Chapter 85
“Why are you so damned pushy, old man!” William shouted and forgot about being polite.
Burton swiftly looked at Ellie and pointed at his face. “Am I pushy?” He asked and said nothing else. Ellie still clutched her mouth and didn't dare to question him or Heidi Kaufman. “You might speak...” Burton ordered.
She gasped and eased her hands. “Not at all, mister Burton. You are essentially an angel.”
“Is that so?”
“If an angel bathed in darkness and suffering.... bathed in Dark Matter and fell to the Abyss... Felt the weight of Heaven and...”
Burton swayed his hand up and gestured for her to stop as if he couldn't have time for her, or he didn't want to listen to her nonsense.
Ellie often hated how she had to be honest, or was it because of novels she liked to read? They were essentially free for her anyway, depicting fantasies from the former world, or were they even fantasies? She didn't want to know the answer to that fantasy.
Burton didn't mind her words too much and smiled so quickly, it seemed like he heard a joke but didn't want to like it. Then, he tossed the wooden card back to William, who caught it with his face. Sounding cold and detached while doing so, Burton had more words to tell.
William also learned that Kaufman was closer to this library than he thought, and the current headmaster was holding an absolute word in this matter. Burton apparently couldn't get much done when both Kaufmans were curious, which might be problematic on another level, or intriguing enough to let him smile.
“Is it fine? Why do I feel it isn't fine?” William wondered out loud as he grabbed his card.
“Because it isn't?” Burton suggested.
“I had no ulterior motives or troubles in mind when I came here. Aren't you being insensitive... sir?”
“Wait, young man. How about an introduction first? Whatever and wherever Kaufman is, some things are proper and some aren't. My name is Burton, the senior authority of this library. I might be an ordinary person, but I served many years in the military and walked many places and steps with Walkers. I can smell and see them. In many ways...” Burton introduced himself in a domineering tone and looked at William as if he had seen through him.
He was normal. Nothing major changed even after uncovering the involvements of the current headmaster or the creator of this place itself. A lot of ideas deep in politics had even more engaging ideas. Mainly, Kaufman was enigmatic because of his fickle mind. He left many places and people to rot in his constant various opinions or acts.
He was old, stemming from ancient foremost Walkers. He was also odd and mysterious. Seen nowhere, but somewhere, seeking places or secrets of this age and not being too close or too far from the Federation itself, Kaufman was worth a charm. In a weird sense of duty, he was like a retired politician or a guardian angel who was impossible to see.
And he was back in Federation! Was it a coincidence? Where was it? What did Burton smell and see in this situation? Who was this boy?
William long forfeited his politeness if others showed apparent doubts about him. It was about Burton's face. It was serious and way too harsh. Ellie felt bad for William in many ways, for she was the same a few years ago. She had to be polite to Burton in every way because of her dreams and job until she started to get him and work with him better. He was an old dog who could show his teeth and bark but would never bite.
William didn't lose against this person even if he didn't know him very well. “Do I have to bother with that?”
“I am also a Dean here, responsible for order. I can kick you out if you cause any kind of problems.”
“Really? That sounds awful.” William showed him the card again and smirked. “I don't suppose that is correct, right?”
Burton smiled for real, looking like a devil. “No. I was just testing things out. You are sharp, even if you look like a beggar.”
This time, William got offended. “Do I look... that bad?” At first, he was doubtful, until he spoke with certainty that he was.
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Ellie tended to agree with a lot of things and this time was no different. “I've seen some refugees with better clothes.”
William learned something new as he glanced at her and back at himself. His expectations seemed to be quite low and people had way too high expectations. How much were some clothes? What about food? He had a hundred credits. Was it a fortune? He didn't know.
As he sighed, he attempted to step aside. He opposed Burton right from the start, but since his position was so important, what was the right thing to do came with acts and words. Having some edgy behavior to piss him off wasn't right. Burton might be petty or understanding, as long as it made some sense or logic.
Had William done something wrong since entering this building? They decided on that, while he felt as safe as clouds in the sky. He underestimated everything because of his ignorance.
“Name? Reason to visit?” Burton demanded.
“I feel like I am being interrogated without committing any wrongdoings. Does this place have some laws?”
