Don't Tell a Soul

Gabby twirled her unruly, dark brown hair as she gazed at the computer screen. She yawned and blinked several times, but the work remained. Rain lashed against her office window, and it was already dark outside. The New England winter was making itself known. Gabby looked forward to a break in about a month.

Gabby decided it was time to make herself a cup of tea. She used to drink only coffee, but university life seemed to require her to enjoy tea. She looked around the office. Although it was small, it featured lovely wood paneling that felt warm and inviting, except for her messy desk. But that's life as an academic.

She heard a soft purr and looked over at the small calico cat sleeping contentedly on a chair. The cat seemed to be enjoying a pleasant dream.

“Qué Suenes con los angelitos,’” whispered Gabby to her sleeping feline.

“Thank goodness, only those who accept you have noticed you here. I don’t know how you do it, but you always manage to vanish at the right moment.”

Her mother had been so proud when she received the news that Gabby was accepted to the university as a professor. But her mother couldn’t understand why Gabby wasn’t married yet. “Gabelita, you are so pretty, why no man?” Gabby had rolled her eyes at the time, but what she wouldn’t do to have her mom back right now.

She had fought hard to secure her position as a full-time English professor after earning her doctorate. Yet, she had won over all her doubters except for Professor Thomas Anderson. Even in her mind, she addressed him formally. He took every opportunity to criticize her in front of the most important people.

At a recent faculty meeting, he decided to give Gabby a hard time.

“Ms. Delgado,” he addressed her in his soft but condescending British accent.

“I have reviewed that grant, and I don’t think you should bother applying for it,” Professor Anderson said, looking down his aquiline nose at Gabby.

“Can we discuss this later?”

“Fine. You know my office hours. See me Monday.”

Gabby turned her back before rolling her eyes. Professor Anderson was, as her mother might say, “un burro Viejo, impotente y cascarrabias.” He certainly made her time at the university unpleasant.

#

Gabby was awakened from her reverie when Pete ran into her office.

Peter Campbell had been her friend since she arrived at the university. He was in the science department and fit the definition of a science nerd. He was built like a stick and looked like he had never seen the sun, but Gabby had only noticed his friendly hazel eyes. She knew she could trust him.

“Gabby, I just found something crazy!”

“Pete, what are you talking about? I’m too tired for this...”

“No, I’m telling you- come now!”

Gabby looked at her cat, who had already jumped off the chair and seemed to be responding to Pete’s call to action.

“Should I bring Alice?”

“Sure. Alice can take care of herself, and no one is here now. Remember, it’s late.”

“Okay, let’s go,” Gabby said reluctantly.

#

Pete, holding Alice, hurried down the darkened hallway while Gabby followed closely behind.

Gabby felt the tiny hairs on her arms stand up. This was beginning to feel like a bad idea.

They stopped at the end of the hall.

“What is this room? I don’t remember it, and I know this hallway like the back of my hand.”

“Exactly,” said Pete.

“And this door is crazy ornate. What is going on?”

The door was adorned with scrolls and etched flowers, featuring gold leaf. It was one of the most beautiful doors they had ever seen.

Gabby then glanced from the door to Alice, who appeared alert but not frightened. Gabby found that somewhat reassuring.

“Well, are we going in?”

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Gabby asked with nervous laughter.

“Bowk, bowk, bowk,” flapping his arms like a chicken.

“A chicken- That is your best comeback?” Gabby laughed and felt slightly better about this sad excuse for an adventure.

“Well?”

“Alright, but if I die, I will haunt your sorry behind.”

“I'll take that chance.”

#

As the two friends and Alice entered the room, it looked just like all the other offices on the floor, although neater than Gabby’s.

“Is this it?”

“No, I found something in here.”

“I don’t want to know how you decided to enter this room…”

“Shush.”

They stood in silence for a moment. Gabby swore she smelled a faint hint of sweet pipe tobacco, but she couldn’t see a source. A closer examination of the room revealed Victorian decor. The silence was broken when Alice jumped from Pete’s arms.

“Alice, where are you going?” asked Pete.

“Let’s follow her.”

As the small hunting party walked around the desk, the room seemed to expand.

“Is it my imagination or is this room getting bigger?” asked Gabby.

“Don’t be silly.”

“I’m silly? You are the one who decided we needed to explore a mysterious door.”

“Look, here it is.”

Gabby followed Pete’s finger and looked down. She couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Wow!”

Behind the desk sat what looked like a treasure chest, embellished with carvings similar to those on the door, but outlined in a rich burgundy. It also featured a steampunk aesthetic, complete with dials and mechanical components.

“Pete, I’m unsure if we should be here. This looks like it might contain some expensive items.”

