Page 28 of Stealing Mercury
“Hurting?”
“Feels like someone rolled me in a metal washtub and hung me out to dry.”
Samantha huffed, surprised he’d admit to any weakness. “You need the med-kit?”
“Just bruises. We should conserve the meds. I’ll be fine.” He hunched down and went back to arranging the firewood.
“That’s good, because we still need more fuel for the fire.” She used the back of her sleeve to wipe perspiration from her brow. The humidity gave the air a steam-like quality and made it difficult to breathe. “From what I could tell from my scan of the planet, we can expect the temperature to drop dramatically with nightfall.” She didn’t like the idea of being soaked through when that happened.
“We could sleep in the pod, but I guess it’s better to conserve the energy.”
Samantha nodded in agreement. “Any idea why Resler disappeared?”
After what had happened on the ship, Resler had become quiet, moody, and scarce. When she’d returned from the cargo-hold, she’d found him dazed, but awake enough to help her haul an unconscious Drake into the escape-pod. When the explosion in the cargo-hold had rocked the ship, Resler had panicked. As soon as she’d landed the escape-pod safely, he’d started avoiding her.
“He’ll be along shortly. I’m afraid he’s not used to roughing it.”
Samantha scanned the horizon.
The thick vegetation suggested there could be some small game to supplement the packaged emergency rations. It had to have been some sophisticated terraforming technology. She wasn’t worried for herself or the men she’d brought down with her. It was the men in the cargo-drop that occupied her thoughts. They could end up stranded much longer.
Samantha spread out a bedroll where she’d cleared the debris from the ground. “Well, he should probably stick close to camp.”
Despite Resler’s panic, she’d been able to send out a distress call and set a beacon. When help came looking, they’d find theDovein orbit. They had plenty of supplies to hold them until then, but the newly freed slaves would have far less and they wouldn’t be getting off the planet when help arrived. They’d have to depend on her to beg, borrow, or steal a ship to get back.
Samantha stood and moved to spread out another bed roll. “I sent out a message to Roma before we launched the pod.” She hadn’t wanted to contact them directly, but it would have looked suspicious if she’d abandoned the ship without sending something.
“That’s good.” Drake’s voice came from directly behind her.
She fought instinct not to bolt away from him. She needed to keep things friendly. Samantha straightened and turned and found herself practically in his arms.
“I prefer a warm bed and good food myself,” he said. “But we’ll be fine. We’ve both been in worse places.”
“That’s right. The Mitna camp.” He ignored her conversational volley, but maybe he’d said all he wanted to on the subject.
She’d been lucky on Haverlee—though she hadn’t realized it at the time. The refugee camp had been safer than most. Since she’d signed on to her father’s ship, she’d seen a lot of ports. The wars of the last century had left displaced refugees scattered on both sides of the border. Most camps were scary, desolate slums. Mitna was one of the worst. When the Earthers had tried to push into the territory of the hive-like Rettans in that part of the galaxy they’d been soundly defeated. The repercussions ended in the destruction of several human colonies. Mitna had exploited the refugees unlucky enough to end up there. It wasn’t hard to believe a place like that could turn out such a hard-hearted man.
“It must have been terrible growing up there.”
The cockiness drained out of his face, his features melting into a blank mask. “Don’t pity me, Sam. At least on Mitna we didn’t have to live under the thumb of aliens. You of all people should understand that being born in a camp might be pitiable, but those of us that got out are different from the weaklings that stay there and wallow in the filth.”
People with nothing, no education, no skills.
Despite her best intentions, his smug callousness grated on her nerves and her irritation colored her tone when she spoke. “You’re always assuming you know me. Yes, I grew up in a refugee camp. Doesn’t mean we’re the same.”
Anger flared, burning away the mask and revealing the side of him that frightened her.
“You’re right,” he said. “Despite that pilot’s license, I’ve never met a woman so stupid.”
She forced a smile. “You’re welcome to your opinion.”
She had no intention of letting him bait her any further. She was stuck with him and Resler until help came. All too aware of the precariousness of her situation, she tried to step back.
He grabbed her arms. “Don’t be a fool, Sam.”
“Take your hands off me, Drake.”
“You look so pale, Sam. Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you.” There was no rush in his movements when he released her. His smile, when he stepped back, turned her stomach. “In fact, I’d be happy to make sure nothing hurts you. All you have to do is ask.”
