AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Annabelle pulls her hand back, and if I’m not mistaken, even slyly wipes it on the side of her tunic. She turns a bit, and I can read her lips. “No, but thank you. I’m more interested in other things: science, botany. Dresses aren’t my thing.”
The mammoth of a male’s shoulders shake and then sink. Maybe I should send the ice cream to him instead. That is forever what the humans do in movies when they are upset with not getting the mate of their choice.
I step out into the hall. The next three shops are a male clothier, a lighting shop, and then a book stall. A book stall. I leave the small crowd following her and make my way to the shop.
“Eros,” the old stallkeeper calls to me. “I don’t have anything—”
“I’m shopping today.” The governors have used this stall as a drop-off point in the past. The owner, the haggard male behind the counter, had been caught importing prohibited paper that had not been properly scanned for diseases. Now he owes the security council favors. He wasn’t supposed to know that his shop was being used, but he figured it out some months ago. They haven’t used him since.
“Shopping, right?” He fiddles with a stack of tablets on his counter.
I want to pull out my trident and slice off his ear.
“What kind of text are you looking for?”
“The difference between Dorian and human science.”
“Oh, a beginner’s text. You can find that all on your tablet.”
“I’m being old-fashioned.” I pull a king’s coin out of my pocket.
“I can see the benefit of being old-fashioned.” He slides the coin into his register. “I’m sure I have just the thing you want.” He moves to the back of the shop, retrieving a ladder from behind a stack of boxes before he props it against the wall.
“Let me help you with that.” I’m doubting the old male has climbed up there in years. I’m up the ladder before he can protest.
“Oh, well, thank you. Move the front volumes.” I put them on the top rung of the ladder. “No, hand them to me.”
I hand them down. The dust is thicker than the hair on the top of his head. Behind them is another row of books.
“See the red one?”
“Yes.” I reach for it.
“Pull it out too.”
When I do, there’s another line of books. These are much older. Leatherbound. There’s one with a lovely blue-dyed spine and golden inlay. No title. It’s more of a notebook. I pull it out.
“That’s the one. You’ve got a good eye.” He takes it from me, and with a rag from his apron, delicately wipes the edges of it. He lays it open on the side counter. “I really hate to part with this, but it’s just the thing you’re looking for. It’s not a book really . . . well, it goes with this one.” He pulls another book from the shelf. There are several duplicates of it on the shelf. “It’s someone’s notes on this book. And other things. I’m only a seven in science studies. I’m more of a cultural guy. I’ve always meant to use this to help me. But...” He caresses the edges of the blue book. I shake my head and put another King’s coin next to it. A little more and you could buy a usedsolofor the same price. “Well, I guess it’s yours now. I hope it serves you well.”
“I’ll take the other one too.”
“Oh yes. Wonderful.” He rubs his hands together. “That will be ten credits.”
I cock my head at him. He’s got to be shitting me. But when he puts his hand out, I place another coin in it.
“Where shall I deliver it?”
“It’s fine. I’ll take it now.”
“I don’t know about you youngsters these days. Taking your packages. Don’t forget it’s paper and get it wet now.” He places them tenderly in a watertight bag.
38
Holter
I’ve been tracking him since the exotic food market. Eros Herod. He’s exactly what I don’t need right now. But then, he’s better than the school of Stele that is following us. Not to mention the young ones who are barely out of their mother’s pod apartments.
“This is the shop you were talking about?” Belle’s blue eyes blink up at me.
