Welcome 'Home'

The rain hammered down on the cobblestone path that lined the way to the entrance, Holloway's heels echoed from behind the rain, walking up the entrance staircase she pulled back the rustic golden knocker and let it land back to the large dark mahogany door. Echoing footsteps could be faintly heard from behind it, until the double doors were brought open, a well dressed man with his head lowered stood back from the doors he lifted his head slowly. "Dr Holloway Josephs, i do hope the rain didn't catch you too badly, Head Archivist Mrs Caroline Halls is waiting for you. Follow me." Beckoning her in Holloway drew in her umbrella, the man took it and walked towards the grand staircase which centered the entrance hall. Ascending the stairs and walking down the right landing behind the man, Holloway looked around, noticing grand golden framed portraits with engraved plaques under them, all began with 'Head Archivist' followed by a name and set of dates the shortest being '1578-1582' and the longest being '1782-1865'.

The man abruptly stopped walking, turning and bowing, "My sincerest apologies i forgot to introduce myself. Parkinson, Samuel Parkinson. I am the head keeper of this Archive." Samuel held out an open hand, shaking it Holloway smiled. "I would introduce myself but you seem to already know who i am." Samuel nodded, "Your name is all i know, Mrs Halls expects our archivists to introduce and provide their information to those that they wish.' Holloway nodded in understanding, "Well as you know i am Dr Holloway Josephs, i have a doctorate in ancient Latin and Foreign Literature." Samuel nodded and turned, continuing to walk down the landing until they reached another large mahogany door. Samuel knocked three times and a woman's voice was heard from behind. "Parkinson, please come in. I assume Dr Josephs is with you." Samuel opened the door and stood by it motioning for Holloway to enter.

Walking in Halls stood from behind the large black leather chair behind a large desk and walked out to the front of it. Samuel shut the door and stood beside it, "Dr, it is very good to meet the face from behind such amazing Latin penmanship, i am Mrs Caroline Halls, head archivist." Shaking her hand Holloway smiled, "Well thank you, i thought it would lend a hand in my position, you most likely have many books written in ancient Latin i assume?" Halls motioned for her to sit in one of the chairs in front of the desk. Sitting down Halls offered a teacup to her, taking it with thanks Halls seated herself. "We own thousands of books written in ancient Latin and many other ancient languages. Can you read and write Latin?" Putting the teacup back on its saucer on the desk Holloway cleared her throat. "Indeed i can, but i can also read and write Mesopotamian, ancient Greek, Roman French and many more, I am also fluent in french." Halls finished stirring the spoon in her own teacup.

"Very impressive, are you yourself french or was it just a pass time activity?" Holloway adjusted herself in her seat. "I am only a quarter french, my grandfather on my mothers side taught me from a young age as i spent so much time with him." Sipping her tea and nodding Halls put her cup down, "I see, where else are your family from, your history and education is one of the most interesting I've seen a quite a while." Dusting off her skirt and meeting Halls gaze. "Well, i'm one quarter french, another quarter Czechoslovakian and half Italian." Halls' eyes grew wide, "Wow, family from allover the place, i'm quite boring, only one quarter Spanish and the rest English, but work must begin sooner or later, your first few weeks may be rather mundane, but i don't think it will take you too long seeing as you won't need any translation books." Moving to below the desk Halls pulled a stack of thick, old, leather bound books to the top of the desk, the stack tied together by a thick leather band of rope tied in a bow on top.

"A local university's headmaster requested an English translation for these books, the deadline is October 23rd, but i doubt it will take you that long, all the papers and equipment you require will be in the archive communal offices, you will meet your coworkers there. Samuel will take you." Picking up the books and moving towards the door as Samuel opened it, "Oh, and Dr, if you need anything and i mean anything, just pen me a letter and hand it to Samuel to give to me. I'm not always around when you need me so a letter is easier." Nodding and leaving behind Samuel he lead her back down the landing and down the staircase in the entrance hall, walking through several long and wide hallways adorned with more paintings, large wooden bookcases and trinkets locked behind glass cases.