The Last Dragon Chronicles: Fire World: Fire World by Chris D'Lacey Page A

daisies, enjoying the sensation of their petals on his skin. “Where were you going when Aunt Gwyneth found you?”
    Rosa sighed and flicked her daisy away. “I thought the book might help David, so…  Do you know how to get into the upper floors?”
    “No,” he said. “You’ve found the door, haven’t you – to Floor 43?”
    Rosa looked away, but immediately confessed. “I was trying to get through it when scary ‘Aunty’ turned up. She said there’d be a key, but I couldn’t find a lock.”
    Strømberg stared at the horizon and

    smiled. “Nothing is straightforward in the librarium, Rosa. You of all people should know that. Aunt Gwyneth is correct, there will be a key. We just don’t know what it is – or where to find it. Maybe the book is a clue.”
    At that moment it started to rain. A
    single droplet of water landed with a splat on the picture of the dragon. Rosa clutched at her upper arms and shuddered.
    “Come inside,” Strømberg said, cutting short her next intended question. “I must leave here soon and I’ve more to show
    you.” He stood up and offered his hand. She looked hesitantly at it and he added, softly, “Some interesting things – in other books you’ve not seen.”
    She thought about this for a moment, then gripped his hand and raised herself

    up. He set off towards the librarium. He was three or four paces ahead when he realised she wasn’t following. He looked back to see her standing in the rain, her wetted hair clinging to her pretty face. “Rosa? Have you lost something?” Her eyes were busily scanning the ground.
    She shook her head. She wasn’t going to tell him, but the daisy chain bracelet was nowhere to be found. That, in its way, was as crushing as the thought that David might not wake. “Did the fire go inside him?” she whispered. “Did David absorb it through his tears?”
    Strømberg glanced at the dragon book again. A raindrop had run beneath the creature’s eye, making it look as if it was crying. “No,” he said. “Aunt Gwyneth would have found it.”

    “Then what happened? What was the
    flash I saw?”
    “I don’t know,” said Strømberg. And he wiped the rain off the cover of the book and walked away without another word.

    19

    Back in the room where David lay, Mr Henry had already begun the process ofrestoring his spilled books to their properplaces. He was halfway up the once-hidden ladder when Strømberg and Rosacame in.
    “Charles, I’d like to show Rosasomething   special   about dragons. Couldyou find me an appropriate text?”
    The curator stopped what he was doing. His eyebrows rose to a point well abovethe frame of his spex. At first, Rosathought he was going to refuse. But insteadhe leaned sideways and the ladder slidwith his weight (and his intent). It not onlytravelled three feet horizontally but up two

    shelves as well.
    Wow , thought Rosa. Where was   that when she and David were at their mostindustrious?
    Once again Mr Henry pressed a buttonsomewhere and what looked to be an
    ordinary shelf of books revolved to display a hidden one. On it was a large old book, held together by some kind of stiff brown binding that Rosa had never come across before. Mr Henry stepped down off the ladder with it. Blowing dust off the cover, he said, “This is the rarest and most valuable book in the building.” He handed it to Strømberg, but his gaze was on Rosa. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Thorren.”
    Strømberg said, “Sit down, Rosa.” With a sweep of his hand he imagineered

    a table and three upright chairs.
    Rosa tutted (even though she was secretly impressed at the speed and power of the blonde man’s fain) and pulled out a chair at the side of the table from where
    she could still see David. The boy slept on like a statue, barely breathing.
    Strømberg sat down beside her but put the old book aside temporarily. Instead, he opened the glossy one again,