"This is long. Why wasn't an elevator built in?"
"There is one. The old man had it deactivated. Believes the journey is part of the price for the secrets we all come down here to share."
"I'm not sure I agree with his reasoning."
"You don't have to. These old men always have their quirks."
I hadn't made a mention about my journey to the room where we met the pope because it hadn't really been troublesome.
The stairs had led quite a ways down, but since we were descending, for me, it was an easy walk.
Now we were climbing back up, and even with my superior build, I was finding the activity trying.
The only comfort I got from this journey was that I walked behind Chiara, and as she moved, I was able to glean the shape of her rear.
A thought came to mind as we walked, and the possibility of it had me honestly looking for clarification.
"He didn't really spend over two hours walking down to us, did he?"
"What do you think?" Chiara said, a slight grumble in her tone.
