Chapter 12
‘I have a feeling that whatever I come up with about Alexander Mann, it won’t matter,’ Esme complained, drumming her fingers on the cover of Rank’s hardback. ‘Since Rank literally wrote the book on the subject.’
‘Wouldn’t be the first time homework has felt like an exercise in futility,’ said Lillian, eyes glazing over the notes splayed out on their reading desk.
They turned to stare out the foggy, rain-streaked windows of the Pierpont Library. Gondolas drifted like phantoms across the lagoon. More of the iconic boats, hung vertically and repurposed into shelves, lined the library’s walls. These ancient gondolas were no longer seaworthy, the gilt coating on their proud figureheads worn away, but they had found a second life on land. No longer fit to carry passengers, they now
