A New Keeper

by J C Gilbert

  Hank started to list all the ways I would mess this up. My stomach flipped and flopped. I didn’t want to move.

  “I’ll have to cover my face, but that shouldn't be a problem. That way he will probably think I’m a nun.”

  “But if your face is covered why can't you do the talking?”

  “Um, cos I’m a nun? Nuns don't speak.”

  I was about to protest that they did where I was from, but that was pointless.

  “So you will do it then?”

  “Sure,” I squeaked, amazed at the word coming out of my mouth.

  Elaine handed me two silver coins and covered her face with a black cloth.

  When it was time to walk out toward the toll-person, my body froze. Every ounce of me was telling me to stay where I was, escape into the book, run away, anything but talk to the human.

  I stepped out into the open.

  I could feel the man’s eyes on me, wondering who I was and what I wanted. Here I am, just Alex, a normal human being walking with my friend, the nun. Don't mind me, I’m just being normal.

  “Why are you walking like that?” hissed Elaine.

  “Like what?”

  “Shh.”

  “Hello, miss,” said the man. His accent was thick, as were his shoulders. His arms were like tree trunks and he held a spear.

  “Hello, sir,” I said. I just said sir. Was that even right? Does he think I’m weird?

  “One silver for your passage over the bridge.”

  I handed him the two that Elaine gave me. I mean, she must have given me two for a reason, right? The guard looked at the coins and then back at me.

  Awkwardness careered through my body. I turned into a little worm, ready to crawl away.

  “You are very kind,” said the man and gestured for me to pass.

  We inched onto the wooden bridge. It was a rickety old thing, the sort I wouldn't dare cross in my own world, but right then I didn't care.

  I managed to pass the human.

  Far below us the rapidly running river churned and rumbled.

  I walked like I was an inch taller. A feeling of elation was in my chest. Elaine had asked me to do something and I did it. I didn't run, I just did it.

  Take that, Hank!

  “Did you see that?” I asked excitedly when we were on the other side.

  “Yeah, thanks for that.”

  “I totally talked to the man and it was all fine.”

  “Yea…?” said Elaine, puzzled.

  “You don't understand, I can't do that sort of thing. It was like magic!”

  “That's what you call magic in your world?”

  “In my world, things like that don't happen.”

  “Things like what?”

  “Things like me talking to people.”

  “Jeeze,” said Elaine, pulling a face. “Well, we gotta make camp. The sun will be setting soon and we are no way near the town yet.”

  That's when I remembered that I was still at school.

  “The sun? Oh darn. I gotta go.”

  “You don't turn into a werewolf, do you?” asked Elaine, jokingly.

  “No, I- never mind. I just have to leave.”

  I pulled out the book and read the first few lines. I didn't stop in The Library. I slammed down Elaine’s book and grabbed for Alice.

  When I landed I was surrounded by darkness. The school was empty and the cleaners were gone.

  I was locked in.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  I ran to the main door of the school just in case by some chance it wasn't locked. I shook it hard, but it was no use. If I couldn't get out of there soon, Mom would freak out. We didn't live in a dangerous neighborhood or anything like that, but Mom was pretty protective of me, even when she was mad.

  Especially when she was mad.

  I tried to think of how else I could leave. There were the fire exits of course, but they were alarmed and I didn't exactly want to alert the world to my presence.

  I rushed from door to door in the failing light, trying every one I could think of. They were all locked. Soon I was out of breath from running and collapsed against the wall of the corridor. My heart was beating hard in my chest. I tried to think.

  There was a creak and then the sound of a door shutting. Footsteps echoed in the silent space. I froze, wide-eyed, trying to hear more.

  It had to be a security guard. Who else would be wandering the school at night?

  But now what do I do? Do I make myself known to them? Or do I hide and find another way out?

  As quietly as I could, I opened the nearest classroom to me and snuck inside. I closed the door and gently let go of the handle.

  The security guard’s footsteps drew nearer. I couldn't help myself, I peered through the classroom door to see if I could see them. The rhythmic swaying of torchlight flashed here and there. It seemed like they were just shining it on classroom doors.

  I sighed in relief.

  Within a few minutes they had done their rounds, and their footsteps led away. Finally, I heard the sound of another door opening and closing, and I was alone once more.

  “What are you doing here?” asked a voice in a loud whisper.

  I screamed, and a shadow fell upon me, covering my mouth. I looked about wide-eyed, my heart racing like never before.

  “Quiet!” said the voice. There was silence for a moment, and then the hand was withdrawn.“We are lucky he didn't come back.”

  “Who are you?” I said, trembling.

  The light of a mobile phone came on and illuminated a face. It was Darcy. He raised his eyebrows in greeting.

  “Darcy? What are you doing here?”

  “You first.”

  “I just kind of got stuck here,” I said, trying to find a credible reason. “I fell asleep.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “It's true! What are you doing here.”

  Darcy opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. “I sorta live here,” he said.

  “Live here? No, you don't,” I said.

