“Pardon us,” said Lenora to the girl. “But we must be leaving. Here,” she said to the robot, who was reaching for his wrist. “You’d better let me do that.” She entered the date herself, and in moments they were back at the Help Desk in the Calendars section. Lenora collapsed onto her padded stool in weary relief.

“My apologies, Lenora,” said the robot, his eyes now blinking a sad blue. “I should not have listened to that strange woman.”

Lenora stroked his hand reassuringly. “All is well. I made it home. And you could not have known she was lying.”

“Still,” said Bendigeidfran, “you should be careful, Lenora. It seems you have an enemy.”

“I will,” replied Lenora, wondering who the woman in the bowler hat was, and if she would be seeing her or the other man again. She rather suspected she would.

“As for me,” said Bendigeidfran, bowing deeply, “you have saved the kingdom and both our lives. I am truly impressed and grateful. Tell me, would you consider voyaging through time with me, running errands for the king? It’s rather interesting work. My next assignment is to see whether the Battle of Pelusium was really fought with cats.”

For a moment, Lenora was tempted, imagining all the wonderful times she could visit alongside her new friend. Then she looked around at the Calendars section, and her heart fluttered to think of all that lay ahead of her in the library. “Maybe later,” she said. “I can’t just abandon my job like that. I have a lot of responsibilities. And I love the work.” Even if it did strand her in time and space now and then.

“I understand,” said the robot. “Perhaps we shall meet again. Now I must return home as well.”

“Wait,” said Lenora. “Don’t you think you should go find your missing chip first? I have a feeling you’ll get in all sorts of trouble if you don’t.”

“Of course!” said the robot. “Where was it again?”

“Ancient Egypt. The Sphinx. You bashed your head…”

“Right!” exclaimed the robot, reaching for his wrist. In a flash he was gone.

And in his place stood Malachi.

CHAPTER SIX

Lenora Takes to the Skies

Malachi read aloud from Lenora’s badge. “Third Assistant Apprentice already, I see. You have done well, Lenora.” The corner of the Chief Answerer’s mouth almost twitched into a smile. “But you mustn’t be content to rest on your laurels. We have a problem, and I think you might be just the one to solve it. The librarian in our Cartography section has quit in a huff, and on the worst day possible. We just got a brand-new globe delivered, and huge crowds have come to see it.”

“It must be some globe!” Lenora said, impressed.