Page 150 of Seven Oars
Her conversation with Phex went as poorly as she had secretly expected, only worse.
She lingered on the Bridge, weighing the wisdom of going to the Dome. The Dome won, and Rosamma slipped inside the folding door, breathing in the familiar musty smell.
The shades were left open from the last time she’d been here. The pinpricks of stars peered at her in the myriad of tiny white pupils.
She made herself comfortable by the window, folding her legs under. If only the stars could tell her what she should do. If there was anything she could do.
Phex wouldn’t send the distress signal.
He no longer wanted to be found.
Chapter 21
Nothing moved in the still air of the Dome, but like before, it suddenly rang with awareness. Rosamma was awash with the feeling of being watched. Closely.
Her heartbeat picking up speed, she turned her head a fraction and saw that the folding doors were pulled aside, revealing his shape in the opening.
He made no effort to conceal himself, letting her watch him.
Her breath caught, and that terrible, sweet anticipation seized her. She had told herself a thousand times it was wrong of her to think of him in that way, immoral even, but she was helpless.
She remained where she was as he made his way toward her. The door slid closed, enclosing them in the musty darkness.
“I need you to stay in the Cargo Hold, Rosamma,” he said softly.
“Yes, Striker.”
“You say that every time, and nothing changes.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, contrite.
She knew he was looking at her.
“You’re hiding again. What upset you?”
How can this alien know her so well? Why did he want to?
“I went to the Command Center,” she told him.“You put Phex at the controls.”
He said nothing to that.
“You must trust him not to wreck this place,” she added.
Again, nothing.
“We’ve lost Phex,” she whispered bitterly and turned to gaze at the stars.
Fincros moved deeper inside the Dome.“You never had him, Rosamma.”
Her head snapped around.“That’s not true! We trusted him to help us. I trusted him…”
“He won’t hurt you,” he said.“That’s not the same as defending.”
Rosamma had an urge to argue, to say he was being unfair.
“He did defend us. From you,” she pointed out.“He kept us all alive.”
A small turn of his head gave away his annoyance.
