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J ust like the larger classroom, the smaller one had two windows, one in the wall and one in the door. And just like the Ohuli had done yesterday, they covered the glass with scarves, turned off the lights, and set up their own rechargeable candles and lanterns.

Not sure what the aversion was to bright light, but it seemed like a lot of theater to me. Whatever. I had work to do. Not a lot, unfortunately, but at least I had my knitting. I didn’t really want to knit, though.

Okay, not entirely true. I wanted to knit. I just didn’t want the Ohuli to see me knitting because that was like advertising that there was nothing else going on in the library.

Good thing the book club was coming in. I sipped my coffee, which was really good, and then decided to check the reading nook one more time.

It was in perfect shape, just like it had been the first time I’d done my walk-through. When I returned to the desk, Sten had just come in.

I was surprised to see him again. Didn’t he have work? “Morning, Sten.”

“Good morning, Ellis.”

“Are you doing another day of meditation?”

“No.” His smile was oddly bland. “I’ve come to see the sisters about my forward path.”

Forward path. My brows started to rise in skepticism, but I forced them back down. “I hope that works out for you.”

“Thank you.” He bowed his head. “Be well.”

Be well? Hanging out with the Ohuli was making people weird. I drank a little more coffee as I watched people come in for meditation and fortune-telling. The number of them was disappointing, really.

A good book would have done wonders for the whole lot.

By the time the book club came in, the meditation room was twice as full as it had been the day before, but only a handful of people had shown up for the deep insights the sisters were offering.

That was something at least.

I greeted the book club folks, made sure they were good to go, then wandered over to the smaller classroom.

They’d left the door open, so I saw no reason not to look in.

I deliberately kept my eyes off the lens and microphones Frank had installed, but oh, my stars, did I hope he was getting something good.

One of the people getting a reading, a young woman who’d been here the day before for meditation, came out. Her brow was furrowed in thought as she left.

The sister she’d just been speaking with, Mhari, came to the door, smiling at me. “Would you like to know more about your future?” She gestured at me with her tattooed fingers. “Perhaps gain some insight into your past?”

I was about to say no, then decided to see what I could learn. “What’s it cost?”

She shook her head. “Our gifts are not to be used as a tool of commerce. If someone wishes to grace us with a donation, we don’t turn it down. We must live, after all. But our services are free to anyone who needs them.”

“I see.” I wondered how much they hoped to take in donations.

“All we ask,” Mhari went on, “is that you accept a pila and place it in your quarters for at least a sol or two.”

A sol was a universally accepted term for what Earthlings considered a twenty-four-hour span. One complete day. “Why is that?”

“We get much clearer insights when a being’s negativity has been cleansed first.” She smiled at me. “You’d certainly be eligible, as you received a pila when we arrived, did you not?”

“I did.” I didn’t bother telling her Frank had it now and had probably broken it into pieces so he could test it.

She gestured into the room. “Would you like a reading then?”

“No, I’m good for now. Thanks. Better get back to work.” I didn’t wait for a response, just walked back to the desk.

There was something about them that gave me the ick. All that smiling and woo-woo business.

I checked on the books that were still being translated, added a new batch, and started matching up covers with the few that had finished. I had the last book done and was wondering what to do with myself next when Zanya came in.

She gave me a tepid smile as she approached the desk. “Hi,” she said softly.

“Hi. Are you okay? I’m sorry we upset you last night, but I’m especially sorry for my part in it.”

She shook her head. “I overreacted. I’m sorry, too. I’m fine.”

“Whatever you want to do, you should do. And I’ll support you.”

Her smile grew. “Thanks, Els.”

“So are you going to get a reading?”

Her smile wavered, thinning out a little. “I am. I can’t help it. I want to know what my future holds. If I’m … destined to be alone for the rest of my life or not.”

My heart ached for her. She was such a beautiful soul, inside and out.

If she wanted love, I wanted it for her.

I just didn’t think the Ohuli sisters would be able to give her the answers she wanted.

“There’s no way a woman like you will be alone for the rest of your life.

Not if you don’t want to be. You’re smart, kind, hardworking, and I know I’m biased, but you’re beautiful, too.

Any man in his right mind would want you. ”

She laughed, but there wasn’t much amusement in the sound. “Thank you. That’s very kind. But so far, no man has shown up, so…” She shrugged, then patted the top of the desk. “I’m going to talk to them. Wish me luck.”

I nodded, but she didn’t need luck. Or the Ohuli. She needed her friends to do a little matchmaking.

Who did I know that might be right for Zanya? Better yet, who did Frank know? He worked with a lot of men. Some of them had to be single and looking.

I needed to text him anyway. I wanted to fill him in on what Mhari had told me.

I hope you’re having a good day. Mine is filled with Ohuli.

I inserted a crazy-eyed, smiling face here.

They’re only giving readings to those who’ve had a pila for at least a day to help clear out the negative energy, which helps the reading go better.

Sten was one of the first. Lots in for meditation, too.

Three repeating dots showed up, telling me he was crafting a reply. My day is better now. But then I have no Ohuli to deal with. Interesting about the pila.

I was about to answer when Zanya came out of the smaller classroom, pila in hand.

She waved to me before heading out. I sighed as I resumed typing.

Zanya just left with a pila. I’m sure that means she’ll be back tomorrow for a reading.

You don’t know any nice single men that might be her type, do you?

I know a few, but I don’t know how I feel about playing matchmaker.

We could do a group date. Take some of the pressure off that way?

Let me think about it.

No problem. She’s lonely, and I’d love to help her out.

I’ll do what I can.

I smiled. See you later?

You’d better. He sent a winking emoji, which made me smile even bigger.

By the end of the day, I’d lost count of how many people had come in for either meditation or readings, most of the latter leaving with pila, so I knew tomorrow was going to be even busier.

For the Ohuli.

I really hoped Frank’s bugs had found something. I was ready for this to be over. Thankfully, in ten minutes it would be. At least for the day. I was definitely having dessert after dinner.

I hoped they had that kiwi trifle again. That had been really good. A big bowl of that would go a long way toward making me feel better. At least until the bowl was empty.

I sighed. I was so ready to close up.

Impulsively, I decided to do something I hadn’t done since the third day of operations here on the Athos .

I didn’t think any of the library staff who worked the closing shift used it either, but if ever there was a day for it, this was it.

I went to the home page on my screen and double-clicked the prerecorded message the library computer had been equipped with.

Softly, over the speakers that were generally used only for emergency purposes, a computer-generated voice announced, “The library will be closing shortly. Please bring your selections to the desk.”

In a matter of minutes, the meditators started filing out. Not long after the last one, the Ohuli followed.

Maybe I was being petty again, but mission accomplished.

Behind me, Harry sneezed. I glanced back to look at him, and I could have sworn he was smiling.