Page 102 of The Protector
I made a frustrated sound in my throat and closed the door hard behind me. For a month, I had spent day and night with Boulder, and right now he was getting on my nerves. First his macho behavior with Bruce for touching my shoulder, and now his criticism of something I found beautiful.
We’re incompatible, that’s why. And it’s a good thing really. It would have been terrible if I’d fallen in love with him or something stupid like that. Thank Mother Nature that I haven’t.
Below my inner dialogue there was an emotion, as if a small part of me was trying to get a word in, but I pushed it down, refusing to examine what stirred down there.
CHAPTER 26
Eavesdropping
Boulder
Slamming the door hard, I got Khan’s attention. He was standing in his office, talking quietly with Magni, and they both looked up with deep frowns.
“I need your help,” I exclaimed, pointing to Khan and walking quickly to where they were standing. “Do you have your own room tapped as well?”
Khan’s nostrils flared slightly, and I got the sense he didn’t want Magni to know about the surveillance, but he gave a small nod.
“Good, because Pearl and Christina are talking in your room right now and I want to know what’s going on. The bloody guards at your door wouldn’t let me eavesdrop.”
Magni’s lips pursed and he leaned back, folding his arms comfortably over his chest. “Yes, brother, let’s hear what the women have to say. Maybe Pearl will reveal where Laura is.”
“She doesn’t know,” I said harshly. “I’ve asked Christina to find out and she insists that the council doesn’t know.”
Magni laughed bitterly. “Oh, geez, you’re so fucking blinded by that woman, Boulder. The bitch has been lying to you from day one.”
My temper flared up. “I warned you,” I sneered at him. “Don’t you fucking call her that.”
Khan touched his wristband and four images appeared in front of him. Four different angles of his private chamber were showing, and we could see Christina and Pearl kneeling down and watching the recording of that long poem I’d just watched with Christina.
“What are they listening to? I don’t understand it,” Magni said.
“It’s poetry,” I answered.
“Poetry?” Magni coughed. “Are you fucking kidding me – who has time for poetry?” He had his nose wrinkled as we listened to the words. “Did she say juxtaposition?” Magni asked. “Please tell me that’s something dirty and sexual.” He poked me. “Did you and Christina ever try the juxta position?”
Khan rolled his eyes. “It’s not a sexual position, you dumbasses. A juxtaposition is two things with contrasting effect.”
“Showoff.” I bumped my elbow into Khan’s ribs but he was too busy looking at the women to retaliate.
“I hate poetry,” Magni groaned.
“Me too, but according to Christina it’s because I’m notevolvedenough to appreciate something as fine as that poem.”
Magni snorted. “She calls thatfine?”
“Shit,” Khan muttered when Christina and Pearl got up from the floor and walked toward the doors to the balcony. “The sound is bad on the balcony.”
Luckily the women stayed inside and only opened the balcony door to let in some fresh air.
“We have to show this to the council,” Pearl said, leaning against the doorframe. “It deserves a prominent place, but we’ll need to reframe some of the wording to something more appropriate.”
“Why? People will know it was written before the big enlightenment. It’s art, Pearl. You don’t change a painting because the color offends you. Hera speaks the language of her day, and any poem should stay true in its form,” Christina argued.
“You have a point.” Pearl nodded.
“I swear, Momsies are soft in their heads,” Magni groaned.
I shushed him, desperate to hear what Christina was saying, but only caught the last part. “What did she say?” I asked worriedly.
