Page 16 of Instinct for Disaster

“I had enough supplies to take five people through the two years of waiting comfortably. With extra for friends.”

He glanced at her with a surprised look. “How did you know you needed supplies?”

“I saw the asteroid a month before it struck. No one would believe that it would be a direct impact.”

“But it was.”

“Oh, yeah. First came the earthquakes, then came the weather systems, ash, and everything that was growing died, and the death toll shot up.”

They were walking on a path she could clearly see, even though it wasn’t marked. It was the only logical way to go.

Her house was larger than she had imagined when it loomed between the trees. “Oh, dear. That’s... big.”

Kiddel laughed. “It is. The cleaners removed all traces of the bond breakers that had settled here.”

“Where did they end up?”

“Hauled into lockup in the city. Their bond will be arranged again, a tracker will be implanted, and they will get a collar to identify them. When they complete their bond plus penalties, they will be citizens.”

“So, only slightly off track.”

“Or they will be in bond all their lives. It will be their choice.” Kiddel shrugged. “They did agree before they left the education station to work their terms. They swore to it again at the occupation auction here. So, they lied.”

“It happens. There was another Terran who said they could manage the mines. They couldn’t. I took pity on them and sentthem to a different world where they could work exposed to the atmosphere.”

Kiddel chuckled. “I am beginning to understand Yasku’s fascination with you. You are... unique.”

“Yes. That is one way to describe me.”

He nodded and walked her to her front door. She pressed her palm to the lock and said, “Do you know how long they were here?”

“Two days. The sales staff did the final cleanup when we were on the final approach.”

“So, they must have known this place was open.”

“It is likely.”

She raised her head and sniffed. “Terrans.”

“You can smell them? I didn’t know your people had that ability.”

“They don’t. I do.”

“Oh, I see.”

She nodded. “You don’t have to. Oh, they didn’t get into my lockbox.”

“Is that what that is?”

Cassandra nodded, opened the box with an ocular scan, and flicked it open. There was food, water, local clothing, and weapons. “Yay.”

“You know you can’t wear all of those into the city.”

“I know, but I can wear them out here, and the laws here let me use them as well.”

He blinked. “You read our laws?”

“There aren’t many. It was either research and try to get some of the minerals out of my bloodstream or take the sleep option.”

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