Jabberwock
Ms.
Perkins put the book on my desk, right on top of the financial
report. She pointed to a paragraph on the orchids of Amazonia. I
first I thought silverfish had been at the book, but there were no
holes in the paper. Only the ink was gone. It looked like the
letters had been chipped away, or gnawed on.
"Silverfish,"
I said, closing the book. "I have to finish this report before
the board meeting."
"Not
silverfish, there are no holes in the paper." She glared at me,
then turned and strode out. I always watch her leave. She has very
shapely legs. Too old for me, but nice legs. Now, where _had_ all
the money been going.
*
The
meeting did not go well. Money. There simply wasn't enough. If I
didn't find more money in the next two weeks I would have to lay
somebody off. There were only four of us on staff to begin with.
I
collared Colonel Sanders (That really is his name) the next afternoon
at The Club. It's just a bar, with pretensions. The Colonel had
mentioned wanting to make a substantial contribution to the
Foundation. I needed his money now. I asked whether he had made a
decision about investing in the county's future.
"Not
yet Carl. But I heard from Adrienne Perkins that you have
silverfish. It's not an investment if the stock is destroyed by
bugs."
"Colonel,
I'm on top of that. There are a couple of books with minor damage,
but I'm taking care of it." Back at the library I started
looking through books. At first I didn't find anything, and almost
called the exterminator back. But then I came across a bookcase that
had damage in almost every book. Letters were not just obliterated.
It almost looked like the books were being rewritten. Actually, the
marks didn't really look like letters. I don't know what they looked
like. When Harry arrived Saturday I would have him just do this
area.
*
I
showed Harry the bookcase. He picked up one of the books and opened
it. It was blank, except for a few random specks of ink. He raised
one eyebrow. I grabbed the book and shoved it back on the shelf.
"Silverfish.
I don't know. Just spray. I'll be downstairs."
He
rolled his eyes, but as long as he does the work, I don't care.
An
hour later, Ms. Perkins stopped by.
"Director?
Isn't Harry coming today?"
"He's
up there now. In fact, he should be done." I held my place
with a finger, but she didn't take the hint.
"He's
not there. I checked. The bookcase in the middle of the reading
room. That's the worst place and he's not there at all."
"Come
on. That's where he started. I told him just to do that area, but
he may be doing the whole floor hoping for extra pay." We
searched the entire building, but we didn't find him. His truck was
still out front. Where was he? I came back to the reading room.
Ms. Perkins stood in front of "the bookcase." She looked
pale.
"Director,"
she whispered. "Look at this." She handed me a history of
the Civil War, but most of the pages were covered with odd
geometrical shapes. Nothing about the Civil War. She had had the
book open to page 56. Right in the middle of the page was an odd
seven-sided figure. Inside was a cartoon drawing that looked a bit
like Harry.
"They
got his paunch really well," I said. "Don't you think?"
"This
is not a drawing."
"Of
course it is," I snapped. Then the drawing moved. It ran to
the side of the figure surrounding it. It beat on the line with its
fists. Then it ran to the other side, then to the top. It was
trapped. "He can't leave the page." I dropped the book.
"Ms. Perkins? We need to get out of here." I felt queasy
all of a sudden, but grabbed her arm and ran towards the door. There
was no door. Strange things surrounded us. I put Ms Perkins behind
me. Then I saw the jaws. "Get ready to jump, Ms. Perkins."
"How?
There is no up." I tried to look up. I could almost remember
how, but I couldn't do it. We were surrounded. Something went
snicker snack.
"The
jaws that bite, Ms. Perkins, the claws that catch." We hugged,
something we had never done in 3D. "Goodbye, Ms. Perkins."
"Goodbye
Director."
Publ. The Simian Transcript, 2010
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