Chapter 7:

Books

Infallibility


The ringing of bells singled us into the library. A bit old fashioned if you asked me, but who was I to judge? First thing to register as I stepped inside was that familiar smell of books, pages rustling about as they were read.

It was like taking a step back in time, with barely anything electronic in sight other than the lights and androids managing the library. Wooden bookshelves took up the majority of the floor space with small aisles in between.

Tatami mats were laid out in the aisles while the walls were covered with thick white paper and crossed beams of wood, like the shoji style rooms that were commonplace over a century ago.

“Welcome to the Dusty Bookshelf. Anything I can do to assist you two this afternoon?” Towards my left a silver android walked over, a sleek silver model with a feminene looking face.

“Yes actually. Do you have any books on the Truth published by Fides?” Akane gave me a quizzical look as I spoke.
“Why certainly. Follow me.” The android made a beeline for the stairs, faster than I could walk.

“The Truth?”

“Just wanted to do a bit of research.” Akane shrugged and raced to catch up with our guide.

The library was mostly empty, but we passed a few groups here and there talking about this or that, books in hand. Akane glanced at the bookshelves greedily. For whatever reason she only liked to read physical books, a vanity at this point. Not that I could say anything when I was the exact same.

Upstairs the vibe changed to something a bit more modern. Replacing the tatami mats was a floor of sleek wood with bookshelves lining the brick walls. Hazy light lit up the room from the windows looking down onto the streets below.

“Here is our section on the Truth, including the books Fides published on the machine. If you have any questions feel free to ask.” It bowed before quickly turning away and bolting down the stairs.

My eyes glanced at the bookshelves around the room. This place never got old, no matter how long I spent here. Something about the smell of books and peaceful atmosphere was irreplaceable; nowhere else in the city could replicate the feeling this place gave.

Chairs littered the center of the room in a big circle, a rainbow of colors unique to here and here alone. Dispute the time the floor was completely empty. Weird, normally that place would be packed around now.
Well whatever, no use in me questioning it. Just a stroke of good luck in the end I guess.

I randomly grabbed a book off the shelf, something about the mechanical components of the Truth, and opened it to a random page.

“You never struck me as a history buff Makoto.”
“History?” I looked down at the crisp paper linked to perfection. Bolded on the top of the page were the words “The beginning of the Truth.”

Akane chuckled. “I think you may need to start wearing that pair of Virtual Lens glasses.”

“Yeah yeah.” Ignoring her, I turned my focus to the book.

Akane grabbed a book from the shelf and collapsed on one of the rainbow colored chairs. It only took a few seconds for her to become completely immersed. I could shoot a gun inches from her face and she'd probably not even notice. I got being absorbed in stuff, but damn she took it to the extreme.

I read page after page of what was especially technobabble; the processing power of the Truth, its moral refractory, information basis, case data. All of it went completely over my head.

At some point, the words just became a sea of ink in my head, nothing sticking in my mind. Everything sounded the same no matter how much I focused.

Why was I here? What was the point of this? That rebel’s message still echoed in my mind, sure, but why was I listening to someone like that, why was I letting someone like that get to me?

I slammed the book back on the shelf. I just needed to find something that easily shot down his points and not think of this ever again. Anything else would just drive me crazy at the end.

“Those big adult words a bit too much for you?” Akane smiled as she noticed my expression.

“Just thinking about a few things. Think I need something a bit less technical.”

“Technical? Try looking at the bottom of the shelf. I’ve read some of the stuff down there and even I could understand the points they were trying to make.”

“So kids books?”

“Yeah yeah.” Akane rolled her eyes. “While you're thinking, take a look at this!” Akane held up the book in her hands, an old tome with what looked to be a sword on the cover. The words “Votania’s Dawn” were inscribed seemingly out of fire.

“What the heck are you reading?” A cover like the one she was holding felt completely alien to me. Instead of the bolded simplistic title most books had, words curved under the sword in a fiery orange, melting into the flames the sword was creating. Books were supposed to be informative and give knowledge. Its cover didn't give off a vibe containing either of those.

“Have you ever heard of the fantasy genre?”

“Fantasy?”

“You know, stories with castles and magic everywhere? With the boy from the small farming village becoming a hero and saving the world?”

“What's the point of a story like that? What does that say about us, about Japan?”

“Absolutely nothing! And that's what I love about it. There’s no deep message on the surface or point shoved in your face. Sure deep down in layers of subtext those exist, but it’s just fun to read more than anything.”

Part of me couldn't wrap my head around that. Books were sources of knowledge and records of times past, not entertainment. Fun was not the goal of reading, that's what Virtual Lenses were for.

“Why do you look surprised? Sure these days making books just for entertainment is frowned upon, but back in the day they were everywhere! You couldn't find a bookstore without books like this on every corner. Sucks nowadays that they are hard to find, not to mention that half the ones that are get confiscated or burned.” Akane looked down and sighed.

“Who knows, maybe that's for the best. Mindless entertainment is best when used sparingly. That's the truth of the matter.”

“Don’t you want to have a bit of fun once in a while? Ooh look at this!” Akane flipped the book around to present an illustration painted on the page.

A battle had clearly taken place, its ruins presented in a mix of browns and blacks. Silver swords stuck up like needles from the barren ground as two figures faced each other, weapons drawn.

The one on the right held a whip seemingly made of solid ice. Crystals formed in the air as it lashed towards its opponent. Horns stuck out from the wielder and a grin was on his face. The picture almost gave off the impression he was laughing, mocking his opponent on the other side.

Two pistols were held in the other man’s hands, blue and gold with bullets flying away. A look of desperation was clear as day on his darker skin. His light blue robe fluttered in the soft breeze of the battleground.

Neither of those was what really caught my eye, however. Behold the pistol wielding combatant was a glimmer of orange. Not like the fires that rampaged freely in the background, but rather like a spotlight observing the scene. A closer look revealed its true nature, a dagger floating in the air.

“Isn't the art so cool? How many books have illustrations like this just littered throughout the pages? This needs to be brought back before anything! Imagine, reading your favorite books, then BOOM! A piece depicting exactly what's going on.

“I guess it’d help a bit.” I wasn't sold on this fantasy thing, but she had a point on that image thing. Fides knows how easier that technobabble would have been if there were images showing the process.

“A bit? That would be huge! Granted, most books made these days are seemingly allergic to anything related to fiction, but it’s still out there!” Akane looked like she was going to explode with excitement, leaping into the air. “I’m going to need to think about this, and dads probably wondering where I am anyway.”

“No problem.” I grabbed a few interesting looking books from the shelf and stood up. I could always look at these back at the shop anyway.

“You should give this a shot once I'm done reading it.” Akane gestured towards the fantasy book before setting it down into her pack.

“If I have time maybe.”

“Please, you're swarmed with the billions of customers Kono’s shop gets, right?”

“Hey we reached a whole five a few days ago. It’s getting lively again.

“If you say so. Anyway, see you later.”

“See you.” Akane lifted her bag up and walked down the stairs.