The Library of Ever by Zeno Alexander

Author:Zeno Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Imprint

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Lenora Leaps

Lenora paced back and forth along the street in Ant City, thinking out loud. “I’m going to need ants. Lots of ants. As many as we can get. Do you think some of the others would be willing to help?”

A scent like salty air came from Cinnamon in a way that suggested the ants would do anything to help a librarian.

“Thank you! Now, we don’t have much time,” said Lenora, “and we’ve got to get the message out as fast as possible.” She pointed to one of the spinning turbines far above them. “I was thinking, maybe…”

Cinnamon understood immediately. Clasping Lenora ever so gently between her pincers, she raced straight up the side of the nearest tower. Up and up they went, Lenora thinking to herself that she shouldn’t look down, then looking down anyway. Thousands of ants far below now looked like … well, ants. The wind up here was getting stronger, and now she could see more of Ant City, which stretched on to what seemed like infinity, a never-ending megalopolis, and she wondered if the world of ants dwarfed anything that humans had ever built or ever would build.

And now they had reached the turbine. Lenora managed not to think too hard about what would happen if Cinnamon lost her grip (which Lenora knew she wouldn’t). The turbine’s powerful blades cut through the air, the constant breeze up here keeping them in constant motion, a breeze which Lenora planned to employ to her own ends.

“Tell them the library needs their help!” called Lenora, and Cinnamon, leaning out, sent her message into the winds, a message that smelled like plowed earth and burnt rubber and a basket of dried apples: Librarian needs assistance!

And the message worked, Lenora could see, when she and Cinnamon raced back down the tower, because dozens of ants had dropped everything and assembled below in long, orderly ranks. Soon Lenora found herself a general at the head of an army.

“Onward!” she ordered, and the columns marched rapidly through the streets and tunnels and out through the ANT CITY arch into the library proper.

“Watch out for anyone in an overcoat and bowler hat!” she called, pointing the way to the Unshrinking Room as the army hurried across the floor.

“Everybody in!” she cried, and her army rushed across the threshold.

In moments Lenora was back to her normal size. And the room was filling up with human-size ants. They raced out into the corridor to make room as one after another unshrank. (Was it really unshrinking if they were small to begin with? Lenora decided to leave that question for another day.) Soon the ants were all rushing through the halls as startled patrons leapt out of the way.

“Sorry!” cried Lenora over and over. “Important library business!”

Traveling by ant was proving to be even faster than by Tube. In hardly any time at all, Lenora was back in her Unknown section. She installed herself near the desk and continued giving orders. Ants dashed around in all directions, stacking and shelving and organizing and straightening.

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