  “I do. My home isn't safe.”

  “Oh,” I said, wondering what that could mean. “Your parents?”

  “Mom still thinks I live at home.”

  “And your dad? He doesn't hurt you, does he?”

  “What? No. My father was a good man.”

  “Oh.” By the look on his face, it didn't seem like it was a good idea to ask any further questions on that matter.

  “Now tell me why you are really here,” said Darcy, “I need to know.”

  “I told you, I just fell asleep. Now please, I need to get out of here. Is there any way out?”

  Darcy shook his head. “Well I get out through the window, but somehow I don't think that you will be trying that option.”

  “How come?”

  “It's quite a drop.”

  “But I need to get out of here!” I said, panicking.

  “I’m sorry, but unless you want to trip the alarm?”

  “Well I might just have to,” I said. There was no way I could stay there. Any moment now Mom would be calling me down for dinner. I would get in big trouble if she found me missing again without letting her know where I was.

  “If you set it off then I can't stay here tonight.”

  “And you definitely can't stay at your house?”

  Darcy looked solemn. “I guess I could. Just this once.”

  I felt guilty, I didn't want him to get in trouble, whatever it might be. But there was no way I could stay the night at school.

  Just then there was the sound of a door slamming. The thud-thud of heavy boots running echoed through the school.

  “Who is in there?” bellowed a voice.

  Darcy and I exchanged glances.

  “We are screwed,” he said.

  “There has got to be somewhere we can hide?”

  He shook his head.

  I looked at the book in my hand. Darcy followed my gaze. “What?” he asked.

  “I think I know a place,” I sa
id.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  I snatched at Darcy’s hand and opened Alice. He tried to pull away, but not in time. Soon we were tumbling into the book.

  We landed right next to The Library’s Heart. Darcy was sprawled out on the floor as if he had fallen from a great height. He wasted no time in getting to his feet.

  “Where am I?” he demanded.

  “This is The Library.”

  “Take me back now.”

  “It’s OK, Darcy. I’m the Keeper here.”

  “I said take me back!”

  “But the security guard?”

  “There are many magical realms, Alex. None of them are to be used lightly. Take me back!”

  He was kind of scary.

  “OK, whatever. Fine. Take my hand.”

  By the time that we were back at school, it seemed the guard had moved on. Darcy looked serious.

  “Where did you get that book?”

  “It came to me. The Library chose me.”

  “What do you do in there?”

  “I just look after the books, Darcy.” I felt now was not the time to go into detail.

  “You freaked me out, that's all,” said Darcy, clearly trying to calm himself.

  “Understandable.”

  “Last time that happened It was weeks before I got home.”

  “Last time?”

  “Never mind. Last time was definitely not a library.”

  “OK,” I said, my mind racing with questions.

  “I guess this explains where you went during detention.”

  “Yeah. Sorry for lying about that.”

  Darcy laughed. “It's not generally the sort of thing people share if they can help it.”

  I smiled. “I suppose not.”

  “Well, we still need to get out of here. Shall we risk the alarms?”

  “I guess we are going to have to.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ve done this heaps of times. When the door is open, we will need to run.”

  “I know.”

  Sirens blared as we fled, hearts pounding. The school was washed in white light. The school bell rang, shrill in the silent night.

  We ducked into the bushes and out the other side. Within moments we were running down an empty suburban street. I was terrified, Darcy was laughing. After about a minute of running, I slowed to a stop. My lungs were burning, and I needed to cough.

  “It's OK, take a rest,” said Darcy, “we should probably walk from here, or it will look suspicious.”

  Darcy didn't appear to be at all fatigued from the sprint. “How are you not out of breath?” I managed to ask between gasps. He just shrugged.

  “I run a lot,” he said, simply.

  We walked through the streets. The smell of cooking dinners wafted through the air and mingled with the scent of suburban gardens. Street lamps washed the world in a soft yellow glow. We did not speak.

  We got to Darcy’s house first.

  “I can walk you to your place if you like?” he asked.

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  He didn't look convinced.

  “Your mom will probably be happy to see you,” I said.

  He gazed at his family home as if he were recalling a distant memory. “Yeah, she probably will be.” He looked back at me and formed a troubled smile. “I miss her,” he said.

  “OK,” I said, not really understanding all of his long silent pauses and meaningful looks. He reminded me of Batman, gazing down on the world of ordinary people and wondering what it must be like to live in such a pleasant place.

  I was happy to be alone for the rest of the way home. Walking through the front door, I was flooded with light and the sights and smells of an evening with the family. Everyone seemed vaguely cheerful. I needed that. I acted vaguely cheerful too, and for one night I tried not to think about Lilly and libraries and sorceresses.

  The next morning Lilly was waiting for me at the front gate. She greeted me with a soft “hi,” and we walked into school together in silence. It seemed as though our conflict would just sorta be swept under the carpet, there to be tripped over another day.

