Glass-eye

I was on my way to an old family-friend, he was a connoisseur of old books, and I needed another opinion on the book. I don’t know why I didn’t show it to uncle, it was just a feeling. Or maybe I just wanted to have this thing for myself.

I stopped outside the door; it had a weathered sign that said, “Out for lunch”. The sign had hung there as long as I can remember, so I took no notice of it. The old door creaked when I opened it, letting the person inside know someone was coming.

“Hamish?”

My voice almost drowned in the room, because of all the books. I went further in and closed the door behind, while I called again.

Coughing noises came from behind a shelf and I tiptoed around the stacks of books to find Hamish. His grey hair stood up at all ends and he was doubled over by his coughing fit. I walked over and half -stroked, half-slapped his back to help him. He gave a wheezing sound but straightened and took some deep breaths.

“Are ye alright there, Hamish?”

He nodded fast, “Yes, yes, thank you. Just some dust in my throat.” It didn’t help with the twenty cigarettes a day, I thought to myself. I looked around and spotted a cup, I smelled it, it was just coffee. You never knew with Hamish; holed up here he had no sense of time, so it could just as well been whisky in there.

“Here, drink some.” I gave him the cup and took a step away to give him some space. It seemed to help; his voice was clearer after some sips.

“Ah, that did the trick, thank you.” He looked at me, his heavy eyebrows making him look angry. “Jamie!” His face transformed with his smile. Recognising me, he shocked over and gave me a soft hug. “I haven’t seen you in ages.” My smile fell, not since my father’s funeral. I didn’t say that out loud. He knew that. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

I glimpsed around, I decided to just jump right in. “I need help.” He squeezed my arm and guided me to a sofa behind a small wall. “Sit, sit. Do you want anything to drink?” He put a tray with shortcakes in front of me, but they looked like they had been there since the Rising. I shook my head. “Hamish, I need you to verify a book for me.” He didn’t answer, just fiddled around some before he took a seat in front of me. “I think it`s from the late 1600`s, but I have to be sure.” He gave me an odd look, probably wondering why I didn’t ask uncle, but he didn’t say anything. “Give it, then.”

I took the book out and handed him the pouch. He loosened the cover and let it slide out. I almost sat on my hands, what if he said it was a good copy? From a pocket on his shirt, he took a pair of glasses. “Hmm, calfskin, the paper is of good quality.” He felt the pages, “cotton and linen. A bit dry, my guess would be that the book has spent some time near water.” I almost gave a squeal. Hamish turned the book around and looked at the bindings, “European, maybe Dutch?” He gave no notice of me, in his own world. My stomach sank when he opened it, but he didn’t care about the written words, just wanted to see the stile. “Mhm, the author has used a quill, the lettering is what it should be from someone from late 1600`s.”

Hamish looked up and gave the book back, a bit shocked by my tense posture. “Relax, dear Jamie, you did good. Definitely from the last part of 1600. After 1680 I would say.” I felt my shoulders drop and I smiled to Hamish. “Thank you so much.”

Business over, Hamish leaned back in the chair and lit a cigarette. Usually, I hate it, but here it was part of the package. “Now, do you want to tell me why you came to me, and not your uncle?” I hesitated. “He would have just made fun of me; he already thinks I am a no-good.” Hamish laughed, “That`s because you are so much like your father, and he`s afraid that you too will do better that him in this world.” The old man took a drag and smoke wafted out in the room. “I remember when Liam was first dating your mum, Callum was so jealous. And when he struggled to manage a new-born without a mother along with the store, Callum tried over and over to buy Liam out.” Hamish shook his head. “That store wouldn’t be anything without your father.” His eyes cleared and locked on to me. “And it won`t me anything without you, Jamie. I hear people talking about you, they say that you are very good at your job.”

Embarrassingly enough, I got tears in my eyes by the praise. No one never told me that I did a good job, I didn’t know how much I needed the affirmation until now. Wiping the tear away, I thanked Hamish and asked him about his own business. We spent a nice half an hour chatting, and when I left, I promised that I wouldn’t be a stranger. “I`m going out of town for some days, but I will stop by when I`m back.” Hamish`s eyes gleamed. “Be careful, many have tried to find the gold. Maybe there`s a reason why it refuses to reveal itself.” My mouth dropped open, and Hamish just laughed as he waved me goodbye. All I could do was stare at the “out for lunch” sign that jumped as the door closed.

I had to laugh at myself on my way to the bookstore. Hamish was one of the smartest people I knew, of course his eyes had caught the writings, and did his own math on why I came to him. I tried to brush off the warning, he hadn’t stopped me, just told me to be careful. Smiling, I walked around the corner and banged into someone. I hit my nose and swore loudly while the one I`d banged into laughed. Recognising the laughter, I swatted out with my left hand while trying to determine if I had a nosebleed with my right. “Idiot, you can`t just stand in the middle of the way like that.” Cian raised his arms in defence, “Hey there, tiger, I was just waiting for my partner in crime. We need to do some plotting.” He laid his fingertips together and gave an evil smile. I let him of the hook, since my nose didn’t bleed. I looked around. “No plotting, we`re just two tourists going on a trip. You, an Irishman, are showing me, your Scottish friend, around in the Irish hills.” He winked, “Got ya`.” I had to laugh, he seemed in a good mood today. “Come, we can talk while I work.” We walked into the old church, but I stopped suddenly, making Cian bump into me. Uncle Callum was there, and he was arguing with a man.

“You just have to wait, I said I would try, I didn’t give you any promises.”

The stranger glared at uncle. “You said it TWO years ago. I know it is here in Edinburgh, you bragged about being the best, there really shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Listen, I am close, some days ago I got some books that I think was from the owner, they looked promising. Most of them was about Avery and his fellow rascals.”

By the mention of “Avery” I backed and gesticulated wildly to let Cian know he should go out the door again. Cian, confused as hell, opened his mouth to speak, but I slapped my hand over his mouth and pushed him backwards. I looked over my shoulder and uncle were still in a heated argument. Heart in my throat, I managed to get us both outside. Not safe her, so I walked around the corner. Cian threw his hands in the air. “Jamie, care to fill me in on what the hell you`re doing?” I held up a finger, thinking furiously. Then I started speaking. “Avery. That`s another name used on Every. You heard him?” Cian nodded. “The books he was talking about were yours. The man talked about that “it is in Edinburgh.” I turned to Cian, “What if the “It” is the diary?” I groaned, if Cian hadn’t been with me, I could have hidden, and listened to more of the conversation. “You can`t show yourself here anymore, I can`t let uncle know that you`re talking to me.” “Because your uncle is looking for the diary for some other guy?” I nodded, glad he had it figured out. “Don`t answer the phone when he calls. Or tell a lie, like you gave the rest of the books to Goodwill or threw them away.” Cian laughed, “This is like a real adventure. Did you see if the man had a glass-eye or something like that? Every bad guy has this one thing, that instantly tells the viewer he`s the bad guy.” I rolled my eyes; a little seriousness had been appreciated. “No, I saw nothing like that. I have to go to work, we`ll have to “plot” later.” I made quote marks in the air. Looking around the corner, I saw the man walking down the street. In his hand he had a cane, the top of it was in ivory, made out like a mermaid. Cian met my eye and raised an eyebrow. “I told ya; bad guy.”