44) The Leopard Slug Next to the Bookcase

Weird things could come out of books. As a Librarian, now keeper of only his personal collection, Raphael knew this. He was not good for much else other than looking after books, and as a result spent most of his days indoors, only reading about the wonders out in the world. This made him happy; the world spooked him.

Naturally, the leopard slug startled him. It clung to the side of Napoleonic History, a shelf which he rarely touched, but which led to his books on volcanoes. Raphael liked volcanoes (reading about them, not experiencing them). He spent the morning sat on a stool. For as long as he stared the leopard slug did not move. Raphael sidled past it and grabbed a book called Volcanoes and Legends.

During his reading he was distracted by sobs. He glanced around the corner to wear the leopard slug clung to the bookcase. Its body was retching like a cat coughing up a fur ball. It was the leopard slug who was crying. Raphael wished he could help, but he knew there was nothing that he could do.

As he read through his book he came across the leopard slug in his reading. A creature birthed when the fumes were released during an eruption, the leopard slug thrives in the centre of volcanoes. Raphael learned they were also sociable creatures and if this need was no satisfied it could lead to depression.

The leopard slug sobbed, popping its slimy body up and down the book case. Raphael could not concentrate with this noise. The obvious solution was before him in the book. The notion of what he was thinking terrified him, but so did having to spend the rest of his days with a damaged soul. He closed the book and rang the local travel agent.