Keahi reached out for the book, then stopped with her hand still a short distance away.
"We should wait for Kori for this one" she said.
"Obviously" Arashi replied, copying Kori's tone without trying to be funny.
Lynea stared at the chains. "Who would want to chain a book?"
"Someone who didn't want it opened? Obviously?" Ferris answered, copying Kori.
Esen looked at the lock, then shoved his hands into his pockets like he didn't trust himself not to do something wrong.
"Probably someone who survived it" he added. And this time, there was no joke hiding behind his voice.
Students still passed by in the distance, not approaching the group. Their voices were low.
Afternoon had slipped toward copper light, their little pile of rescued books built around them.
Suddenly, the doors banged open.
Kori swept in with a muffin in her mouth. She stopped, and took in the scene - ring of students, huge pile of books - and grinned.
