“Ah! There you are!” Dr. Stewart says as soon as Pace and I walk into the large main room of the library. I look up at the soaring ceiling and the rows and rows of books that cover the walls. They go all the way to the arched glass dome of the building, a miniature replica of our dome. Balconies go around the perimeter of the room, each with several ladders, so the books are easily accessible for those with library privileges. The middle of the room holds row after row of tables, all highly polished so that the sunlight that comes through the domed ceiling makes them glow. Each table has six high-backed chairs with deep cushions upon them. It truly is a luxurious room. It has been many years since I’ve been inside the library. I am filled with wonder at the knowledge that surrounds me and with anger that it was kept from me for so long.
Before Dr. Stewart can wave us over, a man in a suit with a large silk scarf tied around his neck intercepts us. “Only those invited in by the king may be inside,” he says.
“I guess the king wasn’t paying attention,” Adam says as we walk by the man as if he doesn’t exist. Dr. Stewart smiles and waves, and as he moves aside a few steps we can see that he was talking with the king when we came in.
“Excellent!” Dr. Stewart exclaims as we approach. “I was just explaining parliamentary procedure to his highness.” Dr. Stewart’s exuberance is contagious, and I cannot help but grin at the excitement that plainly shows on his face.
The king’s face also shows his emotion, and it is obvious to the three of us that his highness is not pleased with this turn of events. I have noticed that Dr. Stewart gets so excited about things when he is talking that he really does not pay attention to other people’s reactions.
“I must say it was rather impertinent of you to make decisions for everyone,” the king begins, aiming his tirade at Pace. Behind us I hear the clamor of people entering the library, along with the protests of the same man who tried to stop us.
“You misunderstand,” Pace says. “The purpose of this meeting is for all of us to make decisions together to benefit everyone.”
“It is no longer all about you and the privileged,” I add. “But you are welcome to stay and share in the decision making. After all, you will be affected just like the rest of us.”
“I will not stand for this,” the king spouts. “I will have all of you arrested and tried for treason.”
“Oh dear,” Dr. Stewart says.
Pace shakes his head. “You can be a part of this if you choose. A new future for everyone. Or you can decide not to, and you will be on your own. I think if you look around, you won’t find anyone to support you. Everyone here is looking to the future.”
Voices rise around us, most of them in wonder at the library. I did not realize how many more were excluded from coming inside. I always thought it was just the shiners who were penalized. Now I realize there were so many more. We all may find that we have more in common than we thought.
“The time of living in the past is over,” I say. “It was over the second the glass came down. The time has come to look to the future.”
“Is there anyone here to represent the royals?” Pace asks. “Wouldn’t you like the privilege of doing so, to really be a part of making decisions instead of letting someone else do it for you?”
“The only way we will survive is if we all work together,” Adam adds.
The king opens his mouth to protest once more, but one look at the people milling around inside the library silences him. “I suppose I should listen to what you have to say and voice my opinion on matters,” he says instead.
“Stupendous!” Dr. Stewart says. He grabs the king’s hand and pumps it up and down while clasping his other hand against his back. I know the king is not used to being manhandled in this way, and I put my hand to my mouth to cover my grin. “Can I be of any assistance to you during your meeting?” he asks.
“I think we would all appreciate anything you have to offer,” Pace says. “Should we get this under way?” he asks me, and I appreciate his doing so. He doesn’t need me. He should be the one representing our enclave, not me. Then I remember what we learned about parliament, and I realize that perhaps instead of representing just one faction, he should be the one who heads up all of them.
But will this group see his potential, or will they dismiss him because he is young?
“Can everyone find a seat please?” Pace calls out. People move to the chairs and the sound of wood scraping over wood fills the space as they settle in.
An arm raises to get my attention, and I see Jon coming toward us. “Are you here to represent the scarabs?” I ask.
“I am,” Jon says with a smile. “And we are searching for a new name for our group. We will no longer be living off of everyone else’s castoffs. We will be making our own way.”
“I’m so happy for you, Jon,” I say. “For all of you. Of us all, your people have suffered the most.”
“I’m not so sure about that, Wren.” Jon takes my hands into his. “I am so sorry about James.”
“So am I,” I say. “I truly believe he could have done great things if given a chance.”
“That is all any of us wants,” Jon says. “A chance. And now we all have one. I hope we will appreciate it.”
“If everyone looks at it the way you do, then they will.”
Most everyone is sitting now, so Jon and I sit down at the table closest to us with Adam and Dr. Stewart. I see that Findley has come in also, and he sits at the table next to us. No one has enough courage to join the king at his table, except for the man with the scarf who chastised us, and he stands behind him, instead of sitting down.
Pace stands before the tables and waits until everyone quiets down. “I know you have questions about what has happened to our world,” he begins. “Questions about the world outside. Questions about how this all came to be.”
A few voices rise, some with insults directed at the king, others with questions. Pace waits until they quiet again, and I watch him, amazed and proud at the easy confidence he displays as he stands before everyone.
When the crowd is quiet Pace introduces himself and tells them the story of how we escaped the dome. He begins with Alex’s death, because they all saw it or knew someone who did. The way he tells it does not make either of us sound like a hero, instead we just seem determined. He also does not speak ill of my father, even though he was responsible for so many deaths. They listen, enraptured, as he speaks, until Pace tells them about the rovers. That is when the concern plainly shows on their faces.
“So by breaking the glass you have condemned us to death,” someone says.
I shake my head. They sound just like my father, living in fear.
“We can beat the rovers,” Pace says. “I have not mentioned them to make you frightened. I am telling you this so you will be prepared. We have high hopes that we will have peace with them.” He glances at me, and I smile my encouragement. We still have not heard anything from Ragnor. “Now,” Pace says, “tell us who you are and who you represent and then Dr. Stewart, who is from America, will tell us about a thing called parliament.”
“I think it would be helpful if all this was written down,” Dr. Stewart adds. He must not know the value we put on paper, but then I realize, paper is something we can have plenty of now.
The king clears his throat. “My man, Snowdon, can record everything, if that is agreeable,” he says. Everyone agrees, or else they are too taken aback by the fact that the king is here with us to protest. Snowdon goes in pursuit of paper and pen, which is provided to him by a woman who I missed before. She must be the librarian, and for a brief moment I envy her position. Snowdon nervously sits down beside the king and holds the pen aloft, waiting for Pace to proceed. Pace looks at me and smiles.