The gym, infirmary, and equipment storage rooms are also on this level.
We wind our way to the center of the building, where stairs lead to the upper floors. I notice something strange next to the staircase. I follow Orion, not wanting to interrupt the tour, but look curiously at the shiny brass pole as we go past. It looks like one you’d see in a firehouse, but I never considered that a rescuer station might have one.
Cato slinks up next to me, making me jump and clutch at the banister.
“Do you want to do it?” he asks in a velvety tone, almost a purr.
My eyes widen and mouth drops open, but I don’t know how to answer.
Will he be able to tell if I lie? He seems like he’s good at reading people, and I’m not sure I’m a good liar.
His lips quirk, pleased by my reaction.
“Don’t listen to him unless we’re in the field, Hestia. Cato likes to tease, and it’s best to just ignore him. That fire pole is an old relic, not something we actually use. He’s the only one who plays around with it. The rest of us use the stairs,” Charm says comfortingly.
Right. Of course. Cato was talking about sliding down the pole. Not sliding downotherthings.
“I can show you how to do it whenever you want,” Cato says like Charm didn’t interrupt, and walks off before he can say anything else.
I narrow my eyes at his retreating back until he disappears down the hall.
Charm is right, I should just ignore his ribbing.
Orion mentions that their personal rooms on this floor, casually adding that all the doors have locks, but no onewill enter without permission regardless. If there’s an emergency, they’ll knock, but the station has an alert system for when we receive a call, plus we get phone notifications.
We stop in front of tall double doors. Charm and Henri open them to reveal row upon row of bookshelves. I gasp, delighted. I’ve never seen a library like this outside of an actual public library.
“A lot of the books are non-fiction, but we have a decent section of novels. You can borrow anything you like,” Charm says.
“There are bookshelves in your rooms, but you’re welcome to add to the library too. We can order anything you want. We have a catalog system, and you can use the tablets to look up books or scan a barcode to see where to shelve it,” Henri says.
“That’s amazing,” I say, already taking note of which books I’m going to check out.
They have an extensive shelf on local history. I need to read all of those obviously. I also spot some Big Tex books that I’ll have to borrow. I read a few of the Big Tex books I bought from Pen and Tellem, and they’re riveting.
Most of the walls have more shelves reaching up to the ceiling with rolling ladders attached. At the back of the library are large windows with cushions and blankets on the window seats. I run my hand over a particularly soft looking blanket.
While looking out the window, I spot a small, snow-covered building and ask, “What’s back here?”
“We have greenhouses so we can grow food year-round, even with the shorter growing season in the mountains. In the warmer months, we have a big outdoor garden too,” Charm says.
I lean over the bench and put my hands on the window, trying to see if I can spot the other greenhouses.
Charm makes a strange noise and when I look back at him, he stares me in the eyes and asks, “Do you like gardening?”
I realize I’m probably getting smudges on the glass, so I stand up.
“I enjoyed the horticulture classes I took at the academy. It’s interesting to watch a plant grow from a tiny seed,” I say.
“Magnus does most of the gardening, though the rest of us pitch in as needed. I’m sure he’d welcome your help if you’re interested,” Charm says.
I look over at Magnus, who is standing on the other side of the room, and he gives me a minute nod.
That’s not very encouraging, but I guess I’ll go for it and see if he’s okay with me being in his space.
“Sure, that would be great,” I say, smiling tentatively at him.
He gives me the same tiny nod back.
