The Room That Was Not on the Floor

Mei visited a small museum in an old stone house. She had a paper map from the front desk. It showed five rooms. Each room had a number.

Room One was full of old coins. Room Two had paintings of the harbor. Room Three had a big model of a ship. Room Four had masks from many countries. Mei walked through all four rooms. She read every sign.

Then she looked at the map again. "Room Five," she said. "Where is Room Five?"

She walked back down the hall. There was a door to the garden. There was a door to the toilets. There was a door to a staff room. There was no door with a five on it.

She went upstairs. The upstairs was only a short hall with a window. She went down again and counted the doors. Room One, Two, Three, Four. Nothing else.

A young guide stood near the coins. He wore a green jacket. His name tag said "Nico." Mei walked over to him.

"Excuse me," she said. "I cannot find Room Five."

Nico smiled in a strange way. "Ah," he said. "Many people ask me that."

"Is it closed?"

"No. It is open all day. But it is hard to find."

"Is it on the first floor?"

"Yes. And no." He laughed. "Look at your map again."

Mei studied the map. Room Five was a small box at the back. Next to it, the map said, "Please be quiet."

"Quiet?" she said.

"Yes. That is the clue." Nico leaned closer. "Which room is the quietest?"

Mei thought for a while. Room One was quiet, but a clock ticked loudly there. The ship room had a video with sound. The masks room had a fan that hummed. The harbor room had a bench and no noise.

"Room Two?" she said.

"Good guess. Go in and look at the back wall."

Mei went into Room Two. It was cool and still. The paintings hung in a line. At the back stood a tall bookcase of old books. She looked at it for a long time. Then she saw something odd. One book was not a book. It was a small brass handle.

She pulled the handle. The bookcase moved. Behind it, there was a narrow door.

Mei took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

The room behind it was very small. It had one window and two chairs. There was a little table. A jug of water stood on the table. Outside the window, the harbor shone in the afternoon sun. The only sound was the soft noise of the sea.

On the wall, a card said, "Room Five. A room for rest. Sit. Look. Do not hurry."

Mei sat down. She walked for two hours that day. Her feet hurt. She poured herself a glass of water. For ten minutes, she did nothing at all. A small boat went across the harbor. A bird sat on the window and flew away.

When she came out, Nico stood by the bookcase.

"How was it?" he asked.

"It was the best room," Mei said. "Why is it hidden?"

"The old owner built it for his wife," said Nico. "She liked to sit and watch the boats. He did not want visitors to disturb her. So he hid the door. Now it is a secret for careful people."

"And the other visitors?"

"Most of them never find it. They look for a door with a five. There is none."

Mei looked at the paper map in her hand. She took a pen from her bag. She drew a star next to Room Five.

"Please do not tell anyone," she said. "I want my friend to find it herself."

Nico put his finger on his lips and winked.