we looking at? -, Anna asked looking around the street.
Haldora silenced herself and kept looking through the window. Anna looked out to try and understand what she was looking at. She soon discovered Haldora was looking at the parking lot. Anna skimmed the cars parked but found nothing of interesting. Haldora took a long drag and as she exhaled she breath sounded deeper. Anna then saw a silver car parking and a tall blonde man came out. He made his way towards the bus station. Anna could not see his face, though Haldora’s expression betrayed his identity.
- That’s your warrior. -, Anna understood.
Haldora seemed to blush for a second as she lowered her eyes.
- You sly thing. You found him.
- He found me. For years I lived in this house and he just showed up here one day and never disappeared. -, Haldora explained.
- For how long did you search for him?
- I died a thousand years ago. I haven’t always searched for him.
Anna took a better look at this man. He leaned on the poll and read a book, while listening to music on his headphones. His expression of concentration was heavy, making him look severe, though he still had some attractiveness in him.
- He is handsome. -, Anna stated.
- He looks like the Viking he is. -, Haldora completed.
- I’m thinking it’s in his genes, or in his jeans. -, Anna joked.
- He never wears jeans. -, Haldora corrected unaware of the joke.
- You didn’t show me these events. Have you spoken to him or done anything? -, Anna inquired. Anna waited for the answer that never came for a while; - You know what I would do? On those cold winter snowy mornings I would go out and offer him a cup of coffee. -, she suggested.
- Coffee makes him nauseous. -, Haldora immediately replied.
- You tried it?
- No. I just know.
Anna silenced and looked at him as Haldora did. She continued to smoke slowly. The silence became too thick for both women. Anna wanted to speak but could not introduce the subject. Haldora took a long drag and then a deep breath.
- He always arrives at 6:30 to get the 6:45 bus. He’s always the first on the cue. He parks his car on the closest spot to the exit. He always brings a book and he is always listening to music. He always sits on the second seat to the left, when he goes in the bus. He recently cut his hair, it was longer. Looks better then the last time he did it. There was a bald spot on the front. I guess, bad hairdresser.
- You’ve been watching him for a while. -, Haldora nodded. - Can you imagine if he knew you have been searching for him for the better part of a thousand years? -, Anna asked, dreamingly.
- He’d probably think I was a stoker. -, Haldora answered coldly.
- Do you even know his name?
Haldora took a long pause. Anna believed she did not know.
- Michael Alexander. -, Haldora eventually answered.
- Sounding name. How did you find out?
- I had his license plates ran by the Department of Motorized Vehicles.
- Ok. If you’re not a stoker you’re getting close. -, Anna stated in amazement. – What else did you find out?
- He pays his insurance on time and he didn’t report the time he scraped his car on the dustbin while he was taking the car out of a tight squeeze. -, Haldora explained.
- Ok, you are a full fledge stoker. -, Anna announced, - Don’t you think it’s about time you’ve met him? -, Anna asked, touching Haldora’s shoulder.
For a second she looked away from her warrior and glimpsed at her friend with the saddest expression.
- Every time I met him something went wrong. -, Anna looked confused. - He sent me to a nunnery, after I saved his life, because I was a heathen. He sent me to the Inquisition Fire, though we were getting along, because I had a scar. He once even thought I was the Holly Mary, but when I tried to kiss him, he called me a demon. Those were not the experiences I wanted to have with him.
The bus arrived and he walked in. He sat on the second seat to the left and continued to read his book.
- ‘Niht.’-, Haldora said as she got up.
Anna was not sure she had understood what she had said, but it had sounded like ‘Night’. Haldora threw her cigarette into the fireplace and turned back.
- You need breakfast. The pastry supplier should be arriving shortly. If you’re really hungry I think there are still some cakes left from yesterday.
Anna got up and followed her friend downstairs, amazed she could change so much from the time she was looking out the window to now. She attempted no more questions about the warrior. She knew her friend would talk when she felt ready to do so.
Haldora began preparations to open the shop. Receiving suppliers and restocking the cafeteria and franticly cleaning the sofas and the rugs. Anna felt relatively useless sitting by the cafeteria drinking her coffee and eating as much cake as she could. Haldora was silent all through the preparation stage, speaking only to greet her employees and introduce them to Anna. For her part Anna watched Haldora closely as to learn all she could, so she would not let her friend down.
The shop was finally open and Haldora began showing Anna, exactly what she would be doing. They toured the entire bookshop. Talking about all the different sections in which it was divided. Haldora also showed Anna the different storage areas, as well as the lounge for the employees to eat, dress and relax with a bit of TV. For last Haldora left the vault, a cave where some of the biggest treasures of the Kilpatrick library were hidden. Only Haldora had access to this vault. The heavy door opened to show a multitude of old books, arranged very neatly. Anna looked at them in awe, realizing they were of many languages and different epochs. She even recognized a book from their old master among the many books. In the centre of the room also stood many weapons from times before. Haldora explained some of the origins of the many weapons on display. Anna did not pay much attention. She was more interested in the display cases way at the back of the vault. An armor and a dress. Anna found them extremely familiar.
