V

You often went to the library near your home. More than once you ran into a strange silent man between the stacks. Whatever time you came, he was always there. Today you came again for books, but did not see V

You moved to the far side of the racks. After dozens of minutes of searching, you found the right book. It was at the very top and as you reached for it, the shelving unit creaked and swayed dangerously, tilting toward you. You instinctively put your hands out in front of you and squeezed your eyes shut, but there was no hit. When you opened your eyes you saw a cane in front of you, which was resting on the shelf, keeping it from falling. A couple books fell onto the floor, and one fell right into V’s hands. He pushed the shelf with his cane and it went back into position.

«Sometimes even reading can be dangerous.»

He spoke to you for the first time in a monotone voice, shifting his bored gaze to the book in his hands and opening it to the first page.