Lanta, with Bernadette at her side, wheeled Gertrude up the corridor and past the deserted nurses’ station.
“Where the hell is everybody?” Gertrude asked. “I’ve never seen it so quiet.”
“Just a little help from my friends,” Bernadette said.
“Bernadette means the Friends of the Library,” Lanta said. “She called them into service yesterday.”
“And,” Bernadette explained further, “they were thrilled to help. Free books for everyone today, patients and staff alike. They’re doling them out in one of the activity rooms.”
“Which one?” Gertrude asked as they rounded the corner, headed for the main lobby.
“Room A,” Lanta said.
“We’ll have to pass right by Andrews in her lair,” Gertrude said.
“Only if she’s a nonreader. We mixed in a few recent releases into the bunch,” Bernadette said. “Hard
