The first to return to the hideout in Berlin was Pneuma. A good half an hour later, Rose entered the apartment, with the book.

She put the envelope on the shelf, near to the vacuum device. Ancient book are very delicate artefact, and need every careful attention to be preserved. Sadly, not all the needed accuracy could have been used at the graveyard, cause the MBL irruption.

Rose suddenly froze. What did Sheik there? He opened the book to confirm it was the real one! Rose began wondering if the Arab did the right thing. There was only one thing to do. She went in the bathroom, opened the hot water tap, and let the humidity of the air to raise. Sure, it was not to be considered controlled atmosphere, but at last was much more humid than the dry air of the main rooms. And also of the air outside the apartment.

With trepidation, Rose opened the envelope. Sheik was going to call the contractor, she has to be sure the book was intact.

The leather bound object was in her hand. She carefully opened the first page… and all the pages suddenly wrinkled, and ripped and turned into small pieces, falling on the floor.

“Arghhh!” cried Rose, as Pneuma rushed to her help. It was the latter that noticed, among the dust formed by the remnants of the page, a small piece of paper, still intact, because it was parchment. Fully coloured, it showed mountains, a lake, and many trees. A map. Half of a map. And in one corner, the small illustration of a city carved in a mountain, with a flying dragon above. Just like in the painting of Tanfo da Perugia.

“Not all is lost” said Rose, wiping a tear away from her right eye.