Moving in the largest hall.
Where there is no noise,
Find it and rejoice.”
There was an uncomfortable silence. Everyone instinctively looked at James, but James looked stumped. “I don’t get it.”
They all had high hopes from James. His track record in solving tricky riddles was near perfect. Their hopes dimmed as they saw James looking lost.
Pyros said, “Don’t mind it. You can get any book you want. I have collected a few that I felt would be relevant.” Pyros clicked his fingers and a pile of books appeared.
James sat down and began to look over the books, while the others went to rest.
Next morning, James looked excited. “I have a few ideas,” he said. “Nothing concrete, but I just need a little time. And also a book.”
Pyros said, “You can take any book from my cave Library. Just call its name and it will appear, as I have told you multiple times before.”
“No, you don’t understand,” James said. He said in an agitated tone, “The book didn’t appear. I have the book in my house, back on Earth. But it isn’t here in your Library.”
“That’s just not possible,” Pyros said, shaking his head. What’s the book’s name?”
“‘A Brief History of Time’, by the great scientist Stephen Hawking. It’s the best book about space and the workings of the Universe, but it isn’t here,” James said.
Pyros called the book’s name. He yelled it aloud. He sat down and meditated, but the book did not appear.
Pyros stood up, his face a storm of worry. “Something is wrong. The Library in my cave is in perfect synchronization with the Master Library at Cotton Village. It is impossible that a book is not available at the Master Library at Cotton Village.”
“Relax. Can’t there be syncing issues between the Master Library and your cave’s Library? I think there could be a technical problem.” The Scavenger tried to calm down Pyros’s anxiety.
“Till date, there has only been one instance, many years back, when there was a syncing issue between the two Libraries. I was looking for a book in my cave’s Library, which was not available. I had to go to the Master Library at Cotton Village to get the book. Subsequently, I called the master sorcerer of Cotton Village, who took several days to rectify the sync issue.” Pyros paused. “We don’t have much time with us. Can you do without that book, James?”
“No,” James said. “The book is crucial to get the solution to the riddle. I need the book, somehow.”
Pyros thought for a few moments, and then said, “No problem. Let’s leave the sync issue for now and go to the Master Library to get your book.”
Pyros created a portal to Cotton Village. Everyone jumped in.
The portal opened in front of the Master Library at Cotton Village. The Library was a classic structure. The children were surprised to see the luxurious standards of Cotton Village. The village had mansions with beautiful white fountains and lush gardens. The village had sprawling houses that were beautifully decorated.
The streets were empty. There was no one around. Even the mansions had their curtains drawn.
Daniel was the first to reach the Library door. Just as he was about to go inside, the Scavenger stopped him with a shriek.
“What?” Daniel asked, looking at the Scavenger, who was pointing at the glass door.
“Can’t you see?” the Scavenger said. “Look, the door’s a little open, and I can see a red wire. It’s a tripwire!” He gripped his head. “Oh, no! No one in the village, streets empty, traps outside our destination.” He turned to his group. “It’s an ambush! RUN.”
The Scavenger took out his sword. Daniel, Archer, James and Pyros turned to run, but armed men appeared out of nowhere, blocking their way. The men were holding hounds with ropes and the dogs bared their teeth hungrily.
Something clonked against his head, and James was knocked out.
When he regained consciousness, James’s entire body felt numb. His head was swollen. He were feeling very sleepy, as if he was drugged.
“Hello.”
The computer-generated robotic voice sounded deep – too deep.
“Wh-who are you?” James said sluggishly. “Why I am sleepy? And numb?”
The voice replied, “Well, James, the sleep is because of melatonin. I am sure you know what that is. And the numbness is due to metronidazole. If you are as intelligent as everyone says, then it should not be difficult to guess a lot about me. Don’t worry about my name, but do remember that I will always be one step ahead of you.”
The voice went silent, leaving James confused and with loads of questions. Who was this voice? How did it know his name?
Suddenly, in the dim light, James felt the presence of Archer, Daniel and Pyros sitting on chairs. The Scavenger was missing.
The voices of his friends echoed, “Where are we?”
“Why can’t we stand up?” Daniel said in a panicked voice. “James?”
“It’s no use,” James said resignedly. “We are drugged.”
“How do you know that?” Archer asked.
“That voice told me,” James said. “Wait... you didn’t hear the voice?”
Archer, Daniel and Pyros replied in unison, “No.”
James couldn’t move his hands, but he could sense that he was separated from the others by a transparent glass that blocked sound. The sound would pass through only when the glass was activated. James had read about this glass back on Earth. It seemed that the glass had been activated now, since the children and Pyros could converse among themselves.
“Pyros, you must be knowing something. What’s going on?” Archer asked.
Pyros replied in a distressed voice, “I am lost. Such a thing has never happened before. I can’t understand how the peaceful Cotton Village could be ambushed like this. Who would do that?”
There was gloom and silence. No one spoke. As the effects of the drugs started to wear off, James got up from the chair and checked his hunch. He was
right – there was a glass wall separating them.
The voice came again. “Hello, friends. You see, I don’t intend to hurt you. You seem to
