It’s morning when Tania finally realizes that she wasn’t hallucinating last night. That in fact, she had experienced another magical event; the second in one day.
Two mysterious events and Tania finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about the world. Can magic really co-exist alongside science and logic?
Tania feels dreamy and impractical until the too cold water hits her in the shower. “Haven’t they ever heard of hot water in France?” Tania asks herself irritably.
In the midst, the shower felt like the worst thing ever. However, Tania emerges refreshed, ready to conquer and complete her photographic examination of the passage under the Forgotten Burial Mound.
She dresses in a more exploration friendly outfit complete with hat and heads out into the French morning air.
Tania returns to the burial mound, surprised by the beauty she sees now that the sun is up. The above ground view is very contrary to the murky depth awaiting her below.
In no hurry to go back underground, Tania takes time to snap photos of the surrounding area.
A large stone engraved with ancient writing is particularly interesting. She takes some photos sure that they will fit well with the rest of her photos for the magazine.
Unable to further justify her avoidance of the inevitable, Tania returns to where she left off in the chamber below. Her first task is to try to once again open a door by finding a switch located in a hole in the wall.
During her exploration of the next room, Tania spots an ancient bottle of nectar waiting for her on a stone table. It takes everything in her to keep from opening the bottle then and there and taking a sip.
Beautiful wonder after beautiful wonder await her camera.
Tania, realizing that she has reached the end of her exploration, spots another bottle of nectar. She messages her sore arm muscles, strained by the pick axe and the pulling and pushing of statues, as she walks over to the nectar.
On the other side of this large underground tomb are several gravestones. Tania is surprised by the emotion these ancient headstones bring out in her. She thinks about her brother with his modest headstone, who is resting in peace in her backyard.
Tania wipes away left over tears once she manages to bring her emotions under control.
It’s nighttime when Tania finally reenters the above ground world. She is confident that her photographic exploration of the tomb is complete and may be her best work ever. Now she’s expected to meet with Monsieur Pivert once again to inform him that her first assignment is complete.
Tania is visibly uncomfortable, because she’s embarrassed that she cannot communicate with Monsieur Pivert. “Um, I finished exploring and photographing the tomb.”
Monsieur Pivert tilts his head to the side and stares at Tania; an amused curiosity is written all over his face.
Tania continues, “I’m sure that I covered everything. Do you have my next assignment?” Tania feels that she’s wasting time speaking to Monsieur Pivert when he can’t understand her.
“Thank you Miss Dean. I’m sure you did an amazing job,” Monsieur Pivert says in almost perfect English. Tania stares in shock.
She is exhausted and sure that she did not hear what she thinks she heard. She lets out a huge yawn. She cannot wait to lay her head on a pillow.
Seeing how tired Tania is, Monsieur Pivert walks toward the door. “Good night Miss Dean. See me tomorrow for your assignment.”
Now Tania is sure that Monsieur Pivert is speaking English. Instead of returning to her hotel, she walks over to the cash register where Monsieur Pivert is standing. “Wait, you speak English…perfect English...
Why did you tell me that you didn’t speak English?”
Monsieur Pivert chuckles, “Sorry, it’s a little joke I like to play on foreigners. Plus, you botched up your pronunciation so badly, I almost didn’t know what you were asking.”
Monsieur Pivert chuckles, “Sorry, it’s a little joke I like to play on foreigners. Plus, you botched up your pronunciation so badly, I almost didn’t know what you were asking.”
Tania is slightly amused by Monsieur Pivert’s little joke, but she’s too tired to express it. She says goodbye and leaves for her hotel.
It is very early in the morning and the sun is due to be up within hours. Tania uses the last of her energy to run to the hotel.
She is enjoying her stay in France, but cannot wait until her photographic journaling is over. She misses home and wants to make sure that everything is ok between Antwain and herself.
Before going upstairs to her room, Tania quickly checks the adventure board for any new notes/photographic assignments.
Seeing nothing new on the board, Tania heads upstairs past other tourists who are just beginning their day.
Finally in her room, Tania practically falls into bed.
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