Pa George was busy with the newspaper when he noticed a vehicle drove into his compound. He readjusted his glasses to see who it was and called his maid to bring a chair for his guest.
"Good morning sir," the guest greeted and bowed his head
"Morning Paulo, you have become a very big man. I hope the government is treating you right unlike our time when we weren't appreciated," he replied.
"They are trying sir," Paulo replied and was offered a seat.
"Hope everything is alright?" Pa George asked.
"Yes sir. I was sent by the state head of archaeologists. We need your help with one of your discoveries about 40 years ago but your numbers wasn't going through so I was sent to relay the message to you,"
"Which of the discoveries, there were a lot then. Age has caught up with me and I barely remember them" Pa George replied.
"The head of archaeologists just said figurine," Paulo replied.
"Oh okay. There is nothing I know that wasn't recorded, it's been over 30 years now"
"That's true sir, we discovered more of the figurines with different markings and haven't been able to decode them." Paulo replied and Pa George paid more attention to him.
"Are you sure about this?" He asked and Paulo showed him pictures. Pa George managed to get out of his chair and they head out immediately after he freshened up.
He was the best archeologist while serving the government and no one could step into his shoes since he retired 16 years ago. Although he had retired, they still reach out to him when they need his knowledge in the field. Pa George clocked 71 that year and was still very strong to move around.
"Good morning, Pa George. Sorry we had to stress you, we are at the crossroad with these artifacts and you are our only hope now." Mr Ben received him immediately they arrived at the archeology headquarters.
"Good morning, Ben. I wouldn't have honoured the invite if I wasn't pleased with it. We are one big family, remember?" Pa George replied and they went into the warehouse.
The walls and atmosphere of the warehouse brought back beautiful memories as he gently walked in.
People greeted him but they were all new faces and he didn't recognise them. They were young and vibrant, they made him wished to be young again. He missed the days when he had slept in the warehouse just to solve puzzles about artifacts.
He arrived at the table where a box containing the figurines was placed and he requested for hand gloves before touching them. Pa George checked the artifacts and could tell where they came from immediately "These figurines are from here, where were they found? There should be more of them. They represent something but we need the rest to figure it out."
"Some tourist found them very close to the ancient temple, we should check around for more." One of the archeologist replied.
Pa George insisted on going with them and every effort to make him stay was futile.
"It would nice to do some field work again," he said to the head of archaeologists as they hit the road.
They arrived there and combed the premises. After hours of checking, they found another box with more figurines and returned to the warehouse with it.
All the items in the box were displayed on the table at the warehouse and Pa George started checking one after the other. They adviced he took a break but he wouldn't just listen. His stubborn habit with work hasn't changed and they allowed him to his thing while the young archeologist learned.
"Gold cave! Pa George requested a map and gave them the coordinates inscribed on the figurines. He told them that the figurines were the keys to the cave."
He finished solving their challenge but there was a vacuum-sealed pack lying in the box. The prints on the pack had faded so he adjusted his nose mask and opened the bag pack after.
The aroma was familiar but not something he had encountered in over twenty years. Everyone had their eyes peeled as the aroma snuck into their nostrils.
"Isn't that coffee?" Ben asked and Pa George told him it wasn't.
Due to climate change, growing coffee became impossible and all those who were in the warehouse except the head of archaeologists have only seen coffee in pictures. The oldest of them would be a kid when coffee went into extinction.
Pa George winked at the head of archaeologists who suggested that they checked the item in his office. On their way there, he opened up to the head of archaeologists that the pack contained coffee beans.
Ben checked and wouldn't stop laughing.
"This is off the record record sir, you can keep it" the head of archaeologists replied.
One of the guys drove Pa George home and he was really happy. He was over forty before the climate change happened and he hadn't tasted coffee since then.
He went to his bunker immediately after he arrived home to retrieve his brewing machine. It was dusty and had to wash it thoroughly, his maiden offered help but he refused it.
George settled in the kitchen and started the brewing process, he never allowed one out of the process involved leave his head. He played some old-school music while brewing the coffee and gently danced to it.
The aroma filled the apartment and he was salivating. He finished brewing and took the first sip, Pa could feel the warmth of the coffee travelling through his body and the taste awakened his spirit. He sipped slowly hoping to enjoy the taste longer.
"I never thought I would see this day again," he stuttered as he took the last sip some minutes later.