فصل چهل و دوم

chapter-42

Kyle watched the audience shuffle out of the building.

Most of the Library Olympians were thrilled to hear that they’d be picking up an all-expenses-paid college scholarship even without winning the most medals.

The Chiltingtons and their well-dressed friends were overjoyed for other reasons.

“Marvelous work, Miss Muldauer!” said Mrs. Chiltington when Marjory and her team passed by on their way to the front door. “Simply marvelous! You completely demoralized the man.” “Fantastic finish,” added Charles. “Getting Lemoncello to cancel these so-called Olympic Games? Couldn’t have done it in an abler manner myself.” “Mr. Lemoncello looked so sad,” giggled Mrs. Chiltington. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he packed up all his toys and went home to New York City!” “If he does, it might be for the best,” Marjory told her small cluster of fans. “For far too long, Mr. Lemoncello has pretended to be a library lover when, in truth, this was all a clever publicity stunt so he could sell even more of his preposterous games!” The League of Concerned Library Lovers clapped daintily.

“Maybe now you concerned citizens, those of you who love libraries qua libraries, can run this institution the way we all know it should be run. If you turn this book-filled building into a true temple of learning, people all over Ohio will say, ‘Is that library down in Alexandriaville any good?’ To which you can reply, ‘Hello? It’s not a Lemoncello. It’s a library!’ ” Her admirers’ hands pitter-pattered together again.

Marjory nodded graciously, then headed through the lobby with the rest of her team. Actually, the other kids from the Midwest team weren’t really walking with Marjory, just in the same general direction.

“Where’d Mr. Lemoncello go?” asked Akimi.

“I saw him and Clarence head upstairs,” said Sierra. “Probably to console Dr. Zinchenko.” “Definitely,” said Miguel. “Librarians always flip out when books and encyclopedias mysteriously disappear off their shelves.” Mrs. Yunghans and Mr. Sharp, the hometown team’s two chaperones, came to join the players at the reading desk.

“You guys ready to bookmobile it back to Olympia Village?” asked Mr. Sharp.

“Not just yet,” said Kyle. “We want to make sure Mr. Lemoncello is okay.” “All right,” said Mr. Sharp. “But it’s barbecue night at the motel.” “We’re not really in the mood for barbecue,” said Akimi.

“They have ice cream, too,” said Mrs. Yunghans.

Akimi crinkled her nose. “I think I’m suddenly lactose intolerant.” “We won’t be long,” said Kyle, tucking his orange scholarship card into his shirt pocket. “Come on, you guys.” As his team trooped up the spiral staircase to the second floor, Kyle looked down at the Rotunda Reading Room and realized how hollow the library seemed without anybody in it.

No one was riding the hover ladders or grabbing a snack in the Book Nook Café or hanging out in the community meeting rooms or rushing upstairs to do research at a collaboration station or heading to the third floor to check out the newest educational video games in the Electronic Learning Center.

The holographic statue nooks were empty and dark.

The Wonder Dome was just a blank canvas. A TV set after the power goes out.

Without people or laughter or learning, the domed building was just a fancy tomb filled with dry and dusty books.