Page 160 of Seven Oars
“Are we flying somewhere we shouldn’t be?”She wasn’t sure what she meant by“shouldn’t.” Whereshouldthey be flying?
“I don’t know,” Phex said.
The sound of whirring casters preceded the blinking light that entered the Cargo Hold.
Phex’s extended arm flexed in frustration.
“It follows me now. Give me a boost, Rosamma.”
Tentatively, she placed her fingers on the inside of his wrist as Tutti came in and scanned the room. She sent a small, measured surge of energy into Phex under the robot’s watchful blinking.
“Give me another one,” he ordered.
She caught Gro’s ominous frown, but neither she nor Eze said anything to Phex.
They are afraid of him,she thought with sudden clarity.
She sent another burst, not becauseshewas afraid of Phex, but because she still clung to the image she once had of him as her shiny, fearless defender and savior.
Phex rose.“I’d better go.”
“Wait!”
Rosamma ran after him out the door, down the passageway. She squeezed by Tutti to catch up to Phex.
“Doesn’t Tutti have an autopilot function?” she stage-whispered, trailing his long strides.
“It does, and it’s part of the problem. Tutti is as old as this station. It was programmed by the station’s old owner about a hundred years ago.”
“That long! Can you reprogram her? It?”
He gave a single shake of his head.“The Striker tried, and even he had little success.”
“Evenhe?”
“He’s their engineer.”
“No, that’s Thilza,” she corrected him.
“Him, too. But Tutti only listens to the Striker.” Phex stopped abruptly.“That’s partly why they’re afraid to kill him. He keeps this rust heap afloat.”
Phex resumed walking, and she trotted after him, stumbling.Picturing Fincros dead caused her visceral pain.
“Who pilots this station?” she asked, panting.
“Keerym was their lead pilot, and Ucai filled in sometimes. Massar had navigation training.”
“All gone,” Rosamma whispered.
“Now Esseh sees himself as one,” Phex said.
“Is he good?”
“He’s terrible.”
They stopped at the entrance to the Command Center.
Nud was already inside, watching them and smirking.
