[The Enclave]Check It Out (alstroemeria)

[Juni]

Juni’s eyes ran back and forth over the shelf. It was the fourth time in the last ten minutes, and he knew really that it was futile. The book he was searching for simply wasn’t there. It should have been. He had already checked at the reception desk. There was no record that it had been taken out by anyone. It should have been right here. But it wasn’t. He knew that already. Having already checked the surrounding few shelves, in case it had been returned to the wrong spot, he was back to looking to be absolutely sure he wasn’t overlooking it somehow. The futile gesture of a desperate man. It wasn’t where it should be, and it could be absolutely anywhere.

With a sigh, he turned away from the stone shelf. His eyes fell on a young woman who looked to about the same age as himself. He thought he had seen her about the Enclave before. Juni was a frequent visitor, whether to find a book to read, or to look something up, or for the storytelling – either as a listener or sometimes to play his pipe for whatever audience showed up. But, if he had, in fact, seen her here, he wasn’t sure if she worked here or was just another book lover like himself.

He turned next to scan the shelf across from the one where the book should have been. With one elbow propped in the other hand, and his chin held between thumb and forefinger, he frowned at the books, eyeing each one closely. Swearing softly under his breath, he crouched down and his eyes ran methodically over the descending shelves, determined to find the errant volume.