Page 9 of His Human Librarian
We leave the small,adorable town filled with fire-breathing Hyrrokin. Out in the verdant countryside, the long road seems to have no end.
The two suns are now setting and the weather here is simply glorious. The open-air vehicle has a hard top and sturdy doors, along with comfortable seats, but no windows on the side. My hair blows back in the light breeze. The air smells perfumed and the sky is a glorious blue, streaked with puffy clouds. I’m neither too cold nor too hot.
During the long drive I find myself challenging him because I’m highly agitated in his presence. I should remain quiet about his conversation in the hallway, but I simply can’t keep my mouth shut. “I heard everything you said in that hallway. If all of that is true, why didn’t you return me to the transporter station? Does this mean you’ve accepted the fact that I haven’t been sent in error?”
His strong, red arms grip the steering wheel. The vehicle is wide and tall enough to accommodate his tall horns. And even though I’m truly annoyed with this guy and I know he basically hates me; I still can’t get over how this demonic-looking being with the bad attitude is turning handsome right before my eyes.
And now I know he’s single.
Which is dangerous news.
“I’ve only accepted that I can’t get rid of you and I’m now trying to return to the ranch and finish this job as fast as possible.”
I turn and look out the window because this news literally hurts. My eyes are heating up. It’s upsetting to hear that my species is being dismissed, yet again. “Humans were enslaved by the Hurlians on New Earth,” I grumble, “and it’s true that we haven’t been freed for long, but we have a long history on our original planet.”
“I know all about humans. You are not the first of your species I’ve ever met. The planet where you originated has universities, but it is so primitive you are not able to go back because of the indigenous species law. Earth is in its formative stages and your reintegration could interfere with its natural growth. It’s not yet a member of the four sectors. And meanwhile, New Earth is part of the four sectors, but still primitive.”
I bite at my lip and continue to look out the open window. A pleasant breeze continues to blow across my warm cheeks.
“You only know my language because you have a translator in your head,” he challenges. “You are not a native speaker.”
“This is true, but Librarians have learned it doesn’t matter. I’m not actually here to do any translation. I am going to simply catalog what you have, and it will be restored in a lab. I will capture images of everything so that anyone who wants to readit can do that, via all the other libraries in our network, which obviously includes all the libraries on your planet.”
“Maybe I don’t want that.”
I blink. “You want these artifacts to constitute a private library? That’s unusual. Why did you contact us in the first place if you wanted a private library?”
“I didn’t contact you, that was the Sheriff. I had no idea he would bring you in. And now I’m stuck.”
“Oh.” I purse my lips. “Well, if that’s what you want, I see your dilemma. It’s true that you cannot change the status of this project from public to private without filling out the proper documents and attending a formal council meeting to hear their decision. And that takes a long time. And meanwhile the cave will need to be closed to access and I will still need to do my job, of restoring and documentation. It’s just that I won’t upload all the text to the nets until your filing is decided. I admit it’s difficult to get out of this once it’s started. Have you begun the privatization process?”
“No.”
“Are you going to start?”
He exhales. “No.”
“Well, I assume that means you’re onboard for this all being public.”
He glances at me, then back at the road. “Are you a Librarian or a restorer?”
“A bit of both. I always wanted to be a Librarian, while I was going through library studies, because I wanted to return to my home planet to help upgrade New Earth’s library system. Well, that was when I discovered this niche where I could restore antiquities, which is very exciting to me. I like helping other beings out with the restoration of their prized text so that it remains available to future generations and is not lost. And withthis work, I help all beings and species in the four sectors, along with my own.”
“Are you mated?” he suddenly questions.
“I am not.” I sit quiet for a moment, surprised that he would ask such a question. What does it matter?
The vehicle continues down the long, bumpy road. It was early morning when I left on Gravian but here on Tarvos I’ve arrived late in the day. Two suns are now providing a spectacular sunset of pinks and purples behind an amazing mountain range.
“Listen, female, you cannot…”
“Taylor. My name is Taylor.”
He exhales. “Taylor, it’s getting late. We will be at the ranch soon. Let’s call a truce.”
“I would like that.”
“I will accept that you are here to do a job and you will try your best to do this as quick as possible.”