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prevent a Great Break from occurring.”
    “Exactly,” Riq said.
    Abi leaned forward. “And do you know what this Break is? Does it have to do with Hulagu Khan and the Mongols, who are at our very doorstep?”
    “Yes,” Dak said. “They’re going to sack Baghdad in two days. According to the history books, it’s going to be bad. And I mean
really
bad.”
    “How bad?” Abi asked.
    “Baghdad will basically be a ghost town for a few hundred years,” Dak said.
    Abi sat back, exhaling sharply. “And what of the libraries?”
    “The Mongols are going to destroy them,” Dak said. “Eyewitnesses said the Tigris River ran black with the ink of all the books they threw in the water.”
    “No, no, no,” Abi whispered, eyes wide, shaking his head. “‘The scholar’s ink is more sacred than the blood of martyrs.’ So said the Prophet, peace be upon him.”
    It looked to Sera like Abi felt an almost physical pain when he thought about books being destroyed. But Sera had learned among her ancestors just how powerful a single book could be. Books could save cultures, like the Maya. In the case of Aristotle, books could save the world.
    “Do you have a plan for how to repair this Break?” Abi asked.
    “No,” Riq said. “All we know is that we can’t let Aristotle’s writings be destroyed. Beyond that, we were hoping you might be able to give us some ideas.”
    Abi took a deep breath. “I think it would be impossible to prevent the Mongols from attacking. They have swept through Persia already, and even conquered the fortress of Alamut, which no force has done in nearly two hundred years.”
    “What about the caliph?” Riq asked. “Can’t he just talk to Hulagu? Maybe even surrender?”
    “Hulagu will attempt to negotiate, but the caliph does not believe the city will fall. He will not see reason. That is why he waited until it was too late before he sent out his cavalry.”
    Sera remembered what she’d heard at the Archway of the Armorers. “And they were all wiped out.” She shuddered. “Okay. So the Mongols are coming and we can’t stop them. Can we move the books?”
    “No,” Abi said. “It would take a thousand camels, and even then, where would we move them to? I’ve heard the Mongol army is now on both sides of the river.” He made a fist. “They have the city in a vise.”
    “What about just saving Aristotle’s book?” Dak asked. “That seems easier, and it’s all Brint and Mari needed for the Prime Break, right?”
    “How would you save it?” Abi asked.
    “I don’t know,” Dak said. “Just hide it somewhere.”
    Abi scratched his beard. “And do you think you could find a place where it would be safe for several centuries? How will it be found when it is needed? Who will find it? What if the SQ get to it before then?”
    Dak held up his hands. “Okay, okay. I get it.”
    Sera had another idea. Maybe the safest place for the book was with them. “What if we take it with us?” she asked. “Just take it to Brint and Mari in the present.”
    “And what happens to my time without it?” Abi asked. “How do you know if by taking it, you are not robbing the intervening centuries of needed knowledge? Books need libraries. Libraries are the vessels of the world’s accumulated wisdom.”
    “So we have to save the library,” Riq said. “We may not be able to stop Hulagu from attacking the city. But could we stop him from destroying the libraries?”
    “What?” Dak said. “Like, just ask him? ‘Hey, Hulagu, what’s goin’ on, dude? Hey listen, I know you’re about to conquer Baghdad and all, but do you think you could leave that library alone? That’d be great. Thanks.’”
    “Shut up,” Riq said.
    “You shut up,” Dak said.
    “I’m not the one suggesting dumb ideas,” Riq said.
    “That sure sounded like one to me,” Dak said.
    Abi looked back and forth between them like someone watching a tennis match played by monkeys.
    “Oh, for the love of —” Just when