Alexander Turgenev

You go to say goodbye to those you've learnt from through this crazy journey. Carmen follows Amelia and Tegan back to the future, while Alwin and Paul are going to be roommates in the 90s. As they step through, you are surprised by how sure you are in your choices. Not once do you long to go home, nor do you feel envy for your friends. You understand they have a life to go back to; you do not. In that way, you feel lucky that you were granted this adventure, not just to redeem yourself, but to find the place you truly belong.

Pascale stays as an Employee of Angelo the Guardian, and as she signs her contract, relief washes over her face. You wonder what it is she feels safe from here. As you sign yours, you feel a warmth course through your skin, like your features and age are being cast into place, never to change again. You feel the slightest tinge of a tether, going from your heart and being pulled up to the ceiling, tethering you to the Library. Just as it comes, the tether fades. You turn to Urick, he smiles knowingly, and you know you have a lot of work to do.

That evening the wind is howling, chatter and sobs have tuned down, and portals are starting to close. There are countless stars in the sky, and you set up a cot amongst the wreckage. In between some strong steel beams on a platform jammed into a cliffside, you write in your Tome, hoping that wherever the Chosen may be, they can read one last message.

Grigory Osipov.

The kindest and most patient of men. In his quiet nature he said more than we ever needed. I hoped to reach the bottom of a glass with him many more times than I got, thus I will treasure every single one. A scholar, a chemist, a doctor and most of all, a friend.

From Jan 27th to March 8th

The Turgenev Exhibit comes to The National Museum for a limited time.

Priority is given to museum members, but members of the public may also purchase tickets while stocks last.

70% of proceeds go directly to The Chosen's Fund.

The Turgenev Exhibit is a traveling collection of books and artefacts that details the life of Tatiana Turgenev, a revolutionary from soviet-era Russia. Amidst the severe censorship of literature at the time, Turgenev risked her life to collect and copy books that the government would have otherwise burned. It is because of her efforts that we are able to hear from the voices of the people during these times. It is unknown why, but she was also incredibly worldly. Some historians speculate that though she would not have been able to travel under the regime, that she had managed to send letters overseas using covert routes. Using this information, however sparse and encoded, she also writes extensively on the preservation of knowledge in other cultures.

The Exhibit's principle benefactor, Alexander Turgenev (Tatiana's Grandson) has generously allowed this folk hero's life to be toured worldwide as a cautionary tale warning people of the effects of censorship. It also serves to mourn the loss of all the knowledge humankind has lost through such oppression. The Chosen's Fund is a charitable organisation which works to uncover and restore lesser known perspectives throughout history, allowing the victims’ stories to be told.

Alexander himself is a mysterious man and does not like to appear in public. Therefore he will not be making an appearance at the museum. Though he will accept all correspondences to Dover St. Neighbourhood Library, where his office resides.

“Alexander, Alexander! You have to come downstairs!”

“What is it!”

“Possums! They're chewing up the restricted section!”

“WHAT?”

“Quickly! There's an old man they came in with, he says he's your friend?”

“Did he give his name?”

“Uhh… William? Are you expecting a William? He also goes by Beetorbman. He tends to roam in the mountains sir. We have no idea why he's come into town.”

You knock over your lamp scrambling out of your seat, bursting through the pine wood doors of your office into the Great Hall. This time it takes the shape of a cozy alpine lodge, with a roaring fire and faded rugs. The A-line frame of the hut lets skylight in on opposite sides. In the middle of the room stands an old man with a cane. His hair is overgrown and his clothes are tattered with beetles. An odd possum climbs up onto his shoulders. But when he looks up to you and smiles, you have no doubt it's him.

“William!” You give him a big hug, possums and all.

“I always knew…” He croaks, “I always knew the Library would visit me one day… That you would visit.”

All around you, the Possums' noses start to glow. They jump into the air and curl up into a ball, condensing into a ball of light.

“Ahh… back to their original forms, I see. Well this is nostalgic.”

You have the other employees bring out some coffee for you two.

It has truly been too long.

Eventually, the old Hedgehog does retire. It doesn't come as a surprise, since in the recent Libraries you've been travelling through, he has regarded how he missed that mindlessness of being a creature. He wishes to burrow and munch on dried fruit. But there are simply too many peer reviews to do!

As the ever hardworking employee, it is not too soon after those conversations that the mantle passes to you. In he flames of The Heart's Hearth, in presence of all the other Guardians does the responsibility pass on. Urick, in his last verbal moments, expresses thanks for the enclosure you've worked on, and hopes you will take care of him when he's old and ailing.

“By the power invested in me,” Urick takes one of his spikes, anointing you like a knight, “I now pronounced you… tenured!”

The hearth glows brightly as you cast your mortal shell into the flames, reborn as an eternal force of the Library. Finally a part of its core, you feel the will to keep knowledge alive more acutely than you have ever felt it. Like you would die if the Library would fall to ruin again.

Intertwined with the fabric of your passion not a moment too soon. As you exit the Hearth, you see AngeloS wandering off again, probably to stare longingly at the mortal Library Guests. There is a hunger, a need n his eyes that has never sat right with you.

Amongst the Guardians, you know them to be the greediest. Their appetite for power is only limited by their current position. And their current position is not sufficient for them to retire to a life of humanhood, something that you know they implicitly wish for.

You feel your hand heat up as frustration wells in your soul for the other Guardian. How can they take their responsibilities so lightly!? How can they throw away a place of such importance?

If only you could put them in their place.

You look down at your hand, and you see bursting out of it, a swirling ball of fire.

Maybe you could.