The unspoken promise in your kiss

Of all the beauty and grace

in one's intimate touch

there are tales to be told

worth more a library could fill

Ever the essence is still

the unspoken promise

that starts your chase

Chapter One

Trough papers untold and teacups unnumbered, Gerald Smith had fought his way there to the cosy chair behind the reception to take back that book, that had stolen his attention. Sighing he pulled the many times patched blanket over his lap and swung up his feet to rest on the small stool in front of the chair. His eyes had already found the passage were he had stopped reading this morning. Fascinating it was, how such an unspectacular novel could still gain his interest. It was a simple story. Written in a very easy English and the storyline was predictable. Yet he didn't blame the author for that. It wasn't an easy task to surprise someone, who had read as many books as he had. He was a librarian after all and an old one ,too. How old you ask? Very old.. Seeing him you wouldn't think he'd be vain about telling his real age. His skin was freckled and wrinkled. His eyebrows seemingly longer than his ears were big. And for long he had given up to chase the present fashion. His fanciest pair of trousers lay in multiplicity numbers in his cupboard. But compared to his age he was quite fit as a fiddle and way young looking. You wouldn't believe it. All you have to know is, that he is old.

The clattering of the little door bell rang through the building. Here in his hidden corner behind the reception it was only a dim sound, easy to miss. Gerald however never missed it. It was as if he'd always be on his heels to hear it. One hand instantly clutched the small pendant ,that hung on his neck at all times. The other fumbled blindly for the baseball bat next to him. This wooden weapon wouldn't help much, if they would come for him. Although he was painfully aware of that, he felt more safe with it. In the past years it had been of help at least. Those foolish boys had scared the hell out of him not only once. He had been relieved to discover they had been mere schoolboys. Spoilt and stupid, but still only little boys that were looking for trouble. Gerald knew they made fun of him. As soon as they had discovered how easily Gerald was terrified, they had made a sport out of it. After a few times it had become an annoyance. He had become used to it. Yet Gerald was not so foolish to take it for granted. One faithful day that bell would not announce an annoyance. One day they would find him. Guarded with his old-established weapon he stole his way ,as quiet as he could manage, into the corridors of the book shelves. Tiptoeing closer to the entrance door, using the gaps smaller books enabled to peak to the door. The small bell at the edge of the frame still shivered slightly. But the door was closed and he couldn't see anyone. Gripping his pendant more firmly Gerald took the corner of the parallel shelf, which led further into the library's centre. Whoever had come in would have to pass there. But the corridor was empty. Whispering a curse, Gerald decided to walk the whole building through. He could sense the fear crawling up his spine.

They could be everywhere. They would hover in a corner. They would wait to catch him off guard. No, no they wouldn't make this easy for him. Another dead alley showed itself to him. Delusional images crossed his inner eye. The only sound Gerald could hear was his own ragged breathing, as he turned slowly to look over his shoulder. THERE! Only the shelf in front of him hid him. With the back turned to him a long haired person seemed to scan the bookshelf opposite the shelf ,he was hiding behind. The baseball bat fell soundly to the wooden floor. Damned he was. Now they knew where he was. The raven haired head on the other side of the shelf turned briefly. Gerald's heart skipped a beat. Preparing himself for whatever they'd do now. Unable to move, unable to think now that the day had come. Now that the moment had come. The moment they would finally sentence him. After so many years of running, hiding, fearing of what they would do to him. "Good day, Mr Smith.", a gentle female voice said. Good..? Gerald swallowed, his dry throat nearly hurt. Skulking he made himself walk to the shelf's end. Cautiously he peaked around the corner. The lovely yet defined features of Sarah Williams face looked up to regard him with a kind smile. "Do you have any new books, Mr Smith?" That girl would kill him before they ever got a chance to! Letting the relief settle over him, Gerald tried to pull his expression together. "New books? New books?! Don't make me laugh, child.", he spat. He didn't really mean to say it the way he had. But frankly, he was happy to catch himself so quickly. "Huh,..I guessed so", Sarah sighed. Shrugging, she turned to the shelf again. Scanning the books with mild interest. If there was someone that had read nearly every book of the library besides Gerald, it would be this girl. Gerald knew her since she could read at all. She had spend hours here reading silently. Always taking a few books home and exchanging them against others, when she came. Howbeit she didn't come as often as she had when she was younger, she still came in every week, if only briefly. Gerald supposed she must have gotten involved in her studies and had less time to read. "I didn't mean to offend you, Mr Smith. I was just wondering if.. You had a nice fantasy department once. Have you rearranged the books? I can't find them.", she mused. While she was talking she moved the shelf up, as if she'd find these books somewhere in between. What Sarah didn't know was, that he had taken these certain books away. She was much too nosy for Gerald's taste. And after all these years he had thought she had long forgotten about them. Naturally she couldn't forget about one of them. That girl! Right under his nose she had taken the book and never brought it back. Normally he would have pulled everyone's ear for stealing from his library. However this girl with her piercing eyes and he had come to an unspoken understatement. Even if he would never admit it, Sarah had charmed him. His grumpy, peculiar manner threw ice on anyone that had found his way into this library. Usually he was treated with the same ignorant behaviour, he emanated. Sparing of words people would lend books, after looking for them on their own. Not daring to ask him, happy when they didn't have to exchange a word with him. Sarah on the other hand has never been appalled by his air. They silently accepted the others presence. Sarah would hover over the books, talking to him without expecting him to answer nor judging it. Sometimes he even wondered whether she cared if he even listened. And he would peacefully read or do his job. If Sarah cared so much about that book, he would let her have it. But as soon as he had noticed it was gone, he had taken the others away. Best to keep it out of her reach. Somehow Gerald couldn't stand the idea of that girl getting hurt.

The old man kept an eye on Sarah from the corner of his eye. As he walked back to retrieve the baseball bat, he called: "People tent to put the books into the wrong shelves, child. You'll have to search for a while." He didn't get an answer. So he decided to head back to his book behind the reception.