Tribes of Man: The Beginning [Tribes of Man] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Kiel Nichols Read Free Book Online Page B

that she was an asset to the library, but she hadn’t realized that they considered her valuable enough to spend so much money on her.
    Raina got off the bus and quickly moved to the sidewalk. The cool breeze was off the ocean and carried just a hint of rain. Raina swept her cane back and forth in front of her even though she didn’t think she’d need it. She just knew when something was in front of her. The people at the hospital were amazed at how well she adjusted to her blindness, enough so that the doctors tested her every way to Sunday to ensure that she wasn’t faking. They finally determined that her eerie ability to know when something was in her way was further evidence that there was no medical cause for her blindness. If it was psychosomatic, then she obviously could see and her brain just wasn’t processing it on a conscious level. Truthfully, they made her feel like a crackpot who wanted to be blind.
    Raina entered the library through the employee door instead of going around the front like she normally did. She usually walked around the corner to go through the main door because she enjoyed going through the hub of the library, the circulation desk, and main lobby. If she went through the employee’s entrance, she had to go up the back stairs or the elevator to the second floor reference desk. Either route took her around the main lobby.
    Considering what had been going on in her life, Raina didn’t mind bypassing the hubbub of the main lobby this time. After entering the library, she put her coat in her locker and walked toward to the elevator. On the second floor, she exited to find Betsy at the reference desk talking to a student.
    Raina’s shift overlapped with Betsy’s for an hour, allowing Betsy to finish her end of shift paperwork while Raina helped students.
    Betsy’s personality was in direct contrast with both her voice and her looks. She was a large, loud-voiced woman who seemed to be somewhat brash. In reality, she was a very timid, quiet woman who considered a perfect shift to be one where no students asked for help. The week before finals was Betsy’s personal hell since all the students’ papers were due.
    As Raina walked up, Betsy was dealing with a particularly thorny inquiry from a student.
    “...I don’t know how you’re going to prove that Darwinism also relates to plants protecting themselves against predators.” Betsy sounded totally irritated. She hated answering questions on things that seem foolish.
    “But they have thorns, doesn’t that mean that they are an example of Darwinism, you know, survival of the fittest?” The overeager student was leaning forward across the counter.
    “Look,” Betsy began impatiently.
    Before she could continue, Raina interrupted, “Do you want me to show him the section on horticulture, Betsy?”
    Betsy shot her a relieved look. “Thanks, Raina.” She turned back to the student. “Raina’s our resident expert on both Darwin and horticulture. She’ll help you find what you need.”
    Raina almost laughed out loud at that little fib as she stepped around the desk. She gestured the student to the computers and headed over, confident that he’d follow.
    Behind her Raina heard, “Is she blind? How can she help me find anything?”
    “You can see, can’t you? Besides, she’s blind but not deaf, you moron!” Betsy muttered.
    Raina wanted to laugh again. Neatly put in his place, the boy wouldn’t make another comment about her blindness.
    He caught up with Raina at the computers. “How am I supposed to find what I need?” He spoke louder and slower as though her inability to see translated into being deaf and stupid also.
    Raina gestured to the computer terminal. “Go to the main library site and log onto the indexes.” When she heard him typing she continued. “OK, see the indexes? Type ‘horticulture’ into the search options.”
    “I don’t see the search options.” He sounded impatient.
    “It’s on the upper right