The Book of Doors
by Gareth Brown
Contents
The Plan, Part One—Azaki’s Story
Overview
Azaki is approached months earlier by time-traveling Cassie and Lund, who warn him about coming violence and recruit him for a plan to stop the book-killing woman. In New York, Azaki uses the Book of Illusion to survive Hugo Barbary’s ambush by faking his death, allowing Lund and Izzy to escape with Azaki’s book and keep the timeline intact. Azaki later retrieves the buried Book of Illusion in the Nevada desert and commits to returning to help fight the woman.
Summary
Months earlier in Antofagasta, Azaki drinks to “Miss Pacheo” and feels growing guilt about using his powers to chase rare books. Rumors about a ruthless woman killing book owners and taking their books have him frightened, and he briefly considers selling his own prized Book of Illusion to escape.
Lund arrives with a blond woman who introduces herself as Cassie and reveals she carries the Book of Doors. Cassie and this “different” Lund claim they have come from a few months in the future to save Azaki’s life, warning that the Bookseller will soon send Azaki to New York. Cassie explains they need Azaki’s help to stop the woman, and Azaki agrees the proposed idea is possible but says he will need time to practice.
Days later in New York, Azaki uses the Book of Illusion to shift an illusion of himself and Lund six inches aside as Hugo Barbary appears at the door and fires. Azaki drops, maintaining an illusion of his own dead body with a bloody head wound, while Lund also goes down as predicted. Azaki stays motionless while Barbary tortures Izzy in another room, comforted only by knowing the future outcome has already been described to him.
After several minutes, Lund gets up, checks Azaki, and—fooled by the illusion—treats Azaki as a corpse. Lund later knocks Barbary unconscious and escapes with Izzy, taking the Book of Illusion from Azaki’s pocket without noticing Azaki’s “wound” has healed. Azaki waits until they are gone, insults the downed Barbary, and leaves before Cassie and the Librarian arrive, careful to preserve the timeline Cassie described.
Azaki flies to Las Vegas and waits out the days he knows are coming: an auction where the Book of Pain is bid on and the woman will cause chaos, after which Lund and Izzy will flee west with the Book of Illusion. Following the exact burial instructions given earlier, Azaki tracks their car, finds the third power-line pole off Highway 161, digs up the Book of Illusion, and tests his abilities by conjuring overwhelming desert spectacles of sand-creatures and colored lights. With his book reclaimed, Azaki decides to return north and honor his promise to help confront the woman, finally feeling an uneasy peace instead of the urge to run.
Who Appears
- AzakiOwner of the Book of Illusion; recruited via time travel; fakes death, reclaims his book, commits to help.
- CassieTime-traveling holder of the Book of Doors; warns Azaki and enlists him against the woman.
- LundCassie’s ally; appears as a future version, then later in New York knocks out Barbary and escapes with Izzy.
- Hugo BarbaryArmed attacker who shoots Azaki and Lund; later knocked unconscious while torturing Izzy.
- IzzyCassie’s friend; tortured by Barbary, then flees with Lund while carrying Azaki’s book.
- Miss PacheoElderly woman linked to Azaki’s earlier desert illusion; reminder of his guilt.
- The BooksellerOffscreen contact predicted to send Azaki to New York, triggering the warned events.
- Azaki's fatherAppears in memory, urging Azaki to run and survive rather than be heroic.
- The womanFeared book-killer; discussed as the coming threat and cause of the auction chaos.