Chapter 13 10

The rest of the way, Blake walked dejectedly towards St. Jerome's College.Not only did he oversleep, but he also lost the wordless book, and now he lost another book that might be important.Nothing goes your way! He kicked the stray leaves that had fallen the night before, without lifting his head, even as he ducked through the small wooden door on the heavy gate of St. Jerome's College and walked straight into the reception room , do not lift it. Hey, there's a message for you, Bob.Barrett said hurriedly, leaning over to get the letter with your name written on it! Thanks.Blake said despondently, taking the envelope without even looking at it.

Heck, things aren't that bad.how The phone just rang, and Bob stopped to answer it.Blake seized the opportunity and left without further ado.Right now he didn't want to talk to anyone. Blake waved a half-hearted goodbye and headed for the library.As soon as he arrived at the library, Mephisto grabbed his feet, hoping to avenge what happened last night. stupid cat.Blake growled, and the beast sprang away.He bent down and retied his shoelaces. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Paula.Richards was busy running around in the library, busy taking things off the shelves, a series of movements like a Muslim fakir dancing a roundabout dance.He also didn't want to face her, just in case she suspected that he was the one who destroyed the books last night, so he decided to change direction and walked towards a bench under a tree at the far end of the lawn, where he could sit quietly and wait for his mother. and sister.

The bench was covered with raindrops. He sat down and turned over the letter in his hand, being careful not to wet it.A few more drops of rain fell from the gaps in the leaves, dripping maliciously on the nape of his neck, but this was already the least wet place he could find. The crisp white envelope bore the coat of arms of St. Jerome's College: a circle of stars surrounding a knight's gauntlet holding a sharpened quill instead of a sword .Sure enough, his name was written in smooth cursive characters on the front: Blake.Winters, Esq. He wondered what Esq. meant, but whatever it was, the title made him feel dignified and important, like he was a knight.He sat up a little more. (Annotation: Esq. is the abbreviation of Esquire, which is the honorific title of Mr.)

Opening the envelope, a very short message was written in the same gorgeous font: (question!) He raised his eyes, suspecting that the unnamed sender knew what was on his mind.His head was full of questions. The invitation was turned over to see further instructions: (The answer is waiting for you in the old library. Two o'clock, if convenient. Looking forward to seeing you then. Zhuo Leon.Professor Fall) A smile spread across Blake's face.Not only does he have the opportunity to peek into the interior of the old library, he may also learn the secrets of the Wordless Book!Things are clearly looking up.

He craned his neck to see if he could see the old library from where he sat, but all he could see was the spire above the cloister, half hidden behind a row of foliage.Still, he quivered with excitement, a bit like the pleasure of playing a portamento. His sister's voice came from the other side of the lawn, making him fall back to reality.The first hurdle he faced: getting his mother's permission.Will she allow him to go?From the way she clutched her briefcase, she would be in the Badri library all afternoon.This could only mean one thing: that he was a voluntary babysitter. He sighed, a series of raindrops seemed to sympathize with him and fell from the gap between the leaves and landed on the invitation card, muddying the ink.

Mom is already able to use the e-mail, and Da Ke quickly reported that she and Mom have just reached a distance where they can call Blake, isn't it great? Yeah, great.Blake replied suspiciously.He stood up to find a wet heart-shaped print on the bottom of his jeans.Da Ke snickered. Knowing that his mother found an incomprehensible manuscript in the Badri Library, Blake was eager to contact her department head, Professor Morgan, and asked to extend the trip to Oxford.Privately, Blake hoped that St. Jerome would deny her request to install a network in the office, so she would not be able to apply for an extension so easily.Now it seems clearly possible.

