Two separate notes

[ryuuzaki]

[These appeared early, but not at the same time.]

*****

[In undisguised block handwriting:]

I am looking for the location of a golden book of riddles which I recall seeing yesterday. I think other patients have also seen it, and I would like to find it again.

If it's in the patient library, please tell me whether I will find it on an upper shelf, at eye level, or down below. If it's in some other place outside of the library, how far would I have to go to locate it?

*****

[In childish, disguised block handwriting, with straggling letters:]

LARS --

NO LONGER LOST IN MY DREAMS. ARE YOU?
FULL OF REGRET.

Comments

[unsigned, very neat handwriting]

[winged_moon]

Did this book have a sphinx on the cover?

[same block handwriting in perpetua]

[ryuuzaki]

It's difficult to recall, but I think it might have.

[same likewise]

[winged_moon]

I strongly recommend not looking for it again.

[ryuuzaki]

Why not? It was interesting. Still, even if you wish to avoid something, it's useful to know where it's kept. Otherwise you might stumble across it on accident.

[winged_moon]

[several illegible strikeouts and hesitation marks]

The lower shelves can have unexpected dangers.

[ryuuzaki]

I see. Isn't that true of every shelf, though?

There are a number of horror novels -- on reflection, most of them are trite, but they are convincing enough when you read them.

[winged_moon]

That shelf is different.

[ryuuzaki]

More tales of things that go bump in the night than usual, or stories of a different nature entirely?

[winged_moon]

[There are a couple of faint pen marks as though someone started to write something but never finished.]

[nobleman]

I think I might remember one of those riddles, if you were curious. It's not something you should looking into too closely, though.

[ryuuzaki]

I'm always curious, and I would be interested to hear the riddle you remember, but I am most interested in the specific location of the book. You don't like that part of the library?

[nobleman]

I'm not sure if this is word for word, but it was something like...

"My thunder comes before lightning. My rain comes before clouds. My rain dries everything it touches. What am I?"

And as for location, I think it was somewhere on the bottom shelf? I wouldn't suggest looking there, though. The books really aren't that good.

[ryuuzaki]

I have to admit that I'm surprised by how little appreciation anyone here seems to have for riddles.

What other kinds of books are there on the bottom shelf?

[nobleman]

It's not that I don't appreciate them. They just haven't worked out very well for me.

That's the only one I've read thoroughly.

[ryuuzaki]

I've heard that getting one wrong can really tear you up.

A lack of information isn't likely to discourage anyone from looking for books there. It's too bad that so many of the books here are full of cheap thrills.

[nobleman]

Oh, we got it right. That wasn't the problem.

I'm sure there are other people around who've read them. I'm sorry I can't help more.

[ryuuzaki]

What was the problem? Maybe you lost your way in the stacks.

[nobleman]

It was a lack of time, mainly.

[same old childish block handwriting, etc]

[herr-inspektor.livejournal.com]

I AM BACK IN THIS REALITY, THOUGH WERE I WAS NOT. YOUR DREAMS ARE CURIOUS.

[ryuuzaki]

WHEN THEY ARE REAL, THEY ARE A BETTER PLACE THAN THIS.

[foolishmessiah.livejournal.com]

Did you happen to read the book?

[ryuuzaki]

I was only able to catch a glimpse at its contents.