They met Craftsman Primrose immediately after lunch and followed him to a large oak door on the first floor different to all the other doors.

“Welcome to the most important place at the factorium: the library,” said Craftsman Primrose. He pushed the door and it swung wide.

Warmth radiated from the room in the auburn and umber tones of book spines and dark wood shelving that ran the length and height of the room in two layers. Enormous world globes, illuminated within by chaos lamps, were set in tables down the centre of the room. Close by, sitting at a desk, was a huge brown bear. Prue’s muscles tensed, such was his size. When he saw them, he stood up suddenly, which made the desk screech forward and his chair tip backwards noisily.

“New visitors!” he exclaimed, rather over-excitedly. He rushed from behind the desk, accidently sending a pile of books flying. “Whoops-a-daisy!” he said, carrying on towards them. He towered above them and would have been utterly terrifying, were it not for the fact he was wearing a garish red bow tie with bright yellow spots, and an enormous grin.

“Apprentice Haywood and Young, this is our librarian, Phineas. Apprentice Snow-Moon, you already know Phineas, of course.”

Edwin nodded and smiled.

“Never was there a more bookish personifate!” Phineas declared. “When Edwin was a technician, he would be in here every break time, always learning.”

“Indeed, it’s where I first noticed your interest and talents,” said Craftsman Primrose.

“You’ll find many of the personifates like to come here whenever they can. It’s open to all, even those working within Medlock occasionally pop back.” Phineas reduced his voice to a whisper. “The Municipal Medlock Library isn’t always the friendliest of places for them. Don’t get me wrong, the librarians there are lovely, and they have several second-lifers. Indeed, I work very closely on new fiction stock with Milly, a delightful ferret personifate.” Phineas reduced his voice even more, so that they were all leaning right in to listen. “It’s the ASL. They target it as a place to spin their propaganda and hate for second lifers.”

Prue remembered the poster she’d seen the day she arrived.

“Anyway!” Phineas said suddenly in a voice so loud that they all jumped back. “Anything you need at any time for your studies, just come and ask. If you can’t find it, I’ll locate it in the blink of an eye,” he said, waving his arm to the side and knocking another pile of books over. “Oops! Come along, no need to hover by the door!”

“Do you mind if I show them around, then let them choose some books?” Craftsman Primrose asked.