"Life is only precious because it ends, kid."
- Rick Riordan, The Son of Neptune
The long tables and benches were littered with scrolls and books, beakers and jars. Liquids of different colors sloshed on the tables, some bubbling over small flames. The man remained stooped over a weathered book, pouring over the archaic text that was beautifully scripted on the bound yellowing parchment.
"What did you do tonight?"
"Had a problem at the office and spent the entire day taking care of it."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. It's done now."
"He told me I should infect you."
He ran a calloused hand over his head, pushing back the errand strands of hair that fell wildly in his face and turned the tome toward the a lamp nearby, eyes narrowing to focus on the script. Stray hints of gray that newly colored fair colored head and beard, revealed themselves in the glare of the lamp light. Streaks of red colored the whites around the man's cool blue eyes.
"Who?"
The man stood up and rolled the tired muscles of his shoulders and stretched out the aching muscles of his back. He drew a deep breath and rubbed his stinging, watering eyes. He reached back to rub the back of his neck as he looked over his work, strewn over the tables. He let out another breath and stepped away from his work. He blew out the lamp and started upstairs.
It was time to go see Kate.
- Rick Riordan, The Son of Neptune
The long tables and benches were littered with scrolls and books, beakers and jars. Liquids of different colors sloshed on the tables, some bubbling over small flames. The man remained stooped over a weathered book, pouring over the archaic text that was beautifully scripted on the bound yellowing parchment.
"What did you do tonight?"
"Had a problem at the office and spent the entire day taking care of it."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay. It's done now."
"He told me I should infect you."
He ran a calloused hand over his head, pushing back the errand strands of hair that fell wildly in his face and turned the tome toward the a lamp nearby, eyes narrowing to focus on the script. Stray hints of gray that newly colored fair colored head and beard, revealed themselves in the glare of the lamp light. Streaks of red colored the whites around the man's cool blue eyes.
"Who?"
The man stood up and rolled the tired muscles of his shoulders and stretched out the aching muscles of his back. He drew a deep breath and rubbed his stinging, watering eyes. He reached back to rub the back of his neck as he looked over his work, strewn over the tables. He let out another breath and stepped away from his work. He blew out the lamp and started upstairs.
It was time to go see Kate.