Rose reached the western cloister of the quadrangle and walked into the main entrance to Fondren library. Up ahead was the security check point where the casual visitors were separated from those who truely belonged to the elite of Rice University. Those who were insiders, undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty, merely swiped their cards through the card reader on the turnstyle and were admitted. Anybody else had to go over to the security guard, register, and beg for admittance.

Rose passed her Identification Card through the card reader with a bit of trepidation. She could never believe that she was actually admitted to the community of scholars that was Rice. She always felt that she was an outsider, condemned to hover outside the sacred precints begging for admission. As Rose's card passed through the reader klaxton horn went off and lights began to flash. A mechanical voice boomed out, resonating off the cold stone of the library foyer, "Rose Sub, report to Dr. Zimmerman's office immediately; Rose Sub, report to Dr. Zimmerman's office immediately."

A cold shiver ran through Rose's bowels. What was it that she had done to incur the wrath of Dr. Zimmerman. It was not, in fact, what; but rather which of the numerous possible infractions she had committed. Because the innumerable rules and regulations of the Dept. of Library Science made it impossible for an upperclassman to go through a single day without violating at least one ukase. And Rose was sure that she had violated several rules without knowing exactly which ordinance she had broken. Rose looked over at the nearby computer monitor. Flashing on the screen were the words, "Rose Sub, Room BB101". That was to be her destination.