Page 111 of Seven Oars
“Where have they all gone to?” Fawn cut in, sliding down to sit beside them.
At first, Phex didn’t look like he’d reply.
“I don’t know,” he finally said.“They don’t exactly keep me informed, you see.” His voice carried a sharp note of sarcasm.
Fawn plowed on, leaning over.“But you must’ve heard something? What’s your guess?”
Phex’s mouth thinned.“They’re either at the Service Block or the Engine Room. The station’s overheating.”
Fawn blanched.“Bro, what? So this warm weather isn’t just… because?”
“Yes, because,” he said curtly, almost curling his lip.
Fawn had always annoyed him the most. Her bubbly, open nature was the opposite of his, rubbing his proper self the wrong way every time she moved.
“Well, I won’t complain if they don’t fix it,” Fawn said, stretching.“We about turned into icicles.”
Rosamma wasn’t as dismissive, despite also enjoying the warmth.
“Do you think it’s serious?” she asked Phex.
“I guess. Tutti didn’t catch it in time, and now they’re having trouble managing Tutti. Thilza was supposed to check on the heat earlier, but he didn’t.”
Phex paused meaningfully, and Rosamma gathered he was looking at Fawn, Thilza’s distraction.
Rosamma pulled her legs up.
“Are they fixing it now?” she asked.
That procession on the Bridge sure looked serious.
Phex shrugged.“Who knows what they’re doing?”
*****
The Cargo Hold was quiet when Rosamma returned alone.
“What happened to Fawn?” Gro asked.
“Nothing. She wanted to stay in the Habitat.”
“With Phex?” Gro was incredulous.
Rosamma smiled a little.“It’s not what you think. She’s just talking to him.”
Fawn only hung around the Habitat waiting for Thilza to come back. Or Xorris. The“fun” ones.
Regardless, she was eager for the company of men, much preferring it to the“boring” women in the Cargo Hold. Phex would do for now, as a sort of time filler.
Chained, he had no choice but to listen to her prattle.
He hadn’t asked Rosamma to stay, but she knew he didn’t relish being stuck alone with Fawn.
On her part, Rosamma had nothing left to say to him. So she’d left.
Their conversations always revolved around their escape plans, and she couldn’t think about those at the moment. Not so soon after… well.
She forced herself to drink some water. She always forgot.
