Malachi broke in again, this time quite angrily, Lenora thought. The man was saying awful, untrue things—and what was this about the Board? Lenora had never heard of the Board. The two voices continued to talk over each other, the man continuing as though Malachi was not speaking, and Malachi persisting nevertheless.

Lenora! the Japanese librarian said, urgency in her voice. You must go!

Lenora pulled herself away from the listening tube reluctantly. She wanted to hear the rest of the conversation. “Why?” she asked.

Because, said the girl, they’re coming.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Lenora Goes

Lenora did not need to ask the Japanese librarian who was coming.

Look down to the far end of this hallway, the girl said. Do you see it?

In the distance, a soft glow. “Yes,” said Lenora.

Follow it, said the girl. Hurry. Do not turn back.

“What about you?” asked Lenora anxiously. “Will you be all right?”

No reply came. Lenora waited a few moments, then hurried toward the faraway glow. You are not forgotten, she thought as she went. I will remember you.

Lenora ran, kicking up a tremendous cloud of dust as she flew past room after room of lost knowledge. The glow at the end of the hallway grew larger, and soon Lenora could see that it came from another lantern, just like hers. And holding the lantern was the tall, sword-fighting girl from the kendo demonstration. She was still wearing her black padded armor, and her face was still covered by the metal mask.

“Who are you?” asked Lenora.

“I’m … a friend,” said the older girl, her voice muffled by the mask. “Here, take this.” She held out her lantern. “Yours is about to run out of fuel.”

The girl seemed so commanding and decisive that Lenora took the new lantern without thinking. And just as the girl had said, Lenora’s old lantern sputtered and went out moments later. She sat it on the floor, and as she did she noticed again the tall girl’s bare feet. “If you’re a friend,” Lenora asked, “why did you drop me through a trapdoor?”

“I didn’t,” replied the girl. “It was a trap, set for you by the Forces of Darkness. Fortunately, I was a few steps ahead of them. This time.” She pointed toward the last door in the hallway, an archway above which some letters were bolted.

Lenora read them aloud. “The Labyrinth of King Minos of rete.”

“Crete,” said the girl. “The C fell off. You’ll have to find your way to the center.”

“Won’t you come with me?” asked Lenora. It was rather dark in there, and now there was only the one lantern.

“I can’t,” said the girl.

“Why not?”

“Because,” answered the girl, “they’re coming.” With that, she raised her sword, and this time it was not one made of bamboo slats but cold, glistening steel, blazing in the lantern’s light.