Tokyo, Japan (Saturday)
At first glance, the room seemed like it contained nothing but furniture and books, stacked haphazardly on every semi-horizontal surface. Some of the books had even fallen over, forming a large pile on the bed. But if one looked closely, they could see the outline of a human form on the bed, under the books.
The phone rang. Yomiko Readman woke up and bolted upright, sending books cascading everywhere. She reached for the phone, knocking another stack of books to the floor in the process and ignoring the newspaper on her head. "Hello?!"
"Good morning, Agent Paper."
Actually, it was more like afternoon, but she didn't correct the man on the other end of the line. He was in England, after all. Who knew what time it was there? "Good morning, Mr. Joker."
"I have an assignment for you. A long-term assignment, but I believe it will suit you."
"Hold on a second, sir." She dug through the mess on her desk until she came up with a pen and a piece of paper she could write on. "All right, go ahead."
"There's a small boarding school located on Fandom Island, off the coast of Virginia in the United States. We've received reports of unusual things happening in their library. Apparently their Special Collections may contain books we've never even heard of, books capable of remarkable things. Of course, Special Operations must investigate, and it just so happens they're in need of a librarian."
Yomiko frowned. "You want me to do it?"
"Of course. You're a teacher, Miss Readman. It's a school. And I'm told they pay well, so you can keep yourself in books. You must leave immediately, I'm afraid. Operatives will take care of packing up your apartment and having your belongings shipped to Fandom, so don't worry about that. Your ticket is waiting for you at the airport." He gave her the flight information, told her, "Remember not to pack any liquids," and hung up.
Yomiko stared at the phone for a moment, then sighed, "Virginia it is, then," and started packing for her move. She didn't have to be at the airport for a few hours. If she hurried here, she could drop by a few used bookstores on her way...
The phone rang. Yomiko Readman woke up and bolted upright, sending books cascading everywhere. She reached for the phone, knocking another stack of books to the floor in the process and ignoring the newspaper on her head. "Hello?!"
"Good morning, Agent Paper."
Actually, it was more like afternoon, but she didn't correct the man on the other end of the line. He was in England, after all. Who knew what time it was there? "Good morning, Mr. Joker."
"I have an assignment for you. A long-term assignment, but I believe it will suit you."
"Hold on a second, sir." She dug through the mess on her desk until she came up with a pen and a piece of paper she could write on. "All right, go ahead."
"There's a small boarding school located on Fandom Island, off the coast of Virginia in the United States. We've received reports of unusual things happening in their library. Apparently their Special Collections may contain books we've never even heard of, books capable of remarkable things. Of course, Special Operations must investigate, and it just so happens they're in need of a librarian."
Yomiko frowned. "You want me to do it?"
"Of course. You're a teacher, Miss Readman. It's a school. And I'm told they pay well, so you can keep yourself in books. You must leave immediately, I'm afraid. Operatives will take care of packing up your apartment and having your belongings shipped to Fandom, so don't worry about that. Your ticket is waiting for you at the airport." He gave her the flight information, told her, "Remember not to pack any liquids," and hung up.
Yomiko stared at the phone for a moment, then sighed, "Virginia it is, then," and started packing for her move. She didn't have to be at the airport for a few hours. If she hurried here, she could drop by a few used bookstores on her way...