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“You’re very welcome, Vitruvius.”
Vitruvius hesitated, but then he decided to add more.
It’s been… a very long time since I’ve spoken to someone.
“Were you at the shop for a while?”
Yes. It was lonely.
“Well, you don’t have to be alone now.” Clancy smiled warmly. “It’s kind of nice to have a book talk back for once. I’ve been kinda lonely too.” He sighed. “All I’ve ever had are my books, so, uh… it’s very nice to meet you.”
Vitruvius didn’t know what else to say, but he did think that Clancy had a beautiful smile.
“Anyway!” Clancy cleared his throat. “Let me go ahead and finish removing your cover so we can get you into that bath.”
Wait.
“What?”
I am very attached to the book in the most literal sense. What if your meddling harms me?
“Oh!” Clancy blinked in surprise. “Well, even when it’s in pieces, a book is still a book, you know. After all, I’m not technically destroying anything. I’m just taking it apart for a little while. Should you feel any discomfort or soul sundering effects though, please just tell me and I’ll stop, all right?” He smiled again. “I promise I don’t want to do anything to hurt you.”
All right.
Vitruvius warily looked on as Clancy carefully cut away the spine and then the back cover to separate the pages. A few sections were still intact, but many were loose and falling out.
Clancy took them to his kitchen to lay out in a plastic tub on the counter. He put a kettle on to heat some water, explaining, “You don’t have to use any chemicals for this part. Hot water is really all you need. Oh! And here.”
Vitruvius quirked his brows when Clancy set a pen and a pad of paper on the counter next to him.
“Can you use this to talk? Or is it just the book?”
Vitruvius smirked as he picked up the pen.
This is fine. Thanks.
“Sure thing.” Clancy grinned. “I know I probably seem nuts, but wow. I’ve read so many books about meeting a ghost! And so, it just, wow, it feels like I’m in one of those stories now.”
I am very real.
Vitruvius couldn’t resist teasing his fingers over Clancy’s beard.
“Wow.” Clancy’s grin grew wider. “That’s incredible.” He reached up as if seeking Vitruvius’s hand, but he dropped his arm suddenly. “Right. So.”
The kettle whistled.
“Here we go!” Clancy adjusted the pages one more time before he fetched the kettle. He carefully poured the water in the corner of the tub, letting it fill up gradually until all the pages could be submerged.
Next to the tub there were a few small tools, and Clancy picked up one, explaining, “This is a microspatula. Basically just a tiny spatula.” He smiled. “We have to be very careful because the paper is very delicate, especially submerged like this.”
Vitruvius watched in awe as Clancy separated each page, clearing away the old yellowed tape with a practiced touch. He crept closer until he was right behind Clancy, hovering over his shoulder.
Clancy shuddered. “Got a little chill just now. Is that you?”
Vitruvius squeezed Clancy’s arms so he’d know where he was.
“Oh! Hello back there.” Clancy’s face darkened. “Uh, so. We can also use a brush to wipe away the old glue too. Once we’re done, we take out the pages and lay them with paper in between them to dry, but uh… some of this glue is gonna take a while. It, uh, it could take hours.”
