Lenora was resolute. “You should go on in and read whatever books you like.”

“But the man said I was too young, and the books are all lies.”

“Hmm,” said Lenora. “A real librarian wouldn’t tell you something like that. I think if a librarian were here, she would tell you to go in.”

“Really?” said the boy, gazing at Lenora with wide eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Yep. Go!”

The boy dashed off happily and was soon immersed in a book on Einstein’s gravitational lenses. Satisfied, Lenora returned to thoughts about alerting a real librarian to the man’s presence and also finding the children’s section before the nanny could chase her down.

Boom! Crack!

A great thundering, like a granite boulder splitting open, startled Lenora. It echoed from the direction she’d just come.

Curious, she went to see what it was. And it was something that Lenora was sure hadn’t been there before. Where there had been a regular, blank wall, there was now a towering wall of old stone. Into it was carved an enormous archway. Above it, a phrase had been deeply chiseled:

KNOWLEDGE IS A LIGHT

Lenora’s skin prickled at the words.

She stepped forward cautiously. The hall beyond the arch curved away into darkness. She couldn’t see where it led. But she could smell something wonderful—the scent of many old books, a musty and thrilling odor, the sort of thing you would love to sniff if you poked your head up into an unfamiliar attic. And she could hear sounds, clacking and squeaking, but nothing she could identify.

Her heart pounded. Beyond this arch lay something she had never seen before, something new. If the nanny were here, she would order Lenora to turn back immediately.

Lenora stepped through the arch.

CHAPTER TWO

Lenora Enters the Library

Lenora crept through the dark, running a hand over the cool, weathered stone. The exhilarating smell of old books got stronger. Soon she noticed a glow ahead of her and heard the murmur of many echoing voices. Lenora walked faster and the light grew brighter, and then she could see the end of the tunnel ahead, and an immense stone bridge beyond. She began to run and emerged onto the bridge, nearly falling to her knees.