I passed through empty security posts and into the crowded library. Another barrier conveniently removed for me. When a passing guard didn't seem to notice me, I brought myself to follow him and tap him on the shoulder. My finger went through him as if I were a ghost.

I put my hand on a nearby table. It felt solid. I called to one of the people sitting a few meters away.

"Excuse me."

The man didn't respond. My hand passed through the book he held, but not the ones on the bookshelves. I took one off only to find the same book still on the shelf. I opened the one in my hands and flipped its pages as quickly as I could, watching for the split-second the words rendered onto them. I dropped it and grabbed a second book, opening it immediately, opening it in the middle. I saw the beginning of the first chapter.

They're slowing down, I thought. They're messing up. Maybe I was right. Maybe I can give them more data than they can handle at once. Malvirai or no.

A second guard approached from a distance, as oblivious to my presence as the first. I felt an ache and the light around me started to shimmer. The guard stopped to look at something, standing in my aisle's narrow entrance. I watched carefully and realized his image was becoming blurry. He turned and took another step towards me, vanishing as he entered the aisle... no longer in the view of a camera.

"Welcome to Los Angeles Public Library, Mister Dauphin. What can I help you find?"

There was some kind of glowing effect around the librarian amai. It was spreading to every object in the room.

"Your books are malfunctioning."