Part 3 (Narrative transcript)

The roar of the main rotor engine permeated my body as long, curved blades whipped through thin and frigid air above me. Loose-Cannon bites down gently on his lip as I notice him absent-mindedly twisting a thick, silver-plated ring situated on his right annular finger. His hands are large and scarred, with uneven finger-nails and many recent cuts and bruises. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that these were the hands of a seasoned craftsman. As I gaze further upon his figure, our eyes meet and he quickly shifts his posture, putting both of his hands together behind his back.

"Might I not be the only one who is nervous for this job?" I ask him, perhaps very adventurously.

His voice is hoarse as he begins to respond. "It's nothing. Just another job."

He lights a cigarette and takes a drag, looking up as he exhales.

"I see." I concede. Looking to break the ice, I venture another potentially personal question. "I just saw the ring on your finger and wondered who its from?"

"Oh, this?" His demeanor changes from soulful to nostalgic instantaneously. "It's my grandfather's, he made it for me when I was somewhere around your age." He smiles as he continues, "You see, I come from a long line of very creative people. I see an entire history flash through his eyes as they gloss over with a thin layer of tears. "I guess its not always hereditary."

"You wanted to be like him, didn't you?" I ask.

"I wanted to be anything but him, and that's what I did. I made a career out of running around, guns blazing, catching bad guys. I retired, too, ten years ago; so believe me when I say I'm scared when they're taking old Rambo out for one last outing."

He tosses the cigarette out the helicopter's open door and it paradoxically falls upward. It dawns on me that we are descending quite rapidly now.

"That inspires quite a bit of confidence in me now, bruv." I joke very sarcastically.

"Good. We need that kind of humility in the field. Now strap up your boots and get on the ground; we're here."

"Boots?" I ask. "Aren't we just going into a library?"

"You were asleep the whole bloody damned time weren't you?" Buckley suddenly chimes in. "There's a fackin' anomaly, mate."

"What the hell is an anomaly?" I ask, now resenting my jetlagged smooth brain.

Loose-Cannon's response is short and to the point, "Look down."

I look down. Below is what I can only describe as a cross between a shattered mirror and the jaws of a taxidermized lion. Pillars and stairs folded into and out of existence inside its black, gaping maw. Bookshelves apparated into view and quickly dissolved into piles of what looked like ashen pixie dust. For the moment I am completely speechless, the only thing leaving my mouth being my mostly digested lunch.

"Not even a 'look out below!' huh, Groovy Jeans?" Buckley cackled.

"I- I think I understand what you mean by 'anomaly' now." I conclude.

"That's why you need the boots, Smoothie. They're equipped with anti-gravmag hyperdislocators that-"

"Bruv bloody'el, speak English for the poor lad." Buckley interrupts.

Loose-Cannon lets out a sigh. "Yes, apologies. All you need to know is that these babies will keep you steady in that mess. 

Suddenly I feel like more is at stake than a stolen book. "I'm ready," I lie.

"Buckley's coming down there with you. Keep your cool, breathe, and stay centered. We're all in way over our heads, so let's make the most of a shitty situation and get through this in one piece, together." Loose-Cannon winks at me as he says the last word.

The other helicopter door opens, and a rush of cold, damp wind blows my hair into a frizzy mess.

"Have you ever skydived before mate?" Buckley asks me, yelling over the onset of harsh air.

"Wot?" I yell back. I don't have time to hear the answer because next thing I know, a helmet is smushed onto my skull as someone pushes me out the open door. A transparent orange visor unfurls, shielding my until-now closed eyes from the sharp atmosphere.

I have the urge to throw up again, but for some reason it feels good this time. "I'M READY!" I shout, laughing maniacally.