Tomb Raider: The Ten Thousand Immortals Read Online Free PDF

Lara stopped and looked around. Everything seemed fine, normal. She turned left past a short parade of shops on her right and Speedy’s Sandwich bar on her left, and then turned right into Euston Street.
    Lara very deliberately walked past the Wesley and around the corner onto Melton Street before doubling back. She did not see Magazine Man again, or anyone else acting suspiciously.
    When she entered the restaurant, Professor Cahalane was already seated.
    “I’m sorry I’m late, Professor,” said Lara, shrugging off her jacket, and tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
    “What’s five minutes between friends?” said Cahalane. “Why don’t you sit down? There’s no rush… You look… harried.”
    “I’m fine… Thank you,” said Lara, taking her seat.
    A waiter poured Lara some water. She looked at him intently while he performed the task, and then she sipped at the glass, grateful for the distraction and for the opportunity to calm herself.
    “Are you really all right?” asked Cahalane.
    “I really am,” said Lara, breathing more easily. She cast her mind back fifteen or twenty minutes to the man on the Tube. It was the anxiety. It just got the better of her sometimes. She was just panicky about Sam. She was a little on edge. She could handle it.
    “Honestly,” said Lara, smiling. She sat back a little in her chair.
    “Let’s look at the menu then, shall we?” asked Cahalane.
    “You say that as if you didn’t know every dish on it,” said Lara.
    “I think you’ll find they’ve changed it since you were last here,” said Cahalane.
    “Excellent,” said Lara, picking up her menu.
    The real conversation began halfway through the main course: A braised ox cheek for him and a confit Gressingham duck leg for her.
    “You know how foolish this is, don’t you?” asked the professor.
    It wasn’t what Lara wanted to hear, but it was no less than she expected.
    “Archaeology isn’t about the big prizes, Lara. You know that,” said Professor Cahalane. “It’s not about adventuring around the globe. You should learn from your father’s mistake. Archaeology is a meticulous pursuit, a science.”
    “I do know that,” said Lara. “I also know that my friend’s in trouble. Sam needs my help.”
    “It sounds to me as if Sam needs good medical attention, and from what you’ve told me, she’s already getting that.”
    “She is,” said Lara. “But I’m not a doctor.”
    “You’re not much of an archaeologist either, young lady,” said Professor Cahalane. “Why don’t you get back in a classroom? Why don’t you do some more study? You could be very good, you know.”
    “Thank you,” said Lara, and she meant it.
    Professor Cahalane was one of the foremost authorities in the world in his field. He was highly respected, and his breadth and depth of knowledge was second to none. What’s more, he was a great educator, popular with his students. His lectures were always well attended.
    “I could put you in the way of a good research fellowship. You only have to say the word,” said Cahalane.
    “Right now, I really need your help with this,” said Lara. “I wouldn’t ask you otherwise.”
    “It’s just a story, Lara,” said Cahalane, sighing. “It’s a very beautiful story, of course, but then, they all are.”
    Lara said nothing as the waiter removed their empty plates and then brought the dessert menu.
    Professor Cahalane sat back in his chair, his wine glass in his hand.
    “I suppose a trip to Oxford doesn’t exactly qualify as gallivanting around the globe,” Cahalane finally said, putting down his wine glass and picking up the menu.
    “You know you’ll have the cheese,” said Lara. She was keen to ask what was in Oxford, but she knew that the simplest, best option was to allow the professor to take his time and get to the point when he was good and ready.
    “There might be a trifle on the menu,” said Cahalane.
    “There isn’t,” said Lara. “But since you’re