The Fantastic London Library

The London Library

Cordially invites you to the 150 year anniversary sleepover,

an incredible and unforgettable adventure.

2 April 1991 - 7pm - 14 St James's Square, London

Bring nothing but this ticket and your curious, book-loving self.

***

Thud.

The sound is faint, but Nicki is wide awake, going over the rooms she saw earlier in the library that most people never get to see. Simon and Jojo are asleep and Miss Billie is snoring on the cot near the door.

Thud.

Thud.

Nicki sits up straight in her sleeping bag. The library is empty, apart from the four of them. Miss Billie said there were secret passageways. It would be exciting to find one. She must go and check.

“Jojo,” she whispers, shaking the girl’s shoulder. Her mess of tight curls covers most of her face. “Jojo, wake up!” Nicki shakes her again. “Get up and get your shoes. I’m gonna go get Simon.”

Nicki is gone before Jojo’s eyes can properly focus.

Simon is already half awake from the commotion. “What’s going on?”

“Put your shoes on.”

There is another sound now, softer than before. Nicki can’t make out what it is.

She waits by the door tapping her foot, her shoe’s lights flash. You can’t get these shoes in shops yet, but her father has very important friends. Right now, she’s afraid the light will wake up Miss Billie and she waves her hands, mouthing “Hurry up!”

When the clock strikes twelve, they shuffle out of the room.

When they reach the stairs, Jojo asks, “What’s happening?” The red bow on her head is crooked.

“Miss Billie said we were not to leave the room until morning,” Simon adds, his voice shaking.

“I heard a noise. We have to investigate. Maybe we can find the secret passage.”

“What if someone’s broken in?” Simon’s eyes are wider than ever, but Nicki waves him away.

“Who would break into a library?”

All three heads turn at a sound beyond in the dark. Nicki taps her feet and the faint sparkling light of her shoes is enough to make out a shape. It looks like a person, but so much bigger – the arms too long, the shape too tall.

The three of them scream and Nicki pulls them by the hands.

She takes a left at the bottom of the stairs. She follows the first stack of books, running through the maze of shelves making random turns. Simon’s hand in hers, Jojo is close behind.

When her legs begin to burn, she stops, leaning against a bookshelf.

“What was that?” Jojo's hands are on her thighs, she’s catching her breath.

“I don’t know. It looked like a man, but I couldn’t see properly. It was too dark,” Nicki says.

“We need a torch if we’re going to keep investigating,” Jojo suggests.

“What?” Simon cries out. “We have to go get Miss Billie. She will know what to do.”

“Don’t worry, Simon. It was probably just a column or something.” Nicki says. “We just need a bit of light.”

Simon hesitates, looking between the two girls. They are bigger than him, they’re braver. He should trust them. Right?

“What do you have there?” Jojo notices Simon’s hand in his jacket pocket.

As he pulls his hand out, a yellow rectangle with a blue circle emerges.

“A torch!”

There’s scuffling in the aisle up ahead.

“Quick, turn it on!” He does as he is told. He is glad some of the blackness is gone. His mum has been helping him get used to the dark, but he still carries his torch to bed every night.

As he aims the dim light at the sound, a book lies on the floor, wide open.

“Maybe it fell off the shelf,” Jojo wonders as the three huddle up towards the book.

Another scuffle and a hand reaches out from within the pages.

Nicki’s chin drops.

They watch a man’s body claw its way out of the book. His clothes look expensive, a long blade is tied to his waist, and there’s a giant feather on his pirate hat.

When he finally stands, stretching his long coat and running a hand through his wavy hair, he turns around and spots them.

“Why, greetings, children.” An unsettling grin spreads on his face. The three kids step back as one.

“Who are you?” Jojo is the first to regain her voice.

“Don’t be rude, children.” He smiles again, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Come, let’s have a chat.”

As he moves towards them, something in his right hand glints with the torch light, sharp, metal and deadly.

The kids take a few more steps back and the man’s face sours. “Come to me now! Have you no respect?”

They step back further.

“What do we do now!?” Simon whispers from behind them, and they keep stepping slowly back, together, until they turn a corner. The man doesn’t follow.

As they head towards the stairs, Nicki suggests, “Let’s go to reception, we can hide there and talk.”

When they try the office door next to reception, it doesn’t budge. The three jump up and behind the reception counter, sliding down to the floor, backs against the wooden structure.

“Ok, let’s talk,” Nicki says.

When no one says anything, she continues, “We all saw a posh pirate come out of a book, right?” She looks from Jojo to Simon and back, her eyebrows raised.

They both nod.

“How?” is her next question.

“Perhaps we’re dreaming?” Jojo suggests.

“We can’t be, I never slept.” Nicki stands up and starts pacing. “In the wonderland book, Alice goes through a rabbit hole and finds a magic place. Maybe we went through a secret passage?”