  Ordinarily, I would have been pleased to avoid the awkward conversation, but yesterday had really left me shaken. I didn't want to lose Lilly’s friendship, not just to avoid the discomfort of making an awkward apology. Some awkwardness is worth it.

  “I’m sorry,” I said at lunch once we were seated around our octagonal table. “I really am.”

  “Forget about it,” said Lilly, concentrating suspiciously hard on her sandwich.

  “Please, tell me how I can make it up to you. It's not fair what I did. I just want to do the right thing.”

  “Don't worry about it. Just- next time I just want you to think of me, you know? And how I’m feeling. With my insides. If we are friends, then we need to support each other.”

  “I promise I won't let you down again like that. Hey, why don't we set up another date?”

  “Well we can't go to the movies again, it was awkward as hell with just me and two boys.”

  “You still went?” Guilt flipped about inside me like an over-energetic rabbit.

  “Yea.”

  “OK, not the movies then.”

  “What about the night market on Thursday?” she suggested.

  I love the night market. Like, it's pretty much the coolest thing that there is in this part of town. It only comes once a month, and I often end up missing it because, well you know, the humans and stuff.

  “Sure,” I said, trying to hide my hesitation.

  “I know you, Alex, I know this is just the sort of thing to set you off. You know that you will actually have to speak to the boys, right?”

  “Yes,” I said carefully, “whoever they are.”

  “They are Daniel and Carl. Promise you won’t flake?”

  “I promise.”

  “Super,” she said, with muted enthusiasm. I could tell that she was still quite upset with me, but at least this was a step in the right direction.

  “You know how like people carve their names into trees while on dates?”

  “Yeah, what about it?”

  “Have you ever wondered why so many people carry knives on dates?”

  “Weird, I guess,” said Lilly.

  I was on my way to class when Darcy appeared from behind a pillar. “Hey,” he said.

  “Hey.”

  “You want to put your library to good use?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Some people could use your help. Badly. You think you could spare an afternoon to save some lives?”

  “Sounds reasonable,” I said. Hank’s jaw dropped, and he kicked my diaphragm.

  “Is that a yes then?”

  I met with Darcy at the front gate after school. I had never been driven by someone who was not an adult before. Hank did a few twists and turns in my belly as my seatbelt clicked into place.

  “So where are we going, anyway?”

  “It’s just a little way out of town.” Darcy’s eyes were on his mirrors, concentrating.

  Silence.

  It was awkward. I wanted to fill the silence with something, anything, but I had nothing I wanted to say.

  Once we were on the highway, Darcy spoke. “What made you decide to help?” he asked.

  “I’m not a dick,” I said.

  “Well, you did hesitate. Maybe you are just half a dick.” He was silent for a moment. “Can we just pretend I didn't say that?”

  “Sure.”

  Darcy started fiddling with the radio, but to no avail. “The tape player is stuck,” he said, and I think something must be up with the receiver.

  “That's fine.”

  “The tape in there is like a Mozart compilation. I’ll put that on?”

  “Sure.”

  Loud and crackling, the grand voice of some German opera singer filled the car. I tried to listen to it, tried to focus on it, but with Darcy driving, my nerves, and the drama of a full orchestra, th
e whole experience was kind of terrifying.

  “Can we turn it off?” I said after mulling over it for far too long.

  “You don't like Mozart?”

  “No, I mean. I don't know. I just don't think I can deal with him at the moment.”

  “Fair enough,” said Darcy. He switched the radio off, and we drove on in silence.

  The view out the window changed from suburb to town and back to suburb again. Soon the houses were giving way to the occasional crop field and then finally wide open plains.

  It was late afternoon when Darcy pulled over at a random point on the side of the road. I got out of the car and looked around. The country was hilly and smelled of cow manure.

  “Where is this place?”

  “Middle of nowhere, I would say. Kind of a good thing, actually. Come on, there is someone I want you to meet.”

  “You didn't say anything about meeting people.”

  “I said we are saving lives, right? Well, that involves people, you know.”

  He led me along a muddy path through a grassy field. It wasn't long before water started seeping into my socks. It was uncomfortable, but nothing compared to my apprehension.

  We came to a low hill and started to climb. I couldn't see anything at the top of the hill and followed Darcy in silence. Occasionally we stopped, and Darcy looked around for the track. Once he spotted what he needed to spot we changed our direction a little and continued on.

  Eventually, we came to a crest. There, dark against the landscape, stood a girl.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  The girl looked to be about nine years old. Her clothes were caked in mud, and she had a very serious look on her face. Her hair was tied back in tight braids. She was standing next to a hole in the ground as if she were guarding it.

  “Wes þu hal, Brunhilda,” said Darcy to the girl. She nodded and then looked at me suspiciously.

  “Alex, I would like you to meet Brunhilda.”

  “Hi there,” I said. The girl looked at me with a puzzled expression and then looked at Darcy. “Does she speak English?”

  “Yes, in a manner of speaking. But if you are asking if she can understand you, then the answer is no.”