“You have no right to say that, refugee, dressed with barely any intention of bettering himself for the Federation. Say it. Do you have a citizenship? Oh, and I am the Law!”
“I don't have any of that,” William argued, pissed and looking somewhere else.
“We call it lack of common sense and courtesy. Are you someone fond of Kaufman, or did he send you here for a reason? Is it his test to see the current changes and shifts in the upper floors, or does he want something else? He could come here at any time, yet who and why are you here?”
“I have not come here because I wanted to, but because I have to. Some Kaufman is nowhere to be seen, or is he?” William scowled inside and glanced around. He saw no bloody old man with a weird hat and flaring air around him. “I would rather learn than judge others, sir. My curiosity lies in books. Not people.”
“People are the reason books exist. And some people are library worth of knowledge. Kaufman is that many times over as a person and Walker, and a little bit sensitive to the current timeline. Miss Heidi has been looking for him for years and this place exists because of him. That is why I am asking you about him, young man.”
William didn't refute it and remembered what would Miss Anderson say. “Does it sound like my problem? As far as I remember, there are no rules to follow if I have this card. Can you stop me from walking away?” William countered Burton's words, which were seeking problems. True, there were some appropriate words in his sentences, but William was away from them, yet close to them like a leaf yet to fall from a dead tree.
“Oh, you think you can touch the sizzling flame and expect to get healed, eh? You lack a common sense. I see how it is. You are from Outside, aren't you? Some camp? Which?”
“You wouldn't name them all.” William coldly said.
Burton took it for a challenge and started to name every camp that ever existed. William was surprised that he named them all, including those that he hadn't even heard about.
“Sir...” Ellie whispered behind Burton. “You are revealing sensitive information.”
Burton coughed and checked his tie. “Well, you get me. I would not expect much from refugees, but being struck with a mother of luck and getting this sort of pass to my library is preposterous!”
William indifferently smiled as this old man increased his voice, sounding angrier and angrier, but remained impassive in the face like water that couldn't go beyond its boiling rage.
So William went with some compromise. “My name is William Gale,” he said, half unsure if his surname was right to mention or not. He discovered it yesterday after all. “I am in the Federation because of Luke Irwin and someone called Mi-Yung, who found me Outside. Kaufman was someone whom I met at the aforementioned embassy upon my landing. He waited there and said something about free citizenship and other stuff, He asked a lot of questions, demanded them as well, got me this card, and left me alone, saying that I should learn and see this world.”
Burton's eyes moved and his mouth trembled, but before he told something, William stopped him and continued speaking.
“Library is what? I am here for the sole purpose of broadening my horizon since I grew up in the borders and camps you've described. In times of survival, Outside is tough, and I did survive it all. For ten years nonetheless. What, you might ask? Attacks of at least a dozen Hordes are nothing before dozens of Rifts. Oh, and let's not forget some questionable Examination which is in six weeks, sir. I am waiting for it while spending time here was recommended because of.... my stupidity. Understanding this messed up city and the new life that is in the middle of the ocean is another thing. So, sir, I am not pretending anything. Hmp!”
William ended his speech with a puffed chest and a high tone. He suppressed both people before him, clutched his innermost feelings, and both fists. Thanks to his manifesting Dann and Miss Anderson, it worked great. He said nothing but the truth, albeit like a forceful fool.
Dann would clap. Miss Anderson would scold him twice over because he was before good and hard-working people in the right place. He should be the one bowing! That was something she would say to William right now.
Burton was speechless after hearing what he wanted. William Gale? Mi-Yung or Luke Irwin? This youth was unknown, although the word Gale did reach something in his mind. It fell short after hearing about an important member of Assembly Island and Rank 5 Walker of the Yondu Division, while William's past wasn't as excruciating or complicated.
But he did mention that mysterious word of utmost essence.
The examination was the answer to a whole lot of things that Burton half knew already. Suddenly, he understood everything. Six weeks was a reasonable number. This boy might be simple and Kaufman's reappearance was not.
It kind of frustrated Burton when he arrived at this conclusion. He already started to mess with this situation that he wasn't even part of. No. He would rather not involve himself with Kaufman and his tricks because Assembly was a different world altogether.