idsummerday,exceptforacutegirlbehindtheter.

    "Ifoundthisinthewoods.Itbelongstoyou."

    Shelookedatthenovelasifitwerealosttreasure,brushedoffthegrime,ahebackcover."Justaminute."Sheleafedthroughastackofstampedcards."Thankyou,butthishasnotbeencheckedoutatall.Didyet?"

    "No,"Iexplained."Ifoundit,andwaoreturnitthtfulowners.Iwaslookingforsomethingelse."

    "MaybeIhelpyou?"Hersmileremindedmeofsomanyotherlibrarians,andasmalltwingeofguiltpokedmeintheribs.

    Ileanedcloseandsmiledather."Doyouhaveanybooksonhobgoblins?"

    Sheskippedabeat."Hobgoblins?"

    "Orfairies.Imps,trolls,sprites,gelings,thatsortofthing?"

    ThegirllookedatmeasifIwerespeakingafnlanguage."Youshouldntleanonthedesklikethat.Theresacardcatalhtoverthere.Alphabeticalbysubject,title,orauthor."

    Ratherthanprovidingshortcutstousefulinformation,onesearchbegatanother,andthecuriouserandcuriot,themorerabbitholespoppedopen.Mysearchforfairiesresultedinforty-twotitles,ofwhichadozenorsomightbeuseful,butthatsearchbranchedoffintogoblinsandhobgoblins,whiturnbranchedofftoabnormalpsychology,childprodigies,andautism.Lunchtimehadeandgone,alightheadedandinneedofsomeair.AtanearbyvenieoreIboughtasandwidabottleofpop,andIsatonabenchbytheemptyplayground,platiaskbeforeme.Therewassomuchtoknow,somuchalreadyfotten.IntherelentlesssunshineIfellasleep,wakingupthreehourslaterwithanastysunburnononearmasideofmyface.F