fandomhigh | Library [30.11.07]

Thursday had looked better. She'd also looked worse, but that time involved being shot in the head by a Minotaur. She made a beeline for her office without saying a word for fifteen minutes. Then came the call. "Karal, would you mind coming in here?"

Karal glanced at Altra, who shrugged and went back to drinking his tea. "Yes, I'm coming," he called as he made his way over to stand in the door of her office. "Are you all right?"

"A little tired." Understatement. "There have been a lot of things going on of late and that's why this is coming so long after the fact. I understand you went into Special Collections without permission while I was at Town Hall the other week with most of the town."

Karal straightened, expression staying carefully neutral, but inside he winced. He'd known this had to come eventually. "I did," he replied quietly.

Thursday nodded. She remained standing behind her desk as she spoke, calm and without much expression. "You're an exceptional young man, Karal. I know you played a considerable role in keeping the researchers together and focused and considering the circumstances, you felt that a venture into Special Collections was no doubt warranted. But there are reasons why students aren't allowed in there alone. I understand the impulsiveness and indiscretion from the other students, but as a library aide you know the dangers that lurk in there. You know we have to keep it locked up for the island's safety." Thursday paused to gather her thoughts, then lowered her voice. If she was angry, she didn't show it. "What if you had let Dolores Umbridge out?"

He held her gaze, but when she mentioned Umbridge, he winced visibly and looked at the ground. "I knew there was a risk, but there wasn't time--" Karal rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand, then his shoulder slumped. "No. I endangered the island, there is no excuse I can offer."

That was the answer she was expecting and had been hoping to hear. "Please don't do it again."

He looked up in surprise. "You mean I may stay as an aide?"

"Is there a reason I shouldn't?"

"I just thought--" He stopped, lifting his chin a little. "No there isn't. I give you my word I will not do it again."

"Good," she nodded. "I'm going into town to fetch lunch today. Would you like a sandwich while I'm there?"

A bit off-balance, because he'd gone from expecting to be fired to being offered lunch, he nodded. "Yes, please, if it's no trouble. I don't mind going, though."

"It's no trouble. Is there anything else?"

"There is, if you could wait a moment?" He ducked back to the front desk to retrieve the small leather-bound book he'd been writing in last week and returned to set it on her desk. "I don't know what to do with it, but I wrote down everything we learned about the sickness and its history, and everything that happened over that week."

Thursday picked the book up, running her fingertips over the cover before opening it to flick through the pages. "You found something in Special Collections that led you to the cure, didn't you?"

"There was a journal belonging to the leader of the original settlers. She wrote down what was happening when her people were dying. One of those who sent the sickness to the island, his conscience brought him here and he wrote the cure in her journal." Karal fidgeted, suddenly nervous. "I also added a book to Special Collections."

Thursday glanced up from looking through the book with a raised eyebrow.

"The other journal, the one belonging to the settlers' children. We found it on the boat," he explained, not quite able to keep the sadness out of his voice. "They were being sent to safety and instead they died. I thought," he clasped his hands together, "I thought they should be together."

Closing the book after a moment, Thursday handed it back to Karal. "So they should," she agreed, then opened the top drawer to pull out her key to Special Collections. She offered it to the boy. "Your story belongs with them."

Holding the book against his chest, he hesitantly reached for the key. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Who knows. Maybe it will save someone's life the way they saved ours."

"Vkandis willing, it will never be needed." He closed his fingers around the key and turned, making his way to Special Collections.

Altra appeared at his side as he opened the door. Karal paused before going in; the feeling of watchfulness had faded, though thankfully the shelves remained.

The two made their way quickly to the spot where the journals rested, and he slipped his little book next to them. "Sunlord watch over you, wherever you are," he whispered, head bowed in prayer for a moment.

When he was finished, he quietly locked it behind him, then returned to Thursday's office to hand back the key. "Thank you."

Edited 2007-11-30 08:50 (UTC)

Thursday nodded and put the key away safely. "Let me know what you'd like on your sandwich before I go later."

"I will," he said, turning to go. "If you need me for anything, I'll be at the desk."

Thursday nodded again and watched him go, then turned her attention to the task at hand. Things were as they should have been.

Library [30.11.07]

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