Stolen Dreams Read Online Free PDF Page B

worktable. A
gray, crescent-shaped stone about two inches long fell out with a thud.
"You're giving me a rock?"
     
Gabriel frowned and shook his head
at
her. "That's not a rock. That's the foreclaw of an Umerian trenchrat."
When she still looked skeptical, he explained. "In ancient times on
Norona, if one person offended another, it was customary for the one to
offer the other a gift that held sentimental meaning for the giver."
     
"Let
me get this straight. This .. . thing . . . has sentimental value to
you?"
     
"Very
much so! It saved my life. I was on the planet Umer when I accidentally
met the gaze of one of the amazons there. It isn't that I didn't know
better, mind you, but she caught me by surprise. Before I could blink,
she had me half entranced. Let me tell you, if that trenchrat hadn't
attacked me right then, I might never have escaped. I killed the beast,
but this claw broke off in my back. I've had it for years."
     
Shara
wondered if he could be making up the story. The thing still looked
like a rock to her. But Ferrine had said his journeys took him to
distant places on a regular basis, so his tale could be true. And she
had heard of the hypnotic powers of certain Umerian females. Just as
she had heard that some men went there hoping to be forced into their
exotic brand of captivity.
     
"I could show you the scar,"
Gabriel said seriously. "I never had it repaired."
     
She
tensed at the thought of his removing his shirt for her to inspect his
back. "No. That's not necessary. I was just thinking about your story.
I've never been anywhere but Innerworld and Norona."
     
"Then you
are
probably in need of this adventure you're planning. Oh, I almost
forgot. I apologize for missing our appointment this morning. I'm
afraid I started translating an ancient Terran scroll last night and
failed to note the time until a half hour ago."
     
"You mean you
haven't been to sleep yet?" Shara asked, remembering what Ferrine had
said about his forgetfulness. More than likely, it was Ferrine's
suggestion that he apologize.
     
"No. I'll catch up with it
later. I
always do. Since I missed our breakfast appointment, would it be
possible to have our discussion over lunch?" Rather than attempting to
sway her with the boyish grin and dimple ploy, his expression remained
sincere.
     
She preferred not to have the discussion at all, but
she
reminded herself that it would behoove her to play along. "That would
be satisfactory." After putting the claw and pouch into her desk
drawer, she gave her computer instructions to run a program while she
was gone.
     
Neither spoke until they had ordered a meal; then
Gabriel
got right to the point. "As I understand it, you have a time-travel
device in your possession and substantiating evidence to justify its
use. Do you have a good case?"
     
"Excellent." Shara had already
decided to fill him in on the situation. It would not be that difficult
for him to find out on his own anyway, and she wanted him to believe
she was accepting
him.            
 
     
Meanwhile, she stayed alert for any attempt on his
part to touch her mind.
     
He
paid close attention as she told of Lantana's insistence that she go
back in time to prevent one rebel from being sent to Earth. By the time
their meal arrived, he knew as much as she did about the reason for the
trip.
     
"And what about the device? It won't matter what you
intend to do if you can't operate it."
     
Her
study of the tempometer was still a secret, but she didn't dare lie. "I
think I'll be able to manage. Once approval comes through, of course."
     
"Of
course." Gabriel couldn't prove she was withholding something, but the
irises of her eyes had changed color twice since they sat down. They
started out a soft brown-green hazel, but turned bright emerald green
as she talked about Lantana's appearance and her plan to go back in
time. Then, just as suddenly, when he asked about the time device, they
darkened to a dull shade of olive.
     
Not