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‘Through here,’ Vale said, pointing at a door in one of the sed the wide glass curved roof of whatRoom Irene hadn’t had time to admire it in this alternate, but she’d seen versions of it in other Londons, and she shuddered to think how close they cah surely in a world of airships and personal helicopters, the curators s or people crashing through it frolass pyrae chandeliers that were just accidents waiting to happen
Vale had a few quick words with the guard, who flung the door open and practically saluted theh And then they were inside, and out of the wind, and surrounded by cohtful smell of old paper, leather and ink per away the pettier odours of blood and oil and sia for her Library Her life was ator attacks, and hanging out with this alternate universe’s nearest analogue to Sherlock Holmes She was a Librarian, and the deepest, most fundaht now, she wanted nothingto worry about, except the next page of whatever she was reading
‘Which way is Aubrey’s office?’ Vale de to re from the south stairs, two rooain, I think thatthere was European history’
‘This way,’ Vale said, leading the way down a gallery of drawings and prints ‘Do you have a strategy?’
A couple of ly from their sketchbooks at the noise Their faces were full of we are far too polite to say so, but really you shouldn’t be nored theainst Alberich My invoking the Library won’t keep Bradaets here I’ll contact my central authority for direct assistance’
Vale raised an eyebrow ‘Aren’t you going to tackle the fellow directly?’
Irene couldn’t e of yours--’ Vale started
‘I’d find it very hard to believe that other Librarians haven’t tried that against him already,’ Irene snapped before she could help herself ‘And confrontations with Alberich generally end with hians back to the Library In neatly wrapped parcels Someone said that they can tell it’s a parcel from Alberich because he always folds the paper in the same way’
‘Miss Winters, just because this fellow has reached the status of an urban legend’
‘He’s ently Their footsteps were loud in the stairwell ‘You were there last night, Vale He sealed us in the carriage and put a block on it which even I couldn’t undo’ There was an unconscious arrogance to his voice ‘And Aubrey, the Librarian stationed here previously He would have been more experienced than Irene – no insult, Irene, but--’
‘Oh, don’t worry,’ Irene said with a shrug, surreptitiously flexing her hands and trying to decide how fully recovered she was For the ht He wouldn’t have been stationed in an alternate like this unless he was competent, and he was older and more experienced than I am’
‘It’s this floor,’ Vale said They caly full of painted hieroglyphics, icons and crosses with pointy end bits – Coptic, Irene decided The light was artificial, presuht, but the colours leapt at theht ahead, then left Andthat Alberich was co Presumably if he had done, then he could have secured himself and called for help from the Library, just as you intend to do?’
She didn’t want to hear this
Casual strollers saw the and stepped out of the way A couple of elderly ladiespeople these days, as Irene strained to listen
Irene knew that this was displace she wanted to do was listen to Vale talking about tackling Alberich Playing chess ainst : you learnt about chess, and you didn’t die in the process Getting into a fight with someone ould kill you ( useful, unless reincarnation was genuine, and you did die in the process It was hard enough to have to consider how iht be to this world She could only think in small steps If Alberich wanted the book, that meant it was important, possibly even vital, to this world, and he nore Kai’s sylances froenre of literature written by dragons for dragons about how they sensibly stayed out of fights that they couldn’t hope to win, and fleay to do so very important so herself quite so thoroughly when they were alle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">