Page 9 of Fall

Everyone appeared pleased and celebratory, so large animals like thismust be some kind of victory.

They cut the meat into small pieces and made a stew with about a third ofit, using those turnip-like roots she’d found before and some other roots andherbs. The stew smelled delicious, and Lenna was starving. She could understandwhy everyone seemed so happy about the hunting party’s success.

She was surprised when the Gorgeous One glanced over in her direction andthen started walking toward her. She opened her mouth to say somethinginstinctively, hoping that being acknowledged in this way was a good sign.

But her words broke off in a huff when he grabbed her by the shoulder,lifted her to her feet, and then leaned over to pick up the rock she’d beensitting on. She stared in astonishment as he carried the rock near the fire andpositioned it for a pretty brunette to sit on.

He’d just taken her rock, moving her out of the way like she was anobject.

“Asshole,” she said, not quite quietly enough. Several people turned tolook at her, as if they hadn’t realized she was able to speak.

The Hairy One heard her, she noticed. He was stoking the fire, but heglanced over his shoulder at her and gave a few more of those huffs that wereevidently his laughter.

Evidently, they were all assholes.

She was glaring around, wondering if this was really a group she wantedto hook up with, when she noticed the eyes of a younger man were resting onher.

She knew he was younger because his shoulders weren’t as broad and hisbeard and hair weren’t as long as the older men. He was attractive in anunderstated way, even though he wasn’t groomed.

They shared a look that was almost understanding, and she held her breathas he moved over toward her.

She felt a surge of overwhelming relief when he reached her and asked,“Planet dump?”

She nodded, suddenly grounded in a way she hadn’t since she’d gotten outof the Coalition pod. Just the fact that he spoke the common language, when noone else here did, made her feel like she wasn’t completely alone. “A few daysago.”

“They dumped me here three years ago,” he said, keeping his eyes focusedmostly on the bonfire but occasionally darting over toward her face, as if hedidn’t want to draw attention to their conversation.

Lenna tried to imagine being on this planet for that long. She couldn’t.She just couldn’t. “I’m Lenna,” she said, keeping her voice low like his hadbeen.

“Desh.”

“Is there anyone else here who has been planet dumped?”

“Not in this tribe. Maybe in some of the others.”

“So how did these people get here?”

“I don’t know, but they’ve been here for generations. They speak theirown language and have absolutely no idea about the rest of the universe.They’re human, so they’re not native to this planet, but they must have beenhere for a really long time.”

She sighed, eyeing the tribe members as they gathered around the fire.“So I guess that means there’s no way off this planet?”

Desh shook his head. “There’s no technology of any kind on this planet beyondwheels and spears and hammers.”

Lenna smothered a groan. “You said there are other tribes on thisplanet?”

“Yes. This tribe calls themselves the Kroo. It sounds like the man whoattacked you—the one that Rone killed—was from the Hosh tribe, who the Krooabsolutely despise. You’re better off with this tribe for sure.”

“What do you mean?”

“Women are treated better with the Kroo.” He met her eyes briefly. “Iwouldn’t leave, if I were you.”

She swallowed, able to imagine all too well what might happen to herelsewhere, based solely on that first Neanderthal she’d encountered.“Understood.”

She watched as the stronger, more mature males started to dish out thestew. “I’m starving.”

“You won’t get any stew.”

“What do you mean? There’s plenty of it for everyone.”

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