Page 10 of His Human Librarian

I purse my lips and nod. And that’s when I catch him glancing down at my bare legs and then back at the road. Hmm.

“I thought Librarians only worked in libraries with print books and other textual materials and checked them out to beings who needed them.”

“That is our typical work,” I agree. “When I learned that Librarians can also restore books and texts and make them available for a larger audience, I instantly became addicted to this type of work. It’s very rewarding. I enjoy all the technology that is available to bring digital books over the nets to all beings in the four sectors and translated into all languages, but I do enjoy the scent and heft of a print book in my hands. I love nothing more than striding through rows and rows of print books, finding the right one, or returning a misplaced book to its shelf. Helping a being find the right fiction book to read or for the exact research they needed, is wonderful too.”

“There is a large private library of print books in my home.”

“Really? Can I see it tonight?”

“Later.”

I do my best to remain quiet and not beg for more information on this mysterious private library. Then we turn a bend in the road and I see a large gate. “Oh, is that the sign for your ranch?”

“Yes, that’s where my property begins.”

Chapter 4

Taylor

We pause at the gate and wait for it to open.

Sten drives inside along a wide, shadowy road. After another bend in the road the vegetation clears and I see a barn to my left in the distance, along with pens and exotic-looking animals roaming about. There are other outbuildings and lots of Hyrrokin working together to, I assume, bring the animals inside and close for the evening. The suns continue to set and lights flicker on at the buildings and along pathways.

We pull up to a glorious yet rustic mansion made entirely out of dark logs and ironwork. It’s a huge, three-storied home that seems to go on forever in either direction. It’s the type of place that is so big, it looks like a hotel or governmental building. They type of place where it’s surprising to learn it’s a single-family home. A fire pit crackles in the middle of the circle driveway in front, and other lights illuminate the walkways and windows.

He pulls up to the massive front porch and parks the vehicle.

I do my best to not look surprised that Sten lives in such a splendid setting. The attendant at the med lab tried to warn me. She wasn’t wrong.

I step out and move toward the rear of the vehicle and unzip my suitcase. I’m still barefoot, which is bothering me.The good news is that amongst the Hyrrokin, not wearing shoes is considered normal. Everyone I saw in Fire Creek, including Hyrrokin walking in the city streets, was barefoot. I was the only one in shoes. “Just a sec,” I explain. “Let me put these away.” I manage to push my heels inside then zip it back up.

That’s when I notice Sten close behind me, which I admit feels nice.

The sky is dark and stars sparkle overhead. I pause to take it all in and inhale another deep breath of the perfumed air. “This might be the prettiest planet I’ve ever been on.”

He grunts and takes my suitcase from my hands and marches toward the front door.

I follow close behind, carefully making my way on the gravel then the cold stone steps.

“There is a housekeeper, Roda,” he explains, “who has been with our family since I was a child. And there is also a team of cleaning bots. Roda is most likely not here because…”

The door opens and a Hyrrokin appears. “I’m here, I’m here,” she loudly proclaims, then looks down at me. “And who is this? I thought you were bringing along some male Gravian for mysterious reasons.”

I do my best to not step back and let out a squeak of fear. This is a much older, terrifying Hyrrokin female. She wears a bright pink tube top and a long blue skirt that sweeps the floor, with her silver-clawed bare red feet peeking out. She smiles at me and that’s also scary.

“Good evening,” the female says with a deep, raspy voice.

“Roda, this is our new guest, Taylor Dumas.”

She looks between the two of us. I want to introduce myself formally as the Librarian from the antiquities council, but I’m literally frozen with fright.

She snorts. “Well, let’s get you settled and fed. You look like you need more food.”

I look at her in horror. Is she making fun of my weight?

Roda reaches for my suitcase, but Sten grabs it first. “I will take the suitcase and show Taylor to her room.”

She lets out a puff of white smoke. “Dinner will be ready in the formal dining room in an hour.”

---