Elrich Saga Yellow Springs Book One

Chapter 19 Old Man Emissions

Chapter 19 Old Man Emissions

The man who had interrupted me earlier was sitting close to the librarian's desk flipping through a small book and taking some notes in a leatherbound notebook. He must not have noticed me since he leaned a little to the side and a few seconds later I could smell it. I know it's a bodily function, but it's just rude to do that sort of thing in an enclosed public space. There was a public toilet in the far back corner of the library that could be used.

"Edmond!" Illia popped out from behind a shelf nearly startling me into dropping the books I was placing on her cart.

"I have told you that I will not have you stinking up the place. One more time and you will have to leave."

I did see her point it was a rather bad one and it was lingering around. What the heck did this guy eat?

"It's fine Illy! It's natural. I don't smell anything." He griped at her.

"It's not fine, and it stinks. Just because you've killed off all sense of smell doesn't mean the rest of us have. One more time and you have to leave, and I'll let Mary know why."

"Now Illy, that's not fair, I can take care of it."

I started to walk back to my desk, planning on ignoring the entire thing, when Illia gave a piercing scream.

I turned to see her smacking the old man with a book. While at the same time she was stomping on something. I smelled sulfur in the air and the man had a small box in his hand. I recognized it from the camping gear that Crue had me buy.

"OUT!" Illia screeched, "Get OUT!"

"What! Why! Stop hitting me," he was trying to fend off her book attack with his notebook held in front of him as a shield.

"You just lit a fire in a room full of books!" She smacked him one last time then grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

"I didn't set fire to the books I was covering up the smell. I was doing you a favor!" He huffed as he was hauled up out of his chair by a person half his size.

"Don't do ME any favors. You are banned for the next month. I will talk to Mary to see if that ban will be permanent."

"If I'm banned I want my money back!" He yelled as she pushed him out the door.

"No refunds and all books must be returned within the week or all fines will be doubled."

With that, she did her best to slam the heavy door in his face, but since it had some sort of triangle spring thing at the top that prevented the door from slamming, the effect was lost.

By this point, a few more people had popped up from behind shelves and were watching the spectacle. A lady with graying hair pulled back into a tight bun, actually applauded lightly. A young man of about fourteen was trying to contain his laughter. Another older man who was standing behind him was grinning from ear to ear. It was nice that the library patrons found it all amusing.

Illia was red all over from embarrassment when she saw she had an audience. She started to blurt out an apology but was interrupted by the lady.

"It's fine dear. Old Edmond is a peculiar sort and sometimes you just have to take a stand. He lives out there all on his own surrounded by all that death. It's bound to make you a bit lax about social graces and common sense. Sometimes the smartest people are the ones who have the dumbest actions." The old lady practically bounded over to Illia then patted her gently on the arm. I must admit the way the lady moved was new. I don't think I'd ever seen someone of her age with such a big stride and a hop in her step. It was amazing she hadn't broken a hip.