“I am a mathematics student.” She must have read his incredulous look correctly, because she clarified, adding, “Well, not a mathematics studenthere, but a student nonetheless.”
The girl popped to her feet with remarkable alacrity before looking back to the shelf, presumably at the book she had been reaching for. “Can you help me a bit?”
“Excuse me?”
She turned and huffed. Then she spoke slowly, as though he were simple. “I said, Can. You. Help. Me?”
Alex shook his head. How had she gotten in here, and was she out of her mind? “You can’t have a book. They’re for mathematics studentshereonly.”
“Well, the problem is that this book,” she said, pointing at Descartes’Meditations, “is obviously mis-shelved. It should be with books on philosophy, not mathematics. Clearly, the librarian saw ‘Descartes’ and thought mathematics, as most people would, but you see this book is not about mathematics, at least as far as I know, because I haven’t read it, and that is why I would very much like to read it. And because it is not a mathematics book, and it’s in the wrong place, clearly there is no reason for this book to be exclusively limited to mathematics students, wouldn’t you think?”
She had managed to strike Alex temporarily mute. The girl looked at him with wide eyes and a slight smile, as though waiting for him to accept her analysis.
He squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, drawing inspiration from his most intimidating professors. “If I give you this book, will you leave at once?”
Her eyes lit up. “Yes, of course!” The sheer euphoria in her voice gave him pause, but Alex stepped past her before he could dwell on it, nearly tripping over her discarded boots. His eyes flicked to her stocking feet and back to her face. She hardly seemed embarrassed by her state of dress, merely eager to get her hands on the book as she bounced on her toes.
He climbed on a chair and reached the desired book, but held it tight in his hands. “Come with me,” he barked. She followed as he strode out of the library, but when he stopped she nearly slammed into his back. “You’ll need your shoes.”
She sighed heavily and then ran back, pulling her skirt up to her knees to put on her boots. He looked away, rubbing his brow.This is ridiculous. There must be something wrong with her.
She jumped to her feet. “I’m ready. May I have the book now?” She put out her hand and smiled broadly, her eyes sparkling in the dim light.
Alex turned with a grumble and continued his strident steps out of the library toward the street. He could hear her keeping pace behind him, so he did not stop until they were out in the blinding sunlight. When he turned again, she nearly collided with him once more. She clearly had no sense of boundaries.
“Do you swear you will return this within the week?” he asked her solemnly, looking directly into her eyes.They are remarkable, he thought, despite his irritation. Such a unique color, like copper flecks in an emerald.
“Yes. Probably before then.” She extended her hand again.
Alex looked at her with narrowed eyes. “Before then? You do realize it’s in the original French.”
She rolled her eyes. Had no one told her how rude she looked? “Je ne suis pas idiote.I read French. And I read quickly.”
Wanting this bizarre interaction to end as quickly as possible, Alex handed over the book without asking further questions. He tilted his head back and looked toward the sky, exhaling on a huff. “Please take care of it,” he said.
She stared at the book in her hands, running her fingers over the gold imprinted letters of the title. “I shall.”
“May I ask,” he said, his curiosity getting the better of him, “what do you want with it? It’s not exactly…reading for young ladies.”
Her eyes shot back to him, a trace of pity in her expression. “You wouldn’t understand, not when you have anything you would like to read available to you at a moment’s notice. You should be grateful for it.”
The curious girl turned and started to walk away. As Alex turned to return to his work, he heard her call out. “Wait!”
He stared at her as she approached, terrified of what she might request next. His father had always warned Alex not to feed stray animals for they are likely to return and ask for more. Would she expect an entire encyclopedia next?
“What’s it like?”
Alex blinked. “Pardon?”
“What’s it like,” she repeated, “to learn here? To have every piece of knowledge the world has ever known available to you? To speak your mind and have people respect you for it?”
Never in his life had someone left him as speechless as he had been during the few minutes with this young woman. I’ve never thought about it that way,” he said haltingly. “Yes, I suppose it is wonderful.”
She smiled, clearly pleased to have stumped him. “It’s nice to meet you.” She turned away again, eyes already back in her book.
“Wait!” he called, instantly aggravated that he was echoing her. “You never told me your name. Who are you?”
Again, she turned, then slapped her hand to her forehead. “How rude of me. I’m Fern.”
