Note to readers:
This is the FINAL episode in the Queensmount Adventure Series. I know what a pain it is to have to go back and read other stories first, but it is necessary in this case.
Here is a link to the series page:
https://www.literotica.com/series/se/queensmount-adventures
As always - leave a comment! I love hearing from readers!
Thanks for taking the time and I really hope you enjoy "Colette at the End of the World".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The night is dark and the storm is fierce. Flashes of violent lightning reveal torrential rain falling in sheets and running rivers down the cobblestone path. Only a small gable over a heavy, oak-hewn door keeps us from being washed away. A sputtering gas lamp supplies the only light. I knock firmly on the old, worn wood and we wait.
The sound of footsteps on stone and then a small panel slides open.
"Who calls on such a dreary evening?" The voice is strong and female, clearly elderly and careworn.
"I am Father Sarducci on an official quest for the Church." I try to sound assured and official. "We have come to meet with Father Serra."
A squinting eye gazes at me through the door opening for a long moment. This isn't going to work.
To my surprise the door slowly swings in, complaining with a loud, rusty squeak. We step into the foyer and shake the water from our cloaks. I remove my wide, soaked hat, hold it to my chest and bow slightly to the nun standing before us.
"Bless you, Sister. This rain harkens back to the fifth chapter of Genesis."
The elderly nun frowns. "I wouldn't know. Is the Father expecting you?"
"I don't believe so. We have never met, but he knows my companion. Please tell him that Father Guido Sarducci and Sister Constance need to avail ourselves of his expertise."
"Very well. Wait here." She turns sharply on her slippers and pads out of the room.
Sister Constance turns to me with a sly smile under her dripping, black hood. "Avail ourselves?" She laughs softly.
"I'm sorry," I reply, acting offended. "I am not as skilled at this as you," I explain, shaking the water from my hat and removing my sopping cloak. I help Sister Constance out of her dripping, hooded cape and hang the wet garments on hooks by the door.
After several minutes our grim greeter returns.
"Come with me."
We follow her down a long, dark hallway. The floor is rough granite; the walls alternate between faded wood panels and textured stuccowork. Flickering lamps cast warm pools of yellow light every five paces or so. She stops at a door at the end of the hall, raps softly, swings it open and stands aside for us to enter.
We step into a cavernous room. Three of the four walls are covered in floor-to-ceiling shelves, spilling over with books, scrolls and various dusty antiquities. The high, dark wood ceiling is broken by skylights that flash bright white in the storm. At the far end of the room is a great, stone hearth with a blazing fire, crackling and spitting. Before that is a heavy oak table piled high with open books and loose papers. The large man seated behind the table looks up, a wide smile on his even wider face. He stands, spreads his arms and cries out, "Welcome! Come in!"
He moves to us quickly and grabs Sister Constance up in a smothering embrace, laughing out loud.
"Oh, it's so good to see you again! How long has it been, my dear?"
When the bear hug ends, she pulls away enough to answer, "Much too long, Father."
"Indeed!" He turns to the elderly nun. "Sister Agnes. We should provide for our guests. Some hot tea and cakes would be much appreciated, I am sure."
"As you wish, Father." She gives us a slight, solemn bow and turns to leave, pulling the door gently behind her.
Father Serra holds Constance at arm's length and looks her over from head to toe. "Now, my dear. What brings you to my library on this furious night?" He glances my way as if noticing me for the first time. "And who might this be?"
She reaches up and pulls off her white, silken sari, freeing her long, dark hair. The excessive humidity has tightened her curls and she shakes her head softly. Colette, my lovely pirate queen, reveals herself at last.
"First, I have a gift for you." Colette holds her hand out to me and I retrieve a small box from my satchel. She hands it to the Father. "I know how much you love these cigars."
"Oh, bless you, my dear! " He grabs her up in another giant hug. "My only vice," he says to me with a wink.
"How can I repay your generosity?"
Colette looks at me and nods. I retrieve the "Looking Glass" map from my satchel and hand it to her.
"I am in need of your skills, Father." She removes the leather ties from the roll and unfurls it enough to show a corner to the priest.
"Of course! Come!" Father Serra pulls Colette by the hand to the large, oak table. I follow along feeling like a short oar. He clears a space and she rolls the map out before him.
There is a soft knock on the door. It opens slowly and Sister Agnes enters with a serving tray.
Father Serra looks up. "Just leave it by the door, Sister. Thank you. Please prepare the suite for our guests. I will show them the way. Have a blessed evening. Good night."
Dismissed, Sister Agnes places the tray on a small table by the door, tips her face down and silently exits the library.
The priest looks up at me and nods towards the tea. "Would you be so kind, son? Those sweet cakes may be a second vice after all." He grins and drops his head to the map again.
As I retrieve our snack and pour us each a cup of steaming tea Colette and Father Serra discuss the map at great length. She explains to him that she discovered it was a mirror image but still could not decipher the text. She also didn't recognize any of the landmasses depicted.
"You were right to come to me, my dear," he says around a mouthful of cake. "It is indeed Latin. And written with a very florid hand." He points a chubby finger at the ornate arrow in the upper left corner. "It is not only a mirror image but inverted. This is not a north arrow. It points south. This map was created south of the equator." He deftly flips the map around.
Colette puts her hands on her hips and shakes her head.
"The top of the world depends greatly upon your point of view," he adds with a chuckle.
Father Serra runs his chubby finger along a curved chain of islands. "Unless I miss my guess this is the Isle of Martinique, the largest in the Windward chain. This text seems to be referring to one of these smaller rocks, however. Have you been to the area, my dear?"
"Yes," Colette says. "But it was quite some time ago and I was very young. You?"
"No. Just books and maps. I have never had the pleasure myself." He continues to study the map intently.
"It will take a while for me to decipher these writings and it looks as though you have a long journey ahead of you. I suggest you retire for the evening and leave me to my studies and tobacco."
Father Serra directs us to the guest suite; back down the hall, third door on the left. "Come see me in the morning after you've had your breakfast. I should have it ready for you then."
"Thank you, Father."
"Oh, and, as you know; discretion is prized here in the abbey. Even under a vow of silence, the sisters find a way to gossip."