The professor hesitated, then sighed. “No, he wasn't. Such imprinting would have impaired his reasoning and fluency. He was far more useful without an imprint.”
I frowned, intrigued. “I don't understand, Professor. Why would that be?”
Kurtz smiled and set aside the giant tome. Of all the material in his office, he chose to read the most difficult to handle, with the greatest weight-to-content ratio. Everything written on the crinkled pages would easily fit inside a single cube, along with fifty volumes of equal heft.
Professor Kurtz must have seen my expression. “I prefer the printed word, Lady.” He stood and gestured down the corridor. “If I may show you my laboratory?”
I retreated a step. “Certainly, Professor. That's very kind of you.”
“Not a kindness at all, Lady. Just purposive.”
