Whisper Falls by Elizabeth Langston Read Free Book Online Page B

lightness of his tone bewildered me. Choosing one’s husband or wife should be treated with gravity and respect. “Why did you choose this girlfriend?”
    â€œAlexis picked me.”
    â€œWhy did you agree?”
    His brow creased in concentration. “At our school, everyone thinks she’s amazing. When she asked me out, I was seriously flattered.”
    â€œI do understand. It is indeed flattering for someone to want you, even if you don’t want them back.” There had been a moment—a brief moment—when Solomon’s attentions had filled me with pride. “What makes her amazing?”
    â€œShe’s smart. And she’s hot.”
    I frowned. “Does hot mean feverish?”
    â€œNo, it means pretty.”
    â€œWhy does hot mean pretty?”
    â€œI’m not sure.” His face flushed crimson. He brushed at the laces of his shoes. “Can we talk about something else?”
    â€œCertainly.”
    â€œCool.”
    It was most perplexing, the number of words he used that made no sense. “If hot means pretty, does cool mean ugly?”
    He laughed. “No, sorry. Cool means very good.” He peered at me through the dark brown hair hanging over his brow. “I looked up your town. It really did exist.”
    â€œWhat a comfort, since it is where I live.”
    â€œThe web didn’t have too much information, though.”
    â€œThe web?”
    â€œYeah. I don’t know how to explain that. It’s…” He shrugged. “The web’s like a huge library, full of books, maps, and pictures. Sometimes lies.”
    â€œWhere is this library?”
    He paused, as if my question were hard to answer. “We have special machines to see inside the library. I have one of the machines at my house.”
    â€œWhat kind of books are in the library?”
    â€œAll kinds.” He looked thoughtful. “Do you go to school?”
    â€œI cannot. I have too many chores.”
    â€œDo you know how to read and write?”
    I snorted. “Of course. It has fallen to me to teach Dorcas.”
    â€œWhat kinds of things do you read?”
    â€œThe Holy Bible.”
    â€œAnything else?”
    â€œNo.” Perhaps that wasn’t precisely true for me. My father had taught me to read when I was a little girl. As the town’s tutor, he’d owned many volumes. Papa had encouraged me to study geography, history, and natural philosophy. He often claimed I was his best pupil. Even now, hidden in my corner of the attic, I had two of his books—my much-loved legacy from Papa. “The only book my master owns is the Holy Bible. He will not allow novels in his home. He calls them the devil’s missives.”
    â€œYou never read fiction?”
    â€œI do not.” I frowned, taken aback by Mark’s tone, as if he couldn’t imagine anything more barbaric. “How many books are in your web?”
    â€œBillions.”
    I shook my head in confusion. “Billions?”
    â€œIt’s a huge number, like…” He paused, rubbing his temple. “It’s like counting the stars.”
    Stars? I glanced up at a sky of blue-black velvet, decorated with a sprinkling of stars and a tiny sliver of moon. How had night fallen without my notice? Startled, I rose. It wouldn’t go well for me if my master saw me return after dark.
    â€œI have enjoyed our conversation, but I must leave.”
    â€œI’ve enjoyed it, too.” He stood as well and extended one hand through the falls. This time his arm slid through, all the way to his elbow. “Hey, look. It let me through a little farther.”
    â€œIndeed, it has.”
    â€œThe waterfall thinks I’m safe. And it should.”
    Dare I rely on its judgment, too? Of course, it only deemed him safe to his elbow, a simple enough part to trust. “It has proven to be an excellent chaperone.”
    â€œMore like a bodyguard.” He