Sometimes a traveler would read some to me, and by paying careful attention, I taught myself to read. And I discovered that travelers were speaking of my collection to one another, and soon new arrivals were asking to see it. Some of them asked me if they could buy some of the manuscripts, and in this way I learned they were valuable. But I did not collect them so that I could make money. Instead I would trade a manuscript for which I had two copies for a manuscript that I lacked. In this way, I eventually had a library of no small size.

“That is wonderful,” breathed Lenora. How she wished she could visit this girl and her library, one thousand years ago.

Yes, said the girl, and her voice took on a wistful tone. But it was not to last. One night, a stranger came to our town. He wore a black kimono, and he asked to see my library. Unlike others who asked, he did not seem delighted at the sight but quite angry. And that night, the small building housing my library burned to the ground. All was lost. And I soon heard that a new road was being constructed, one that would take travelers around our town. I was never able to rebuild my library.

“A man in a black kimono,” said Lenora. “Was he…”

Yes, said the girl. The Forces of Darkness. You can always tell when it’s them. They go after the libraries.

Lenora was silent for a few moments, thinking of this. Then she realized that the girl did not seem at all surprised by her presence in this forgotten section of the library. “Do you know why I’m here?” she asked. “Do you know who dropped me through the trapdoor and left the pillows and lantern?”

Yes, Lenora. I do. But I can’t tell you. Please—she said this because Lenora had already opened her mouth—don’t ask anything more. You’ll understand soon. Now follow me. There are several things I must show you.

Lenora bit her lip and nodded. She wondered how she would follow someone who was invisible, but the girl continued to talk, and as the voice moved along Lenora found it easy to follow. They left Minoan Literature and returned to the central hall, continuing along the way Lenora had already been going. As they walked, the girl pointed out rooms containing the complete works of the poet Sappho, and the lost plays of Sophocles and Shakespeare, and a translation of the Voynich manuscript. Lenora tried flipping through the pages of some of these, but they were all blank.

“I don’t understand,” said Lenora. “How can all these things be here if they have been lost?”