Now we can email Dad every day, Dako said happily, and I've written to him to ask if the new painting is finished.He's probably reading my messages right now.It's like he's with us! No way, Blake sulks, reminding you that he's on the other side of the world. Da Ke happily jumped to the front, but didn't hear his words, but her mother did.She gave Blake a hard, needle-prick look that made him cringe.Blake sensed that his mother had not forgotten the trouble he had caused the night before, and decided to go first.He walked towards the canteen. Blake's father, tired of the life-and-death competition, had left his company in the city and had been working from home for several months.Blake prefers that: he enjoys Dad's company, and it might give him and Da more attention as Mom focuses on her personal career.But just before they set off for the UK, Blake heard that his father had given up on his designs, that he could give a blank canvas new meaning.He suspected that Dako's emails would only make Dad feel worse.

Blake was contemplating whether to send a letter to Dad himself when he noticed his mother staring at the card in his hand.He showed her the name on the envelope. It was from Professor Dorion, who decided it would be best to speak first, and he wants me to see him this afternoon. Yeah?do what?Mom sounded suspicious. I am not very sure.He lied. Mom didn't look very convinced. Can I also visit Professor Dorion?Da Ke interrupted suddenly, please! no!Blake said angrily. His mother gave him a look of reproach. But it's none of her business!Blake protested that she always wanted to intervene.He reached out to pinch Dako.

oh!stop! I haven't met you yet! Yes, you hit it!Da Ke sobbed willfully and slapped his hand away. His mother grabbed his wrist and stopped him abruptly.That's enough, she said, don't let me cause trouble for me anymore! Feeling the stern reproach behind her words, Blake broke free from her grip and sprinted up the stairs leading to the cafeteria. He turned the heavy iron doorknob, pushed open the arched wooden door, and entered a huge oak-panelled room lined with benches and long wooden tables, where generations of scholars dined and congratulated themselves. For banquets, polish the surfaces of tables and chairs to a smooth surface.There are small lamps everywhere, copper lamp bases and red lampshades, like toadstools, illuminating circles of weak halos.There was a meaty smell in the air, like the aroma of gravy.Surrounded by dizzying lozenge windows, the hall was fronted by a raised platform on which stood a sumptuous table with bottles of water, silverware and bowls of fresh fruit.On it a coat of arms in stained glass shone like a blazing sun, and sprinkled the tablecloth with colors.That's where the professors sit, but Juliet.Winters wasn't sitting there.Traveling with children, this is where she has to compromise.She looked at the VIP seats on the high platform with longing eyes, while Dako and Blake were arguing.

But she couldn't come, and Blake was still complaining that it was I who was invited by Professor Dorion.The invitation has my name on it, not hers.He knew he was whining, but he couldn't help it. I know it's true, said the mother exhaustedly, but after what happened last night, at least you can do it.I still have some work to do at the Badri Library, and it would be much appreciated if you could take care of Dako for a few hours.I can barely do my thing this morning Blake shook his head and groaned.Every day.He was the one taking care of his sister, even if he didn't oversleep or sneak around at night and feel guilty.

