Effie’s library appeared as it had done before. A lot of wood, and the bookshelves all in a row, and a window leading out to an orchard. There was the usual wooden balcony with another level of books in a small gallery. At the end of the lower level was usually a wall with a large painting on it, but Effie saw that this had now been replaced with an archway. Effie felt compelled to walk toward it, past the shelf of books where she knew the volume on the Diberi was housed. This shelf was where she should stop, but . . .

The archway was painted turquoise. Effie found herself able to walk more quickly than normal through the Great Library, and soon had gone under the archway and into a new chamber she had never seen before. It was warm and dark inside, with swirling unfamiliar bluish colors forming a sort of peculiar wallpaper that didn’t seem to want to keep still. There were three small piles of books on the floor next to a simple wooden chair. On the chair sat an extremely old person who was giving Effie the deepest stare she’d ever experienced.

“Hello,” said Effie.

Effie had a horrible feeling that if she turned around, the archway would be gone and she would be trapped in this strange swirling room forever. So she didn’t look. She tried to breathe normally, but suddenly her fear was so great she wasn’t sure her body could take it. What had she done? But it was too late now.

“We are the sssspirit of the library,” said the person on the chair. He or she had a shock of white hair like a jagged snowy mountain, and piecing glacial blue eyes. His or her voice was a strange sort of whispery hiss. “And I ssssee you have brought ussss something. Good.”

“No,” said Effie. “I’m sorry, but I actually came to take something away.”

“Take away? But didn’t they tell you? We don’t let people take things away. Oh no, no, no, no, no. That wouldn’t do at all.”

“But—”

“Read it to ussss.”

“Read what to you?”

“You’re a . . .” The spirit of the library peered at Effie. “You’re a human, I ssssee. Well, never mind. Take the book out of your bag and read it to ussss.”