WriteOn! 2024

2nd Place - Ermal Mateli, Sarandë

Topic: You are the only librarian in a secret underground library used by the most important people in the world. Who are they? What do they read? How do you interact with them?

Another busy day at the library. The gates close for the public and only one visitor remains inside. He is staring at the midnight sky and his eyes shine like the stars as he waits to be accepted.

 

I go to my post at the office and nod him to approach.

 

“Good evening, Mr. Truman. May I ask who are you?” I pose the initiation signal.

 

“I am a child, born in the cave. I heard from a mad man about the right and wish to see and unchain myself.”

 

I slightly smile. “Very well, Mr. Truman. Now follow me please.”

 

He doesn’t even look at the shelves as we pass through the corridors, he seems consumed by his expectations, expectations of what he will see and learn tonight. We arrive at a small section of the library, that has classic children’s tales. 

 

Truman is patient, even though a bit confused. I pick the book, Alice in Wonderland. I text the words marked in the intro of the book in my cell phone. After a few seconds of silence, the bookshelf along with Alice descends in a secret floor and a gate opens!

 

We approach. Truman follows obediently. I pull out a lighter and light the torch, that seemed invisible in the dark. 

 

The staircase appears.

 

“Stay close to me and watch your step please,” I advise him.

 

As we descend, he notices that the walls and stairs are made of ancient stones. 

 

“Are these from the original library of Alexandria?”

 

“Yes they are. Very receptive, Mr. Truman.”

 

After a few minutes we reach the gate. The floor in front of it is made in new architectural fashion. Next to the gate is a retinal scanner. I put my eye in it and the black figureless steel door opens. 

 

“We have provided you with enough knowledge and hospitality…”

 

“Enough,” he interrupted me.

 

“How can you keep this secret?”

 

“Mr. Truman…”

 

“The world must know, it has to know…”

 

“You cannot take any any of these books outside the library or make our existence public.”

 

“Who is going to stop me, you?” He was scruffy looking and hadn’t had enough sleep.

 

“No, Jack, I will help you.”

 

“…really”

 

“Yes, for years I wanted to talk to someone and share this secret. Now please go to your hotel and I will contact you.”

 

“OK, but I am taking this with me!” He took some books and left. I made a call. “He is a mad man and needs to be put back in the chains in the cave.”

 

Mr. Truman woke up in a hospital after an “accident.” I couldn’t remember anything. 

 

“Alice doesn’t remember,” said the message in my cell.

 

And we continue to provide our services in high ranking people in quiet.