The Bottle Stopper by Angeline Trevena Read Free Book Online

looked Lou in the eye.
    “I need more bottles,” she said. She pushed past him, fighting the urge to look back as she left.
    With her jaw set, Maeve strode along The Wall, not moving out of the way for anyone. Instead of turning down towards The Squeeze, where empty bottles were in easy supply, she hitched her skirt and set off up the stairs to The Hope.
    Eye Street was a dark and barren place. It cowered under the shadow of the high walls surrounding The Compound; the administration's watchtower on The Hope. Most of the houses were empty, and all of the shops were boarded up. Except one.
    At the far end of the street, squeezed up against the rising cliff, was The Paper Duchess. Once a lively bar, it was now a rarely visited book shop.
    Maeve pushed the heavy door open, and stepped into the dim interior. The Paper Duchess was full of dust, and the grubby windows filtered the sunlight to a filthy grey. The large, pillared room may have been grand once upon a time, but it now looked like the contents of every book shop throughout history had been tipped into it. Maeve couldn't imagine finding what she wanted in the mess. She turned to leave.
    “Can I help you?” a voice said.
    Maeve looked around for the speaker, but all she saw was more piles of books.
    “I'm sorry,” the voice said. “Stay where you are, I'll come to you.”
    There was a scrabbling noise, and a small avalanche of books falling somewhere. Then the speaker appeared, climbing over a pile of books on all fours. He was a young man, tall and thin, his skin was dark, and his features were sharp and distinctive. Even though he looked like a teenager who hadn't quite got used to his fully-grown body yet, there was something very attractive about him. Even more so when his face stretched into an awkward smile.
    He slid down the pile to the floor with his arms wheeling. He righted himself and bowed slightly.
    “Hello, madam, and welcome to The Paper Duchess.” He spread his arms wide, and Maeve almost expected to hear a fanfare playing. Clearly, he heard one in his own head.
    “I came looking for a book, but I'm not sure you'll be able to find it.”
    “Don't let the appearance of this place deceive you. This entire shop is carefully catalogued.” He tapped his temple. “I can lay my hands on any book you want.”
    “I'm looking for something on plants. Herbs. Medicinal plants.”
    “Medicinal plants.” He drew the words out as he thought for a moment. “Wait right here.” He disappeared behind a precarious tower of books. “What exactly were you wanting to cure?” he called.
    Maeve rose onto her toes, craning her neck to spot him. “Well, I wasn't really looking to cure anything. More cause something.”
    “Aha, I see.” His voice was further away now. “Cause what exactly? Diarrhoea? Sickness? Or was it more hallucinations and visions?”
    “Actually, death,” Maeve called out.
    There was no reply.
    “Hello?”
    Maeve stepped towards a mound of books, peering in behind it. She jumped as he spoke right behind her.
    “And what would a nice girl like you want with a book on poisons?” He had a small book in his hand.
    “Just curious really. I wouldn't want to accidentally poison someone.”
    “Perhaps a simple cookbook would be more appropriate.”
    “Well, it's best to be sure.”
    Maeve reached out for the book, but he folded his arms, slipping it out of sight.
    “And what would you be willing to pay for such a book?” he asked. “There are no credits for books. We wouldn't want you women getting dangerous ideas.”
    Maeve slipped her hand into her pocket. “I have a luxury credit.”
    He held out his hand. Maeve pulled out her bundle of credits and leafed through them. She pulled out the luxury one and placed it in his palm.
    He looked at it, and back up at her. “And what do you suppose would happen to me if the administration knew that I sold a book about poisonous plants to a girl from The Floor? And that I took a luxury credit