Excerpt: SCATTERED BLOCKS

Josh felt himself steered forcibly away from Dr. Mitchum’s retreating back, Alexis’ sharp fingernails digging into his elbow as she ushered him across the sand. “What in the world did you think you were doing back there?” she hissed as soon as Dr. Mitchum was out of ear shot.
“What was I doing? What do you mean?”
“Just a minute ago! Don’t you realize you were in the presence of the giant of all knowledge about Stonehenge? He is the world’s foremost authority and there you were taking up his time with elementary questions about theories which are pretty much abandoned! Grab one of the books we have with us instead of looking at those silly fliers at the inn before you launch into a conversation with anyone else on this expedition!” Alexis fumed.
“Elementary? Maybe it’s so elementary that no one really stopped to think about it before. Did you? Did you ever ask yourself why their calendar would have to be so huge?”
“Well…” Alexis sputtered, “well it just is…or we thought…oh, I can’t explain it right now! There are answers to questions like that and the best scholars are addressing them so you should do more reading and less asking!”
“It wouldn’t hurt if you would spend a little time with me explaining some of the basics. I don’t mind being the tag-along boyfriend in the background but I still want to know some of the facts about Stonehenge,” Josh said, looking around. “It has an eerie feel to it, don’t you think?”
“What? No, I don’t think so!” Alexis snapped.
“It does! Stop being defensive for a moment and just stand here and feel. Doesn’t it seem like generations of souls are watching us?” Josh rubbed his arms as if chilled as he looked at the monuments towering above them.
“You’re just taunting me! You’re taking the mysteries of a serious study and turning them into ghoulish jokes!” Alexis stomped her foot.
“I’m not joking! If you’d put away your protractors and pencils for awhile you might feel it too! Stop talking and just stand here with me for a moment.” Alexis rolled her eyes and turned to walk away but Josh grabbed her by the upper arm and held her in place. She yanked against his grip but finally resigned herself to playing along.
“Oh, all right!” Alexis hissed.
“Shhh! Just stop. Don’t think about history or theories. Just stand here and let the aura of this place tell you its real story for a change.” Josh maintained his grip on her upper arm as Alexis made an exaggerated motion of listening.
“Oh, I don’t know, Josh. If you sense something, then I don’t. But, after all, you’re the philosopher and I’m a student of science!” she stated with a bitter edge. “And besides that, my father invested an enormous amount of money into this venture and if I go home and tell him I felt lost souls spiriting amongst the stones he’d probably refuse to invest another dime in any of these projects.”
Josh dropped her arm. “Each to his own god,” he whispered to himself.
“What did you say?”
“I think you should respect your father,” he spoke clearly and turned to leave.
“Good,” Alexis seemed pleased. “I’m glad you understand. But where are you going?” She edged toward him uneasily. “You heard Dr. Mitchum say we would dine together tonight to go over our notes. You weren’t…”
“No, I’m not thinking of joining your group if that’s what you’re concerned about. I have some work of my own to do. You go ahead without me.”
“Well, good!” Alexis returned brightly, “I’ll see you later.” Josh nodded and slipped back into the ruins.