“You guess correctly,” the Star said. “When the Palace gates close, the gods and guardian spirits will leave your skies. The constellations will shine as before, but they will be just what your scientists say they are, flaming balls of gas and rock. People might continue to pray, but whatever boons or burdens follow will not come from the gods. They will be of your own making.”

“If I may ask, what about you?” he asked. He could hold back no more. “Once the Library of Legends is stored away safely, will you also go to the Kunlun Mountains? As you say, the Palace gates will close.”

“I haven’t decided yet,” she said. “I’ve grown less certain since we began our journey, Professor. More attuned to the human passage of time. More affected by human emotions. I know the Prince will never remember me.” She sounded very sad and very lost.

“Don’t lose hope,” he said. “Eternity is porous. How many times have I heard you say that?”

“But I don’t have eternity anymore,” she said quietly. “Now there’s less than a year of your time before the Palace gates close. I must come to a decision.”

NIGHT HAD FALLEN by the time Minghua 123 reached the town of Lu’an. The principal of Lu’an Middle School met them at the school gates, apologetic. There weren’t enough billets for all the students and faculty.

“No problem, no problem,” Mr. Lee said, “our senior professors can lodge with families. Everyone else can sleep in the assembly hall. We’re used to camping.”

But they didn’t manage to sleep. Air-raid sirens woke them and the students scrambled for the school’s shelter. They huddled there until the all clear sounded then returned to the assembly hall. Nothing else disturbed the night, but the students were too tense to rest.

The next day, sirens sounded as soon as the morning mists cleared. Their time in Lu’an extended from a day to several more. They couldn’t go on the road, not while the town and its surrounding areas were under attack nearly every day. Minghua 123 remained in Lu’an Middle School’s assembly hall. When attacks came, they shared the bomb shelter with the school’s pupils and teachers, the ones who had dared come to classes that day. When air raids caught students out on the town, they ran to the public shelters, but these were so crowded and claustrophobic they made every effort to reach the school and its large bomb shelter. Professor Kang had the wooden crates holding the Legends brought there. It gave the students some comfort. The Library of Legends was their talisman, their lucky star.