LUCID

LUCID Part 5

"I'm not sure, but we should look into it." I replied. "You say he's also a student at the University?"

"Yes. I think so."

"Good." I explained. "I wanted to return to the University library in the real world anyways. I want to see if that book, the one you signed, exists here also. We can look Gilman up too."

"Let's go!" Kenzie exclaimed, heading to her bathroom to clean up.

* * * * * * *

An hour later, after driving from Kenzie's apartment on one side of Essex County to the other to visit a doctor friend of mine, Kenzie and I returned and entered the sole library on the Miskatonic University campus.

Kenzie scanned her student ID card at the entrance to the library and I scanned the visitor ID I still had.

"Nash, you never did tell me why you were here in the library, the day we met. I mean, you're not a student, right?" Kenzie asked.

"Shhh." The aged librarian cautioned Kenzie.

"Yeah." I whispered to Kenzie. "I thought I told you. I'm doing some research in the Orne Library portion of the University Library. You know, the occult section. I'm researching some of the expeditions the University funded in the early nineteen-thirties. Nothing that can't wait."

"Why?"

"Long story." I explained in a low voice. After remembering how Kenzie struck up a conversation with me over a week ago, in this very library, I decided to ask her about it. "We met here. You approached me."

"And I'm glad I did." Kenzie added, winking at me.

Ignoring her, I continued. "So, what I mean to say is, and don't take any offense to this, but do you meet a lot of men here?"

"A lot?" Kenzie asked angrily. "What do you mean by that? A lot of men?"

"I mean, I'm trying to figure out who the Great might be. Maybe you met him here." I glanced around the busy library. "Do you know anyone here now?"

Kenzie examined the other people in the library and tilted her head at some of them. "I know that old guy over there. His name is Joel. He's a principal at a high school in New England. Manton I think. Yeah. Joel Manton. He told me he prefers this library to his own to avoid running into his teachers or his students." Kenzie continued to scan the crowd as we walked around the library. "And I know him. That guy. I think his name is Randy. Yeah. It's Randy. He's an ex-student if I remember correctly. Doing research here like you are. Lots of people conduct research in this library. He's a weird one."

Interesting. I thought.

When we first entered the library, I noticed how both of these men, Joel and Randy, glared at Kenzie and me as if they both knew us. Sure enough, Kenzie confirmed they did both know Kenzie and conversely, she knew them also, at least she knew their names.

"One of those guys might be the Great." I commented. "Or they might not be. I'll check them both out in a few minutes, but first, let's find that book. That has our priority right now. If I'm right, those two won't leave us alone in here for long if one of them is actually the guy we're looking for."

Entering the restricted area of the library, the Orne section, I scanned the vast collection of titles of ancient, occult books which made the Miskatonic University Library famous the world over.

CORPUS HERMETICUM

Excerpts from KITAB AL-AZIF

YOUNICH Manuscript (Illustrated Version)

YOUNICH Manuscript (Codex Version)

ASKUMIAN CHRONICLES (Collected Works)

The Tome of VALMIKI

LIBER INVONIS (THE BOOK OF EIBON)

The Collected Scrolls of the TSATHOGGUAN CYCLE

The UNAUSSPRECHLICHEN KULTEN

"Here it is, Nash!" Kenzie exclaimed, holding up a book entitled the BOOK OF AZATHOTH.

"Shhhh." A well-dressed scholar, also searching the book titles, chastised Kenzie.

"Sorry." Kenzie apologized sheepishly. Together, Kenzie and I sat at a nearby table and I opened the spellbook.

"Damnit." I whispered, turning the first few pages over.

"What?" Kenzie asked.

"No names or signatures." I explained, handing Kenzie the list of names I wrote down earlier in the day. "You must have only signed the Dreamlands version. I'll tell you what. I'm going to read this. Try to find some clues to help us. Can you please do some research on all these names. After all, besides all these creepy books, this is still a university library, isn't it?"

Kenzie smiled at me and with the list of names in her hand, headed towards the media section of the library. Alone for the first time all day, I turned my attention back to the BOOK OF AZATHOTH.

After over two hours of fascinating study, I managed to skim approximately half of the book. As I flipped another page, the overwhelming smell of cat urine assaulted my nostrils.

A man's voice startled me. "Don't read any more of that book!"