“Where’s the buyer’s point of origin?” she asked.

“You’re the buyer?” Libby asked, incredulous.

On the other side was a library.

“I know,” Libby said softly. “And that’s why this job is hell. Some things can’t be saved. But some can.” She took off her regulator and pressed it into the girl’s hands. “This won’t stop the fire. But it will give you 4.7 seconds. Long enough to grab one scroll. The most important one. Choose wisely.”

Some debts, she knew, weren’t meant to be collected. They were meant to be forgiven.

Back in her office, Juniper the golden retriever brought Libby a fresh coffee.

The girl’s lower lip trembled. “But the knowledge…”

She was maybe twelve. Dirty face. Bare feet. And she held a single scroll.