- The Kilpatricks have had this armor since forever. It’s similar to the one he was wearing when he died. Sometimes it even looks the same. The dress I made myself, not so long ago. A replica of what was. – Haldora explained as Anna looked around the cases.
- Did Michael ever come into the bookshop?
- Yes. But he’s always on the run when he comes.
- I’d open early if I were you, just to see him coming in. -, Anna suggest.
- Anna. I’m not going to get in his way. Not anymore. It’s best he doesn’t know me. I’m happy to just watch from a distance. I wouldn’t even know what to say if he would speak to me. It’s better this way.
- Hal, you knew what to say a couple of centuries ago, I’m sure the rules of romance haven’t changed all that much.
Haldora signaled Anna to leave the vault. Anna followed Haldora out of the vault.
- Hal, don’t you have this longing to meet him and find out how he really is? I mean right now he is a figure, don’t you want to know him? You killed yourself for him. -, Anna asked as Haldora closed the door.
- I killed myself because of him. Don’t mistake the words. Anna I really don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’m happy this way.
Haldora and Anna made their way up. Haldora’s expression changed. She became concentrated on work. Anna did not push the subject anymore.
Sometime during the day Haldora gave Anna access to her own computer, so she could keep track of sales and suppliers, stocks and payments. As Anna was learning how to operate this new program, Haldora was pulled away from her teaching role to assist a supplier. While she was meeting with this man, Anna, left to herself, began searching Haldora’s computer, clicking on every icon to see what was behind it. At one icon she found a chat room, she read some of the conversations Haldora saved. Anna became aware the conversation was mostly about history and newly read books. It would be uneventful if Anna did not read the name of the person Haldora was talking to, ‘M.A. Warrior’. Anna closed the chat room and kept on searching all other icons. As soon as she clicked she had the indication of password request. Anna was sure of what to type. ‘Michael Alexander’. The password was accepted and Anna found a long list of photographs. She clicked on the first photograph and a slideshow began. All photos were of Michael, most of them taken from the same angle as the window where Anna and Haldora had previously been watching him. Some were taken elsewhere in town and in the near by towns. Some were even taken on the bus. The photos showed him in different styled hair and some looked younger than others. In some photos there seemed to be a presence next to him, but that person was never caught on camera. Anna was now sure of her friend’s obsession. She closed all icons and returned to her study of the computer program that would serve as basis to her work, though her mind was working on the best way to make Haldora meet this man. If nothing else to shatter her illusions.
The work day was coming to an end and the employees left one by one, leaving Anna and Haldora alone. Haldora closed the shop and at a given time she excused herself and ran up to her loft. Anna followed her quietly soon after and saw her sitting on the same spot, again with a cigarette between her fingers, looking out of the window. Anna came back down in time to see the bus arriving and Michael walking to his car, still with his headphones on and his book underneath his arm. As he pulled away Anna caught a glimpse of the dent Haldora had spoken of before. Soon after he was gone Haldora came back down as if nothing had happened. Anna carried on putting books on shelves as if she had seen nothing.
- The store is yours. I need to go put some affairs in order and I may be a while; order food; watch TV in the lounge; whatever you want. -, Haldora suggested.
- I would really like to see you do things, just to get better acquainted with this. -, Anna replied.
- It’s best you take it case by case. Besides I’m going to be doing Foundation stuff and I don’t want to confuse you with that. -, Haldora explained.
Anna took the explanation reluctantly. Haldora sat at her computer and at first she really seemed to be working on Foundation business. After a few hours, Anna walked by and noticed her expression had changed. She had dropped all documents to concentrate only on the screen. Anna made some coffee and noticed a thick book next to the computer. Haldora was now grinning at her own typing. Anna watched her for a while and came close. Haldora stopped typing as soon as she was close.
- Sorry! I was just wondering about that book. It wasn’t here before. -, Anna explained.
- It’s just a history of myths and legends of the Middle Ages. It’s old, but the best. We have the only remaining copies. I’m … searching for a new editor to release it. -, it was obvious Haldora was lying.
Anna smiled and walked back to the lounge to watch TV. She was more attentive to the Haldora’s movements. She awaited her to go to the loft. At long last Haldora passed by.
- I’m going to go upstairs and attend to my garden. -, Haldora explained.
- I’ll be right there. Just want to finish watching this. -, Anna announced.
Haldora went up to the loft. Anna headed immediately to the computer, clicking on the chat room icon and hurriedly read the conversation saved. Haldora’s deception was uncovered. She had been speaking to M.A. Warrior about this very old book she had had next to her while they were talking. From the contents of the conversation she was quiet sure Haldora had read it before. She seemed to have a chronological knowledge of the book. Haldora had not, however, mentioned that the book could be found in Hal’s Book Shop. Anna raised her eyes to check for her friend’s presence and seeing as she wasn’t there, continued with her plan. She registered on the chat room herself and searched for M.A. Warrior, leaving him a message that this book could be found at the shop. She closed the site and leant back on the chair, looking treacherous.
Waiting… Anticipating… So close…
