Dragon Keepers #3: The Dragon in the Library by Kate Klimo Read Free Book Online Page B

a sleeping bag under one arm. Jesse wriggled into the backpack, which contained, among other things, their toothbrushes, a washcloth, the Sorcerer's Sphere, and Daisy's wildflower notebook, just in case they needed to write anything down.
    Daisy gave her father a peck on the cheek. "See you tomorrow. Say good night to Mom for us."
    Uncle Joe reached over and mussed Jesse's brown mop of hair, which was Uncle Joe's way of hugging. "Aunt Maggie's going to ask if you packed a comb," he said.
    "Of course he did," Daisy spoke for Jesse. "And maybe he'll even use it."
    Jesse and Daisy went up the front walk and
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    climbed the stone steps to the library. Daisy drew up short in the doorway. "Pee-yew. This place smells like a gorilla's armpit," she said.
    It did smell like a zoo, but Jesse kind of liked it. The library was swarming and buzzing with all manner of pets and their keyed-up owners. Jesse counted at least twenty of each.
    Peering out from between Jesse's legs, Emmy began to growl ominously.
    "Nicey-nice," Jesse reminded her.
    Daisy tugged at Jesse's sleeve and pointed. Jesse nodded. One half of the library, the adult section, had been blocked off with orange plastic tape. That was exactly where they had last seen the shelf elf.
    "We've got to try and get over there," Daisy whispered to Jesse.
    "I don't think we're allowed to cross the orange tape," said Jesse.
    "Would you cross the tape if it meant helping the professor?" Daisy asked.
    Jesse nodded. "I guess we've got to try and get over there."
    From across the room, Mr. Stenson saw them and seemed eager to take leave of the little girl with the big snake coiled around her waist. Joining them, Mr. Stenson said, "Good evening, Ms.
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    Emmy! Now, this is my idea of the perfect pet. We're glad you could join us."
    Emmy sat up tall and dutifully offered him her right paw. "Oh, my! What manners!" said the librarian, shaking the paw. "And would Ms. Emmy care for a party hat?"
    "Sure, she would," Daisy said, with hearty enthusiasm. "Wouldn't you, Em?"
    Emmy whined.
    "I'll let you do the honors." Mr. Stenson handed Daisy a party hat with an elastic chin strap. Daisy knelt and fit the hat carefully on Emmy's head, then stood back to admire the effect of the sparkly silver paper princess tiara. Emmy looked up at her Keepers with reproachful eyes.
    "She's the belle of the ball," Mr. Stenson said.
    "She is, isn't she? Um, Mr. Stenson?" Daisy was just about to ask him whether it would be all right if they checked out the card catalog on the grown-up side of the library, but Mr. Stenson was reciting the rules for them.
    "We keep the dogs on leashes and the rodents, lizards, birds, and other critters in their cages. No feeding the animals people food and no teasing, prodding, poking, or otherwise provoking the animals."
    "Got it," said Daisy. "Would it be okay--" she started again.
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    "Would you kids excuse me? I see more guests arriving," Mr. Stenson said as he breezed away, leaving Jesse and Daisy standing in the middle of the floor. They looked around. The long wooden reading tables had been shoved off to the sides, leaving a wide-open space for kids and their pets to mill around in. One of the tables held cages filled with smaller animals, like lizards and hamsters. A single goldfish flitted nervously around in a small bowl.
    "I bet no one would notice if we just sneaked over there," Daisy said.
    "Since we don't have our invisible pills, I think we should probably try asking first," said Jesse. He cleared his throat and said, "Hello, Mrs. Thackeray?"
    Mrs. Thackeray, the weekend librarian, was wearing an oversize hot-pink T-shirt that declared her to be a Library Goddess. She was kneeling before a cat carrier and cooing at the large tabby cat staring dismally out the small mesh window. Their party hats in disarray, the canine guests were dragging their masters toward the carrier.
    "Hey, kids," said Mrs. Thackeray, not taking her eyes off the cat in the carrier. "Poor kitty. She's