Стража! Стража!

           Andthensomeonewouldreadthisbook,readthesewords,anddoitanyway.

           Hishandsitched.

           Allhehadtodowashidethebook,ordropontothethief’sheadandunscrewitbytheears.

           Hestaredintothedarknessagain...

           Butthatwouldbeinterferingwiththecourseofhistory.Horriblethingscouldhappen.TheLibrarianknewallaboutthissortofthing,itwaspartofwhatyouhadtoknowbeforeyouwereallowedintoL-space.He’dseenpicturesinancientbooks.Timecouldbifurcate,likeapairoftrousers.Youcouldendupinthewrongleg,livingalifethatwasactuallyhappeningintheotherleg,talkingtopeoplewhoweren’tinyourleg,walkingintowallsthatweren’tthereanymore.LifecouldbehorribleinthewrongtrouserofTime.

           Besides,itwasagainstLibraryrules.TheassembledLibrariansofTimeandSpacewouldcertainlyhavesomethingtosayaboutitifhestartedtotinkerwithcausality.

           Heclosedthebookcarefullyandtuckeditbackintotheshelf.Thenheswunggentlyfrombookcasetobookcaseuntilhereachedthedoorway.Foramomenthestoppedandlookeddownathisownsleepingbody.Perhapshewondered,briefly,whethertowakehimselfup,havealittlechat,tellhimselfthathehadfriendsandnottoworry.Ifso,hemusthavedecidedagainstit.Youcouldgetyourselfintoalotoftroublethatway.