150

You decide to spend the night in the library’s main hall. After clearing a space near the centre, you build a small campfire, using a few of the many thousands of books that line the walls. Then, once it is ablaze, you help Kate to prepare the food she has found. Outside, the weather has grown steadily worse. Thunder rolls across the surrounding plains and the jagged flashes of forked lightning illuminate the roiling clouds of dust with increasing regularity.

‘I don’t like it—it looks real bad,’ you say, as you stare anxiously out of the window at the raging storm.

‘It ain’t all bad,’ replies Kate. ‘At least we don’t have to worry ’bout Mad Dog’s boys showin’ up outta the blue.’

The food and wine taste delicious (restore 3 ENDURANCE points), and, after eating your fill, you both settle down to sleep in front of the glowing embers of the campfire.

It seems as though you have only just closed your eyes when you are stirred to consciousness by a loud crackling sound and the acrid smell of smoke. Horror fills your senses when you open your eyes to see yourself surrounded by a blazing wall of yellow flame. Lightning struck the library roof while you were asleep, starting a fire that has been fuelled by the shelves of dust-dry books, and which has now spread to the main hall where it threatens to consume you both.

Quickly you wake Kate and together you fight your way towards the main door. You are within ten feet of the exit when a burning bookcase falls across your path.

If you possess a Fire Extinguisher, turn to 47.

If you do not possess this item, turn to 316.