"So, like, what's the verdict on furniture, you guys??????????????????????" Nina called as she entered the shop.

Silence answered her.

"You know, like, if you haven't come up to an agreement yet that's totally fine??????????????????" she ventured as she went about turning on lights and booting up the register. "While you guys are still working on that you can also let me know how you all feel about Owen's idea about a 'book zoo' which, to me, still totally------------"

No, no, she didn't want to influence them too much, though she could tell that she had their attention now. It was still silence, but it was a listening sort of silent.

"Anyway," she said, "you let me all know how you feel about that too, okay???????????????"

Nina hated the idea. Giving the books some say over their temporary home was one thing. Deliberately setting it up so people could come and gawk at them was totally different.

She set the sign back in the window:

NOW HIRING!!!!!!!!!!!
Inquire within!

"I've got research to do," she finished cheerfully, "so if you need me to pull more catalogues for you all, just let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The Bookbelt is Open!!!!!!!!!!!!