The Enchanted Library by Karen Andrea.
Category: Children’s book
Paperback: 172 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1849231826
ISBN-13: 978-1849231824
Illustrator: Loretta Schauer (www.lorettaschauer.com)

Chapter 7

Max revives several more neglected books. He reads stiffly at first, but soon relaxes into it.

A travel guide has him scorching in South India, about to ride an enormous elephant along a beach feathered in swaying coconut trees.

A children’s picture book has him eating his way through an enormous ice-cream sundae covered in chocolate sprinkles and raspberry sauce. Max murmurs with pleasure, somehow able to taste every flavour imaginable. It’s delicious, but very soon he has to stop reading, stop tasting.

A nature book transports him to a sparkling blue ocean. He’s just about to swim with dolphins, when Momma’s Three-Line-Limit is up. Max loves dolphins. He glances about sneakily, determined to read on, but Momma whips the book from him just in time.

As their friends shudder back to life, the rest of the library books clap their chapters together in applause. Even Harold’s grouchy old face breaks into a brief smile.

Momma hands Max a slim pink paperback. "Little Pink Riding Hood is one of our sickest."

Gross, thinks Max, seeing the scabby flakes and scales covering the book, like the hide of a flee-bitten dog.

"Don’t be shocked, baby. We got to keep hope alive."

Carefully, Max flicks through several pages. The only script he can find is almost completely faded and he can’t make out a single word. He swallows hard: No one seems to realise that this book is already dead, and he can’t find it in his heart to tell them. A sad murmuring comes from the Fairytale Section. The book’s family stares down at him, their desperate little faces saying PLEASE SAVE HER. YOU’RE OUR ONLY HOPE.

An idea comes to Max. Since his first visit to Grandpa’s library, he’s started remembering the fairytales his parents read to him when he was a small boy, filled with magic and strange enchantments.

Closing his eyes, he concentrates on recalling the correct story of Little Red Riding Hood. He remembers how the Big Bad Wolf gobbles up Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother. "Um... wolf," he says to the book. Nothing happens. "Wolf," he repeats. Nothing. Yet the third time he calls the wolf, he feels a faint shiver run down the book’s spine.

And his own...

He’s been warned not to break the Reject Library’s rules, warned not to let his mind wander inside the books. Only he’s itching with curiosity. Closing his eyes, he thinks himself into the book, building the story inside his head. He ignores the pictures of Little Red Riding Hood and her bedridden grandmother. Instead, he focuses on the dangerous wolf. Frowning hard, he summons a vision of the wolf’s strong body, its fierce grey gaze, its rough fur. It’s working: Little Pink Riding Hood is growing warm, shivering, moaning gently inside his hands.

Max grows hot. His heart races. His fingertips tingle.

There’s a splash of light.

The fairytale’s pages begin thrashing about as if a wild beast is about to emerge.

The surrounding bookshelves melt away, as tangled tree roots creep up on Max from all directions like twisted fingers. The library is replaced by lofty trees, thorny bushes, and murky shadows. And Max isn’t alone in the ancient forest. He can smell the wolf’s strong musk. He can feel the wolf’s presence, as it prowls about the shadows. He hears its husky panting, its low hungry growl. Senses it is plotting to make him its supper. The wolf growls viciously, and then bounds out towards him baring its fangs.

Max snaps open his eyes. He stares about wildly. His heart thrashes against his ribs. There’s a dark deathly silence. He feels dizzy, weak. He’s not sure where he is...

Just then, the library explodes back into view. "Yippee! You saved her!" cry rows of books.

"Huh?" Max gazes down at his trembling hands. Little Pink Riding Hood’s pages are shivering beneath black lines of text. She’s breathing normally again, peeping at him through small golden eyes.

"M-my pleasure," he stammers, glancing about for the wolf. As he returns the book to Momma, a page turns by itself. A picture of a fierce wolf stares out at Max - the same wolf he somehow almost brought to life. Max’s heart is thumping like a drum. What just happened was because he broke the library’s rules. Yet he can’t help feeling excited at his new power.

Momma’s eyes flash with anger. "There’s great power in words. Visitors must obey House Rules!"

"I - I can obey rules. I promise."

Harold bangs his cane. "I warned you all that the boy was a bothersome urchin. He cannot imagine the dangers to be awoken in this place!"

Max gulps. "What dangers?"

"Time for you to go," says Alice coldly. Turning away, she withdraws her head, arms and feet into her spine. Momma, Harold and all the other living books, follow her.

Max is left staring at an ordinary-looking library with ordinary books scattered everywhere. He listens carefully, but the books are silent, still. The bump on his head starts throbbing again, and for a brief moment he’s unsure, thinks he’s imagined it all.

"I know you’re just playing dead," he shouts, edging back towards the door. "I know you’re real and I’ll prove it!"