Solomon' Daughters

Chapter 29

"No it is not," Anthony answered in flawless Egyptian. The dean, whose degree had been languages, began to query Anthony in different languages and was answered each time flawlessly the language he had asked the question in.

"Wait right here," the dean said and stood hurrying out of the office. Eliza looked over at him in question

but he shrugged his shoulders at her. She had been watching in amusement as the dean had tried to stump Anthony with his questions and was foiled each time. They waited in a companionable silence just examining the dean's office. The dean came back in to the room with Anthony's paper work in his hands and once again to his seat behind his desk. Hearing the door open again they watched all of Anthony's professors save Stern filed into the office. He looked to the dean with a frown.

"What is the meaning of this," Anthony asked the dean.

"I told them what you told me and explained your unprecedented knowledge of languages even dead ones and they wished to question you as well," the dean said with a guilty look on his face.

"Look I answered all your questions already and filled out the paper work. I have other things to do today beside sit here and answer questions," he said irritation filling his voice.

"Mr. Caine sit down and answer our questions," his architecture teacher, Professor Caleb Fields, said. Anthony turned his head to looked the arrogant teacher in the face.

"Or else what," Anthony sneered at him. The man sputtered at him unable to come up with a threat since Anthony was already withdrawing from the college so he couldn't fail him. Eliza leaned her head forward to hide her smile from the room.

"Please Anthony," Teresa Thompson asked. She was short with round body and plain face but she had a sweet voice and had always been nice to Anthony so sighing he sat back and waited for the interrogation to begin. Mr. Fields began and then Teresa followed by the others question after question for two hours when Anthony finally got fed up with it. He had answered every question correctly without fail for two hours straight so he cut them off mid sentence.

"That is enough. I have answered all of your questions most far beyond the level of education I have had. I have other plans today we are leaving," he said grabbing the bag of jewelry and stood, next to him Eliza followed his movements.

"Please Mr. Caine," the dean pleaded, "Won't you please tell us how you came to learn so much in such a short period of time. You have proven your claims undoubtedly true."

"No I am sorry I can't," Anthony said starting for the door.

"You don't have the right to keep it from the world," Mr. Fields shouted at his back.

"To keep what from the world," Anthony asked turning around to face the pompous man.

"The ability to learn at such a speed of course," he said.

"And why should I show anyone else how to do it," Anthony asked him.

"Because it is the right thing to do," he said. And Anthony smiled evilly at the man.

"So the right thing to do is to put every school, college and training center out of business. I mean if everyone could do this then we really wouldn't need you teachers would we? We could all just poof learn something and then you wouldn't have a job."

The look of sickening realization that flashed across Mr. Field's face made Anthony laugh.

"You didn't think of that did you? You think simply because you want something you deserve it. Well guess what you don't," Anthony said turning and heading for the door again with Eliza on his heels. None of the teachers spoke as they watched him leave the room. Anthony and Eliza caught a bus going downtown there was a small well known jeweler, Abigale McKnight, there who Anthony had talked to on the phone and she had agreed to look over Sar-Rah's work and give them some advice.

McKnight's Jewelry was a block from the bus stop on Main Street. Entering the air-conditioned building they didn't see anyone behind the counters so they began looking in the displays. The different gems and precious metals combined into works of art were beautiful. Eliza and Anthony where so caught up in looking at the displays they didn't here the woman walk up behind them until she spoke.

"Can I help you," a feminine voice sounded from behind them. They both spun in surprise to face the woman dressed in a pants suit behind them. She was small and Asian with short black hair.

"We are here to speak to Abigale McKnight, she should be expecting us. My name is Anthony Caine."

The woman looked them up and down giving Anthony's jeans and t-shirt and Eliza's goth wear a disapproving glare. Anthony shot an amused glance at Eliza who returned it.

"Is there a problem," he asked the woman.

"No, follow me," she said curtly and led them back behind the counters down a long hall with doors leading off of it to a door near the end. Knocking lightly on the door the woman waited for an answer. When she got it she opened the door and stuck her head in.

"Ms. McKnight your guests have arrived."

"Send them in Yuki," a female voice said. Opening the door all the way, Yuki let them enter the room and then left closing the door behind her. In the middle of the room were several counters, one with precious stones spread across it's surface. There were high stools around it and on one sat a curvy woman with curly red hair. She was wearing a gray suit and had her head bent over the table examining a stone through some kind of lens. Anthony and Eliza waited a few feet from the table for her to finish whatever it was she was doing.