Chapter Nineteen - Part One: Day Jobs

Leta had been inside the National Archaeological Museum in Athens twice in her life - once as a child when she'd accompanied her father on a speaking engagement and the first day she had landed in Greece for excavation.

Both times she had been held in wonder at the vast expanse of the building and the white and red walls that seemed to act as a spotlight for the priceless artifacts held inside.

That feeling hadn't gone away as Eriene led her gently inside, looking more like an elderly grandmother taking her granddaughter on an excursion.

Simon had met them in the lobby, dressed well in khaki business pants and a white collared shirt with his sleeves rolled up as if he had been hard at work on a project. He smiled as he met the pair, kissing their cheeks in the very European greeting.

"Lovely to see you so soon again." Eriene smiled, patting his shoulder in a very motherly greeting.

"You know I am always happy for a visit. Are you sure you will not stay?"

Leta's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Wait, you're leaving me here?"

Eriene nodded, "Kaviah is close by. We will return back home together. And, sorry, dear," She gave an apologetic smile to Simon, "But your office is barely big enough for two people, let alone three."

Simon chuckled, "That is the nature of museum offices I'm afraid. They are not usually suited for being occupied by multiple people for long periods."

Eriene squeezed Leta's hand before speaking to the young woman in her native tongue. "Fear not. Simon will return with you to the apartments. I believe it will lend some credibility to your story if he meets with your team members."

'That's fair.' Leta thought, nodding to the woman that she understood.

The older woman smiled, patting her on the back with a soft "see you soon" before she was off, disappearing into the crowd.

"Come." Simon gestured to a door and waved them into the back rooms where the staff offices were.

"I've been told you will be attending university soon.' Simon said over his shoulder as they made their way through the back hallways."

"Yeah, I got accepted to Berkeley and will be starting classes when I get back from summer break."

"A wonderful school." Simon nodded, seemingly pleased with the taste of her truth, "Their classical archaeology program is wonderful. We've had several interns at the museum who were graduates or had assisted with research studies with Berkeley."

Leta tilted her head, a curious question tickling at her brain.

"What school did you graduate from?"

"I received my PhD with Harvard." Simon answered quickly without much thought.

"And your first PhD?"

His steps slowed as he turned his head to give her a raised eyebrow. "Strasbourg University in France. I received my doctorate in 1951. What gave you the indication that I had multiple doctorates?"

Leta shrugged. "Just a guess. You've been a researcher longer than you've been an Awoken, and after decades you're still working in a museum. You take me for a guy who's always eager to learn, and that quest for knowledge probably comes with some academic certificates over the years."

Simon's lips tugged up in an amused smirk. "Indeed it does. I will say, it has been much easier to do research in today's day and age than it did in 1951. Besides the obvious racial inequality that influenced the majority of policy at that time, it is much easier to communicate and research when I have the entire library of human knowledge accessible on my cellphone."'I'll bet.' Leta thought to herself, a mental image of Simon trying to study ancient civilizations in a time when people of his skin color were thought to be less than human by much of the world, Greece included.

Now, he was greeted warmly by those they passed by in the halls with nods of "Kathigitis De Mar."

Simon brought them down a cream-colored hallway to an office whose door plaque read 'Assistant Curator - Mycenaean Antiquities'.

The floor plan inside was standard for most museum staff offices - small but functional. Simon was fortunate to have a good-sized office that was large enough for a desk and chair against the wall, a large bookshelf that was filled to capacity, and a small loveseat and coffee table in the corner.

It was a tight fit, but the two of them made it work. Simon offered her tea from a beverage station that he'd put together at the end of his long desk before sitting down in his rolling computer chair.

From a stack of papers, he presented Leta with a copy of an internship summary of work completed.

"I've spoken with our dear friends Dr. Marrow and Dr. Annika. Both have given the all-clear for you to begin your work with me here at the museum in between your physical practice with Allister."

Simon gave her a sheepish smile, "I will give you full honesty, I need you as an extra pair of hands more than you know. Museum work is not easy nor glamorous and there is much to do."

"Oh, you don't have to tell me twice." Leta held up her hands placating, "I worked part-time at the Museum of History and Industry back home when I was in high school. I mostly worked the front counter, but I did help out with some of the educational classes."

He nodded, "So you understand my plight then. Much of my work involves coordinating research and educational programs for the Mycenaean collection, and that requires papers from primary schools on field trips, universities interested in handling artifacts, and so on."

"So you mostly need me to handle the paperwork?"

Simon shrugged, "That will be a good part of your duties. However, another is assisting in cataloging new artifacts as they arrive and assisting with the busy work that comes with reconstruction and replica efforts."

Leta nodded, chewing that over. "I can do that."

"Wonderful." Simon smiled, "I think you will also be happy to know that this arrangement doesn't change your duties if the dig you are currently working on returns to its planned schedule. If that happens, then we will have to figure out another plan for having you on hand at the dig and with training."

Leta grimaced at the thought of training. "I'd rather not have to do any more of that right now."

"Do not worry. Eriene explained to me in a text message that you are recovering nicely. You should be right as rain in another day or so, so be at easy."

"I'm not at ease, but thanks for the effort."

Simon laughed before handing her a pen.

A few signatures later and everything was filled out, Simon gave her hand a shake and officially welcomed her to the Museum.

"Now, are you ready to see some artifacts?" He said with a knowing grin, "I was in the process of cataloging some items that came from your dig."