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We’re using them for the sidewalks between buildings, and we made a basketball court out of them by the playground. With these and the solar panels on the roof, we’re doing okay. We’re also getting ready to install gas generators that will run on methane, in case we have some bad weather this winter and aren’t producing enough power. We may put in a wind turbine, too, if we need it.”
    “Talk about living off the grid.”
    “There is no grid. These people don’t even have steam engines yet.”
    “Why not?”
    “It’s a low-technology society, and I think it’s the wizards’ fault. Whenever somebody needed something designed and built, like a bridge or something, they went to a wizard, so people never developed the skills or mindset to tackle those kinds of problems.” He tapped his chest with his thumb. “I want to change that. That’s why I built the school.”
    “Was there no school here before?”
    “Used to be, years ago.” He shook his head. “That’s another story. Let me show you everything, first. Let’s start with the new library. I’d like you to meet Mr. Winston. He’s a wizard, too, but not a very powerful one.”
    “Another wizard. This I’ve got to see.”
    The library was a rectangular building, similar to the main one, only smaller, and parallel to it. Inside, it smelled strongly of fresh paint and new books. Shelves lined every wall, and others were arranged in rows in the middle of the room.
    They found Mr. Winston near the back, kneeling on the floor, unpacking a box.
    “Ah, Master Jamie returns.” He smiled as Jamie and Dr. Tindall approached him. The tall, gray-haired man stood and held out his hand for Dr. Tindall, and Jamie made the introductions. “A professor of higher learning!” Mr. Winston’s eyes brightened. “This is indeed an honor. Have you come to teach at our fine school?”
    “No, just getting the grand tour. I’ve only just learned of the existence of this world, and all of the magic that goes with it.” She lowered her brow. “It’s a little overwhelming, I must say.”
    “But so interesting, is it not? A young wizard with the memories and powers of an older, master sorcerer? Building a school and recruiting the people necessary to run it?”
    “There’s a clinic, too, right?”
    “Of course. And now we have a public library to go with it.”
    “This is for the school and the town,” Jamie said. “They didn’t have one before.”
    Dr. Tindall looked about the room and nodded. “It looks as if you have a respectable number of books. Are you managing the library by yourself?”
    “So far, but I am need of an assistant so that I may continue my history lessons for the children.”
    “Hunh,” Jamie said. “I guess I need to talk to my granddaddy and see if we can budget for it. Do you know of anybody who can do the job?”
    “Miss Duffy is looking into it.” He turned to Dr. Tindall. “She is one of our teachers. She is from this world.”
    “Do you have teachers who aren’t?”
    “My grandmother and my aunt are helping out for now,” Jamie said.
    “They are identical twins,” Mr. Winston said, “and they do terrific work here. I wish that they would stay on permanently.”
    “They like it here, but they are retired, after all,” Jamie said. “I heard that Uncle Charlie finished carving your walking stick.”
    “Yes, and he did a marvelous job, I must say. Let me fetch it.” He went into the back room and returned with a long, slender piece of wood. It was stained dark, and had elaborate carvings at the handle and in rings up and down its length. “I traded him a rare book for it, a rather old one,” he said, and proudly displayed his new treasure.
    Jamie turned to Dr. Tindall and said, “Uncle Charlie is this old Cherokee guy who carves these amazing walking sticks. He made one for me, and it has some unusual qualities. It seems to expand my magic sense of space.” She stared at him blankly, and he added, “It gives me a