Read Online Captive of Fate by Lindsay McKenna - Free Book Online
Authors: Lindsay McKenna
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science?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“A logical guess.”
“I suppose I look like all those other politicos up there on the Hill. We all have black, beady, weasel eyes and are out to lie to the public and grovel for our power positions,” she muttered.
He laughed. It was a full, resonant laugh that reverberated within the small cleared area of the jungle, and Alanna found herself warming to it.
“Hardly, lady. You’re a sight for sore eyes under any circumstances, believe me. No, your problem is that you try to replace your intuition with rationalization and end up making the wrong decision. Such as this fiasco we’re on now.”
Alanna smirked. “Thanks for reminding me. But I still value my logic.”
“Women were made to feel out situations,” he commented seriously.
She laughed bitterly. “It goes without saying that you’re a typical male chauvinist.”
“No, you didn’t hear what I said. Women think differently than men. For instance”—he pointed toward the jungle wall to their right—“most men would only see that as a barrier of trees and vines and a path in front of them. But a woman would take in much more—the odors, the sounds, the colors—utilizing all of her five senses to a greater degree than her male counterpart.” He allowed a small grin, watching her closely. “I’m saying that you’re cheating yourself by trying to rule your five senses with logic.”
Alanna mulled it over. What he said did make sense. “How did you stumble onto this little gem of wisdom?”
“I found out the hard way,” he offered. “Two years in a jungle getting hunted by the enemy and you become more aware of the five senses. You learn to depend on your intuition. Most men won’t do that unless they’re under severe stress. And even then, they may not. I’ve watched women react to other less dangerous circumstances and get a better overall impression of the situation. Men tend to take things at face value. The black and white of it. I think most women see through that and are aware of the shades of gray in life.”
“And so you ‘stretched’ your intuitive abilities?”
“It’s saved my life and the lives of others many times. You bet I did.”
Alanna remembered Tim Thornton abruptly, wondering for an instant if the senator was wrong. She quickly dismissed that thought, unable to believe that the senator could feel so strongly about Colonel Breckenridge without due cause.
“So, who canned your five senses and forced you to make all your decisions on the basis of logic?” he asked.
She was beginning to breathe hard again, despite the fact he was slowing down the pace. The trail twisted steeply, with roots and vines now crisscrossing the path. Her heart was pounding in her ears, and she felt a tension headache coming on. How far had they gone? How far was it to the village? The question caught her completely off guard, and she blurted out the answer without stopping first to analyze it. “The man I used to live with, Paul Ramsey. He is a political analyst for a powerful lobby in Washington. I’m afraid we were mismatched from the outset.”
Matt stopped, pulling out the canteen and offering it to her as they rested at a small crest. His face had a sheen of sweat on it, but his eyes were hawklike in intensity, missing nothing. “A computer for a mind and no emotions?” he inquired.
Alanna gratefully drank the water down, the halizone taste seeming less potent this time around. She handed the canteen back to him. “Yes. You sure you aren’t reading my mind?”
He lifted the canteen to his mouth, taking a small swallow and then replacing the cap and snapping it back into the belt. “No. It just comes from experience,” he assured her.
“Look,” she begged, “can we rest just a moment? My feet are killing me.”
He checked his watch. “Five minutes.”
Alanna collapsed on the spot, balancing her weight on a thick root that had been washed clean of the surrounding soil
“Yes. How did you know?”
“A logical guess.”
“I suppose I look like all those other politicos up there on the Hill. We all have black, beady, weasel eyes and are out to lie to the public and grovel for our power positions,” she muttered.
He laughed. It was a full, resonant laugh that reverberated within the small cleared area of the jungle, and Alanna found herself warming to it.
“Hardly, lady. You’re a sight for sore eyes under any circumstances, believe me. No, your problem is that you try to replace your intuition with rationalization and end up making the wrong decision. Such as this fiasco we’re on now.”
Alanna smirked. “Thanks for reminding me. But I still value my logic.”
“Women were made to feel out situations,” he commented seriously.
She laughed bitterly. “It goes without saying that you’re a typical male chauvinist.”
“No, you didn’t hear what I said. Women think differently than men. For instance”—he pointed toward the jungle wall to their right—“most men would only see that as a barrier of trees and vines and a path in front of them. But a woman would take in much more—the odors, the sounds, the colors—utilizing all of her five senses to a greater degree than her male counterpart.” He allowed a small grin, watching her closely. “I’m saying that you’re cheating yourself by trying to rule your five senses with logic.”
Alanna mulled it over. What he said did make sense. “How did you stumble onto this little gem of wisdom?”
“I found out the hard way,” he offered. “Two years in a jungle getting hunted by the enemy and you become more aware of the five senses. You learn to depend on your intuition. Most men won’t do that unless they’re under severe stress. And even then, they may not. I’ve watched women react to other less dangerous circumstances and get a better overall impression of the situation. Men tend to take things at face value. The black and white of it. I think most women see through that and are aware of the shades of gray in life.”
“And so you ‘stretched’ your intuitive abilities?”
“It’s saved my life and the lives of others many times. You bet I did.”
Alanna remembered Tim Thornton abruptly, wondering for an instant if the senator was wrong. She quickly dismissed that thought, unable to believe that the senator could feel so strongly about Colonel Breckenridge without due cause.
“So, who canned your five senses and forced you to make all your decisions on the basis of logic?” he asked.
She was beginning to breathe hard again, despite the fact he was slowing down the pace. The trail twisted steeply, with roots and vines now crisscrossing the path. Her heart was pounding in her ears, and she felt a tension headache coming on. How far had they gone? How far was it to the village? The question caught her completely off guard, and she blurted out the answer without stopping first to analyze it. “The man I used to live with, Paul Ramsey. He is a political analyst for a powerful lobby in Washington. I’m afraid we were mismatched from the outset.”
Matt stopped, pulling out the canteen and offering it to her as they rested at a small crest. His face had a sheen of sweat on it, but his eyes were hawklike in intensity, missing nothing. “A computer for a mind and no emotions?” he inquired.
Alanna gratefully drank the water down, the halizone taste seeming less potent this time around. She handed the canteen back to him. “Yes. You sure you aren’t reading my mind?”
He lifted the canteen to his mouth, taking a small swallow and then replacing the cap and snapping it back into the belt. “No. It just comes from experience,” he assured her.
“Look,” she begged, “can we rest just a moment? My feet are killing me.”
He checked his watch. “Five minutes.”
Alanna collapsed on the spot, balancing her weight on a thick root that had been washed clean of the surrounding soil
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