Speeding Up

"There are still many people in the library," Wilbur argued.

Professor Armitage nodded. "Yes, there are still many people. But I meant that those outside of Miskatonic University must leave. I'm sorry, but it's library policy."

"But Professor," Nancy said, "people generally don't—don't they generally turn a blind eye to this rule—"

Nancy is right; the Phillips Library hasn't really enforced this rule for years.

Professor Armitage bears some responsibility for this.

After becoming the library director, he felt that the boundaries between people from outside the school and those from inside the school were not clear enough, and since the library should be open to everyone, he specifically instructed others to be "more tolerant".

Even so, Professor Armitage did not intend to let Wilbur stay there any longer.

He didn't deny Nancy's words. "But Mr. John is already protesting, Wilbur. He's already very unhappy that I wouldn't let him search you. And Mr. John works at the library longer than I do."

Wilbur nodded, indicating that he understood, his expression showing a fleeting hint of disdain directed at Mr. John and his Mongrel Hound.

"And Wilbur lives in Dunwich," Armitage said to Nancy. "It's getting late, and the road to Dunwich is too rugged."

"That's true," Wilbur said.

He bent over, but even so, he was still much taller than Professor Armitage.

He made another request. "Professor, I think I must take this book home; I need to try out the contents in it under certain circumstances. Professor, I swear I will take good care of it. Dr. Dee's manuscript is somewhat damaged, but it's not my fault."

Professor Armitage shook his head.

Wilbur didn't stop there. "I know I may not have enough credit, and no one can vouch for me, but I can pawn Dr. Dee's manuscript here. As you said, it's quite valuable."

But Professor Armitage's face hardened—he saw through Wilbur's silhouette what Wilbur was looking at, and silently translated the Rabbis into the New Federation:

The wind will whisper their voices, the earth will murmur their thoughts. They subdue forests, shatter cities, yet their hands are nowhere to be seen, neither forests nor cities.

The obscure language depicts a horrific scene.

Professor Armitage had read the Necronomicon, but at the time he thought its contents were the ramblings of a madman; he had seen far too many such madmen.

But now, looking at Wilbur, he once again felt that inhuman sense of incongruity emanating from Wilbur.

Wilbur's loud yet strange tone of voice did not seem to originate from human vocal organs.

Professor Armitage shook his head.

He quickly forgot this inhuman sense of unease—if Hope and Elizabeth knew, they would understand that Professor Armitage's forgetting might be for the same reason as their forgetting of the the Whateley family conspiracy.

Even so, these discomforts solidified Professor Armitage's resolve:

He originally intended to be lenient with Wilbur and allow Wilbur to copy down the chapters he needed.

But the professor dismissed the idea, saying only, "This book cannot be borrowed; you should leave now."

Wilbur opened his mouth several times, but finally, probably feeling that the situation was beyond repair, he shrugged. "Okay, but I don't think Bay State University would be that petty."

Bay State University is one of the best universities in the Bay State, and the only university in the entire Bay State that can rival Miskatonic University.

Wilbur strode away, Professor Armitage soon heard the watchdog barking again.

Standing beside Professor Armitage, Nancy watched Wilbur stride about like a wild beast, and suddenly remembered many legends and stories; she had always been fascinated by the strange and unusual.

She asked Dr. Armitage what the time was.

"Seven o'clock sharp—no, it should be seven and a half now."

Nancy said goodbye to Professor Armitage.

She tried to walk like Wilbur, which made her walk faster, but she just couldn't quite get it right.

Wilbur looked like a gorilla, but diminutive Nancy looked like a child who had stolen an adult's clothes.

As Nancy passed the black and white mixed-breed guard dog, she stuck her tongue out at it, and the guard dog obediently stuck its tongue out back at her, but because it was taking up space at the library entrance, Mr. John quickly pulled it back.

Nancy has her own car, a red car with soft curves compared to other cars.

She started the car; the small, red car stood out. It drove slowly through the campus, as if strolling, but still faster than people taking a walk.

Passersby recognized her and waved to her, to which she responded with a smile.

A girl asked her if she could have a ride.

She replied apologetically that she wasn't planning on going to the theater today, and it wasn't on her way.

The car slowly came to a stop as it passed the tall figure.

Nancy rolled down the window, only to find that Wilbur wasn't even looking at her, so she had to call out his name.

"What for?" Wilbur asked in a muffled voice.

"Come on up!" Nancy said with a smile, "It's getting late, I'll take you home!"

Her friendly yet uncompromising manner of speaking startled Wilbur for a moment, Wilbur quickly burst into cheerful laughter.

His laughter, which could almost be described as bizarre, caused some passersby to stop and stare at him, but Wilbur did not lower his voice.

"What are you laughing at?" Nancy asked, somewhat annoyed.

"No, it's nothing." Wilbur was still smiling as he opened the car door. "Professor Armitage didn't lend me the book, but he lent me something else."

"What are you talking about?" Nancy was even more annoyed, but she didn't refuse Wilbur getting in the car. She told Wilbur to put the big, ugly travel bag in the back.

"That won't do," Wilbur refused, his old, muddy shoes leaving marks on the car's clean interior. "This is very important; I can't just leave it lying around. Are you going to take me to Dunwich?"

"Of course, how could I possibly abandon you halfway through?" Nancy replied.

"Have you been to Dunwich?" Wilbur continued, the car a bit cramped for him, he couldn't even sit up straight. "No, but I know the way,"

"No, you'll get lost," Wilbur said, setting the travel bag on the back seat before bending down to stand up.

"What are you doing?" Nancy, somewhat alarmed. She had already started the car.

Wilbur did not answer; he moved forward through the gap between the driver and passenger seats with incredible flexibility.

"Sit still!" Nancy commanded, but her voice was low, and Wilbur didn't listen.

Her hands trembled slightly with nervousness, and her cheeks flushed uncontrollably. As Wilbur's massive body drew closer to her, her feet began to frantically tap the brake pedal.

She didn't smell the expected sweaty odor; Wilbur had a strange smell that she couldn't tell whether it was pleasant or foul.

The taste made her gasp for breath, her tongue pressed against her lips.

Wilbur did nothing. He sat in the passenger seat, still smiling, but no longer making a sound, "Let's move forward, speed up, I'll show you the way."