The Library (The Librarian of Alexandria Book 1) by Casey White (surface ebook reader .TXT) 📕

“But if you do come back,” Owl said, and sighed inwardly as Leon’s eyes reignited, “Then...come find me.”

A grin spread across Leon’s now-blinding face.  “Then-”

“But stay away from everyone else!” Owl cried.  “Don’t approach anyone!  Don’t talk to anyone.  Leave the other guests alone.  And-”

With one final flash, the world went white.  Owl stumbled back, clapping a hand over the lenses of his mask.

When he took his hand away, the pair were gone.

Undoing a clip, he pulled his hood off, leaving his hair to rustle in the faintest of breezes. His fingers dug at the buckles holding his mask on.  One at a time, they fell away, until at last he pulled the whole thing free.

And then Daniel stared at the space they’d vacated.  He lingered, running through the whole encounter over and over.

“Damn it, Alexandria,” he said, shaking his head.

But there was a smile on his face as he started to walk.

- Chapter Twenty -

Owl rocked back and forth in his chair, his eyes running over the lines of code stretching out before him.

He’d been so confident, at the start.  A new project would be fun, he’d told himself.  It’d be good to break away from his old research, and the market model was all but set for the next handful of real-world years.

He had all the money he’d need, he’d told himself.  He needed something more.  And the AI project would be...worthwhile.  A project of this complexity could take him decades or more of real world time - which meant even longer inside, of course.  It’d be the purpose he’d been looking for. Once he’d built the framework, he could rebuild a new Alexandria outside. Maybe.

And yet...the spark was missing.  It just didn’t catch him like it should.  And he didn’t know what to do about that.

Owl leaned back, stretching his arms over his head with a groan.  Alexandria had been keeping the Library blissfully cold, at least.  The world outside was heating up with the furnace of summer, which left his day trips a muggy, swampy mess of sweat and suffering.  Faced with that, being stuck inside was almost...pleasant.

His eye caught on the sleeve of his jacket, and he smiled faintly.  The fact that he had to stay cloaked and masked day-in day-out made the need for some proper Alex-sponsored air conditioning even more pointed.  Not that he appreciated being made to wear the uniform constantly, but with people popping in and out as they pleased, he didn’t have a lot of-

Bells chimed.  Owl stopped, glancing up.  About that time, was it?

Fair is fair, he whispered to himself.  It’d been a good while since he’d unlocked the door.  They had to arrive eventually.  Making a face, he grabbed the arms of his chair and stood.

The mask slid over his face as comfortably as ever.  He did up the straps by habit alone, pushing out through his office’s door as he yanked the hood up.

The bells followed him out, screaming in his ear as he latched his office closed.  He glanced back toward the bars, hesitating.

Each time visitors entered the Library, he found himself worrying more and more for his research.  It didn’t matter that his office was secluded on the second floor, out of reach of their guests.  It didn’t matter that the whole thing was sealed in, locked up tight behind sturdy doors and iron bars.  If even one of them slipped in and got their eyes on what he’d been studying...

Owl shivered, his fingers lingering on the cold metal of the latch.  If they were to carry knowledge of his projects back to reality with them, it could have long-lasting repercussions. Even the AI project he’d been working on...if a prototype made it outside, never mind his own safety. It could destabilize everything.

He gave the door one last solid, careful tug, making sure the lock had fully engaged, and then turned for the stairs down.

* * * * *

“Give it a rest,” Owl whispered as he grabbed the handle of the entryway’s doors.  Alexandria’s bells tolled out once more, stubborn to the end, then died away.

The figures within looked up at his approach.  Three of them.  He nodded, inspecting each for a long moment before-

Wait.  His spine stiffened.  Three?  He’d only stamped two visitors for entrance.  Then why was-

“Good evening,” Olivia said, raising her hand in a sheepish wave.  She stood in the center of the room, a little farther forward than her two companions - the two guests, Owl knew.  She had the decency to at least look embarrassed about the whole matter.

“Miss Olivia,” Owl said, blinking at her from behind his lenses.  “Oh.  I didn’t...”

“Indira wanted to make sure everything went smoothly,” Olivia said.  “It’s important to us that you...that this relationship remains healthy.”  Her eyes flashed to the pair alongside her.  “And this time, we wanted to ensure our members understood the importance of their good behavior.”

Owl chuckled to himself, glancing at the two scholars.  Their good behavior, eh?  The two men were at that moment staring around the entrance hall in slack-jawed awe, drinking in the sight of the wooden rafters studded with lanterns.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” he said.

“Quite,” Olivia said, flashing a grin his way.  “We’ve...been more careful, with this selection group.  I don’t believe you’ll have any issues.  But if you do-”

“I can handle myself,” he said, arching one eyebrow at her.  “Two visitors isn’t beyond what I can deal with.  Thanks, though.”

‘R-Right,” Olivia said, deflating.  “Yes, of course.”

Owl waited.  Olivia fidgeted, rocking back and forth.  The two guests gaped.

“Was there something else?” he said at last.

Her eyes flicked to the doors leading inside.  “N...o.  No.  No, I just...Indira wanted me to be quite sure that-”

“I still can’t let you see inside Alexandria,” Owl said.

Olivia jumped.  She turned to him, her face scrunched up.  “I wasn’t...I know you already said that-”

“You’re really not that subtle,” he said, and started to laugh.

With