Clockwork

Chapter Five

Akil ran ahead of Cas.

"We are going to the library, I'm going to see if they have any books about caves in Israel. Maybe we can find one that matches the poem." Akil said.

"The library? You mean we are going to spend the entire day cooped up in some dusty book house?" Cas argued jogging to keep up with Akil.

"Where else are we going to look for information? Also, book house?" Akil asked, giving Cas a confused look. Cas shrugged his shoulders in response. Akil walked up the steps to a large building in the center of the city. The heavy wooden doors swung open with a loud clunk. Cas walked inside and looked around at the mountains of books left on tables by previous patrons, followed by rows and rows of long bookshelves. Akil made his way over to a filing cabinet and opened the drawer labeled 'C'.

"Caves, caves, caves..." He whispered to himself. Cas leaned over his shoulder to look at the cards. Akil stopped and looked at Cas.

"Cas." He said.

"Yes?"

"Personal space." Cas nodded and backed up, Akil went back to rummaging through the cards.

"Ah, Caves of Israel." Akil exclaimed holding up a single crumpled card. Cas took the card from Akil.

"How are we supposed to find one book out of all of these, possibly millions of books?" He asked. Akil snatched the card back from Cas.

"The numbers you idiot, haven't you ever used a library file?" Akil shook his head. Cas crossed his arms defensively.

"One: I believe that's the first time you've ever actually insulted me, Akil and I'm not sure if I like it. Two: It's hard to find time to go to the library when you're fighting the Italian Mafia." Cas answered. Akil rolled his eyes and started toward a bookshelf toward the back. He scanned the shelves placing a finger on the numbers taped to the book spines.

"Here we go, Caves of Israel." Akil said as he pulled the book off the shelf. It was a thick book with worn pages and a picture of the Middle East drawn on the cover in gold. Akil looked at Cas expectantly.

"What?" Cas asked.

"Well, didn't you say you were going to work on the watch while I researched the poem?"

"Right, I need the key to the shop." Akil looked at Cas for a moment then pulled the chain from around his neck. He held it in his fist and gave Cas the most serious and urgent look he could muster.

"If you lose this, I will kill you." He said and handed over the key. Cas took it and crossed his heart, he left without saying anything. Akil felt almost naked without the usual weight of the old key around his neck. He walked over to a table and began reading.

Bell Cave. Was found in the seventeenth century in Central to Southern Israel, they were dug out in the shape of bells and Arabic inscriptions and crosses are found inside on the walls. He read about the location and everything and nothing seemed to fit with the poem. If the fairy cave had inscriptions then his father would have mentioned it in the stories he told him. HaYonim Cave. Was used as living spaces for many years. People have been living there since the first ice age. Akil canceled this one out immediately. The fairies wouldn't hide in a cave full of people. Same with the Tabun Cave, it used to be populated. Hanahal Cave was only used as a burial site but his father never mentioned that in the stories either. Zedekiah's Cave is also out of the question seeing how it is a beacon of biblical resonance and many tourists surely pass through there daily. Hariton Cave was used as an escape route for the Jewish escaping the Romans. Still nothing to connect it to the stories or the poem. Akil was almost ready to put the book up and try researching elsewhere when he found a cave that seemed promising. As he was reading Cas came back through the library, running up to Akil, stomping his feet down loudly as he did. A few other patrons looked up from their books and glared in their direction. Akil turned red, embarrassed at Cas.

"You're not the kind of person to take out in public are you? Are you aware you just, very loudly, RAN into a public library like a bull in a china shop?" Akil snapped. Cas gave Akil back the key and for a moment he forgot about his embarrassment to enjoy the familiar weight of the key.

"Sorry, I guess I'm not one for library etiquette. Why? Were planning on taking me out for a night on the town?" Cas said sarcastically. Akil ignored him.

"Did you fix the watch?" He asked.

"Yeah it just needed some new cogs and a small screw here and there. Any luck on the cave?"

"Yeah actually, so get this, Pa'ar Cave. It's actually technically a sinkhole. In Winter you can see the Pa'ar stream water flowing to it." Akil told him.

"Okay, how does that fit the poem?" Cas asked. Akil sighed like it was obvious.

"Under a white sun, during the late year, where water runs? Late year would be Winter, the stream is the running water."

"Are you sure about this?"

"It's the best lead we've got."

"Then let's go grab lunch and get out of this place. I've discovered I have a new allergy to libraries."

"You know I heard that the history section is hypo-allergenic." Akil joked.

"They have a history section?"

"Yeah, just back there through non-fiction." Akil pointed to the back of the library. Cas stepped toward it then looked back at Akil.

"Go ahead, have a ball." Cas left to the back of the library and Akil could see him scanning the spines for a title that interested him. He picked one out and opened it, leaning against the shelf. Lunch didn't sound like too bad of an idea to Akil right now. He'd just spent several hours looking for a mysterious cave and he thought Cas could survive in the library for a few moments without him. He walked out the doors and squinted in the bright sunlight. He saw the Deli across the street and made his way over. He walked into the shop and looked over the options.

"Hello, Sir. Can I help you with anything today?" The shopkeeper said from behind the counter. Akil stepped up to it.

"Yes, actually could I please get a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich on wry bread and a," it was at this point that he realized he had no idea what kind of sandwich Cas would want, he'd have to wing it, "ham and cheddar on white bread. And two sodas please." Cas seemed like the kind of person who liked ham.

"Three shillings please." Akil payed the man and took the sandwiches and sodas from the counter. When he got back to the library Cas was sitting on the floor with a plethora of books around him.

"Enjoying yourself?" Akil asked, handing Cas the sandwich and soda and sitting down next to him and his book pile.

"You know I think I might have to get into this whole library thing. I might even sign up for a card." He unwrapped his sandwich and took a bite.

"How did you know I like ham?"

"Educated guess."

"Well thank you."

"We actually aren't supposed to eat in the library but I think we can get away with it just this once." Akil told him.

"Look at you, Akil the rule breaker." Cas joked, nudging his arm. Akil laughed and sipped his soda looking over Cas's shoulder occasionally to see what he was reading about. It was on page 104 about king Arthur that Cas looked at Akil who was again reading over his shoulder and shook his head.

"And you want to complain about personal space."