Page 89 of Seven Oars
The flimsy folding door to a wonderful, cozy place. The dusty smell, the windows.
She wanted to be alone. To see the stars…
Chapter 13
Anske and Fawn returned to the Cargo Hold way later than Rosamma.
By then, she had spent a long time in her little room, staring at the galaxies with dry eyes until they burned.She hadn’t achieved the peace she was seeking, but she did feel slightly more grounded.
Fawn yawned.“Y’all, good night!”
“And to you too!” Gro called out snidely.“We weren’t worried at all! We’re so glad you enjoyed your time at the Habitat!”
Fawn only shrugged.“I was with Anske the whole time. We showed Galan the Holy Guide.”
From Fawn’s tone, it was clear she’d rather have done anything else, but the alternatives were scarce.
Rosamma was just relieved they were unharmed. Trying to befriend the pirates, even the placid ones like Galan, was like trying to pet a wild buffalo. If Fawn didn’t see that, Anske sure should.
Yet Anske saw something entirely different.
“Galan had no idea that hurting other people was bad,” she shared with Rosamma.“Nobody ever told him. His whole life, he’s thought it’s normal. Can you believe it?”
“They come from a rough place,” she murmured.
Anske nodded, looking serious.“At first, he didn’t believe me. Said I was making it up to mess with him—as if I would! He even threatened to thrash me.”
That, Rosamma could easily believe.That hehadn’twas more surprising.
She patiently waited for Anske to run out of steam and take a breath so she could ask about Phex. He hadn’t returned to the Cargo Hold, and it worried her.
“We called Tutti over to translate,” Anske continued, oblivious to Rosamma’s wandering attention.“It proved to him that my Holy Guide said exactly what I was telling him! All the answers, right here.” She patted the Holy Guide tucked under her arm.
Her posture was straight, and her color improved—that’s how energized she was. Her gaze strayed to the provisions shelf, but she tore it away quickly.
“If there’s a closed mind in need of liberation, it’s Galan’s!” she concluded.
“And does Galan agree with you?” Rosamma asked, afraid her skepticism showed.
“Oh, he’s like a child.” Anske waved her hand dismissively.“Under the right guidance, he’ll see the light in no time.”
Losing a battle with herself, she grabbed a small item from the shelf to munch on. She’d already eaten, but Rosamma didn’t call her on it.
“We talked about beatings and how they’re not what he should spend his energy on,” Anske said around a mouthful.“He said he’d think about it. Already progress!”
“And the others? Will they also think about it?” Rosamma couldn’t resist asking.
Anske frowned.“I wish. The smoker listened for a bit, but mostly because Fawn pointed her nipples at his face.”
“Did not!” Fawn denied hotly.
“Well, they were pointy.” Anske swallowed her snack.
“It’s cold in here! What do you want me to do?” Fawn shook her covers in evident embarrassment.
Sassa had peeked from her hidey-hole when Anske started talking, but disappeared again upon hearing about nipples.
Rosamma sighed.“Did you see what happened to Phex, Anske?” she asked.