“How?” Jojo stands up to pace with Nicki. “We were in bed when you heard the noise.”

“Can we go get Miss Billie?” Simon says from the floor.

The two girls look at him, but footsteps in the hallway make them freeze in place. Jojo presses the button on Simon’s torch and the light goes out.

The three of them stand on their knees and level their eyes with the counter. Enormous shadows cast from the moonlight peeking in through the windows.

It’s the first man. But not quite man, more a creature.

Now with more light, Nicki notices there is something off about him – it. It is too big and its body is not right. It has all the parts a person should have, but it’s like they were put together wrong.

The three lower their heads and cover their mouths, hoping the creature will go away.

“Everyone runs from me,” it says to the room. The accent is foreign, but Nicki doesn’t recognise it.

When the creature starts retreating, they breathe in relief. As Nicki shifts positions, her shoes light up, colourful light showering the room. “Oh, no.”

The creature grunts and turns towards them. Unnaturally long arms stretch in their direction.

They jump up and press their backs to the wall. There is nowhere to go.

“We need to do something!” Jojo yells.

Next to them, Simon is quiet, shaking.

“Anything!” she yells again as the creature approaches.

“Any more tools in your pocket, Simon?” Nicki whispers, staring at the creature getting closer. His eyes look dead, his skin translucent.

“I don’t think this will help,” Simon whispers back.

When Nicki and Jojo turn to face him, a peach sits on the palm of his hand. It is unusually large, almost the size of an apple.

“Throw it at him!” Jojo yells, “Then we run.”

“Then can we go to Miss Billie?”

“YES!” the two girls yell at the same time.

Simon swings the peach above his head and lets go.

When the peach flies, the three run without looking back.

They run for the stairs, past the maze of books, to the top floor towards the room where Miss Billie will surely know what to do.

“Miss Billie! MISS BILLIE!” The three yell before they even reach the door. But then they stop in their tracks, almost tumbling on top of each other.

There is a man inside the room, dressed in all black, with slick hair combed back and gleaming in the moonlight. He looks so pale. Is that a cape on his back? Nicki thinks.

He moves so slowly and quietly that the kids barely register. He is now looking straight at them. His grin is wicked and some teeth are extra pointy in his mouth. He holds his hand out as if in greeting, but his eyes are menacing.

“Well, welcome, children,” the man says in a low, steady voice. “There is no need for such a racket. It will do no good, you see? Your beloved Miss Billie is fast asleep.”

Jojo and Simon are quiet, staring.

Nicki doesn’t like this at all. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

His smile falters for only a second, before he recovers.

“I am simply in search of nourishing,” his voice is melodic now, but there is still evil behind it, Nicki can see it in his eyes.

“The kitchen is in the other room,” she says, motioning to the other door.

“Well, child, your food holds little value to my eternal body.”

“What does that mean?” Nicki asks, folding her arms, now.

“It means my needs are more peculiar, refined.”

Nicki falters, looking back at the other two. Simon squeezes her hand and nods for her to continue. She takes a deep breath and faces the man again.

“Then you should be going to a fancy restaurant, not a library,” she says.

The man’s eyes narrow and his smile is almost completely gone.

“You resist, child, but you will submit to my will,” he says, his face matching his intent now.

“Or what?” Nicki asks, hands back on the hips. She taps her foot once, trying to think, and the lights that flash below her do nothing to the two sets of eyes, fixed on each other.

The man’s mouth opens, but he doesn’t say anything.

“How can he be here without an invitation?” Jojo whispers behind her.

Nicki’s eyes go wide, a small grin breaks on her face as she understands. “I know what you are, and you were not invited.”

“I live here, silly girl.” When Nicki hesitates, he smirks.

“Not in this room, you don’t. You live in a book.” Jojo moves to Nicki’s side and holds her hand. Simon takes the other.

“And you were not invited out,” Nicki finishes, stomping her foot.

Smoke begins to curl on the floor, around the man’s cape, rising in a spiral. It reaches his head and he yells. The smoke pulls him down. When it’s gone, so is he, and a book lies open on the floor.

“Whoa!” Says Jojo. “How did you know that would work?”

“I didn’t,” says Nicki, picking up the book, “but it’s like he wanted to trick us, so I just thought ‘What would Alice do?’”

But there’s no time to celebrate, because that huge creature is at the door.

The girls scream, but Simon is quiet. He’s just staring, he thinks, he’s not coming for us, his body turning towards the almost-man. But a hand pulls him and they escape through the other door into the kitchen, leaving Miss Billie behind, still fast asleep.

They go down the stairs again and on the lower level the stacks of books are packed tight, the metal grates shake loudly at their feet. They turn a corner and run smack into something. Or worse, someone.

As they get up off the floor, the arrogant pirate brushes his clothes with his hand, the glinting metal hidden behind his back.