“We aren’t going to steal it. I think we need to investigate it, okay?”

Gabby looked heavenward for some guidance as Pete and Alice waited.

“Okay, let’s do it, but we can’t take anything, agreed?”

“Of course, trust me.”

The chest was heavy, and Gabby and Pete strained to open it.

“Should we get something to pry it open?”

“No, look. This looks like a puzzle lock," Pete said, pointing to a dial with numbers.

“Great, now how are we going to get this open? Put in 6-6-6?”

“Very funny. You forget that your friend is a science whiz. Let me try some combinations.”

Pete pressed his ear against the chest and began adjusting the numbers. On the third attempt, he succeeded.

“It sounds like it clicked open!”

“It did.”

“This still won’t budge, though.”

Gabby looked around for something to help them open it without destroying the chest.

“Here, we can use this cloth to cover this pole-thing and see if that works.”

“Good idea.”

Alice seemed to nod in agreement.

Gabby and Pete tried again, and this time they were able to open the box with a final thrust.

“Wow!” they both said in unison.

#

Gabby, Pete, and Alice just stood and stared inside the chest.

Pete broke the silence, “What the heck?”

Gabby just kept staring.

Alice said, “Meow,” and walked to the middle of the room to groom.

“Do you know what this is?” Pete asked.

“It looks like all those books that were banned by the government years ago,” Gabby replied.

“I thought they were all burned at the time.”

“Me too, but somehow they are all here.”

Pete reached into the chest to grab one of the books.

“Do you think we should?”

“Absolutely”

Pete lifted out one of the books as if he had discovered a precious jewel.

He read the title, “The Way Home.”

“Oh, I remember that book.”

“Me too.”

“It was very inspirational. Very sad...”

“That it was banned?”

“Of course.”

Pete and Gabby started taking each book out of the chest. These books were not only forbidden, but also amazingly in pristine condition.

“What do you think this means?”

Gabby just shook her head as she was overwhelmed by this treasure trove.

“What should we do with it?” Pete asked.

“I don’t know yet. I need to think,” Gabby replied.

“Should we take it? It must mean something.”

“I agree, but it will probably be safer to leave it here.”

“Look at the facts, you find a door neither one of us has ever seen before, with a chest inside that contains forbidden books. I think we need to be careful.”

“You're right, Gabby. I hate to leave it here.”

“I don’t think we have much of a choice.”

“Wait, look. There are some papers at the bottom.”

Gabby and Pete reviewed the papers, which resembled a collection of scrolls.

“Oh my God, Pete. I think I know what this is. This looks like one of the secret societies we have heard so much about.”

Suddenly, Alice stood at attention and produced a low growl.

“Pete, someone is coming!”

“I don’t hear anything.”

“We don’t, but Alice does.”

“Crap, you’re right.”

“Is there any other way to get out of here besides that door?”

“I don’t know.”

At that moment, the door swung open with a flourish, and a man stepped through. Gabby and Pete stood frozen in shock. It was none other than Professor Thomas Anderson.

#

Gabby felt as if her heart might leap out of her chest. She could feel Pete shaking beside her.

“Dios Mio,” she said under her breath.

“What the hell are you two doing here?”

At least Alice had done her vanishing act.

“We were just curious, Pete squeaked.

“Huh, you know what they say about cats and curiosity?

Although Gabby was still afraid, there was a change in Professor Anderson’s tone.

“Can you tell us what this is all about?”

“Professor Delgado, I expect more from you.”

“What, are you kidding?”

“I might give you a hard time to maintain appearances, but we will have good work to do together.”

Gabby’s head was spinning.

“Good work? What are you talking about?”

The Professor just smiled, and Gabby thought she would faint.

“As for you, Professor Campbell, I am glad you followed the clues. You were meant to find this room and the chest, and I knew you would bring Professor Delgado along for the ride.”

“What clues?” Peter looked like a deer in the headlights.

“Don’t worry about that now. I’m just glad you are good at solving puzzles.”

Gabby couldn’t believe how Professor Anderson sounded almost fatherly.

“Alright, why don’t we all sit. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

#

Gabby and Pete sat cautiously, still unsure whether the police would haul them away.

“Did this start 10 years ago?” Pete inquired.

“It was many years before. We observed the changes taking place and the government's increasing restrictions on people’s lives, including what they could read, how they could think, and where they could go. It was subtle at that time, but as you know, 10 years ago, it became worse.”

“It happened all over the world.”

Professor Anderson nodded.

Gabby and Pete looked at each other, unsure if they should even be discussing this.

“At that time, a group of professors and other individuals sympathetic to our cause came together to establish a clandestine organization, which we designated as the Literary Lions. Gabby, your mother, was a member until her unfortunate passing, for which I express my condolences. I held a great regard for your mother.”

