Kael
The baggage allowance did not care that the books were important.
I removed one from the case and put it back on the desk.
Then another.
The case became lighter. My opinion of travel did not improve.
Ren watched me weigh the choice of a third book against a clean shirt.
"Take the shirt," he said.
"You haven't read the book."
"I have washed the shirts."
An argument based on experience.
I left the book.
Ren put the shirt beside the case without triumph. He had made a practical suggestion and seemed content to let it remain one.
I rearranged the remaining books so their corners didn't press against the folded sleeve. The lighter case still contained things I wanted. It would simply fail to contain every possible answer to six days of having time to read.
"You could write down what you need from the other one," Ren said.
I looked at the book on the desk. "That sounds suspiciously like work."
"You asked how to make it lighter."