The three of them lined up silently, each of them got the steak and kidney pie from the small window near the kitchen, and then followed Da Ke to the table she picked. Dining area where members sit.Those willow-waisted women, one by one in jewel-encrusted garments, and those Puritan men in dark robes, all of them as pale as missionaries, stared at them from the walls in all directions. Mother picked up the kettle from the table and poured some water for everyone.All the cups were dirty and placed randomly, and she picked the cleanest ones.Blake could see that something was disturbing her mother more than his behavior, for she swirled the water in her glass for a while, her thoughts swirling.Then she said slowly and seriously, her voice more serious than ever before: Ms. Richards told me this morning that some books in the library were messed up last night.Not just messing up, but destroying books, tearing them to shreds. She put the glass on the table and fixed her eyes on him, Blake, please tell me you have nothing to do with this matter. Da Ke stared at him carefully, chewing with his mouth wide open. Blake was horrified by such insinuations.Of course it doesn't matter!He stammered, his face was flushed, he was ashamed and angry.He glanced at Nathaniel.Portrait of Nathaniel Hart (1723︱1804), a sad man in a clergyman's coat and a shaggy wig.The man's portrait seemed to hang over Blake's head accusing him. Blake, look at me. Blake forced himself to return his gaze to the table.I don't know, I don't know anything.He said emphatically. This is no joke, Blake, said the mother, tapping her finger on her tray, are you sure you didn't bump into anything on your walk last night? He could hear his mother's skepticism, so he stopped.I swear I don't know who did it, he managed to control his voice and said, I didn't see anyone downstairs in the library, okay? Blake suddenly realized that he had made a mistake.He admitted that he was in the library.The truth came out of his mouth, and it was too late to stop it.So he took a swig of water to hide his confusion. Mother closed her eyes in despair.Oh, Blake, she said, I really hope you're not involved in this. He looked up, surprised.what does she mean? Blake glanced at Dako, who was just finding a piece of kidney on the fork, and picked it off with her fingers in a fuss. Mother shook her head. Listen, he said, feeling restless, his temples twitching, his face getting redder, sorry for worrying you, well, but I honestly don't know what the books are about!I was upstairs at the time.I was trying to catch the cat when it slid in after me. Da Ke looked at the two of them expectantly. Mother sat quietly for a while.Well, after a meaningful pause, she said, I think it's best to have Dako accompany you this afternoon, just in case.Maybe she can teach you what responsibility is. Dako cheered happily, and Blake groaned and complained internally, poking the food on his plate with his fork.A clump of gravy froze on the side of the plate, and a clump of overcooked cauliflower was limp and cold.He punctured the center of the pie crust. Blake finally raised his head, only to find Bosper.Professor Ma Xiong walked towards them swaggeringly, so he was very unhappy.Professor Ma Xiong has a silver skull hanging from one ear lobe. So these two are your children?The professor grinned politely and patted Dako's head affectionately.Da Ke lowered her face, instinctively pulled up the hood on the raincoat, and turned her head away.The two of them seem to be very difficult to deal with. The curly-haired professor, still wearing the leather jacket, winked at Blake.Blake's attitude was nonchalant, and he slid his tray across the table, losing his appetite. Juliet.Winters ignored his comments. This kid is really like his father, really, the professor continued without embarrassment, how is Christopher? Blake's body froze. Very well, Juliet.Winters tensed his shoulders and replied curtly, as always. Ah, I see.said the professor.Without warning, he crouched beside her and whispered something in her ear that Blake couldn't hear.The leather jacket stretched over smooth muscles.Juliet.As Winters listened, he fingered a lock of gray hair hanging in front of his eyes.Blake was so annoyed at this unintentional girlish gesture that he coughed. Like a vampire interrupted halfway through his blood sucking, Boss Bo.Professor Ma Xiong glanced up.Don't worry, I'm just asking your mom for a cup of coffee.The smile showed shining teeth, completely innocent.You can come along if you like. Blake tried to push the professor back with a stern look, but lost. So, how about it?The man turned to Blake's mother and continued triumphantly, Three o'clock, in the same place? Blake suddenly felt a surge of anger and resentment rushing up inside him.He opened his mouth to protest, but saw his mother glance at her watch.She looked at the two children, then quickly averted her gaze.Da Ke, who was hiding behind the hood, stared back with an inscrutable expression on his face. Well, mother agrees, just have a coffee. I dare not expect anything else.Professor Wen Chao said, and then walked to the dining area of ​​the Exlibris Association with great pride. At this time, more than sixty scholars of all ages and nationalities gathered there to discuss books enthusiastically.Blake heard a low, continuous sound in the air.Dressed in nearly identical jumpers and khakis, the group resembled a pack of hunters preparing for an expedition, only armed with bifocals and rare-book catalogs instead of guns.Blake couldn't trust them after all.From his own mother, he knew what methods scholars would use to protect their own interests. He glared at the professor's back, but if I'm sure Professor Dorion won't mind taking care of you a little longer, my mother said nonchalantly, if there is no problem, then we will meet in the library of the college as usual.