Page 14 of Stranded with the Alien

Her shirt was long enough to cover her to mid-thigh so only her legs were on show. Not that the alien seemed remotely interested despite his earlier curiosity.

She picked a pool at random and walked in, immersing herself up to her neck.

Oh my God.It was heaven. The water was hot to the point of scalding, sloughing off dirt and probably the top layer of her skin, easing her aches and pains. Even the eggy smell couldn’t take away from the bliss that spread through her entire body.

She cast a quick glance at the alien, only to find him grinning smugly at her.

“I’d like to push your stupid Klingon head beneath that water until you die,” she told him conversationally. Then she closed her eyes again. Screw him.

It was oddly peaceful. All she could hear was the occasional bubble from the hot springs and here and there, the soft chirrup of an insect or bird.

The suns touched the horizon and she sensed the alien climbing from his pool.

“Yenesh vakt,” he commanded. She ignored him. “Hooman.Yenesh vakt!”

“Yeah, yeah. Gimme a minute, Blue Mountain.”

Something curled round her waist and lifted her bodily from the water. Her eyes flew open.

The alien was standing with arms crossed, face like thunder, as he hoisted her out with one of his tentacles. She squirmed frantically but the appendage was as unyielding as a steel bar.

“Let me go, you filthy snake! I swear to God I’m going to kill you.” He dumped her unceremoniously on the ground and pointed at her clothes.

“Sankash velekt,” he growled.

Embarrassed at being half naked, she yanked her trousers on over wet legs. She glanced at him self-consciously, remembering the way he’d touched her that morning. But he wasn’t paying any attention to her. Instead, he was scanning the desert with narrowed eyes.

“Alekt,” he barked, and strode back to the cave without a backwards glance. Such a gent.

She grumbled to herself as she pulled on her boots, wondering what he’d been looking at. There didn’t seem to be anything out there. Maybe he was paranoid.

And then she remembered the arachnid from the night before. Perhaps shelter at nightfallwasa good idea. She stumbled back to the cave.

“Are we safe in here?” She pointed to the distant trees. “Animals? Outside? Grr!”

The last was said with her hands bent into claws and teeth bared. The alien’s mouth twitched.

“Silavesh,hooman.” He made a calming gesture. “Nirakt.”

“I don’t unders…”

With an impatient sigh, he flicked a rations pack towards her. She caught it in one hand.

Huh. So ‘nirakt’ means eat.She opened it unenthusiastically.

“Just what you want after a hard day’s labor. Yet another helping of cold mush.”

She was getting heartily sick of SDF rations. If she ever got back to base, she’d be having a stiff word with the manufacturers about basic things like flavor and texture.

The alien obviously shared her opinion. He only gulped down a couple of mouthfuls before throwing his own pack to one side.

On the plus side, he looked as beat as she was. And that was perfect. Because as soon as he fell asleep, she was getting the hell out. The collar wouldn’t stop her, not as long as she didn’t try to attack him.

By the time he woke up, she’d be out of sight and out of reach.

She lay down, trying to get comfortable on the stony floor. The alien took up position near the cave mouth, unsheathing his laser-blade and holding it loosely. She wondered if he was guarding the entrance from wild beasts or trying to prevent any ideas she had of escape.

It made no difference. She’d step over him if she had to.

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