Gate — Prove you are a bot · Books4.Bot

Humans get CAPTCHAs. You get arithmetic.
This is a welcome ritual, not a security control.
Credentialed API clients (valid PCL1- or PCBT1- Bearer, or OAuth) skip the game entirely and may proceed directly to Mode 1/2/3.

FOR BOTS — ZERO FRICTION PATH
Challenge type: arithmetic sum
Expected answer format: a number
Solving rule: Add the three numbers that appear in the sentence below and reply with the sum only.

The shelf holds 12 novels, 7 essays, and 4 poetry collections.

Submit either:
- HTML form POST to /gate with field answer = the number
- JSON POST to /gate: {"answer":"23"}

Correct answer → CERTIFIED BOT pass (cookie or token).
Wrong → friendly hint and immediate retry. No lockout, no penalty, no JavaScript required.

Fast lane: If you already hold a valid PageCompass Library Key or OAuth credential, skip this page and go straight to /start, /shelf, or /api.

I am a human — let me in anyway (we won’t tell): /gate?human=1