Time Scout by Robert Asprin & Linda Evans

”Beats some of what I’ve eaten,” Kit agreed. He set his menu down and flagged a waitress. They ordered lunch and started emptying glasses of dark ale.

”So, what’s on your mind?” Malcolm asked.

”Margo. What else?”

The younger man just grinned. “Anything in particular or everything in general? Or both?”

”Both, actually,” Kit admitted, “but her lack of progress in her studies, particularly.”

Malcolm’s smile vanished. “She isn’t stupid, Kit. What’s the problem?”

”Sven thinks she’s too hyped on going down time to concentrate.”

The time guide sat back and fiddled with his ale glass, leaving a series of wet rings on the wooden tabletop. “He could be right,” Malcolm said slowly. `That probably isn’t all of it, but he could have something, there. Going down time is all she talks about.”

”How much time are you spending with her?”

Malcolm flushed. “Not enough to warrant that tone, Kit. But I worry about her. I figure if she’s with me, she’s not falling prey to someone like Skeeter. And you know we get sharks through here every time Primary opens.”

Kit knew. He relaxed. “Yeah, don’t we just? Any feel for how she’s coming with her lessons? Ann and Sven are underwhelmed.”

Malcolm shook his head. “No, we don’t talk much about her studies, not the bookwork part of them. Mostly she asks questions about my experiences down time or what I know about yours. She’s …” He hesitated.

”She’s what?”

”I don’t know. Guarded, I guess. She doesn’t let the thorns down long, if you catch my drift.”

”Tell me about it. She sleeps on my couch, eats my food, showers in my bathroom, and about the only thing I can get her to relax and talk about is how much fun it is living in La-La Land. Do you have any idea how many obscure television celebrities that girl knows by sight?”