“What disgraceful behaviour!” he complains. “Do you know who I am? This is outrageous!”

A clock strikes one. His face turns quickly as if struck. The ticking is loud, but it’s just a clock. Why is he afraid? Jojo wonders. Then it dawns on her who he is, but she is already getting pulled away, until the man is out of sight.

“Do you think the same thing will work with the others, what you did upstairs?” Jojo asks, eyebrows up, eager. “Sending them back into the book?”

Nicki looks behind Simon’s head, eyes wide, and says, “We can try.”

The big creature stops in front of them and tilts its head, looking from one face to the other. He’s not trying to hurt us, Simon thinks.

“You don’t belong here,” Nicki says, “you are just a monster from a book.”

The creature winces at the word. “I did not choose to look this way,” it says, motioning to its body with enormous hands.

“It isn’t working,” Nicki whispers to the other two.

He’s a different creature, Jojo thinks, he must follow different rules. Her heart races, her eyes searching for a way out.

The creature’s eyebrows furrow and it says “I do not mean you any harm.”

Jojo is preparing to try something, anything, when Simon raises his hand.

“Wait.”

He looks at the creature with interest and takes a small step toward it.

“Simon, what are you doing!?” Jojo whispers, eyes wide.

“He looks sad.” Simon takes another step.

The creature stays still, watching, waiting. There is no evil in its eyes, or venom in its – his – voice.

“Hello,” Simon says, his voice trembling, but he still moves forward.

“Hello, little one.” He raises his hand and Simon startles.

“Apologies,” the creature says, “I wanted only to properly greet you.”

He lowers his hand, but Simon holds his hand out. He is trembling. The creature carefully wraps the enormous hand around Simon’s tiny one. The shake is small and gentle, and Simon relaxes.

“Why did you chase us?” Jojo asks from a little closer now.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” the creature says. His voice is soft for the size of his body and his unreal appearance. “I only wanted company.”

“What about the other two men?”

“They have ill intentions. They leave no room for kindness or companionship.”

The kids look at each other.

“I’m sorry about what I said,” Nicki says, her head down, eyes low to her feet.

“It is forgiven, child. I understand my appearance can be daunting.” He looks at the three of them and turns around, moving away. “I will go back to my book now.”

Jojo looks from his back to the other two and her face lights up.

“Wait!” She runs to catch up to him and the other two follow, shooting questions at her with their eyes. “I have an idea.”

The three kids and the giant creature pile together in the small aisle, as she explains “The snobby pirate is scared of the ticking, because of the crocodile that ate his hand. Remember? From the book?”

Understanding dawns on Nicki and Simon’s face.

“So maybe to send him back, all we have to do is make him even more scared.” Simon says.

“Exactly, like in the story.” Jojo agrees. “But first we have to get some supplies.”

After they collect what they need, plan in place, they head in search of the captain. And soon enough, they find him, the pompous, arrogant man.

“Well, well, well,” he says, swaying in their direction, his right arm behind his back. “What have we here?”

“Hello, Captain.” Jojo smiles and bows her head.

“Finally some respect and propriety!” he exclaims, smiling ear to ear.

Simon comes closer, holding a clock behind his back. The Captain hears the ticking and his joy falters, his head moves around, searching for the source of the sound.

Jojo fumbles with a timer behind her back, but manages to turn the dial. It too starts ticking.

“What nonsense are you up to, children?” the man says, adjusting his coat, combing his hair with his hand. He puffs his chest, but his eyes never stop looking around.

Nicki chuckles, and the man snaps.

“I will not be mocked by children!” he yells. He sees the timer on Nicki’s hand and his face changes from fear to rage. He begins to pull his sword out, but Simon takes a step forward.

“What’s wrong, mister?” he asks, and a large shadow appears behind the man, arms stretched out and a growl escaping his mouth.

The pompous man drops his sword and screams in terror. He lifts his arms, covering his face, and shrinks into himself.

Smoke comes from the floor and engulfs him. He whimpers and disappears. All that is left is an open book.

Simon looks at the creature, now standing normally again. “Thank you, friend.”

“Anytime, little one.” The creature smiles and holds out his hand. Each child shakes it in turn. Simon wraps the man’s legs in a hug. “It was a pleasure meeting you three. I will never forget you.”

There is no smoke, this time. He is just gone in a second, an open book left in his place.

Simon and Jojo each pick up one book and the three kids beam and chat on their way to the return trolley.

“I can’t believe these villains were so easy,” Jojo says, looking at her book.

“And I can’t believe Simon made friends with a monster!” Nicki adds.

The three laugh out loud, racing each other through the labyrinth of books.

-

When she wakes up in the morning, Nicki puts her hands in her jacket pockets and feels something crumpled deep inside. When she pulls it out, it catches the sunlight. She looks at the golden invitation paper she had forgotten was there and smiles.

An incredible and unforgettable adventure indeed.