Gribblebob's Book of Unpleasant Goblins by David Ashby

Author:David Ashby [David Ashby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782692355
Publisher: Steerforth Press
Published: 2019-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 26

It was a pleasant autumn night, and the sun was starting to set as they headed to the school. Most lights were out, but they could see that the library lights, on the ground floor, were shining. The group walked around to the big windows, and Anna knocked on the glass. From behind a bookshelf, Ms Toureau’s head popped out and she made her way to the window. When she recognized Anna, she smiled and nodded with her head to the entrance door nearest the library. They waited outside, and eventually they heard the clatter of locks and the door opened.

Ms Toureau appeared.

“Why, Anna Bryton, hello, sweet. Bit late to be borrowing a book, isn’t it?” she said, smiling.

“Hello, Ms Toureau,” said Anna. “We’re sorry to bother you…”

As she spoke, the kindly faced librarian took in Nils, the little man, the wagging tail and the two tall gentlemen bringing up the rear. When she saw Jack and William, her smile faded like wallpaper in the sun.

“Oh,” she said, “you’d all better come in,” and she stepped back and opened the door wide for them to enter.

As Jack entered the school, he started to feel queasy. He didn’t know why, and he kept it to himself, but something didn’t feel right. He didn’t like being here. It didn’t feel safe. It felt like the world of wide-open terror. He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword again, for comfort.

Ms Toureau led the way to the warm, welcoming lights of the library. “I must say, I’m quite surprised to see the company you’re keeping tonight,” she said to the children over her shoulder. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

“This is William Wynn,” said Nils, nodding his head towards William.

“And this is ‘Jack Broadsword’,” said Anna, saying the name as if it were in quotation marks.

Jack gave her a funny look as she did so. He felt that stretching again, that waking-up sensation, from somewhere hidden, and the name growing within him came breathing into his ear again, louder this time. Bengt.

“Pleasure,” said William, bowing slightly.

“Greetings to you,” said Jack, and dipped his head.

“Yes, I’ve heard of both of you. My name is Omeria Toureau,” replied the librarian, and she held out her hand to shake theirs, one ring of bright silver with a small blue stone glittering against her dark skin.

“And I’m the rat’s brother,” said Gribblebob.

“Oh, sorry, I forgot you,” apologized Anna.

“Ah, Mr Robert Gribble,” Ms Toureau said, with a slightly amused expression on her face, “I believe I’ve seen you around town.”

“Never not noticed you afore,” he sniffed.

“I’m discreet,” she said, and waved her hand towards Jack and William. “Which is more than I can say for you two.”

“Are you really from the other side of the veil?” asked Nils, before either William or Jack could reply.

“Well, now. How extraordinary to be asked such a question, right here in my library. So you know about all of that, do you?” The children nodded. “Then I suppose I have to admit to you that, yes, I do come from the other side of the veil.

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