Katabasis

by R.F. Kuang

He held books up close to his nose, and every time he turned the page he sniffed up and down the spine, eyes rolling to the back of his head with pleasure. “Carry on.” Peter gripped Alice’s wrist and tugged her along the hall. “What was that?” she hissed. “What was he doing?” “You’ve never sniffed a book before?” “Not like that!” “Well, it’s very nice,” said Peter. “Something about the binding. It’s like—glue, I don’t know. Wood shavings. I get it.”