the scholar

his pockets dusty with chalk
he strode through stone halls
nobody noticing
a tall thin man with glasses with a notebook

remembering the last instructions
the final words
he entered the library
dappled with musty sunlight

remembering the sequence
found the right shelf
tucking the book under his arm
he sought solace in the alcove

reading just enough
he smiled while making notes
patting the book like an old friend
knowing his adventure was about to begin