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His kit was dexterously removed from his hand. “Guess you’ll want to check in first,” Hanxi said, “so I’ll just take your gear over to the inn for you.”

He pointed out a small dome shading from lavender at the bottom to rose pink on top. Over the door were glittering symbols which Clarey was able to decipher after a moment’s concentration as “Dordonec District Public Library—Katund Branch,” and underneath, in smaller letters, “Please Blow Nose Before Entering.”

Hesitantly, he touched the screen that covered the portway. It rolled back. He went inside.

At his first sight of what filled the shelves from floor to topmost curve of the dome, Clarey became charged with fury. The ancient books in the glass cases back on Earth were of a different shape and substance, but, “My God,” he cried aloud, “it’s nothing but another archive!”

The female in charge glared at him. “Silence, please!”

Suddenly the anger left him, and the fear. He was no longer a stranger on a strange world. He was an archivist in an archive.