0 signs

...continuation of science...
   which is a
...continuation of books...

---

He stepped forward.  His approach seemed to go completely unnoticed as she took a book from the shelves, turned it over and began reading.  There was little doubt that he had entered her space and was within her peripheral range.  She kept her trained on the back of the cover.  He watched as she turned the book over in her hands and read the quotes on the front.  After what seemed like an eternity, she placed the book back on the shelf and shifted to the next bookshelf.  He stared openly at her and saw her shift slightly to push the limits of her vision so he was no longer present.  This was a sign.  He should turn and walk away.  He had found that most people looked up or glanced at someone who approached the same space as them.  She on the contrary seemed to make a point of disregarding his presence.  Walk away.  He told himself.  But something about her intrigued him.  Just as he felt like giving into his rational self, she picked up a book that he had read.  This would be the perfect opening to get her attention and force her to escape the bubble she seemed to have placed around herself.  He stepped closer.  "Amnesia Moon.  It a pretty good book."

---

0 science

...continuation of books...

---

He stood there and watched her for a moment.  He couldn't really say what it was about her, but something seemed different about the way she made her way through the shelves of books.  She seemed so engrossed, as though she were outside of the world she stood in.  A part of him wanted to walk away so as not to disturb the peaceful trance the books appeared to have on her.  Walking away would be the smart thing to do.  She was not his usual target.  Under normal circumstances his words would be cruel, but here even more so.  He could hide behind the guise of science.  It would be easy enough to blame his actions on science.  His experiment, however, was very specific.  And she did not fit the profile.  With any good experiment there needed to be some type of control group.  The need to limit the variables was crucial in turning conjecture into well-founded fact.  He glanced over his shoulder at his friend only to be greeted with an encouraging nod.  Turning back to his quarry and shook his head at himself for what he was about to do.

---

0 books...

She stood staring at the shelves line with books.  Her eyes scanned the titles, took in the look of the spin or the cover if the book was turn out and felt her tension begin to dissipate.  Here inside this giant room, surounded by books, she found a peace that eluded her elsewhere.  She itched reach out and touch the books, run her hand over them, and feel the last of her anxiety vanish.  Books had an unusual affect on her.  She couldn't explain what exactly it was, but she accepted it without question even though being here with people milling around everywhere only helped to feed into her angst.  It was an odd battle these two entities envoked within her.  The need to run and escape the world was intense, but the pull of the books and the calming feeling they brought to her was a need she had to obey.