Стража! Стража!

           Butnowtherewasanothersound,thealiensoundofadoorcreakingopen.Footstepspaddedacrosstheflooranddisappearedamongsttheclusteringshelves.Thebooksrustledindignantly,andsomeofthelargergrimoiresrattledtheirchains. 

           TheLibrarianslepton,lulledbythewhisperingoftherain. 

           Intheembraceofhisgutter,halfamileaway,CaptainVimesoftheNightWatchopenedhismouthandstartedtosing. 

           Nowablack-robedfigurescurriedthroughthemidnightstreets,duckingfromdoorwaytodoorway,andreachedagrimandforbiddingportal. Nomeredoorwaygotthatgrimwithouteffort,onefelt.Itlookedasthoughthearchitecthadbeencalledinandgivenspecificinstructions. Wewantsomethingeldritchindarkoak,he’dbeentold.Soputanunpleasantgargoylethingoverthearchway,giveitaslamlikethefootfallofagiantandmakeitcleartoeveryone,infact,thatthisisn’tthekindofdoorthatgoes’ding-dong’whenyoupressthebell. 

           Thefigurerappedacomplexcodeonthedarkwoodwork.Atinybarredhatchopenedandonesuspiciouseyepeeredout. 

           "’Thesignificantowlhootsinthenight,’"saidthevisitor,tryingtowringtherainwateroutofitsrobe. 

           "’Yetmanygreylordsgosadlytothemasterlessmen,’"intonedavoiceontheothersideofthegrille. 

           "’Hooray,horrayforthespinster’ssister’sdaughter,’"counteredthedrippingfigure.