Page 203 of Seven Oars
“Knowing you is my job.”
She hugged the leg tighter, inhaling its musky decay. “Just… let us go.”
*****
“They got the signal,” Eze ripped the headset off.“They are expecting us!”
It was hard to believe that after two agonizing weeks in this tiny capsule, they were on their final approach to Priss.
A true miracle.
“About time,” Gro grumbled.“The shit bag’s full.”
“Then stop shitting every day,” Fincros snapped.
Gro spread out her hands, jostling Rosamma.“We eat every day!”
“Exactly.”
Rosamma hid her face in his chest, hiding a smile. She’d been holding on by a thread, so weak she could barely speak. The festering limb she carried around like it was her own had deteriorated and stopped helping.
Paloma, Ren—they were alive. They were well.
They were waiting.
To make Priss accept them more readily, Fincros posed as Phex when contacting them.
They’d sort that out later. Claim miscommunication, static, whatever. Rosamma couldn’t imagine anyone would give them a hard time at that point.
The joyful stress of reaching the end of their harrowing adventure threatened to send her into oblivion, but Fincros wouldn’t let her drift. He coaxed her back into consciousness for the landing. It wouldn’t be long now. Hours, not days.
Because Priss had no real atmosphere—just an engineering marvel of an air bubble—their little capsule wouldn’t burn up on descent. But they had no landing gear. They would have to jump out into some sort of a net being prepared for them right now.
“Look out. See?” Gro’s head bobbed near the tiny porthole displaying a mass of gray rock.
“Yes, I see. Finn, we can see Priss! You did it! I love you. Love you…”
He cradled her, pressed her close, whispering into her ear,“We’ll always be one.”
“Weareone.”
She let her eyes close as Eze began the final approach under Fincros’guidance.
The capsule jolted hard when it pierced Priss’atmospheric bubble. They dropped on the floor and laughed, welcoming the return of gravity.
“Can I open the hatch now?” Eze asked.
“Go ahead,” Fincros allowed.“Get the gun ready.”
Rosamma stirred.“Why? They aren’t our enemies.”
“Habit,” he said simply.
It would be hard, she knew. With his past, there would be problems. But they were together, and they weren’t alone. They’d find a way for him to win his freedom.
The hatch lowered, revealing dull overcast skies. A gust of wind rushed in.
Rosamma fought tears as Gro and Eze laughed—a happy, excited sound.
