Shay took a deep breath. The problem with a career, even a fake career, was that it exposed her to office politics. She couldn’t handle the department head the way she might handle an annoying triad member on the street or even just a typical person who bothered her.
She had to give him respect, even if she didn’t necessarily believe he deserved it.
“I’m glad you understand my passion for my work. Is there anything else, sir?” Shay looked at him expectantly.
Dr. Weber cleared his throat. Even though he was no longer huffing and puffing, his face was still bright red as if he were embarrassed.
“It’s just that I think you display insight into certain archaeological sites that more mainstream scholars might not know a lot about. Even after these past two decades, it’s hard for a lot of people in our field and related fields to accept the paradigm change that Oriceran demands.” He shook his head. “A good scholar should, of course, but a man who spent decades arguing one position isn’t likely to want to say he was wrong. Not that I can blame them.”
Shay crossed her arms and frowned. The good doctor was taking an awfully long time to get to anything approaching a point, and she really wanted to get to Warehouse Two.
She sighed. “Again, not something I disagree with, Doctor, but I don’t see what this has to do with me.”
He looked over his shoulder as if afraid he might be overheard. “You’re right. I should get to the point.”
“It would be helpful, yes.”
“Do you know anything about the Anzick burial site in Montana?”
Shay nodded. “That’s not that obscure a place. It’s part of the original Clovis Complex.”
“Is that all you know about it? You seem to specialize in European and Asian history, so I wasn’t sure about your knowledge of Pre-Colombian North American history.”
She offered him a shrug. “It’s a Native American burial site generally dated to around thirteen thousand years ago. Who the hell knows, given some of the issues with magic affecting carbon dating. Most traditional archaeologists suggest the Clovis people were the link between Asian populations and modern Native Americans, and much of the genetic evidence backs that up. There’s also evidence to suggest that they or their ancestors might have traveled via a land bridge between Asia and North America, though there are still a lot of competing theories out there.”
Dr. Weber bit his lip and gave her a shallow nod. “That’s generally accurate. The thing is…”
Fuck. Can this guy be any less efficient? I’m sure his students must hate his lectures if this is how he delivers them.
“The thing is what, Dr. Weber?”
Again, he checked over his shoulder as if expecting a hitman to pop from behind a car and take him out.
“There are certain inconsistencies with some of the artifacts, beyond dating issues. I’ve been studying that culture and the site for thirty years, and prior to this I just wondered if we were missing something.” He looked down at his shoes. “But…”
Shay sighed. Part of her wanted to tell him to go away so she could head back to Warehouse Two and talk to Peyton about a Dwarka tomb raid, but another part of her wanted to hear more about whatever mystery Dr. Weber thought he’d uncovered.
After all, a good part of a reason she lectured at the school was that she enjoyed history. In the end, simple curiosity, along with a desire not to annoy her department head, kept her in place.
She gestured for Dr. Weber to continue.
The man looked up and nodded. “Well, you see, a lot of those inconsistencies concerning the land bridge or other theories might be resolved if we took into account something else. Something that should be included as part of the modern archaeology and revised history paradigm.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but something that might facilitate quick travel between distant locations…”
Shay lifted her eyebrows. “You think it was a magical portal?”
Excitement filled Dr. Weber’s face. “Exactly. It’s something I haven’t dared talk about for a long time. When my career was starting, I almost destroyed it by talking about how it might be something of that nature. It was only because I had a few mentors of influence that I wasn’t laughed out of the field completely. My wife begged me to stop talking about it, so I did.” He blew out a breath. “But now, with Oriceran, that changes everything. I think the site holds information about early human contact with Oricerans, but I need someone to lead the dig who has expertise in revised history. Otherwise, they might miss vital clues.”
The tomb raider blinked. “Wait, you want me to go check out the site?”
“Yes, and some related sites where we know there might be artifacts that have yet to be excavated.”
Shay shrugged. “That sounds expensive, and as you know, I’m not exactly swimming in grant money. After all, I only deliver guest lectures here.”
Dr. Weber nodded. “Oh, of course, but I have funds I could direct your way. I am the department head, after all. If you’re interested in following up on this, I could make sure the dig was fully funded, and…” he leaned forward and lowered his voice, “this might be a good intro toward getting a permanent faculty position.”
She resisted a snort.
The amount of money I make on one tomb raid could fund the average archaeology dig for years, and I’m not ready to quit the day job and teach fulltime.
She sighed. “The thing is, Dr. Weber, I’m not in a position right now to commit to any long-term excavation projects. Between my lectures at the school and various personal projects, I can’t agree to it, no matter how interesting I find the idea.”
Disappointment spread over his face. “Oh, of course. I understand, but will you at least keep it in mind?”
Shay smiled. “That I can
