“I’m told they used to pack pharmaceuticals here. The government bought it two years ago to facilitate an undercover operation.”

“The place is empty. What kind of business were they conducting?”

“Ironically, drug deals. Cocaine mostly,” Xandria said. “The business was supposed to be used by the FBI to infiltrate a crime ring. But at some point, the agents involved ceased being agents and became honest-to-goodness drug runners. I suppose the pay increase had something to do with it.”

“Money is a drug too, you know.”

“It’s certainly more seductive. But there are things even more desirable than that. Power, for instance.” Xandria glanced around to make sure they were alone. “Cornelius asked if you would consider joining the Order.”

“You’re crazy.”

“I told him you would say that. But I also told him that once you understood the big picture, once you saw the opportunities you could have as a result, maybe you’d say yes.” She got closer. “Cornelius is willing to bring you into the fold as a full-fledged member. Not some little errand boy, like the agents. You would have real power. You’d have more money than you could dream of, enough to fund thousands of expeditions looking for rare books, if that’s what you desire.”

“In exchange for what?”

“Your brilliance. Your passion,” she said. “After tonight, the Order will enter a new age. And because of that, there will be a need for new leadership.”

August turned to her. “You think you understand me,” he said. “But you don’t. You and me, we’re not the same. I love my work; I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. But I’d take back every book I’ve sold, every adventure I’ve experienced, if it meant saving my family. I can’t believe it’s taken this much pain to figure that out.”

“Don’t be such a martyr. The pain isn’t over yet,” Xandria said. She put her hand on the door of the inner room. “All nine of the illuminated pages are lying inside on a high-radiance table. Gutenberg’s journal says the light of a full moon will reveal the ultimate truth of the illuminations. We didn’t want to test the fates with a cloudy night, so we had a special table created to emulate the effect.”

“You guys thought of everything, didn’t you?”

“For the most part, yes,” Xandria said. “But there have been some unanticipated glitches.”

“Those glitches are human lives.”

Xandria continued, undeterred by August’s appeal to decency. “You will be constantly monitored, so don’t think you’re going to get away with anything. You will have three hours to solve this riddle.”

“It’s not enough time.”

“I think you’ve proven that it’s more than sufficient.”

“I’m going to need my handcuffs off.”

“No.”

“How do you expect me to do anything?”