Chapter 20

The Great Library, Timbuktu, Mali, Africa

As Paul led Gen through the aisle of the massive and magical library, he explained to her that his assistant was a gryphowl. They were rare and powerful creatures combining the traits of an owl and a cat. They were incredibly smart and excellent at retrieving things, making Beatrix a reliable and devoted assistant to the Great Library.

"Wow, the world has changed so much in six hundred years," Gen mused, hurrying to keep up as Paul weaved between the rows, taking them deeper into the labyrinth of books.

He shook his head. "Oh, no. I believe that Mama Jamba's world has always been the same. It's us who have changed as we learned about it."

"I guess you're right," Gen said, considering this complex notion. "I mean, gryphowls probably always existed, we just didn't know about them."

"Exactly," Paul said, leading them down a narrow aisle that appeared to be a dead end. "It's like with moral philosophy. The ideas always existed, we just had to discover them. And as we know more, well, our consciousness evolves. So are we smarter than we've ever been before? There's a good argument that we are. But with all that knowledge comes great responsibility."

Gen was impressed by the Great Librarian's reasoning. It was complex and also ironically simple.

"Of course," he continued, toggling his head back and forth. "An argument could be made that early thinkers like those in the medieval times were smarter because they had to discover the ideas—making them really have to think. All we have to do in the modern world is open a book and read the breakthroughs of those who came before us."

"That's an excellent point," Gen stated, considering both sides. "I think both sets of citizens have different opportunities and unique challenges."

"Exactly!" Paul threw one finger in the air enthusiastically. "Life isn't black and white. Some have it easy while others have it hard. Everything is about perspective which changes depending on who and where you are and what you're facing."

The Great Librarian had halted in front of a solid shelf of books, blocking their path. He looked around, as if checking for someone watching them. Then he reached out and pulled a small black book from the row right in front of him. The entire shelf shook, making the ground under their feet rumble.

Gen's eyes widened, wondering what was happening. She didn't have to wait long to find out because the shelf swung back, creating a door where there had only been a wall of books before. The opening created a path into another area that felt strangely colder and darker than the other parts of the Great Library.

"What is this?" Gen asked when Paul waved her to follow him into the new section.

"The restricted section of the Great Library," he answered.

"Oh, is this where the moral philosophy books are that I requested?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No, Beatrix is retrieving those for you. She'll drop them off once she's gathered them all. I'm just stationing myself in the restricted section of the library because I'm expecting a thief."

Gen blinked at him in confusion, as he swiped his hand through the air, magically making the shelf of books close like a door, shutting them into the area. "Wait, you're expecting a thief? Sounds like you're welcoming them."

"Sort of," Paul answered cheerfully. "I got word that there's an evil mastermind who wants one of the powerful books in the restricted section of the Great Library. This place has been broken into many, many times and although the security is very good, I decided to take a different approach to the potential robbery this time."

Gen arched a curious eyebrow at the man. "I'm listening. Go on."

"Well, I can up security measures and keep the thief out," he began. "But experience tells me that a man like this won't stop. He'll just keep trying different strategies to break in here and get what he wants. So I've decided to save myself the time and trouble of keeping him out. Instead, I've unlocked the door for this thief and welcomed him in, in a way. When he trespasses in here to steal the book, I'll be waiting in the shadows, ready to trap him. Then I can have a warrior from the House of Fourteen pick him up and lock him away."

"And then you won't have to worry about keeping him out because he won't be a problem anymore," Gen said in astonishment. "That's brilliant. Let in the thieves so you can stop them."

"It works in this scenario because I'm anticipating the robbery," Paul stated. "I wouldn't advise for everyone to leave their doors unlocked unless they know someone is actively trying to break in. You've got to be ready. You've got to be one step ahead of the culprit."

"I love the creative strategy you've employed," Gen said. "So you're just going to hang out here until the thief shows up? Should I be on guard?"

Paul shook his head. "I'm not expecting them yet but wanted to be in place beforehand. That gives us an opportunity for me to explain the Trolley Problem from the text you've been asked to study. It's a theory developed by Philippa Foot in 1967. In it, the dilemma is that you're on a trolley. Do you know what that is?"

The confused expression on Gen's face must have been answer enough, because Paul nodded in understanding.

"Think small, independent train car that's mechanically operated," he stated.

Gen nodded, wishing that this guy could follow her around, explaining things. He had a way of wording them that made sense to her—it must be all the books and reading, she reasoned.

"Anyway, in this scenario, the trolley is out of control," he explained. "It's headed in the direction of five people. However, you have the option of pulling a lever, diverting the trolley to another track, where it will kill one person instead of five. What do you do?"

"Easy," Gen chirped. "I pull the lever, killing one person over five."

"Yes, that's the Utilitarian perspective," Paul imparted with a smile. "But in the first scenario, you didn't choose to harm five people. However, by pulling the lever, you're actively choosing to end someone's life. Even if this action saves others, it can be psychologically traumatic and be seen as playing God."

"Right, because who am I to decide who gets to live and die," she reasoned.

"And what if fate said that those five people needed to die for some reason," Paul offered. "But you altered the path, creating a worse reality. Like what if the five people on the tracks were escapees from prison and the lone person was a good citizen?"

"Damn, this just got more complicated," Gen said, pursing her lips.

"It definitely did," Paul stated, looking up as Beatrix materialized, holding several books in her large talons. "It's good to consider all angles with moral philosophy. But also remember, like with the Trolley Problem, the scenarios can be oversimplified, lack context and offer only binary choices. As complicated as the theories are, decisions in life are usually much more complex."

"That's an excellent point," Gen said, watching as Paul extended his arms under the gryphowl hovering overhead. "But it definitely gives me something to think about."

When Beatrix dropped the volumes from her clutches, Paul caught them gingerly in his outstretched hands. He then smiled and offered them to Gen. "And I suspect that reading these will give you even more to think about."

"Absolutely," Gen said, taking the books, glad that the errand took her to such an incredible place. "Well, thanks for your help. And good luck with catching the thief."

"Thanks," he said, waving his hand to open the shelf-door for Gen, allowing her an exit from the restricted section of the library. "And I look forward to more visits from you. Meeting a new Beaufont is a real treat, but meeting a Founder of the House of Fourteen is a true honor."