Read Online Concisus by Tracy Rozzlynn - Free Book Online Page A

contemplates the information. “So what can we do about it?”
    “The solution’s pretty simple. Only the head of the pods have projector nodules. Convince Molly to sleep upside down in her sleeping pod. That should place her far enough away from the projectors to remove any influence they have. For good measure, have her convince Alex to do the same. If my theory is correct, in a few days there should be trouble in paradise. But, whatever you do, don’t try telling her the truth. I tried with Andi, and it didn’t go well. Maybe you can convince her that you’re testing a theory and imply it’s a blind study, so you can’t give her any more information about it.”
    Jake looks doubtful and sits quietly for a few minutes before he finally says, “I guess it can’t hurt to give it a shot.”
     
    When Molly returns from cleaning up after Elliot, I announce I’m going to the library. I leave the two of them alone so Jake can talk to Molly about her sleeping habits.
    Initially I have a hard time convincing the librarian to give me a new tablet. She implies that I only want it to trade for extra points. I ignore her insult and insist my old tablet is locked in my old field lab. The librarian then claims I’m not responsible enough to take care of another one.
    “Look,” I cry in frustration, “if you want, I can lie and tell you it was smashed to tiny bits in the flashflood. Would that get me a replacement?”
    Her entire demeanor instantly transforms, as though I’m suddenly interesting instead of annoying. “That was you? Why didn’t you say so?” She pulls a new tablet from under the counter and hands it to me. “So why can’t you get back into your lab?”
    I don’t want to discuss my grounding, but I brought it up, so I give her a sugarcoated explanation. “They just want to make sure we’re recovered from our ordeal before letting us back out into the field.”
    Her expression makes me feel as if I’m a sideshow freak. “Is it true you fought off a lion barehanded?” she asks.
    “How… how did you hear about that?” I ask, completely thrown.
    “Everyone’s heard about it. Of course, you know how rumors go; some of the stories are pretty farfetched. Someone tried to convince me that a doctor monkey saved the other guy’s life. I mean, come on, right?”
    I’m speechless. I had no idea that stories of our experience had become common knowledge. The librarian clears her throat and stares at me expectantly. Oh well, better to have the real story out there than mixed up ones.
    “It was a pan-wolf that attacked me,” I say, “and the other guy fought it off by throwing rocks. And it wasn’t a monkey but a meerkit that saved him.” The librarian seems awestruck. I quickly download some books and flee to the dining halls, searching for a bit of anonymity amongst the crowd of hungry diners.
     
    I don’t know how much time Jake needs to convince Molly, so after lunch I return to my base lab.
    Ryan’s there, exploring the database. His welcoming smile quickly disappears in the face of my cold demeanor. I may have to work with him, but as colleagues only.
    He gets up from the computer and walks toward me. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine.” I move to the other side of the lab table before he gets too close.
    Ryan looks doubtful but doesn’t push for more conversation. Instead, he tells me that he ran into Dr. Brant earlier, and she explained the database project. Because the database is such a mess, he wants to start over, from scratch.
    I cross to my computer, bang some keys to pull up a screen and show him the work I’ve done.
    “I guess great minds do think alike,” he laughs.
    I ignore the joke. “I’m starting on the animal data—you can work on the plants.” I turn my full attention to my computer and continue my work, but as I type, I feel his unwavering gaze on me.
    “What’s wrong?” he asks.
    I wave off his concern. “I’m fine.”
    “I can see that you’re not.