Mythology 101 by Jody Lynn Nye Page A

The general use staircase was in a different place. With a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching him, he followed. Her footsteps sounded out below him, and he trotted down the stairs, taking care to stay a flight above her. Either this study group met down in one of the conference rooms in the stacks, or he was probably going to interrupt Marcy and her boyfriend, having a private “study session.” Keith made a face. He decided he didn’t want to think about the latter, and stifled the little whine of jealousy in his mind.
    It was dim in the stairwell, and the echoes sounded about him. Even his faint footfalls threatened to drown out the distant clatter of Marcy’s steps. He was descending into No-Man’s-Land, the private realm of the librarians. Keith felt as if he was on a safari, passing into dangerous territory. Did the library staff know that Marcy’s group was here? The very secretive nature of her group excited Keith’s already sharp curiosity. But what would Marcy think if she caught him following her?
    Another set of footsteps joined the echoes in the hall. Keith stopped, wondering if it was the boyfriend, or someone else from her group. No, they were too definite, too deliberate. Not another student sneaking up the stairs. Someone with authority. Keith straightened up and let his shoulders swing in a nonchalant attitude, pretending he belonged here.
    “Young man!” A tall dignified woman with a coil of black hair on her head swam out of the gloom. “What are you doing here?”
    “Um, going to level eleven, ma’am,” Keith said, blanching. He started around her, but she clenched his upper arm in a powerful grip peculiar to librarians engaged in administering reproofs.
    “This area is restricted from students’ use except during emergencies,” she said coldly. Her scrawny neck and full cheeks made her look like an angry turkey. “You are to use the north stair only.” Keith nodded politely, and tried to catch the sound of Marcy’s footsteps. They had disappeared. The librarian escorted him forcefully to the eleventh level and pushed him into a waiting elevator. “Your privileges will be restricted to the study rooms for tonight.”
    “But my project…?” There was no chance of catching Marcy now.
    “Your project will have to wait. You students must learn that you cannot break rules without punishment.” She flipped his stack card out of his fingers and brandished it at him. “You may reclaim this from my secretary tomorrow morning. I’m Mrs. Hansen, the head of Library Services.” The elevator closed with a snap on his protests.
    O O O
    Keith wandered around the reading rooms, keeping an eye on the stack entrance, until the Teaching Assistant on duty there threw him out. After that, he sat in the lobby, wondering if he should try to get into the stacks another way. He dismissed the idea, realizing that he would probably miss Marcy if he left his watch-post. Nine o’clock closing came, and the other students drifted out of the stacks. Marcy was among them, and she was alone.
    “Hi!” Keith hailed her as she appeared.
    Marcy smiled at him curiously. “How long have you been here?”
    “Just a little while,” he assured her. “I had nothing else to do. Thought I’d just wait and find out what your study group had to say.”
    “How did you know…?” Marcy exclaimed.
    “You almost said it last night,” Keith said apologetically. “ The li —Sorry. It’s the bloodhound in me. And the rest of my face isn’t so good, either. How about it?”
    “I … They still say they’ll think about it. Please. I’m doing what I can. Don’t rush me. They’re kind of … funny about having people join.”
    “No problem,” Keith said, stretching as he rose from the marble bench. “Want to go for some coffee?”
    “Sure,” Marcy said relieved. “I’m glad you’re being patient.”
    “That’s me,” Keith said, taking Marcy’s arm. “Patience is my middle name. Right