Gabriel's Horn by Alex Archer

Author:Alex Archer [Archer, Alex]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction - Adventure, Fiction - Science Fiction, Grail, End of the world, Fantasy fiction, General, Science Fiction, Women archaeologists, Adventure, Adventure stories, Fiction, Science Fiction And Fantasy, Adventure fiction
ISBN: 9780373621316
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-07-06T18:00:00+00:00

22

“You have the most beautiful eyes.”

The comment startled Annja as she sat across the small table from the old man. She and Charlie occupied one of the back tables at Luigi’s, a small Italian restaurant that offered an evening buffet. Even Luigi, who prized Annja’s patronage because she was—in his view at least—“a television star,” barely admitted Charlie to his establishment.

Italian-themed bric-a-brac occupied the walls. Friezes of grapes outlined every door. Small fishermen’s nets hung from the ceiling. Gallon wine jugs—empty, to prevent grievous bodily harm—hung in the net, as well as Italian stuffed toys that were often given to the children of patrons.

“I’ve never seen eyes quite like yours,” Charlie went on. “They’re like a cat’s, but they have so much more promise. And maybe threat.”

“Thank you,” Annja said. “I think.” She felt a little embarrassed. “But they’ll be closing the kitchen before long. You should eat.”

“I am eating. I was merely letting my stomach settle a little. The food here is very filling.”

Annja knew that. It was why she’d brought him there. From the look of him, he hadn’t had a decent meal in a long time.

“You don’t find this kind of thing in the soup kitchens.” Charlie picked up his fork and resumed his attack on the huge slab of lasagna in front of him.

“I suppose not,” Annja said.

“It’s true. The food there is very wholesome. It’s just that all too often there isn’t enough of it or it isn’t prepared as well.”

“Look,” Annja said, “I can give you a little money. If you think that will help.”

Charlie smiled beatifically. “Dear lady, I haven’t asked you for tribute, have I?”

“No.” Annja felt guilt for even offering. The reaction was foolish, but there was an air of pride about the homeless man that won her over. Even as she realized that, though, she could hear Bart’s voice in the back of her head telling her not to trust the man.

You’re not trusting him, she told herself. You’re just feeding him a little. She looked at the lasagna piled high on his plate. Well, okay, maybe a lot.

“But it’s also foolish to turn down generosity just because of pride when you’re in dire straits,” Charlie said. “Do you have money you could spare?”

Annja reached into her pocket and brought out two twenties. She’d use her debit card to settle the tab at Luigi’s.

Charlie crumpled the bills into his palm, curled his fingers into a tight fist, turned his hand over, then opened it so the palm faced up. There was no sign of the money.

A moment of stunned fascination passed. Annja stared at Charlie’s empty hand. It was a child’s trick, a practiced maneuver of simple deception. Except she hadn’t seen a single hint of misdirection.

“Surprised?” Charlie asked.

“How did you do that?” Annja asked.

“Magic,” Charlie whispered.

“You’re a magician?”

The bony shoulders lifted and dropped. “Some have called me that. I’ve never considered myself a magician.”

Despite her need to get home and get to work on other projects she had going,

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.