Read Stolen Dreams for Free Online

for the first time,
Gabriel
thanked the heavens that he had not inherited the emotionally reactive
irises common to so many Noronians. Of course, without that trait, the
Code of Honesty would be difficult to enforce. But he had never seen a
pair of eyes in which the changes were as drastic as Shara's.
     
He
decided it was time to terminate the preliminaries and state his
objective. "I understand why you want to make the trip, and it makes
sense that you should be the geneticist to go. But, as I told you
yesterday, I believe a historian should participate in the venture and
that I should be that historian."
     
"I've given that some
thought, Professor, and—"
     
"Gabriel. The title is an honor, but
not necessary."
     
Not necessary for him perhaps, Shara thought,
but
she preferred to keep familiarities to a minimum. "As I was saying, I
have come to the conclusion that a historian would be a logical
addition to the team. Since history is out of my area of expertise, I
would leave it to the Tribunal to select the individual best qualified."
     
His
eyes narrowed at her implication that it would not necessarily be him.
"And I'm telling you, there is no one more qualified than I. The moment
I heard the rumor, my mind was made up that I would be part of this.
The research would be invaluable to my text. But now, after hearing
exactly what you plan to do, I realize there is more at stake here than
my work."
     
With his elbows on the table and his hands clenched
in
fists, he leaned closer and spoke in a deceptively soft voice. "I will
do everything in my power to make sure I'm right beside you all the
way, Shara Locke. You think you're going to go back in time, alter an
event that occurred ten thousand years ago, and everything will be just
wonderful when you return. Well, I don't believe that's possible. In
fact, I don't believe it should be permitted. I won't stop you from
going, because I want to make the trip myself, and you seem to have my
ticket. But I'll be drekked before I let you do anything that might
affect history as we know it!"
     
Shara was so stunned by his
pronouncement, it took a moment for her anger to flare. "Since you were
so thoughtful as to give me fair warning, Professor, I'll give you one
right back. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure you do
not get to accompany me. But if you still manage it, you had better
stay out of my way. I will do whatever needs to be done to save this
planet. And if that means altering history, so be it."
     
Shara
stood up to walk away from the table, but before she took three steps,
Gabriel blocked her path. When she tried to go around him, he grasped
her upper arms and held her in place. She tipped her head back to give
him the full effect of her yellow-flecked glare and met a fury that
matched her own.
     
"Some people might be intimidated by your
tough
act, Shara. You are a big girl." He moved closer and stared down his
nose at her. "But I'm bigger." Stepping back again, he released her.
"Let me give you another warning. Know your enemy before you threaten
him."
     
     
    ****
"I'm
sorry, Shara," Romulus said, his hazel eyes revealing
that he truly did sympathize. "There's nothing more we can do. The
Ruling Tribunal has made its decision. They believe it's too dangerous
to tamper with time."
     
When Romulus had asked her to come to
his
office, Shara's heart had started to pound with excitement. She had
been so sure the news would be good. She appreciated his difficult
position. As Governor, he had to abide by the Tribunal's edicts; as her
father, he always wanted to give her everything she wanted. But this
was one time he had no idea how badly she wanted something, nor the
real reason why. "Didn't they believe what Lantana told us?" she asked.
     
"According
to the transmission I just received, they apparently believe all of
what he related will happen, because they have decided to prepare
warnings for future generations."   
     
"But
I thought we made it