12 - The one-bedroom library. joneworlds@mailbox.org In a spare bedroom of old Hat's unit, we have this sort of "community library" if you can call it that. Last winter we hauled a bunch of bookshelves up there and a big old desk, and a bunch of us added some books and CDs and stuff like that, and this great old lamp. We have a one-at-a-time rule nowadays to keep things safe, but I still manage to get in there most days for a bit, when I feel like it. And there is a computer with a keyboard in there also, with some kind of radio set attached to it, slow as a snail but stable enough for sending messages and whatever. I have been typing up some of these journal posts from there lately. It's either that or hike up to the clearing at the top of the hill where the ogre lives, just to pick up a bit of signal from the cell tower across the way. And so I was bummed to hear about what happened to that place the other day. I thought we had kept our little reading room pretty secret, but according to Hat, a couple of centaurs, females this time, forced their way in her door to get up there. And they took most of the best bits - the novels, most of the music discs, the computer, and mostly trashed the shelves and desk just to be mean. But they did leave the radio set, so maybe Hat can at least get that link going if we can find her some parts. Until they come over and wreck it all again, I guess. I wish the centaurs would just leave us alone. We're just trying to save a bit of our old things and ways, and it's of no bother to them. They're always knocking us around and leaning into us even though they got it really good by now - they took over all the best houses up on the ridge, we and we hear them up there partying every night. They got everything they need and supply chains and all that, but they still got to come over and shake us down for $20 and a few old novels. I get tired of it.