Stolen Dreams by Marilyn Campbell Read Free Book Online Page B

her
icy, "Professor," and looked away.
     
He usually avoided company
himself and was perfectly content to be alone in his own room, but he
and Shara really needed to communicate. Suddenly a possibility occurred
to him that he hadn't thought of before. Perhaps she was avoiding him
because she intended to leave him behind once they reached Norona. With
her eyes as expressive as they were, she might be afraid he would guess
what she was up to if he
spent enough time with her. Certain that he had guessed her plan, he
only had to thwart it. But his intuition told him he would fare much
better if she were the first one to break the silence.
     
Retrieving
a
small mercury-filled sphere from his satchel, he determined to get her
out of her room and into his ... for purposes of communication.
     
Bonk!
     
Shara
bolted off her bunk and stared at the wall she had been using as a back
support while she was reading.
     
Bonk!
     
The second thud
sounded close to the same spot.
     
Bonk!
     
The
thuds continued to come, spaced about five seconds apart, as if someone
were playing screwball in the next sleeper. And she knew who that
someone had to be. She put up with it for several minutes, vowing not
to let him get to her. Ignoring him for the past three days had been
one of the most difficult tasks she had ever assigned herself. Every
time she saw him, she could sense him wanting to talk to her, and her
terrible weakness had her wanting to let him. Added to that, the
boredom of staying in her cramped quarters was definitely playing havoc
with her nerves. Perhaps, she thought, scolding the professor would be
just what she needed to break up the tedium.
     
Before she could
give it a second thought, she was knocking on his door.
     
"Shara!"
Gabriel greeted her with a smile that lit up his angel eyes. "What a
nice surprise. I was just thinking how much better double screwball is
than solitaire. Care to join me?" He stepped back and waved his arm to
invite her inside.
     
She
remained in the passageway, reminding herself she had not come over to
play a game with him, especially not inside that tiny room. "No. I, uh,
only wanted to check on you. I heard the thumps on my wall and thought—"
     
"Oh,
drek, I am sorry. I guess the rooms aren't soundproof. If you don't
care to come in, would you like to get some fresh air with me? The
biodrome on board is small compared to one you'd find on a regular
passenger ship, but it's still a change of scenery.
     
Shara's
boredom won a brief skirmish with her caution. "Yes, that sounds fine."
     
"One
moment, then." He tossed the screwball onto the bunk and picked up a
small white bag. On their way below deck, Gabriel was careful not to
touch her, in spite of an irrational, overwhelming urge to do just that.
     
As
soon as they entered the biodrome, Shara inhaled the humid air and
smiled.
     
Gabriel
nodded at her appreciation. "Did you know that only forty years ago,
tropical rain forests like this one had almost been obliterated on
Outerworld Earth? It's incredible what progress they made out there
once they finally realized what danger they were in."
     
Shara
took
another breath of oxygen-rich air provided by the carefully cultivated
plants and trees. Sounds of a rushing waterfall and native jungle
creatures had been realistically simulated to enhance visitors' sensual
pleasure. "Yes, as a matter of fact, Professor, I do know a bit of the
environmental history of
Outerworld."               
 
     
"Oh, of course. For a moment I forgot who your
mother is. Aster Mackenzie's contributions to the planet will be
legendary."
     
She laughed. "At least that's what Lantana told
us, but my mother found it hard to believe. She's really a very modest
person."
     
"Would you care for a Caress?" Gabriel offered,
holding open the bag he had brought from his room.
     
Shara
peeked inside to make sure she understood precisely what he was
offering. Recognizing the red shimmer-wrapped hearts, she dipped