Gabby knew her mouth was hanging open, but she was shocked to her socks.

“My mom?” she said barely above a whisper.

Professor Anderson nodded.

A short silence followed.

“We had to keep everything as quiet as possible as we planned our subversive moves.”

Gabby couldn’t believe the Professor had just said "subversive."

“Anyway, we have been keeping this all under wraps until the right people came along.”

“Is that us?” Peter said, disbelieving.

“Yes, I thought that would be obvious.”

“Professor, nothing is obvious right now.”

“I understand. This is a lot of information to take in for one night. You need your sleep.”

Professor Anderson escorted them to the door.

“Go get some sleep.”

“And Professor Delgado, please take your feline with you. You must think me daft,” said Professor Anderson with a sly grin.

#

Gabby and Pete were settled in Gabby’s office.

“I’m wired. I don’t think there will be any sleeping tonight.”

“I agree. I don’t think tea is going to cut it. Let’s have coffee.”

Gabby fired up the small Keurig that she rarely used. The aroma of the coffee was comforting.

Gabby and Pete sat on the floor, planning their next move.

“What do you think about this secret society stuff?”

“I believe in the cause, and if my mother were involved, I think it is a worthwhile fight.”

“I’m not sure, Gabby. Professor Anderson is involved in this. Can we trust him?”

“If you asked me yesterday, I would have said no way, but things are different now.”

“You’re right. I trust you, so let’s do it.”

“Here’s a blanket, and I have two small pillows. It won’t be comfy, but let’s try to catch a few winks.”

#

Gabby woke up, stretched, and realized that every muscle in her body was begging for mercy. Her mouth felt like the bottom of a railway car. Pete was still asleep on the floor, and Alice had curled up next to him for warmth. She looked at her friend with deep affection and was glad they were in this together.

The two friends did their best to wash up in the bathrooms. They both kept a change of clothes in their respective offices in case they had to work late. It was a habit that most professors developed, especially the newbies.

Pete stuck his head in Gabby’s office. “I got a message from Professor Anderson. We need to meet him at the Houndstooth Café in about 30 minutes.”

Alice’s ears perked up when she heard Pete mention the café, as if she sensed there was food there.

“I’m going to feed Alice and give her some fresh water before we go.”

Once Alice had finished her meal, she slipped out of the office door to patrol the university.

Gabby grabbed her backpack and said, “Let’s go!”

#

Neither Pete nor Gabby was familiar with the café, despite its proximity to the university.

As they entered, the scent of coffee, chocolate, and savory treats filled the air. Both friends laughed when they heard their stomachs gurgle in unison.

The café was spacious, featuring tables and booths. It struck a balance between cheerful and laid-back. The booths were adorned with red fabric, creating a cozy atmosphere, while the white tables had padded chairs for added comfort. Fairy lights surrounded the windows, casting a warm glow over the entire establishment.

Professor Anderson waved them over. He was sitting at the very last booth.

“Glad to see you two survived the tumultuous evening.”

“Ok, what is the plan?” Pete inquired.

“A little impatient, I see.”

“Can’t help it. Not much sleep and I think I am losing it.”

“How are you doing, Gabriella?”

“Wow, you never called me that. I want to know the plan like Pete.”

“In good time. First, let’s order.”

#

After the server had left, the conversation continued.

“I must emphasize that you should not discuss the society’s business in public.”

“Aren’t we in public now?” Pete asked.

“This is different. I know these people. They are allies.”

“Ok, what do we need to do?” Gabby asked, tapping her fingernails.

“As you are aware, the society’s reach extends internationally. We have been working to change our society one step at a time. Things are starting to come to a head, and we believe a significant shift is imminent.”

“So, where do we come in?” Pete inquired.

“You will have an assignment. I need you both to go to Oxford.”

“Oxford!?” both friends said in unison. “You mean England?”

“Yes,” said Anderson with a little less patience.

Gabby and Pete just stared.

Gabby was the first to speak. “I don’t understand.”

“This is where the greatest shift is happening. Almost all the Oxford faculty are on board. But they need to remove the administration. You will help.”

“How can we help?”

“Upon your arrival, you will receive your complete assignments. Contact Lillian Redmond. She will serve as your guide throughout your stay. You mustn't disclose this information to anyone. Don’t tell a soul. The safety of everyone, including yourselves, is at stake.”

“When do we leave?”

“One week, so get ready.”

Gabby and Pete exchanged glances and realized they would accept the assignment. This was likely their last opportunity to improve not only their country but the entire world. Gabby felt certain that her mother would be proud.

The End