Stolen Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page A

sensitive about it.
     
Recalling
why she automatically reacted to the professor the way she did relieved
her of any guilt for her poor manners, but it didn't remove the
problem. She had agreed to talk to him tomorrow morning. Considering
his position, he probably carried as much influence as she did to
recommend who went on the trip. And considering the way she felt about
history, a historian would be a logical choice for the companion she
promised to take along.
     
Perhaps there was some quirk in his
personality that would justify her refusing to accept him. Maybe he was
really a brute after all. She realized he had had a distinct advantage
over her at their first meeting because he had gotten information about
her beforehand. In order to take away that advantage, she would have to
find out a little about him. Ten minutes and several telecommunications
later, she located a friend who could introduce her to the professor's
clerical assistant, Ferrine.
     
"Thanks for meeting me on such
short
notice, Ferrine," Shara said, smiling across the table at the tiny
female with the bright orange hair.
     
Ferrine twitched her
freckled nose and smiled back. "I've been wanting to try this new
dinery, but my mate's been away and I didn't feel like coming alone.
You didn't have to bribe me with a meal, though."
     
Shara's
smile faded. "It wasn't—"
     
"Oh,
don't worry. I'm joking. Your friend Kiku told me you wanted to get
some background on my chief, and I figure that's only fair, since he
was checking on you first. Don't get me wrong. I'm loyal to Gabriel,
but there are times when I have to do what I think will be best for
him. You know he spends most of his time journeying, don't you?"
     
"Actually,
I don't know much more than his name and title." And that he's annoying
and egotistical, she added to herself.
     
"Well,
let's see. In spite of the title, he spends very little time lecturing
and only a fraction of his time procuring antiquities. His primary
function—and his life's passion—is researching primitive civilization.
He's compiled a number of monographs on the subject. From time to time
on his journeys, he comes across a valuable artifact and acquires it
for Norona. Because of the remote places some of these research
journeys take him, he's often without human company for months at a
time. But it doesn't seem to bother him. Even when he's here, if he's
involved in a project, he's liable to forget there are people around.
Sometimes I have to remind him to eat and sleep."
     
"So he's a
loner and dedicated to his career." Shara couldn't find fault with that.
     
Ferrine
nodded. "He's not shy or introverted; he just doesn't go out of his way
to encourage relationships. Of course, the way he looks, he's never had
to encourage female relationships anyway. Women tend to overlook his
lack of interest and readjust their schedules
to suit him. As far as I can tell, the only thing he gets excited about
is his work. Personally, I can't imagine making love to a man whose
mind is off in another time or place, but I guess there's no accounting
for taste." She noted the slight flush on Shara's cheekbones and added,
"You really confused him today."
     
Shara's eyebrows lifted a
notch. "I beg your pardon?'
     
"I
don't know what happened when he went to see you, but he came back and
asked me what I thought he should do to make himself more acceptable to
you. Knowing Gabriel, I assumed he meant in a working sense, not
personally."
     
"Uh, yes, he intends to work with me on a
project,"
Shara said, trying not to care that he might not be as sure of himself
as he had appeared.
     
"And again, knowing Gabriel, he probably
forgot certain amenities like saying hello or excuse me, or introducing
himself."
     
"Well . . ."
     
"Believe
me, I know," Ferrine said with a laugh. "But I'm used to him. Truly,
he's not inconsiderate. It's just that his mind is sometimes miles
ahead of his mouth. When he's not distracted by a project, he's