فصل چهل وسوم

chapter-43

“Mr. Lemoncello?” Kyle shouted, his voice echoing under the dome. “Dr. Zinchenko?” “We are back here,” replied Dr. Zinchenko. “Outside the zero-zero-zero door.” Kyle and his teammates made their way around the circular balcony.

Mr. Lemoncello, Dr. Zinchenko, and Clarence were standing in the same spot that had served as the starting line for the Library Cart Relay Race. They flipped through Clarence’s thick stack of papers with serious expressions on their faces.

“Hey, Mr. Lemoncello,” said Kyle.

Mr. Lemoncello raised his left hand to silence Kyle and continued frowning at the list of missing books.

“Are you telling us one individual removed all thirty-six copies of Flora and Ulysses?” asked Dr. Zinchenko.

“Thirty-five of them,” said Clarence. “Somebody else grabbed the last copy off the fiction wall. But our main suspect checked out multiple copies of other titles, too. Tracking his records, we see he’s been working on his personal book removal project for close to a month.” “Are the books overdue?”

“Not yet, Dr. Z,” said Clarence. “He auto-renewed them all online. We can’t be certain, but we think he’s also the one who removed all those ‘S’ encyclopedias.” “This is actually old news,” said Mr. Lemoncello. “You see, Clarence, Dr. Zinchenko—I’ve known all along who was behind this nonsense. And why. Stopping him and bringing back all the missing books was to be our final challenge in the Library Olympics. I’ve already been handing out clues left and right. But I don’t think I can continue with that plan. If he and his associates can recruit a child—a Library Olympian, no less—or a group of children for their cause, what hope is there?” “We’ll help you, sir,” said Kyle.

“Will you, Mr. Keeley? I’ve already given away the grand prize. Thirty-two of them, in fact. I can’t give your team a grander prize or even a grand piano.” “That’s okay. We just want to keep playing and prove we’re really champions. Besides, I thought finding the missing books was supposed to be the twelfth game.” “It was. Another treasure hunt of sorts.”

“So if we find the books, we’d win the twelfth medal.” “And then we could do a sudden-death overtime against Marjory Muldauer,” added Akimi.

Mr. Lemoncello shook his head. “What if I told you that you might need Miss Muldauer to safely retrieve all the books?” Akimi made her famous “gag me now” gesture.

“I know, I know,” said Mr. Lemoncello. “It’s impossible. Asking you and the other Library Olympians to work together for a higher, common purpose? Forget I even mentioned it. Dr. Zinchenko?” “Sir?”

“I’ve made up my mind even though I have not yet made up my bed. I, Luigi Libretto Lemoncello, hereby officially declare the games of this first Library Olympiad to be over. Done. Kaput. There will be no winners. This library has failed to find its true champions. Tomorrow night, at the closing ceremonies, kindly hand out one college scholarship to each and every player who presents you with an orange card. I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend the festivities. I’ll be out of town. Either on a bridge to Terabithia or flying home to New York City. In fact, I may never return to Alexandriaville or Ohio again.” This was just about the worst news Kyle had ever heard.

“Mr. Lemoncello?” he said. “If you know who checked out all the books, why don’t you tell the police and have the guy arrested?” “The books are not yet overdue,” said Dr. Zinchenko. “And, if I might cite the American Library Association’s code of ethics…” “Please, Dr. Z, cite away,” said Mr. Lemoncello.

“Here at the Lemoncello Library, we protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted.” “Seriously?” said Akimi.

“Oh, yeah,” said Miguel. “It’s the library law.”

Kyle tried one more time. “But, Mr. Lemoncello…”

His hero raised that hand again.

“It was fun, Mr. Keeley, but now we’re done. Dr. Zinchenko? Monday morning, kindly instruct my lawyers to draw up the necessary papers appointing Mrs. Chiltington and her League of Concerned Library Lovers as the Alexandriaville Public Library’s first board of trustees. Then take down my statue and pack up anything with my name on it, including my last case of Mr. Lemoncello’s Lemonberry Fizz.” “But what if we find the missing books?” Kyle pleaded.

“I told you—I’m through handing out medals. There are no more prizes, Kyle. No more ice cream, cake, or balloons.” “I don’t care.” Kyle turned to his teammates. “How about you guys?” They all shook their heads.

“Nope,” said Miguel.

“The medals clash with my earrings,” added Akimi.

“Fine,” said Mr. Lemoncello. “Suit yourself. Play my final game, find the missing books before tomorrow’s closing ceremonies, and I might—I repeat, might—reconsider turning my library over to Mrs. Chiltington. I might also consider staying in Ohio on a permanent basis.” “Thank you, sir,” said Kyle. “Because we don’t really need to win any more medals or scholarships. But we definitely need you. And our library.”