Paper and Fire (The Great Library) Read Online Free Page A

the
careful
way his father did business. “He wants to obtain some information, and you’re the best positioned to have it at your fingertips. It’s a delicate matter, of course.”
    “Of course,” Ibrahim agreed. “Naturally.” He waited with polite attention.
    “Automata,” Jess said.
    “There are no truly rare versions of Heron’s work, as you no doubt know—”
    “Not interested in rare volumes,” Jess said. “We’re looking for books that describe the inner workings of the creatures. And how to disable them.”
    Red Ibrahim was in the act of drinking his coffee, and though he hesitated an instant, he finished so smoothly Jess almost missed the reaction. Almost. Then he laughed, and it sounded completely natural. “Do you know how often this request is made, young Brightwell? The automata are the enemies of both smugglers and Burners in every city on earth! Do you not think that if such information was available, we would have obtained it and made an incredible fortune with it by now?”
    “A unique treasure like that is more useful when employed strategically, for your own purposes.” Jess put an edge on his voice. “This is the most dangerous place in the world to smuggle a book, and yet you’ve made a career of it—an empire, of sorts. You’d make it a mission to have that information at your disposal.”
    “No one can disable these creatures. It’s impossible.”
    “Nothing’s impossible,” Jess said. “They’re mechanical creatures. They’re made. Someone knows their secrets, and secrets are always for sale to those who look hard enough. And if I know anything about you, sir, it’s that you would look
very
hard.”
    “At everyone,” Red Ibrahim agreed. He put down his coffee cup with precise control. “What does your father offer in exchange for this gift of all gifts? Presuming such a thing exists at all.”
    Jess tried to keep his face as calm as Ibrahim’s, his pulse as slow. He didn’t blink. “I have a copy of
The First
Book of Urizen
by William Blake.”
    Ibrahim’s expression was just as still. “There are eight copies of such a book in the world,” he said. “I would need something a great deal more rare. It is, as you say, precious treasure indeed, this information.”
    “There
were
eight copies,” Jess said. “Six of them were purchased by ink-lickers, who ate them in some sort of sick ritual four months back. As I’m sure you already know. That leaves two: the one in my father’s vaults . . . and the one I have stashed here in Alexandria. Which can be yours, if you have what I want.”
    “Ah,” Ibrahim said softly. “Now we come to it, I believe. What
you
want. It is not your father who asks. He’d never let you trade away such an important, valuable volume. He’s gotten along well enough without such information, despite the best efforts of the London Garda. No, I think it is
you
who needs it so badly.”
    Jess didn’t answer that. He felt sweat break out hotly on the back of his neck, but he hoped his face remained unreadable. After a moment, he said, “One of two copies left in the world. I’m offering it in a fair exchange. It’s a prince’s ransom.”
    Ibrahim shared a look with his daughter. Anit said, “It is a good price, is it not?”
    “It is,” Ibrahim agreed. “But that isn’t the point. The point is that young Brightwell here is trading against his family’s interests, for personal reasons. Tell me, does it have to do with the book you spent so much time and
geneih
tracking down, and bought only yesterday, perhaps? The one about the prisoners of the Archivist?”
    This was dangerous. Very dangerous. Jess said nothing. Ibrahim sat back against the cushions and rested his chin on one hand. He wore a ruby ring on one finger, and it looked like a drop of fresh blood. “I want no involvement in Library affairs,” he continued. “Nor in the private crusade of a brash young man. This is not our trade.”
    “I’m asking for