Akeel dropped Chuluum out of his arms and opened the door to reveal what looked like a large closet. Alaniah entered first, casting light in the small space, empty except for a single table.
Akeel waited until they were all in and approached the table. Marco hadn’t noticed the wooden box until Akeel leaned over and blew on it. The box disappeared, dissolving into a cloud of fairy-like dust, which settled into piles. The disappearance of the magical box exposed a fairly ordinary book. Akeel blew more dust off as he picked it up.
Cicero was on the table, nuzzling and purring against Akeel’s arm.
"This is the reason we came,” Cicero said. “You needed to see the book in its original time and place."
Skeptical but curious, Marco jumped up to join the others. There was nothing special about the book that he could see, but Alaniah was creating a distraction by flitting back and forth like a hummingbird.
“Alaniah, please hold still,” Akeel requested.
They waited until she calmed down, hovering above them in more or less the same spot.
“The Book of Motion!” Cicero announced to Marco in a grand manner, as if he were announcing the arrival of a noble prince.
Marco was perplexed. He knew he was supposed to be impressed, but it was a long way to come for a book. What was the big deal about motion? Waking from a nap and walking to the food bowl or stalking a mouse. That was motion.
Then Marco wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him. The book seemed to quiver and sort of exhale like some kind of living, breathing thing.
Okay, maybe not such an ordinary book, Marco thought.
Cicero tried to explain. "Motion can be as simple as getting from point A to point B, but it can have far deeper implications. The modest title is a bit misleading, but I think it’s to protect the importance of what’s inside."
"You are right, Cicero," said Akeel. "We are talking about motion on an entirely different level—the subatomic scale, which no one can see, even with special instruments…”
"Speak for yourselves, poor earthlings," Alaniah interrupted.
Akeel glanced up and smiled, but didn’t miss a beat. “…where things move very fast. Did you know the velocity of electrons can reach up to two million meters per second?”
“Um…”
“Even faster,” Cicero added. “Some travel three hundred million meters per second… the speed of light.”
Marco cocked his head, trying hard to look like he understood.
“Of course, this will not become common knowledge until your time.”
“Of course,” replied Marco, feeling it to be a safe response.
“In your time,” continued Akeel, “scientists will begin to grasp some of the ideas in this book. That door will open for them, but unfortunately, some will lack good judgment in using it—being responsible with its power.”
Akeel paused, looking a bit distressed. “And they will have learned nothing without this insight. Even quantum physics, quarks and all, cannot explain the whole picture. Only this small book, The Book of Motion, holds the key to understanding the grand scheme of things.”
Marco sighed, suddenly overcome by a wave of homesickness, wherever home was.
"I’m sure you wonder why I have brought you here," said Cicero. "And while you might not understand, you will have to trust me—trust us."
If that was supposed to soothe him, it didn’t help, because Marco thought it highly unfair. A sudden itch begged to be scratched and he took his time in order to gather his senses.
Cicero and Akeel paid no attention, absorbed in their discussion. They seemed to be sharing threads of the conversation as though they possessed the same mind.
"Everything is in constant motion,” Cicero was saying. “Electrons whirl like dervishes around their nucleus, planets whirl around their sun and stars whirl within their galaxies. This book is simply the ultimate guidebook to understanding everything in its natural state of motion.”
Marco had no idea what an electron, a nucleus, or a dervish was, but he did know something about the stars.
Akeel set the book back on the table. “No one knows its true origin, but it appears to have come from some other world. The Book of Motion is the most amazing book in the library; unlike most scientific explanations of life, this one leaves room for God. No, that does not do it justice.” He tried again. “The Book of Motion is more like an affirmation, as though sent by a Higher Power to show us what is possible.”
Akeel rubbed his hands over his face. “I’m afraid I am not explaining this well and I know the Book better than anyone.”
“You are troubled Akeel, and not just about explanations.”
“Yes,” he replied as he began pacing the room. “It’s about the reports I’ve been getting. There have been burnings and lootings in distant village libraries. A new force seeking to gain power is creating disturbances, spreading rumors about us, about the Library. I fear that they would like nothing better than to see us buried for good.”
Akeel sighed. “The Guardians have already been driven underground in order to protect these treasured books.” He looked out through the open door towards the other rooms full of books. “But what will become of all those who openly thirst for knowledge, both worldly and divine? This small but ill-intentioned group sees everything as black and white and they are forcing their views on others. They even perceive God in this limited perspective, as if He were some trifling old man who exhausted himself creating the universe and has been taking a long nap ever since.”
Akeel was clearly agitated. “They spread black clouds over people’s minds so they can carry out their dishonorable deeds and seize power under the cover of darkness. Even worse, they believe they can blot out our memory of the mysterious, our divine origin! How is it possible that others believe these pitiful notions? But their influence is growing, and I fear this grand idea which has become the Library of Alexandria has reached its zenith.”
A deep sigh escaped from Cicero and resonated like a wave through the room. Marco could not help joining the sigh. Cicero moved to Akeel’s side and nuzzled his head against him. This was a softer aspect of Cicero that Marco had not seen. At home, the old cat rarely interacted with the librarians, preferring to keep to himself and his books.
“Yes, I see why it needs to be guarded,” Marco said, thinking he was starting to understand and wanting very much to contribute to the conversation.
“But you don’t,” said Cicero, a little harshly. “Not yet, anyway.” The old cat jumped down and began pacing in step behind Akeel. “There is something worse that can happen to it…” Cicero glanced up at Akeel’s back. “The very people who want to suppress knowledge are the ones who know how powerful it is. They foolishly believe it is something they can own. Something they can hoard away like gold.”
Marco sighed quietly. He sat alone on the table watching man and cat pace in sync around the small room.
“I do not know yet whether they seek to destroy us or dominate us, but if they ever acquired The Book of Motion…” Akeel dropped his head into his hands.
“What?” Marco couldn’t help asking, even though he figured it was a dumb question.
“Marco, the most important thing you need to know is that The Book of Motion was a gift…” He paused. “Bestowed upon humankind for our understanding and benefit. But like anything, it can be used according to the intentions of its keeper. Take a carpenter’s ax for instance. It can be used to fell trees and create, to build dwellings for families. Or it can bludgeon the life out of someone.”
Alaniah darted about the small room. “Cicero! Akeel!” she sputtered, showering them with microscopic light crystals.
“Yes, Alaniah? What is the matter?”
“Get on with it!”
“What do you mean?” Both Akeel and Cicero looked perplexed.
“Too much talking-ing.”
Cicero and Akeel looked at each other, then at Marco. Brilliant minds suddenly clueless.