Page 82 of Sour Lollipops and Sweet Nightmares
Clearing my throat, I slowly uncupped my ears. “Um…”Think, think… unconformities and stratigraphic silences, I know this.“Can we correlate… layers in different regions to fill in those gaps?”
“Excellent question.” Dr. Kellerman said, allowing me to release the breath I was holding.
That was close. My paranoia was seriously getting out of control. There was nothing evil happening behind the scenes. No one here was going to hurt me. Hell, half the students in here only signed up because they thought it would be an easy grade.
I’d only met two other geology majors, which wasn’t unusual since Renfrew didn't implement their geology program until last year. It was state-of-the-art, but brand new. I would’ve preferred somewhere else, like Harvard, which had strongresearch funding, or Columbia, which had Lamont-Doherty—a world-class earth science research center. But beggars couldn’t be choosers. And Renfrew was an Ivy League school.
Wait a minute…
Did I know they had a geology program? I must’ve, otherwise why would I apply? Come to think of it, I didn’t remember applying, either.
Nope.
I shook my head. I was not going to spiral down that road. It was a scholarship and nothing more. One of my former professors must’ve recommended me. Stuff like that happened all the time, and I was at the top of my class.
“Pyne,” Dr Kellerman’s voice cut through the air.
“Yes, sir,” I answered, hoping that he wouldn’t notice I was only half paying attention.
“Have you seen an angular unconformity before?”
“Yes,” I nodded. “In the Devonian formations.”
He didn’t acknowledge whether I was right or wrong, he just turned around and continued his lecture. Not that I needed the acknowledgement, I knew I was right.
“I don’t think Issac would appreciate you calling another man Sir.”
A chill shot down my spine as my back went rigid. I knew that voice.
Hoping that this time it was just my imagination, I slowly turned around.
My hope did not get answered.
Seated in the chair behind me, with one foot propped up on his knee, was Ravi. He may have returned my things—minus my notebook—but that didn’t mean I trusted him.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered back at him.
“I’m learning.”
I highly doubted that. Ravi had no interest in the historical data stored in the Earth’s layers. He was here to pester me. Was invading my personal space and home not enough for him? Now he had to interrupt my studies.
“You don’t care about geology.”
“Maybe I do.” A causal smirk spread across his face. “Maybe I had a sudden interest in rocks.”
Uh-huh. I just bet he did.
“Well, I suggest you sign up for petrology or mineralogy then. This class is geographic history, not rocks.” If he was going to lie, he could at least do some research. Don’t insult me with generalized topics.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t he,” he pointed at Dr. Kellerman, “Talking about rocks right now?”
“No,” I snidely sang. “Those are layers in the earth.”
“Which are made of rock.”
Technically yes, but… “That’s not why you’re here.”
“Oh yeah, then why am I here?”
