Elizabeth's Delivery

Henry knew the way to the Manor by heart. The old man drove to Thorn Manor and the iron gate was already open. Considering it had taken Terry an entire day to realize his phone was missing, Henry didn't think going without it ten more minutes would hurt his son. Henry picked up the box from the truck bed and walked up to the front door. He rang the bell and the door open to Elizabeth wearing a green sweater vest and a plaid blanket hiding her legs. She smiled when she saw him until her eyes caught sight of the crate. "Carpenter Delivery service. Anyone order some dusty old books?"

"Good to see you too, Henry. Grandma Rose just left to pick up her medicine. But, as far as 'dusty old books' go, I just ordered one this time." Elizabeth lead him inside and to the den next to the library. Something wasn't right.

Henry carefully set the box on the oval maple coffee table and sat on the Victorian sofa. Elizabeth began looking thru the box. She found the book she had ordered for her personal reading on top, but there were several tomes and books that were obviously meant for the Archive-- no surprise since she had been gone so long (last time Elizabeth had been to the bookstore had been during Spring break three months ago) and the research division was always sending out new material. The bookstore probably just combined her order with the new books for the Archive, again. Violet was probably steamed.

Then, her eyes widened as she pulled out a laptop, several USB drives, tablet and portable scanner hidden in the bottom. Underneath everything was a letter with the Grand Hunter's Guild seal and her blood ran cold. Carefully, Elizabeth opened the letter and read it out loud. "Dear Ms. Thorn, We are writing to inform you that after years of consideration and planning the Grand Council has elected to require all Guilds to have a digital archive. We believe this will allow for greater accessibility, sharing information, blah, blah, blah. Inside this box you will find the equipment necessary to begin this project in addition to some new research material. We implore you to begin as quickly as possible and have set a deadline for . . . New Year's day!"

"New Year's day? That gives you little under six months." Henry said. It was a big job, but Elizabeth loved books. "Rose said you were planning on doing the next semester completely online anyway. It'll be a full time job, but everyone will help. It might give you a good excuse for some alone time with Jim."

"Yeah. I should've known this was coming. It's been a hot topic on the Guild forums for sometime." Elizabeth sighed. Technology had always been a hot button topic among the research division and those working in the Archives. Elizabeth had actually considered scanning their Archive after she finished her degree, but the Grand Council was pushing for it now. She looked at the new books and then looked at her The old man drove to Thorn Manor and the iron gate was already open. Considering it had taken Terry an entire day to realize his phone was missing, Henry didn't think going without it ten more minutes would hurt his son. Henry picked up the box from the truck bed and walked up to the front door. He rang the bell and the door open to Elizabeth wearing a green sweater vest and a plaid blanket hiding her legs. She smiled when she saw him until her eyes caught sight of the crate. "Carpenter Delivery service. Anyone order some dusty old books?"

"Good to see you too, Henry. Grandma Rose just left to pick up her medicine. But, as far as 'dusty old books' go, I just ordered one this time." Elizabeth lead him inside and to the den next to the library. Something wasn't right.

Henry carefully set the box on the oval maple coffee table and sat on the Victorian sofa. Elizabeth began looking thru the box. She found the book she had ordered for her personal reading on top, but there were several tomes and books that were obviously meant for the Archive-- no surprise since she had been gone so long (last time Elizabeth had been to the bookstore had been during Spring break three months ago) and the research division was always sending out new material. The bookstore probably just combined her order with the new books for the Archive, again. Violet was probably steamed.

Then, her eyes widened as she pulled out a laptop, several USB drives, tablet and portable scanner hidden in the bottom. Underneath everything was a letter with the Grand Hunter's Guild seal and her blood ran cold. Carefully, Elizabeth opened the letter and read it out loud. "Dear Ms. Thorn, We are writing to inform you that after years of consideration and planning the Grand Council has elected to require all Guilds to have a digital archive. We believe this will allow for greater accessibility, sharing information, blah, blah, blah. Inside this box you will find the equipment necessary to begin this project in addition to some new research material. We implore you to begin as quickly as possible and have set a deadline for . . . New Year's day!"

"New Year's day? That gives you little under six months." Henry said. It was a big job, but Elizabeth loved books. "Rose said you were planning on doing the next semester completely online anyway. It'll be a full time job, but everyone will help. It might give you a good excuse for some alone time with Jim."

"Yeah. I should've known this was coming. It's been a hot topic on the Guild forums for sometime." Elizabeth sighed. Technology had always been a hot button topic among the research division and those working in the Archives. Elizabeth had actually considered scanning their Archive after she finished her degree, but the Grand Council was pushing for it now. She looked at the new books and then looked at her wheelchair. "I can't wait for my leg to finish healing. I'm going to have to start scanning tomorrow." She growled. "Who am I kidding? I needed to have started three years ago!"

"Hold on there! Let me check out the elevator at the Archive first. Given how the library's roof is, I wouldn't trust that the Mayor kept her word on keeping the rest of the building in shape." Henry understood her concern. This was going to be huge project. The Archive was three quarters of the library. He understood her frustration, but he didn't want her hurt worse. "I'll send you a text with the verdict."

"Thanks, Henry." Elizabeth answered as the old man left. She pulled out the instruction manuals and additional project information. "I swear someone in the Grand Council hates me. "

"You and every other person in charge of the Archives. "