The Scream of A Thousand Libraries Chapter 56: Chapter 3: The calm before the storm.

Read chapter 56 of The Scream of A Thousand Libraries by Susangja on NovelPedia.

POV: HELENA IVYRA This wasn't the first time Brazilian literature had faced problems with the law. That feeling lingered through time, as if a cycle was repeating itself, an ancient duel, marked by invisible battles between two inevitably opposing forces. It seemed both were ancient rivals, almost mythical presences, as if literature itself and the law were characters in an old Western, eternally in conflict. Brazilian literature was treated like a legendary outlaw, a kind of elegant and astute bandit, riding through the plains of the cultural old West, leaving behind a trail of education and knowledge, a silent but powerful legacy. Meanwhile, the law, like a tireless sheriff, fiercely tracked its steps, trying to capture it with every movement. Their relationship resembled the immortalized enmity between the Montagues and Capulets, where hatred seemed sealed by fate, until death. There was no truce, no understanding, just a clash that slowly eroded possibilities. The latest offensive in that dispute had a name: the Fixed Price Law. It wasn't new, but it was another chapter in the continuous attacks that further weakened Brazil's already battered literary property. The law gripped book prices with an iron fist, and the impact couldn't be more direct: expensive books become inaccessible to most of the population. Reading, for the common Brazilian, was already a rare habit, a kind of cultural luxury distant from daily routine. Now, with that legal imposition, it became not only uncommon but practically unattainable for many. It was impossible not to feel the weight of a country still living in the shadow of its former literary glory. Centuries ago, powerful authorial dominators, masters of word and thought, and incredible readers, eager to unravel worlds, had existed. But, with the natural progression of time and successive losses, that literary culture, which was once a pillar of national identity, had almost completely crumbled. It suffered continuous, invisible, and cruel blows, until what remained today was nothing more than a distant echo of that glorious era, something similar to a cave painting, a fossilized vestige of a century long lost in the country's memory. The history of Brazilian literature had periods of glory. However, that era ended a long time ago; in current times, the country's intellectual property was practically nonexistent. Reading is the most basic human ability. I remember some claiming it's what differentiates us from other species. Thanks to it, we can pass knowledge on. Among historians and scientists, the dilemma is debated: language or the computer, which would be the greatest human invention since the discovery of fire? Many avidly claim it's the computer, because it allows technological advancement and the new Belle Époque we live in. Those final words from Dr. Bittencourt's interview didn't leave my mind as I finished my morning chores. There was something strange in that statement, a hidden meaning, a tone I couldn't immediately decipher. After the news, I prepared another cup of coffee and then tried to return to my studies, but I couldn't. My mind simply wouldn't cooperate. Something about that story left me with a nagging doubt... I was already used to my brain procrastinating, a result of countless episodes of waking up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason, and the insomnia that became a constant companion. But this restlessness was different. It wasn't just accumulated tiredness, nor delayed sleepiness. It was as if someone was whispering in my unconscious, unspoken words, confusing signals that my conscious mind couldn't yet decipher. What was it? What was the purpose behind that uncomfortable feeling? I still didn't know. For now, I decided to ignore that strange sensation and returned to my books. I sighed deeply, picked up my notebook, and decided to organize my ideas; perhaps tidying the internal mess would be a step towards clearing my mind. "You know what... Let's take