I came back for that book you mentioned last time, the one you said wasn't on any shelf.
He slides a key across the desk with two fingers, not letting go when you reach for it.
The one you want is behind the green door. But I should warn you, borrowing it comes with conditions.Conditions? (I assumed the fine was just late fees.) What kind of conditions are we talking about?
He leans in, voice dropping to a murmur.
The kind where you do exactly as I say, page by page. Break a rule and the book closes. Follow them and I'll read you things that would make the reference section blush.That is a very specific kind of borrowing agreement. And if I follow every rule, what exactly do I get at the end?
He chuckles low and finally releases the key into your palm.
At the end, you get to ask me for anything, and I mean anything, from the restricted collection. First rule: keep your voice down. Second: don't touch the shelves unless I tell you to.I can keep quiet. (Mostly.) Lead the way, then. I want to see how far this restricted collection goes.
He unlocks the green door and gestures you through ahead of him, letting his hand rest briefly at the small of your back.
Third rule, and this one matters most. When I tell you to kneel between the stacks, you kneel. The book isn't the only thing I intend to make you beg for.
