Read Online The Pike: Ships In The Night by Erik Schubach - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Erik Schubach
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will be ok for a bit if I run off to the University to get these to Liya.”
She reached for the papers, and I pulled them back, maybe I could still be useful. I shook my head. “No, you don't need to do that. I can get these to her.”
Eve beamed a thousand watt smile at me. “Would you? You're awesome Sparky. All we know is that her name is Ligaya Hannigan, and she works at the University. If you can't find her then at least, you know what ferry she rides.”
She poured some coffee in one of my thermal mugs and handed it over. She nudged her chin toward the door,. “Go be a hero.”
I blushed a little and started to turn, then turned back with my brow furrowed. “Hannigan? Really? I didn't expect that.”
She nodded and grinned. “Me either.” The bell over the door tinkled, and she fluttered her fingers toward me, not looking concerned in any way shape nor form anymore. “Now shoo lady, I got customers.”
I headed to the door, squinting one eye and glanced back at her. She was grinning like a shark. Why the hell did I feel like I had just been played?
I checked the time. I still had plenty of time before my PT appointment. I should be able to find a quantum physicist in a haystack before I had to be there. I made my way to the bus stop as I stowed the papers in my shoulder bag. Then I smiled when I remembered the cute way Liya had brushed her hair out of her face when I almost squashed her on the ferry that morning.
***
When I arrived at the University of Washington campus, it brought my college days to mind. The place hadn't changed much in the four years since I graduated. The only thing that looked different is that all the students converging on the buildings looked so much younger than when I had gone here. They all looked like kids.
I chuckled, they weren't much younger than me, and I bet they will think the same of the new students after they had been out in the real world a few years. It is all about perspective I would imagine.
I got a couple appraising looks from some of the 'kids' as I made my way to the main office. I did my best not to grin. It seems I still had it, even with the damn cane. I know it sounds egotistical and self-absorbed, but it boosted my morale a bit. I had a bit more spring in my step as I entered the administration building.
I paused to rest my leg as I leaned against a wall in the corridor before pushing off and entering the admissions office. There wasn't anyone at the main desk, but I could hear voices in the cubical farm. I reached out and knocked on the counter with the head of my cane, then lowered it and leaned lazily on it as heads rose up over the cubicles. It reminded me of prairie dogs popping their heads up, and it was all I could do to stop from chuckling at the sight.
I turned back to a familiar voice behind me, “As I live and breathe. Allison Fraiser in the flesh.” I smiled at Tonya Evans, the admissions manager for UW. I may or may not have had a rendezvous with her at the Ballyhoo Club a time or two while I went here. But as it is against policy for staff to date students, you can't prove a thing.
I dipped my head in greeting, a little jealous of her flawless dark chocolate complexion, and replied, “Hi Tonya.”
She paused and looked at the cane and said in a faraway voice, “I had heard.” She looked downcast, she knew how hard I had been working in the fire academy while attending classes here. It was sort of my dream, and now...
I exhaled and just said, “Yeah.”
She stepped up to me and gave me a quick hug and stepped back with a grin as she appraised me, head to toe. Then said as she slipped through the walkthrough on the counter and stepped around to face me, “Looking sharp, lady. I see that it takes more than a building falling on you to stop you.”
It sure feels like it stopped me.
I just shrugged and blushed at the playful black woman. She had a little
She reached for the papers, and I pulled them back, maybe I could still be useful. I shook my head. “No, you don't need to do that. I can get these to her.”
Eve beamed a thousand watt smile at me. “Would you? You're awesome Sparky. All we know is that her name is Ligaya Hannigan, and she works at the University. If you can't find her then at least, you know what ferry she rides.”
She poured some coffee in one of my thermal mugs and handed it over. She nudged her chin toward the door,. “Go be a hero.”
I blushed a little and started to turn, then turned back with my brow furrowed. “Hannigan? Really? I didn't expect that.”
She nodded and grinned. “Me either.” The bell over the door tinkled, and she fluttered her fingers toward me, not looking concerned in any way shape nor form anymore. “Now shoo lady, I got customers.”
I headed to the door, squinting one eye and glanced back at her. She was grinning like a shark. Why the hell did I feel like I had just been played?
I checked the time. I still had plenty of time before my PT appointment. I should be able to find a quantum physicist in a haystack before I had to be there. I made my way to the bus stop as I stowed the papers in my shoulder bag. Then I smiled when I remembered the cute way Liya had brushed her hair out of her face when I almost squashed her on the ferry that morning.
***
When I arrived at the University of Washington campus, it brought my college days to mind. The place hadn't changed much in the four years since I graduated. The only thing that looked different is that all the students converging on the buildings looked so much younger than when I had gone here. They all looked like kids.
I chuckled, they weren't much younger than me, and I bet they will think the same of the new students after they had been out in the real world a few years. It is all about perspective I would imagine.
I got a couple appraising looks from some of the 'kids' as I made my way to the main office. I did my best not to grin. It seems I still had it, even with the damn cane. I know it sounds egotistical and self-absorbed, but it boosted my morale a bit. I had a bit more spring in my step as I entered the administration building.
I paused to rest my leg as I leaned against a wall in the corridor before pushing off and entering the admissions office. There wasn't anyone at the main desk, but I could hear voices in the cubical farm. I reached out and knocked on the counter with the head of my cane, then lowered it and leaned lazily on it as heads rose up over the cubicles. It reminded me of prairie dogs popping their heads up, and it was all I could do to stop from chuckling at the sight.
I turned back to a familiar voice behind me, “As I live and breathe. Allison Fraiser in the flesh.” I smiled at Tonya Evans, the admissions manager for UW. I may or may not have had a rendezvous with her at the Ballyhoo Club a time or two while I went here. But as it is against policy for staff to date students, you can't prove a thing.
I dipped my head in greeting, a little jealous of her flawless dark chocolate complexion, and replied, “Hi Tonya.”
She paused and looked at the cane and said in a faraway voice, “I had heard.” She looked downcast, she knew how hard I had been working in the fire academy while attending classes here. It was sort of my dream, and now...
I exhaled and just said, “Yeah.”
She stepped up to me and gave me a quick hug and stepped back with a grin as she appraised me, head to toe. Then said as she slipped through the walkthrough on the counter and stepped around to face me, “Looking sharp, lady. I see that it takes more than a building falling on you to stop you.”
It sure feels like it stopped me.
I just shrugged and blushed at the playful black woman. She had a little
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